Making changes

So it's only been a short while since I wrote this long-winded excerpt from my "return-from-holiday" headspace and I am holding my own against the onslaught of busy-ness and overwhelm. It takes a good amount of determination, willingness, concentration and consciousness to make the changes we want to make - in ways we feel match our values. 

Case in point: after a busy week last week (the return to school) I was due for a night out with my girlfriends while my children were in melt-down. It was when the melt-down turned to blood-letting (dramatic? yes!, real? yes!) I decided that it was prioritising time: my nightout or my children? With the babysitter on the way and all systems set to "go" I shut it all down, changed my plans, made my exhausted children my priority - and it was the right decision for me. 

I was disappointed to miss that night out. I wanted to reconnect with my tribe ... but I knew I wouldn't be doing it whole-heartedly while knowing that what my kids needed right then and there was their Mom/Mum. 

But here's the thing: I felt GREAT! I had made a decision that fitted my values. My behaviour matched my values so there was no conflict. 

Are my friendships important to me? Absolutely.

Are my children important to me? Yup!

Is one more important than the other? Not always ... there are times when the children need to wait their turn too. This was one of those moments when I knew that I would feel better staying home than going out; that whatever benefit I would get from a glass of wine with the girls would be erased by my uneasiness during the evening. 

It's a constant challenge to stay conscious of the pitfalls, to review the priorities and come up with a game plan. It's not always easy to work out which action to take.

But it sure beats overloading, trying to do it all, fitting it all in, and coming away with a sense of having had it all, but not having done any of it well. 

Sarah xx