Have you ever felt like your life was running you, rather than the other way around? The last two weeks have been so incredibly busy for me, that I have felt like I needed to ask permission to breath. Don't get me wrong. They have also been the most productive and downright amazing weeks as well. But, I found myself feeling pushed around a little today by my schedule. I have no one to blame but myself. I should have said no to a few things this week and I would not have found myself in the MESS of today. So here's what happened.
I knew that I had a very busy day ahead of me, yet I agreed to squeeze in a meeting that although it was important, could have waited until tomorrow. I then proceeded to rush out of the house without much of a breakfast. I hate that. So, I am rushing from one appointment to the other all morning, and my doctor calls. I have to pull off the highway to write down some information and then I get back on the road thinking that now I have to resort to drive through lunch.... (yuckkk) but hey, don't judge, we've all been there. I grab my wonderfully nutritious fast food, jump back on the road hoping and praying that I make it to the next meeting without food on the front of my blouse. My phone rings, I answer with a mouth full of food...(thank goodness for Bluetooth cause I am running out of hands) and proceed to handle a problem at home. As all this is going on I blew right past my exit. Did I mention this freeway is in the midst of a two year construction phase and the next exit is like 3 miles down the road?
Now, I could have said to myself, "You know, just take a minute to regroup and enjoy a couple of minutes to yourself. You're the head of the board, they won't start without you".
But, of course that is not what I did. I screamed to myself, " Nooooooooo! ", threw my wonderfully nutritious lunch to the floor of my car and slammed down the accelerator.
I am starving, yet I ruined my food, and now I am hurling myself down the freeway, going in the opposite direction of where I need to be, as fast as I can go! Now I ask you, does this seem reasonable to you? Of course not...
But, I think that we all tend to do this to ourselves in one way or another. I needed to be reminded that I am the one who has to take control of my life, set limits for myself, and understand that it is ok to say no. I have to realize that it is not my job to be a people pleaser.
It is ok to reschedule a meeting.
It is ok to refuse to answer the phone while eating and driving.
It's ok to turn the ringer off while writing, and let the call go to voicemail.
It is ok to take care of yourself and sit down for a healthy lunch without interruptions.
It is ok to tell someone that you are busy and do not have time to chat.
It is ok to ignore your email for a few hours.
It is ok to breath.
I have already canceled half of my day tomorrow. It can wait. What about you?
Bobbie Hogan Robertson has been a technical writer and Business Professor since 1985. After so many years of writing repetitive, eyeball numbing and just plain boring manuals, she was ready to put some fun and creativity into her lifelong passion. She joined DFW Writers Workshop and learn how to write fiction. Her first book was an experiment in Fantasy Fiction, followed by a Historical Fiction book, and her third is a physiological drama. In 2017 she and her husband decided to sell their home and travel. They bought an RV and have been exploring the country full time ever since.
Books:
The Tin Man Cometh
White Buffalo Maidens
Rabbit Holes
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