On a recent jog, I noticed some pretty ivy and clover growing between the bricks in my neighborhood. It was just filling in around the bricks in the sidewalk. But it got me thinking about the structures in my life and what fills in around them.
Like a sidewalk, life has some constant structures or bricks.Things that happen, that are reliable, consistent and expected. Time with people I love, dinner with my family, work, exercise, travel, music and porch sitting are some of the things that shape my life. When I focus on those things and make room for them I feel solid and balanced.
Sometimes things pop up uninvited. If too many of them pop up I get overwhelmed. When this happens I have to force myself to pause, look at my life and determine which bits of growth are the part of my BLV landscape and which parts need to be handled with some Roundup. Easy enough except when the new growth is an important part of your vision too…
My sons’ school needed a PTSA president. The high school is about 3 years into rehabilitation and for the first time in a while I will have both kids at the same school. I believe in my sons. I believe in their school and I love this community. So guess who is the PTSA president. Making room for a commitment like PTSA is going to require rearranging of the constant structures in my life.
I am feeling a little overwhelmed about it. I am searching for the time to get done all the things that I am choosing to do and it’s impacting me in ways that are unexpected. This weekend was packed, it was packed with amazing, wonderful BLV affirming activities but it left my energy level on empty coming into Monday. I do have a tendency put too many BLV activities on my schedule.
The key is balance. Easy to say, hard to do. For me the strategy has been to put, when I can, the bricks in place first and build the other stuff around them. Sometimes I have to rearrange the bricks daily and sometimes the are in place for while. When I focus on the bricks, things begin to come into focus and get less overwhelming. When I am focused I find the energy I need to do the things I choose.
If your life is anything like mine, sometimes unexpected things pop up attempting to grow into your life. What are your bricks and how do you prioritize them? What do you do with the pretty ivy growing up around your bricks? Do you immediately get out your Roundup and get rid of these unexpected visitors; or do you give them a moment to see what they might grow into? What strategies to you use to manage it all?
Help me out BLV Collective…what do you think?
Thanks Kimberly. I’m still trying to normalize a little. The balance will come. 14 years of community leadership apparently take a while to get over. As a typical over achiever I gave myself two weeks. . .
Sage advice Michelle – thank you. It’s not the PTSA or the anything that creates challenges, it’s the everything that I want to do. My challenge is keeping it all in balance and perspective. Thank you for keeping PTSA in perspective. I hope you are finding some balance too!
I almost felt very guilty when you agreed to be the PTSA president – because I know what it takes from the other areas of your life. As someone who consistently wears too many hats I don’t have an really practical advice for you other than this:
1. The need is overwhelming. Pick FIVE things you know you can accomplish. Say no to yourself and to your team on anything not in the five.
2. Don’t commit for more than a year. The role will give you back so much positive energy, but it will also suck a bunch. One year is enough in a volunteer leadership position. Promise yourself that now and leave room to change your mind in May.
3. Remember something the very wise Leslie Grant said to me: “The pioneers get the arrows and the settlers get the land.” What we do in these years will bear fruit in a future we likely won’t completely see. This helped me understand it’s a long-range vision and I am but a single warrior. That means I can only do my little to the best of my power.
4. Know that hundreds of people (maybe thousands) are very thankful that YOU stepped up. Let their thanks compensate for all the things you will have to give up for a year.
5. Cocktails.