Over the years, I have had many people say things like, “How do you find the time to… (write, run, bake, volunteer…etc.)?” I have even had one individual repeatedly say (and undoubtedly others think) that they can’t believe I’m still employed. It is beyond their comprehension that it might actually be possible for me find the time to be active on social media, blog, run, bake, vollunteer AND still manage to do a competent job in the office. Admittedly–like every mom on the planet–it IS difficult to keep it all afloat most days. There are definitely days when a few things can’t be saved and end up sinking to the bottom of the lake. In fact, there are many days when I feel that I am definitely drowning and taking everything with me.
Here’s the rub…those days when I am feeling completely submerged are the days when I NEED to write, run, bake, volunteer (etc.) most of all. It’s not even really a choice for me. When you’re truly a writer (or runner or baker or volunteer)…doing said activities are the ONLY things that center you…that make it possible for you to focus and get on with your day. Take writing for example…allowing so many thoughts to swirl around in my head without writing them down is DISTRACTING. It’s kind of like feeling nauseous but not making time to get to the toilet. Those who need to write understand this phenomenon. I’ve talked with lots of them about it. Only after we’ve “purged” all those swirling thoughts do other things even seem possible. Perhaps it’s not like this for every writer but it’s definitely this way for me. The honest to goodness truth is that what I post is only a fraction of what I’m actually writing down, thinking about.
And so…the next time you wonder, “Where does she find the time?” think about the things that you do to refocus, center, process. Most of us have things that we MUST do because it’s who we are. These things are not really choices and denying ourselves the time to do them is like holding in the bile, constantly feeling nauseous. Wouldn’t it just be better to let it out so you could feel better and get on with the rest of your day? Wouldn’t you do everything else better if you did?
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