Enjoy the ride!

Over the years, I have read many inspiring articles and books on how to attain the perfect balance between my personal (family) and professional (work) life.  I say they are inspiring because after reading through them, I get all excited with a renewed sense of determination that if I just use the tips, tricks and systems – I too can achieve that place of balance.  I envision it to be like all of the planets aligning just right, the clouds will part and the sun will shine brightly down right on me and I’ll hear trumpets!  Guess what?  It doesn’t happen.  I may get brief glimpses of that perfect world, but overall instead of living in a world of balance, I find my life is more like a teeter-totter.  And I find that a teeter totter is not so bad.

Think about being a kid at recess… Wasn’t the teeter-totter one of the most popular pieces of equipment on the playground?  There is a thrill in the going up and down.  And remember, what goes up, does come down.  So, I have accepted the fact that there will be times when my career is going to require a tremendous amount of my time and focus and that just means I must prioritize things at home so that the most important is taken care of.  The same applies when my I’m focusing on my personal life.

I have also found that the teeter-totter can go up and down several times a day or it can even get stuck in one position for a long time.  Either way, I remember that what goes up, must come down and to enjoy the ride along the way!

Oh, and that other piece of playground equipment – the merry go round – well, that will be part two coming soon.