Lists. Tasks. Goals. Deadlines. Schedules. Carpool. Coffee. Phone calls. Emails. Remember to call your Mom. Bus stop. Basketball practice. Pick up dinner. Bath-time. Negotiating. Etcccccccccccccccc…

Sound familiar?

This is the reason why there are so many coaches, podcasts, books, courses, etc. about how to achieve calm and serenity. Because we are all doing too much and driving ourselves CRAZY! Yet, these are all the things we (and our kids) want to do…. right? Riiiiiiiiight? 

I can answer yes. Today. I couldn’t answer yes two years ago. And it’s not because I took a course or found a coach. Yes, I did all that. And then some. But it wasn’t one singular thing that made me realize I had to say no to things and cut out things that didn’t work for me anymore. This isn’t to say that every activity I have scheduled every day now is fun and fulfilling. Much of it is getting shit done to get home and crash the f*@k out  in bed! (After I’ve done the laundry, packed the Basketball uniform in his bag for tomorrow’s game, returned the emails that need returning, cleaned out his lunchbox because it’s even more upsetting to find I forgot to do it and the next morning it’s just… crusty.) 

What I AM saying is that I have a tiny bit more balance because I’ve accepted that I can’t do it all.

I have to have balance. I have to have days that aren’t spent in the car. I have to have some time when I’m moving slowly and doing one task at a time. Diligence and discipline are not synonymous with success. Consistency is. And I have found that when I strive for “discipline and hard work,” which for me, equals trying to be perfect, then I’m setting myself up to fail. If I strive for consistency —slow and steady consistency — I can do it. One bit at a time. Like a normal person who has a life and a kid and dogs and a period once a month and relationships and emotions. Oh, and also depression and anxiety which I have to keep at bay with consistent therapy and medication. 

Sometimes, like today, I feel like I’m in an endless marathon. But then, I remember that it won’t always be like this. One day my son won’t be little. One day he won’t live with me anymore. And that will come with its own bag of feelings and sadness and possibly overwhelm. So, today, I’m grateful that I actually got him (got us) home in one piece, he is in a warm bubble bath, and I’m writing this to post for my blog tomorrow even thought I wanted to write it yesterday afternoon (I fell asleep instead, it was Daylight Savings, you get it, you know you do!) 

Take it easy. You don’t have to do it all today. And on the days that you feel like you do, remember that it’s only one day and tomorrow will be different. 

I love you. Keep going.

xoxo,

Jennifer