If you're looking for today's Wednesday Hodgepodge you'll find it here- A DIY Hodgepodge
Day 2...I'm on a roll lol...
B is for Balance
'a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportion'
When you're in the heavy lifting years of parenting, or when you're carrying the heavy mental load of launching teenagers into young adulthood, life can easily and often feel out of balance. Maybe more out of balance than in balance, and there's not a whole lot you can do about it.
Children are needy and you are the need meet-er. Their needs and your own desire for space, time, and silence don't always line up, but of course their needs almost always take precedence, and you do what needs to be done.
High fives to moms everywhere.
When you leave those seasons behind you free up some brain space to contemplate who you are now and what you want your life to look like.
I'm a person who likes my space. If I don't have enough of it I get cranky and if I have too much I feel frustrated, restless, and unproductive. I cannot have a completely blank calendar, nor do I want one where there's no room for spontaneous fun, travel, hobbies, or daydreams.
As I've gotten older I've learned to recognize what I need in order to have balance. When life feels like too much or not quite enough I remind myself of a few simple truths and a few practical helps too...
- Too many days in a row of unproductive activity can leave me feeling out of balance.
- Going and doing and seeing all the people too many days in a row can also leave me feeling out of balance.
- I hate feeling unproductive.
- I don't have to be productive all the time.
- An activity that on the surface sounds unproductive can in reality be good for my mental health and emotional well-being.
- Simple pleasures add to the richness of life.
- Don't procrastinate on tasks that might fall under the heading of 'business'.
- Make time for things I love that might sound frivolous to other people.
- Feel no guilt for doing so.
- Admit when a full calendar is about to spill over and just say no to adding one more thing.
- When it occasionally spills over anyway, practice gratitude for all the many good things that fill my days and make life full and interesting.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: ..." Ecclesiastes 3:1
"I don't have to be productive all of the time" . . .I need a switch for that mode, please!! I also need one for "make time for things I love." Great post!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great list to live by and I can especially relate to the don't procrastinate things that seem like business.
ReplyDeleteI can't get over how much alike we are. I can relate to all of these things!
ReplyDeleteI almost chose 'balance' too! I love your list and think there are some really good takeaways. I am always seeking the balance in life and in my day to day. In fact, I could use some right now. ::deep breaths::
ReplyDeleteYou have such a way with words, Joyce. When I read your posts, many times you put into words something I've been mulling over and it is a EURIKA moment for me, so thank you. Please don't stop blogging! You touch more people than you can ever know!! Love this so much!
ReplyDeleteNice writing - real hard to read the small text.
ReplyDeleteYou sum things up so well Joyce. I need to take a leaf out of your book.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you would quote Ecclesiastes 3:1 today because I am in a ladies' Bible study on that very book (with the help of a workbook by Warren Wiersbe).
ReplyDeleteThis (quoting you), "Don't procrastinate on tasks that might fall under the heading of 'business'." is a very true statement.
And yes, when the nest empties out, that is a good time to review the definition of ourself and adjust the course direction if needed. I have found that to be true when any huge change comes into my life.
It's an opportunity to re-define ourself. I am a different person now than I was [before].
A really insightful analysis of balance and I love the Bible verse, too. The Bible has wisdom for every human condition/emotion/state.
ReplyDeleteI had lunch today with my group of friends that were expats with me. We are all in a similar stage of life with college and young adult kids. It seemed that our whole conversation was about finding balance - for ourselves and also in the parenting role in this phase of life. Loved this post that summarizes all of those feelings of having space on your calendar, but also needing connections etc.
ReplyDelete