It’s 3:00 p.m.. I went to my desk around 9:3o this morning, as Gerry was leaving for the gym, and have been there most of the day, save for a break for lunch and a game of chess. For most of the day, I’ve been working on writing competitions for Story Circle Network. One, just wrapping up and three on the horizon for 2025. There’s a lot of planning and work that takes place before they officially open to submissions.
As I created new folders and spreadsheets for 2025, I was reminded of the old days when I led our annual open enrollment project at the company I worked for. I loved the energy around this time of year when work that had consumed us came to fruition in the form of online tools for employees to make benefit elections and the behind-the-scenes work involved in taking those elections and making them work within the system. It wasn’t always easy, often stressful, but always satisfying.
I’m a planner and organizer at heart. I love the sense of accomplishment that comes from wrapping up projects, crafting new plans, and making things happen. Whether it’s for open enrollment or writing contests, the sense of satisfaction is the same, and comes as a result of using the abilities given to me by my Creator to contribute to something bigger than myself.
Now, I’m sitting here tapping out words for this post feeling tired—but it’s a satisfied tired. In retirement, I have the sweet gift of being able to say that I’m taking the day off tomorrow to do something different. There’s a pot of borscht simmering on the stove made with the last of this year’s beets—supper tonight and maybe lunch tomorrow. I’m enjoying a time of respite before chaos breaks out in the form of Molly’s agitation over the stream of trick-or-treaters we’re expecting and missing our home in a community in Kamloops where no one came to the door on Halloween.
It’s a good life, this. Like open enrollment in my working years, it’s not always easy and sometimes burdens seem too heavy to carry, but overall these latter years are sweet and I’m content in ways I wasn’t when I was younger. The ebb and flow of busy days and not-so-busy ones is manageable, leaning more in the direction of not-so-busy, which is as it should be by now.
So, how about you? Are you finding a balance these days that fits you well? Or is there too much or not enough of something? Is shifting toward balance within your control? (It isn’t always, and if you’re in that space right now, I’m sorry. Hang on.) If there is something you can do to restore a sense of balance, are you willing and able to do it? Is balance even something you think about?
Thank you for these thought-provoking questions, Linda, especially: “If there is something you can do to restore a sense of balance, are you willing and able to do it?” My life is out of balance right now, and I’m not sure there’s anything I can do about it, but I will meditate on this question: Am I willing and able? Or have I become addicted to the imbalance?
Actually, this morning I took a step in the right direction.
Our daughter was married in early September, and two weeks later we drove 12 hours to see our son graduate from Army basic training. After returning home, I noticed that the gas mileage for my minivan had dropped dramatically. We changed the air filter, checked the oil and tire pressure, but still the poor gas mileage persisted. Then a couple days ago, when my husband was with me in the minivan, I complained again about the low gas mileage. He said, “You drive too fast. That’s going to eat up your gas.” I work two jobs, volunteer here and there, and have several commissions going all at once. I’m constantly in a hurry to get to one place or another. But this morning I left 10 minutes earlier than usual and set the cruise control a little below the speed limit. Not only did my gas mileage drastically improve, but my peace did too. I arrived on time for work with a calmness that has not been typical of me lately.
And then I found a link to your blog in my email. I’ve already read two of your posts while waiting for work to begin, and I found here a spirit of peace and tranquility. Thank you for that. My life won’t always be as crazy busy as it is right now, but I am going to proceed through this day and the next contemplating the question: “Am I willing and able to find balance in the chaos?”
I read your words and am reminded of what life was like not all that long ago. The first step in shifting from busy to balance is recognizing that we are moving with a sense of speed and urgency that is not sustainable in the long run. Sounds like you’re in that place, Angela. Here’s to a new intention to slow down and get to a place where calm is a new state of being. Thank you for stopping by, reading, and leaving this comment. xo