Balanced Life - Carrots and "Potatoes"

Balanced Life - Carrots and "Potatoes"

Don't you just love the stories we tell ourselves? We can use warped logic, but what we tell ourselves is basically true, right? We can convince ourselves of just about anything if we really try.

We can say that we're ready for a break from a relationship or our workplace but not really know what we're looking for. What do we need to do to keep ourselves healthy standing in the middle of that teeter-totter? More meditation? More exercise? More doing-nothing time?

So when it comes to Balance, it's tough to sometimes recognize what to do more of and what to do less. Finding Balance can be demanding!

Take vacation time for one. You might know that I've recently finished my time off from my regular full-time role, and balancing the time of relaxation and accomplishing, certainly put me on that teeter-totter. Do I use this free time to move ahead with writing goals, learning more about the hundreds of options in social media, or do I just "chill"?

in the Middle of Vacation - I've thrown out my list

Like most of us, I looked forward to having a break from my full-time role in the weeks leading up to it. I made plans.

I was armed with a long list of things I planned to accomplish, the people I wanted to see, creative tasks that sat on the back-burner while working and goals for my long free, I'm-so-spoiled days.

I'm not sure how you handle the carefree days of summer but I am surprised (why would I be?) how quickly the time goes by. My list of things to do still sits with very little crossed off and oh my goodness there are only a three weeks left. (Yes, I did say that I was spoiled.) I have had many laughs and coffees with my catch-up-with friends. How do you estimate the value of that?

An extra yoga class each week has been squeezed in to the day time hours, instead of racing racing racing to an evening class. Walking in the morning, smelling my neighbours cooking their bacon and puttering in their gardens has set my senses tingling.

Boho Jewelry ValueVillageDIY

A few trinkets have emerged, created while sitting in the dining room a glass of wine by my side, watching some "girlie" Fashion Friday show (recorded earlier that day). A few trips to Value Village to secure some discarded jewelry pieces that could be re-born, not quite on my list but fun nevertheless.

Different Angle Different View

Calgary Public Library Art Tour, view 1

I'm playing tourist in my hometown these last few weeks and enjoying the change in routine. Vacation from the schedule, time to reflect and re-energize. Being a tourist in my own life, meandering in my mind, not racing as is customary for me.

Funny how immersed we get in our day to day lives that we no longer see what's around us. Interesting that we no longer investigate what we believe is true. Disappointing that we can so easily ignore our discomfort. Sad that we deprive ourselves of some simple pleasure because we don't think we have the time.

If you have also been given the gift of "time off", take a stroll through your day. It is a wonderful time to learn some new things. Put the sunglasses on or take them off the rose coloured glasses. See your world for what it is, embrace and discard, shred and put on the top shelf for safe keeping, clean out the gutters of your mind.

Make one change. You will be thankful, soon.

Find Yourself, Find your Bliss.

Calgary Public Library Art Tour, view 2