"Don't let life take over"

Today's Bit of Advice....

"Don't Let Life Take Over"

Oh, blog, how I have missed you.  I've thought about you often over the last two months.  I've promised to call, promised to write, but I never did.  I've let you down.

I know I'm an excuse maker (and that is so cliche) but I really have had reasons to ignore you.  Let me list them for you (for, besides being an excellent excuse maker, I am also an excellent list maker):

1.  I am a wife.  He works hard to provide income for our family and he mows the lawn.  I provide clean clothes, warm meals, and serve as the family's personal "Google" by answering any and all questions.  I am expected to provide correct answers 24/7 in all topic areas.

2.  I am a mother of three children.  They do not provide income nor mow the lawn.  I, however, am expected to provide clean clothes, warm meals, and serve as their personal "Google".  I also serve them as nurse, chauffer, referee, shopper, maid, and barber/stylist,

3.  I own a large home.  It expects me to meet all of its needs.  Enough said.

4.  I teach music to 215 students grades preschool - 8 every week.  Eleven lesson plans taught in ten hours across two days.  That's right.

5.  I direct a school choir of 25 students that rehearses for 30 minutes a week and performs anywhere from two to six pieces each month.  

6.  I am a school board member at my daughter's school.  I also co-chair the Enrollment/Retention Committee, provide school tours, and work ten hours per week in the Development Office.

7.  I am currently chairing two fundraisers for the afore mentioned school.  One of them is next week.

8.  I teach private horn lessons to a few students.  The number of students changes quarterly so I never know exactly how many are still practicing.  Nothing new there.

9.  I am the past-president of a non-profit Board of Directors.  "Past" only in the sense that I stepped down last August after several years.  "President" in the sense that no one else stepped up and the seat is still vacant.  You know what that makes me now, right?

10.  I have to make sure our Russian Tortoise, Ivan, gets feed, walked, and bathed.  (Okay, this one is a stretch since he only eats every few days, doesn't walk anywhere, and gets a monthly splash in a bowl of water - and, he's currently hibernating)

I bet you are tired just reading that list.  I sure am.  And I'm tired when I'm not reading the list.  I'm just tired all the time.

I sat in church yesterday listening to the priest homilize (is that a real word?) about New Year's resolutions.  Too often, we set resolutions that are broken in the first week if not on the first day.  He encouraged us to set more realistic and positive resolutions that will really enhance our lives.  It caused me to think about how much I do for others and how little I do for myself.  During airplane safety demonstrations they always tell the parent to use the oxygen mask first and then place it on the child.  If the parent is not taken care of, he or she cannot care for the child.

I haven't been using the oxygen mask.  In fact, I may have been forgetting to breathe at all.

So, for today, the girls are off at a playdate and my son is at the movies.  I am in my home ALONE.  And I'm breathing.  I'm doing what I need to do to make myself feel rested, relaxed, and rejuvinated.  I'm taking care of me.

And it feels wonderful!

Thanks for the read.