In an ideal world, I prioritize, plan ahead, and am efficient and effective in what I set out to do. The last two weeks have been the complete opposite. I feel like the wheels are mostly on the bus, and I've been trying to pick up the pieces... but my life is overflowing at the moment. Mostly good things. So many good things... and some really sucky things. Can't win them all.
On the plus side, I finally got a post written mid-update. Winning.
Adventures for 2014
- Trying new forms of moving and exercising
- Softball (for anyone that knows me, this is entertaining) ... our team is 1-0 and I actually taught someone how to bat tonight. Best thing about this league - beer comes out on the field with you.
- Golf. Ok - not new, but its so good to be outside. And I walk. It counts.
- Cooking for one (beyond pasta and eggs)
CSA has started. I eat most of it raw or all together in a salad. I hardly find time to eat real meals, much less cook one.
- Practicing self-care
- Not going to lie, this kind of went out the window this month.
- I did go to Smith Lake and get a haircut
- Mixing different friend groups/life circles
- Coworker from UMN Housing is now a coworker at Ecolab
- Found out another coworker and I were involved in Student Council in HS and went on 2 trips together. Small world.
- Using paid time off
- Not so much this month, but I feel better about this for 2014.
- Enjoying performance arts
- Is baseball an art form? I've gone to a lot of baseball games and fireworks this month.
- Achieving airline status
- Activating human drives
- Yes, although seemingly all at once and none particularly well.
- Keeping plants alive
- Work plant - still alive and well. I might need to up the challenge soon.
- Listening to music instead of watching TV
Lots of Late Night TV this month. Jimmy Fallon is hilarious.
- Thinking critically for fun
- I am in possession of GMAT books. It took critical thinking to get there
- Living values through time allocation
- Family time was good. More upcoming for less fun reasons.
- In July one could assume from my time spent that the #1, 2, and 3 thing in my life is work. This is not true, but I am spending lots of hours there. Mostly self-inflicted... lots of good and exciting things happening.
So I was doing pretty good at reflecting and documenting my thoughts until mid April. Then I went to Morocco and had a bunch of great thoughts on things to write about when I got home, and it never happened. And I've had a lot of great conversations with people and thoughts I wanted to record since being home, and it hasn't happened. I tell you this not as an apology, but one of many examples, that no matter how great our intentions or planning may be - life happens.
Summer is full of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors - patios, festivals, camping, baseball games, walking ... this is on top of everything else that typically happens. Each summer I pretend summer is going to be a time to slow down and reset, and I always end up in over drive. Conflicting priorities - community, work, family, friends - are giving me a run for my money lately. I'm trying to balance it all and participate fully in life, last week at the expense of my sleep.
I can tell you the majority of my weekend activities for the rest of 2014. I keep getting more involved with extra curriculars at work, knowing I'm going into heavy travel season. I try to be planful, maximizing my time with work, social life, and family. And at the same time, being flexible enough to be available when things happen and I need to drop everything to be with family. I also know, that I will continue to say yes to things spontaneously if they seem right. Last week I had an opportunity to sit in on a Q&A with our interns and the CEO - his answer to work/life balance was, something to the effect of: it's not so much a balance as choosing when you do what - have a job you love, trust your intuition, make time for the important things.
With my Uncle Steve continuing his struggle with cancer, I've also become acutely aware of how unfair life can be. Trying not to rush through life, and at the same time, not take for granted each moment we have. Life happens...it's up to us to make the best of it.
Lately I've been doing a lot of Qoya - Qoya is based on the idea that through movement, we remember. We remember our essence is wise, wild and free. It's been helping me balance the highs and lows.
That rambled, but thanks for reading friends.
