But it makes sense ~ they might be filling a void or using their schedule to help them cope. It’s hard to some people to find a quiet space and appreciate it. Because then the thoughts come in and you KNOW you have time to do the things you don’t want to do.

Enjoyed this post a great deal!

turned down a big project this weekend because I KNEW it would be great for me—-IN TERMS OF DISTRACTION ONLY.

baby steps to life changes huh?

I realized that so often I made myself over busy in an effort to distract myself from what’s really going on.

the same reason so many of us get into the car.

alone.

and immediately turn on the radio and call a friend on the cell.

My calendar is a right mess as of late. I’m overbooked all the time, I hope things will slow down next month but even then…I somehow doubt it.

I think as long as the bulk of things are activities that you initiate and enjoy that is all that matters!

When your body is telling you to let go, please do or else you’ll burn out.

Everyone has a natural influx of social activity…sometimes our calendars are brimming over and sometimes it seems there is nothing…oddly enough they tend to coorespond with other things in our lives. Perhaps, this is not just your way of coping, but it is there because you have reduced other areas of your life which were keeping this one down previously. Perhaps this is part of the natural ebb and flow of energy and activity in your life. (think about the past year, are there times when everything seems booked and others when it is not booked at all?) Perhaps still this is just another area in the quest to find your purpose that if given a chance an opportunity will arise to help identify it.
Perhaps this is your excuse to look for an excuse?? Either way, the situation is what you make of it…negative in = negative out. Positive in = positive out.

Think about this -
Instead of “Why am I so busy? I just wish I had more time!”
Try - “I’m happy to have the opportunity to learn and grow (work travel), spend time with family that I don’t usually get, and have friends who enjoy spending time with me.”

Just a thought…
~K

As far as saying no and protecting my schedule, I have a hard time doing that sometimes simply because I *want* to do everything. I don’t want to choose between work, school, marriage, friends and family. I want to be all things to all people, and I don’t want to miss out on anything. If I say no at work, I worry about it affecting my connectedness, at the very least. School is expected of me, and I’m committed to it, so I hold it somewhat sacrosanct. Marriage and friends- these are the people I love most, the places where I get the biggest pay off, the long term commitments. Family is family, and so, to a reasonable extent, I’m bound by love and duty to maintain strong bonds.

It’s tough. Super tough.

And the biggest one… how much time in our busy schedules we actually waste (I know it’s hard to believe when we feel like we’re running ragged, but it’s true).

I think it’s great that you’re taking steps to take your life back. Those who do things do everything. Sometimes we have to just STOP.