No one can be all things, and in our world of many choices, we all have to decide what we can do and what we cannot do. This decision making often involves these questions:
- Am I making my boundaries too tight?
- Am I making my boundaries too broad?
- What is the just-right focus for my time, energy, and effort?
As an educator, my boundaries, to a large degree were drawn for me. The job required countless tasks in a fairly prescribed schedule. The same was true as a mom of young children. In those two roles there was always more to do than time permitted, so in a sense I was on the hamster wheel of life going, going, going, doing, doing, doing.
Now, there is much greater choice as to how I spend my time and what I do. My current roles as mom, family member, caretaker, and citizen offer me greater choice--there's a zillion opportunities to get involved and be busy. I want to take these choices seriously and choose wisely. While everywhere I look I see potential for betterment, I, like everyone else, am not superhuman--I can't do it all, but I can make some significant contributions to my own good living and the lives of others. What will I do?
For now, I'm subscribing to the "empty drawer" philosophy of living. In my bureaus at home, I like to leave one drawer empty. That way I have space for valuable possessions when those arrive. I want to do the same with my time--I don't want to fill every minute so that when requests arrive, I am available to fulfill those requests. This is a good fit for my family life now since my family close and far have lives that in the midst of change, and to be available to help spontaneously is positive.
Additionally, I want to stay committed to a few goals that require the best of me, and to give your best requires a healthy schedule and good focus. To achieve those goals will make me better able to give and serve in positive capacity down the road. Sometimes we have to clear the path to make a deep commitment to a positive endeavor. Earlier in my life those deep commitment paths were laid out for me by way of educational programs, test prep, professional trainings, salary steps, and more, but at this time, the paths are not as planned and easy to access. In many ways, my life now is a do-it-yourself-adventure where you are making choices often about next steps.
So to recognize that you cannot be all things, but you can be some is an important recognition, and to choose your steps wisely so that you meet your most important goals and values is a good way to travel. Onward.