A while ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a two-hour workshop with yoga instructor, meditation guide, and energy healer Hillary Pike and musician Darren Austin Hall. The experience was profound for a number of reasons, but most notable was the fact that I wasn't at home negotiating the bedtime routines of my two little girls.
There is a lot going on my in head these days. My baby girl turned 1 a few weeks ago, and it's as if a switch went off the day we celebrated her birthday. I didn't take a formal mat leave. I worked right though baby Fi's first year, albeit much less.
At the end of the month, my baby girl will be 8 months old. I'm kinda freaking out. How did she get so big, so fast? And why is it getting so much harder to get anything done? I've been trying to get organized, but the 'to do' lists keep piling up and the chaos continues to mount. Every time my baby's head hits the mattress for her nap, my brain is bombarded with a bajillion things I really need to get done.
Here I am almost three months into baby Fiona's life.
So far, I've managed to keep my freelance writing and editing business running, pay all of my monthly expenses (including daughter #1's daycare tuition) and maintain my sanity (more or less, depending who you ask).
I can't believe it's already the middle of January. I've been avoiding 'real life' for the past few weeks and am finally getting back to work and reality.
As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in my home office looking out the window at the wind blowing through the trees. I can hear the birds singing; and the low buzz of traffic. As on most summer days, I’m feeling a bit antsy. The sky is blue. The air is warm. And, I’m stuck inside working. This longing to be outside is not great for my productivity. Every summer it’s the same. I think it’s something most of us struggle with. Especially if you work in an office with no outside view and the air conditioner blasting from above.
When was the last time you set aside a day just for you? If you’re like most of us, your answer is probably something like: “…Um….well…hmmm…good question…but, I don’t really have time to think about this right now, soccer practice starts in 20 minutes.”
The sad truth is many of us forsake our own ‘life’ for the lives of our kids, spouses, and relatives—because it’s easier to put everyone else first than to demand time to ourselves.
