A Secret to Success as a Working Mom: Turn Burn Out Into Bliss and Embrace Joy

Last weekend my youngest was committed to going to the "Water Steps" a man-made water fall in Pittsburgh by the rivers. (Fun Fact: Three rivers converge in Pittsburgh--The Ohio River, The Monongahela River, and the Allegheny River.)  He kept asking. I knew he was serious when he said, "If you won't take me, I'll ask  daddy!" Given that it was highly unlikely that would happen on an unscheduled day, I relented. So, we went. It wasn’t planned in the way most things in my life are. No calendar block. No checklist. No “productive” purpose attached. And, so in some respects it was uncomfortable. And yet, it seemed necessary. It was the idea of my 8-year-old—offered with the kind of urgency only children possess when something is profoundly important to them.

Falling in love is contagious...


Apparently my new lease on life is contagious. A friend recently accepted a date with a guy that wasn't her exact type because she asked herself, "What would Chaton do?" As fate would have it, she went out with him and had a great time.

My recent experiences have taught me that I missed out on a lot of fun because of my self imposed restrictions. These restrictions covered nearly every area of life--I shouldn't go out on week nights, I shouldn't date anyone who hadn't made similar choices, and I should stop exercising once it felt too hard.

I am not committed to doing the opposite of everything I did before. That's as silly as all of those rules. Rather, I am committed to focusing on incorporating more of what I truly enjoy into my life.

I have taken some chances. I have gone out on weeknights. I have dated more authentically. And, I have pushed myself athletically. As a result, I have been having a really good ride...

I invite all of my friends and blog readers to join me. Springtime is a time of new beginnings. Come on, let's fall in love together!
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