Isn’t work part of life?
We all try to achieve balance between our work life and our personal life. I don’t believe an equal balance can be attained. We can only do our best at not letting either take over.
Last week a friend posted the following quote on FaceBook:
I don’t think the goal is ever to be balanced, ladies. I think the goal is to be centered. Centered means that you feel grounded and at peace with yourself. Centered means that you can’t be knocked off balance regardless of how chaotic things become. #GirlStopApologizing ~ Rachel Hollis
I love this. Being centered instead of balanced. We all must make choices and prioritize things and there will always be someone to tell you that you’re not balancing correctly.
The horses have always helped me stay centered. Photo by Rhonda Abell
There is no way to give your work life and personal life an equal amount of time and remain healthy. If you’re not healthy you can throw everything else out the window. Your entire focus will be on your health. I’ve been there with myself and with Mike. It has a way of taking over every aspect of your life.
From the time I was eight years old until I was 18 my dad was the only doctor in our small rural community. He was on call 24/7. Still he did his best to attend our events.
This was back before cell phones or even pagers. If we were out to dinner inevitably the phone would ring, and he’d have to leave. Usually just as dinner arrived at the table. This could be life or death for someone. We all understood.
He wouldn’t leave the house without giving the hospital a phone number to call if needed. Even if he ventured to a school activity for an afternoon or evening.
This is a great place to sit in silence and breathe. The Monument Rocks know by locals as the Pyramids.
I remember him doing laundry one Saturday morning after I had been away to college. I was shocked that he wasn’t at the office. I’d never known him to stay home and do laundry. At that point he had a young doctor who was practicing with him.
I also remember more than once when he would hire someone to cover his practice so he could take me to a High School Rodeo over the weekend. He did his best to spend time with his family.
I have mixed feelings about doctors and this. I was grateful for the doctors who would answer emails or call when they weren’t working. I also feel strongly that they need to be present in their personal lives and set boundaries.
One of Mike’s doctors called when he was at the park with his children and another called around 8:00 pm both apologized for their kids being in the background. I wanted to apologize for them calling me when they obviously weren’t working. I felt that I was encroaching on their personal time.
We can only do our best to make the best of the time we have. Being mindful is one way you can do this. Be present with your work when you are working and be present in your personal life when you are there.
Mike fishing in Washington. He was truly in the moment.
Years ago, I had a mare at the K-State Veterinary hospital. This is when I learned to love email. I could email the vet anytime a question popped into my head, even if it was the middle of the night. He would either answer my questions the next time he was at his computer, usually in the morning, or would call me on his schedule.
Sometimes I feel like our connectedness is a drain on this. People can get in touch with us any time. It’s our responsibility to keep ourselves centered. By being mindful with our use of electronics. When I was caregiving for Mike, I set my phone up to have priority numbers that would come through regardless. I can put it in priority mode, and it goes into priority mode during the night and on weekends.
How do you stay centered and mindful?
If you’d like to find out how the horses can help connect with me here.
Hold On to being centered in your life.
Make a Connection in the comments below.
Onward! Procrastination Revisited
