Calm – That is what I wanted 2013 to be.
I didn’t want to feel like I was constantly chasing my tail. I didn’t want to feel like I was rushing from one thing to the next, all the time. I didn’t want to feel like I was barely hanging on by the skin of my teeth.
I can do all those things if I have to. I can function in backlog mode if I need to, but I don’t want to.
Except I am, again.
There are lists of things always waiting to be done. There is constantly juggling and reorganising. There is rushing and half-doing of things. There is this constant feeling of busy.
And here I am on this sunny Autumn day, outside with my kids, going crazy painting stuff.
And I realise, I have two choices – I can be less busy, or I can accept that this time of my life is just busy, because it just is.
Or perhaps both?
Today I am choosing to be less busy. Today I gave us all a little gift of time.
Today even a failed baking attempt didn’t matter so much, because we had time.
Today one idea lead to another and we got out the paints in the sunshine, because we had time.
Today I said yes, a lot.
I hardly said ‘wait’, and I never said ‘hurry up’.
Today I chose to be less busy, and it was wonderful.
But that didn’t remove anything from that long list.
It doesn’t change the fact that next term will be just as crazy as the one that has just ended.
It doesn’t change the reality that my life is just busy right now, so perhaps I should work on accepting that, even as I work at slowing down and being a little less busy.
Nothing like having a foot in both camps yes?
How do you deal with ‘busy’? Do you embrace it and move forward, or put the breaks on and try and slow down?
This year I’ve had to embrace it. It’s not easy, but I’m trying really hard to give all the parts of my life the time they need. Kids, hubby, my health and work. My powers of prioritisation have become sharply honed!!!
Maybe that is my problem.. I am terrible at prioritization, really terrible!
I just don’t think ‘not being busy’ is a choice any more. We just have to get on with it all and try to choose the things we can. To be calm amongst the busyness is my goal these days, I think!! x
“be calm amongst the busyness ”
Ooh I love that! Stealing that as this year’s mantra!!
I love it when I cross things off my list.. Very occaisionally, I finish a list. But WOW look at you putting the important things before the urgent ones. Take RDO more often Its obviously great for everyone
Love to you all
I certainly don’t know how to deal with it, but I am a firm believer in “mental health days” where you do something “fun,” at least for some time. Where you’re not in charge, not required to do much, and allowed to let your mind wander a bit. It doesn’t shorten the list, but it clears your mind some so you get some new energy when you get back to prioritizing all those things you need to do. Good for you!
I totally agree… I adore having space to just ponder ‘stuff’…. i really need to find time for that more often. :)
I kept this post in my reader because I wanted to comment but was just too busy! I’m with you, I’m embracing being busy this year and just snatching moments where I can. As a recovering perfectionist, I remind myself to be practical rather than perfect, i.e.”Good enough is good enough, now go and play with the kids instead of cleaning”.