If you are a longtime reader, then you may have noticed that things have slowed down here on 3G2S. This blog will be turning 6 years old in March and this is post number 3,838! Until 2014 rolled around, I could barely bring myself to go a whole 24 hours without publishing a post. In fact, I was often publishing multiple blog posts daily and getting by on 4 hours of sleep per night just to make my deadlines. The truth is that I had burnt out nearly a year ago, but kept going at the same pace. Why? Well, partially because I had set a standard and did not want to let my readers down. The other part was needing to contribute to our household finances as much as possible.
I have shared a few inspirational quotes I've come across in the past, but this is the first and only quote I have displayed in our home (well . . . aside from a few refrigerator magnets). It reads . . .
"Never get so busy making a living, that you forget to make a life."I have this wooden sign displayed where my husband and I can see it multiple times per day. We both work more than we would like because it's necessary, but we need to remember why we are doing it. It's not so we can buy a larger television or a nicer car. It's so we can provide for our children, whom we want to be happy and well-rounded. Part of that is having parents who aren't exhausted and grouchy all the time, who have just enough time and energy to help them with their homework and prepare the meals, but little else.
When I put my mind to it, I am able to make some lasting fond memories for our children. So, if you don't see a new post from me for 2 or 3 (or 5) days, it doesn't mean I've deserted you. I'm talking with my children, playing games with them, surprising them with freshly baked cookies, . . . or taking a much-needed nap.
I haven't quite achieved the perfect balance in my life yet, but I think I'm on the right track by accepting the fact that I cannot have so many full time jobs at once. It is impossible to be successful at all of them.
What do you do to help maintain balance in your life?
