I know 6 months have already passed by in 2012, but I think it's time for me to make a change. I am not going to wait for another ball to drop in Times Square either. Now is the time. I am totally inspired by this article I read in The New York Times. Basically, the writer states that he believes our "crazy busy" phenomenon in the US is completely self-inflicted. Maybe even an addiction for many.
I can relate.
In the past 6 months I have juggled 3 jobs, raising a child, being a wife, connecting with friends (not nearly enough), practicing yoga, planned play dates, writing (not nearly enough), and the list goes on. This does not make me different from millions of others out there. Nor does the fact that many days I don't sit down to chill out til 9 or 10 pm. The chill out time quickly leads to heavy eyelids and a few head bobs trying to make it to at least see what the weather will be the following day on the news. I know. You too. Some people believe that's just how life is. I pledge to create and live the life I intended. And that's not it.
For the past month, I have had the luxury of staying in a heavenly place. Montana. While Husband has been working, Peanut and I have been playing. What I realize is that even in play we can feel overwhelmed and over scheduled. "Let's go swimming, then we'll go the grocery store, oh I gotta fill up the car with gas, yes, we'll stop by the toy store to play with their displays, but only for 15 minutes, bc we have to meet daddy for lunch and then we'll go to the playground, oh shoot, I forgot about the dogs, we need to run home to let them out, oh and crap, what's for dinner, oh and for the love of God why does it not get dark til 10:30 pm here..."On the days that I stopped planning so much and enjoyed where the day might lead, Peanut and I had a blast together. I was a more present and engaging mother. She was more expressive and communicative with me. I was a more pleasant wife and person. This is the life I intended. It has only 2 jobs that I love. It includes more glasses of wine. More mornings on my back porch with a cup of coffee and/or a yoga mat. More skype dates with girlfriends spread across the country. More easy conversations with Husband. More quality time with family. More day trips. More exploring. More strolls around my fantastic neighborhood with my family... all done at leisure. Enough with the over scheduling. I vow to stop organizing my day in mind in 30 minute intervals.
Dishes will still need to be washed (yuck!) and laundry to be done. I do not deny this. But I am letting go of the overwhelming feeling I get when I feel like I can't keep up. Keep up with what? My insanity? The world will go on if I go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink. (Who am I kidding? This happens all the time.) I invite us all to breathe more deeply. Slow down our pace. This will not remove the bills from our lives or the demands from our jobs. But it will bring us to this beautiful present moment which holds so much peace and joy. Join me.
