Sisters by Blood & Marriage (Image by alexis22578 via flickr)

This is me decompressing. Writing. This is me thinking about the kitchen that I would like tidied, the floors swept, and bread to make tomorrow. This is me thinking about the new tasks I’ll be asked to perform at work. This is me anticipating the challenge. This is me trying to embrace the details and think of organization that will work for me so that I don’t lose the details. This is me, the one who’d rather be in bed, reading.

The next several months will prove to be interesting if nothing else.

I caught Gabrielle Hamilton interview with Charlie Rose the other night. She’s the recent author of Blood, Bones & Butter, a book many local foodies have recommended. She told Charlie in response to a balance question that she gave that up long ago. One day the restaurant got the best of her. The next day her family got the best of her. And, the day after that, her writing got the best of her.

To me, that is a sort of balance. When I define balance, I don’t mean every day in perfect proportion. In fact, that’d make me crazy. I mean, my time is devoted to everything that demands it in ways where needs are met. That means Levi gets the attention he needs. That means my husband gets the attention he needs. It means my paid work gets what it needs, while my volunteer projects get what they need. My volunteer projects and work are in part for me – but the thing I often forget about – is me. This is something many mothers claim as a trait. So, lastly, ensuring I get what I need.

This means raising self-awareness within myself and my family. It means realizing, recognizing, and enforcing boundaries. Balance, to me, is learning all those things and more.

I am excited to see how the next few months will challenge me. I need a new challenge. This is when you should be careful what you wish for.

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