Many people I know, or patients of mine ( and this includes me) try to juggle and endlessly search for some kind of balance in life. Maybe the question we should ask is whether we need balance or just be able to stand on solid ground. Just the thought of balance is very appealing.....juggling all areas of life and getting things "just right" in order to feel right, yet sometimes easier said than done, and gosh darn where to start??
A good social life, a healthly diet, the right amount of exercise ( I know, I know Renee..thank you for making me put my socks and shoes back on and going for that "much needed" walk) working hard, yet getting enough down time, throw in family time, yard work, cooking, cleaning, hobbies, t.v., ....a mix of everything makes it difficult to find and achieve BALANCE. Just writing, listing and thinking about all this leaves me exhausted and stressed out!!
Albert Einstein once said, (and I have it written down and think about it over and over...) "life is like riding a bicycle...to keep your balance you must keep going."
The other day, I was feeling way overwhelmed and not sure how or what to do....so, I had a talk with God and I was reassure that if He takes care of the birds, He for sure will care for me, that I need not worry, He definitely has my back. Then I texted my sponsor somewhat to this effect..."hey Tina, it's me, and I know it's late, but you have always told me anything anytime, so can you hear me out on this.....I'm feeling overwhelmed, too much on my plate, I need some balance.......I went on to tell her all that's going on, work, studying for state boards, desire to work in substance abuse also, my yard, my hobbies, my friends and family that I wan to spend more time with them, the time I like to blog, cook, dog-training , camping, lack of meetings, better eating habits, become healthier, exercise, stress of making a list, my procrastation habits,...So, yes I am a mess...well, maybe not visiable to everyone, yet inside I feel like a mess. Maybe expectations to high of myself???" Within minutes, I hear back from her..."Breathe...understandable. I think we all strive for balance. I love the list. I am more productive when I make a list and prioritize. It's ok if we have to move things to the next day. First and foremost, take care of you and get your spirit fed. Without that, none of the rest will matter. I love you." The words I needed to hear! And yes, I have the BEST sponsor in the world, that's a separate blog in itself!
So, I'm on a mission to find the perfect balance or better yet to "stand on solid ground." I have found some truth, knowing I cannot walk a tight rope or a balance beam in life and achieve perfect balance, it simply isn't attainable. I know I need to accept who I am and the way things are and move from there.
I have seen that once I stop fretting over making everyone happy, eating an exact way or fitting in exercise all the time, life seems to slip into place. If I prefer to be among my flowers verses being inside cleaning, so be it. If I prefer to listen to music extremely loud, so be it. If I want to continue to drink diet pepsi, so be it, or don't want to go to the gym at 5 am, so be it! I have to realize and be ok with knowing I might disappoint people or offend them by being myself. More than anything, I want to do what I like, do it well and live the lifestyle I know God has planned for me.
Living in the real world, no doubt we have to make a living...my daddy always told me do what you love and love what you do. So while writing this, a light bulb has come on- well, I'll give myself alittle credit...I believe the light bulb has been on, maybe a little dim...I just needed some brightness and clarity. I know I have to work and make a living, have a sense of purpose and fulfillment and stay healthy in order to achieve a life in the real world. Ultimeitly, anything that makes it harder to live in the real world, I will give it a second thought. Let's be honest here....most of us want "instant gratification", we want it all and we wanted it yesterday! So from here on out, I will take a good look at this juggling stuff or balancing act and try to make the necessary comprimises that will allow me to live with stability on solid ground verses feeling like I am walking on a tight rope. So, I'm gonna make sure I got this and re-iterate what I want:
1. an intimate relationship with my God, and to truly know how to "let go and let God"
2. quality relationships with family and friends
3. be the best employee I can...(I have 2 professions I love).
4. relaxation time and knowing how to unwind (blogging, camping, flowers, cards)
5. eating well and exercising regularly (working on it).
Pretty sure these things give me stability and they allow me to keep a firm grip on the best life has to offer. Walking the tight rope and finding balance to me means perfecting ALL of these things 100% and honestly for me that's exhausting, stressful and truly unattainable. Stability is real balance and comes from doing things well and to the best of my ability, and giving myself and my mind some leeway to breathe.
So for me, I will continue to accept me for who I am right now...I also know I am a work in progress, God's not finished with me yet. I have realized I cannot achieve perfect balance and live on a tight rope for any substantional length of time. I know it is better to spend time on solid ground where everything doesn't matter as much... but I still do my best to lead the life I want to live.
No one ever said it would be easy....but because of His Amazing Grace....
A good social life, a healthly diet, the right amount of exercise ( I know, I know Renee..thank you for making me put my socks and shoes back on and going for that "much needed" walk) working hard, yet getting enough down time, throw in family time, yard work, cooking, cleaning, hobbies, t.v., ....a mix of everything makes it difficult to find and achieve BALANCE. Just writing, listing and thinking about all this leaves me exhausted and stressed out!!
Albert Einstein once said, (and I have it written down and think about it over and over...) "life is like riding a bicycle...to keep your balance you must keep going."
The other day, I was feeling way overwhelmed and not sure how or what to do....so, I had a talk with God and I was reassure that if He takes care of the birds, He for sure will care for me, that I need not worry, He definitely has my back. Then I texted my sponsor somewhat to this effect..."hey Tina, it's me, and I know it's late, but you have always told me anything anytime, so can you hear me out on this.....I'm feeling overwhelmed, too much on my plate, I need some balance.......I went on to tell her all that's going on, work, studying for state boards, desire to work in substance abuse also, my yard, my hobbies, my friends and family that I wan to spend more time with them, the time I like to blog, cook, dog-training , camping, lack of meetings, better eating habits, become healthier, exercise, stress of making a list, my procrastation habits,...So, yes I am a mess...well, maybe not visiable to everyone, yet inside I feel like a mess. Maybe expectations to high of myself???" Within minutes, I hear back from her..."Breathe...understandable. I think we all strive for balance. I love the list. I am more productive when I make a list and prioritize. It's ok if we have to move things to the next day. First and foremost, take care of you and get your spirit fed. Without that, none of the rest will matter. I love you." The words I needed to hear! And yes, I have the BEST sponsor in the world, that's a separate blog in itself!
So, I'm on a mission to find the perfect balance or better yet to "stand on solid ground." I have found some truth, knowing I cannot walk a tight rope or a balance beam in life and achieve perfect balance, it simply isn't attainable. I know I need to accept who I am and the way things are and move from there.
I have seen that once I stop fretting over making everyone happy, eating an exact way or fitting in exercise all the time, life seems to slip into place. If I prefer to be among my flowers verses being inside cleaning, so be it. If I prefer to listen to music extremely loud, so be it. If I want to continue to drink diet pepsi, so be it, or don't want to go to the gym at 5 am, so be it! I have to realize and be ok with knowing I might disappoint people or offend them by being myself. More than anything, I want to do what I like, do it well and live the lifestyle I know God has planned for me.
Living in the real world, no doubt we have to make a living...my daddy always told me do what you love and love what you do. So while writing this, a light bulb has come on- well, I'll give myself alittle credit...I believe the light bulb has been on, maybe a little dim...I just needed some brightness and clarity. I know I have to work and make a living, have a sense of purpose and fulfillment and stay healthy in order to achieve a life in the real world. Ultimeitly, anything that makes it harder to live in the real world, I will give it a second thought. Let's be honest here....most of us want "instant gratification", we want it all and we wanted it yesterday! So from here on out, I will take a good look at this juggling stuff or balancing act and try to make the necessary comprimises that will allow me to live with stability on solid ground verses feeling like I am walking on a tight rope. So, I'm gonna make sure I got this and re-iterate what I want:
1. an intimate relationship with my God, and to truly know how to "let go and let God"
2. quality relationships with family and friends
3. be the best employee I can...(I have 2 professions I love).
4. relaxation time and knowing how to unwind (blogging, camping, flowers, cards)
5. eating well and exercising regularly (working on it).
Pretty sure these things give me stability and they allow me to keep a firm grip on the best life has to offer. Walking the tight rope and finding balance to me means perfecting ALL of these things 100% and honestly for me that's exhausting, stressful and truly unattainable. Stability is real balance and comes from doing things well and to the best of my ability, and giving myself and my mind some leeway to breathe.
So for me, I will continue to accept me for who I am right now...I also know I am a work in progress, God's not finished with me yet. I have realized I cannot achieve perfect balance and live on a tight rope for any substantional length of time. I know it is better to spend time on solid ground where everything doesn't matter as much... but I still do my best to lead the life I want to live.
No one ever said it would be easy....but because of His Amazing Grace....
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