Balancing Act
Balancing Act - Originally posted April 4, 2015
“Busy is a drug that a lot of people are addicted to.” Rob Bell
Idon’t think any of us want our life out of balance, work taking over or family/friend commitments squeezing out room for the activities we enjoy. I know I don’t. There is a saying that I run accross on social media “Stop glorifying busy-ness”. I like to see it, its a great reminder. I have a goal to live a balanced life filled with enjoying each moment. Sometimes that gets hard, I have things to do for my family, friends and colleagues, my art business, work, and of course time to create art all competing for time. I am better at saying no to some things these days, but its not that I don’t want to do any of the things that create busy, its just that it piles up and takes over if I don’t watch out! I was especially reminded of that this week and even today in particular because its hard when there can be so many things you ‘need’ to do vying for your time. Add in a holiday and bam! Busy-ness has struck.
“Respond to every call that excites your spirit.” Rumi
I am SO excited to be a part of Downtown Hillsborough’s Arts and Crafts Show next weekend, April 11 from 10-4. If you are local I hope you will stop by and see me! There will be live music, food, drinks, and a variety of artists. This is a great opportunity for me to get my art out in the public, which is another one of my goals. As I am spending time preparing I am realizing that there is a lot of work to put together a ‘space’ for this outdoor event. Tent, tables, some way to hang paintings for display?, how to accept mobile plastic payments, pricing, and packaging…what?! I’ve got loads of art ready to go, and truth be told I would rather have spent this week in my studio creating and finishing more art than getting the nuts and bolts together for this event. BUT, this event does excite me! There is a scary side too, putting in so much time, money, and effort without knowing the returns. Since I’m going to be a part of this festival I’ve got to get the business side, display, sales and marketing specifically, organized and believe in a positive outcome. I don’t hate doing these tasks, but it makes me feel ‘busy’ and that is not my goal. Balance; its the goal.
“Why not go out on a limb? Thats where the fruit is.” Mark Twain
I play a little game with myself. I need to have everything all together by the 10th, and I could stress and worry waiting for things like my device that will turn my phone into a payment station to come in the mail, or when the display rack I ordered arrives and its defective (can I have a new one here in time?!). The game is this, I bet myself how long I can stay calm and patient while waiting on other people or the mail to get the items I am waiting on to me ~ and stay confident it will work out just fine. Then, I try to beat myself in the game with each new obstacle that comes along. Reminding myself it will all come together and be fine. So, when it had been a week since I ordered said device and I got an email notifying me that they had just received my order for it (yes, one week later) I felt maybe I should call and plea with them to hurry my order. Next day I get an email it has shipped (yea! way faster than acknowledging the order!)….then I start calculating how long shipping might take….it really should be here in time, but what if? No, I’m not even going to think that, it WILL be here in time. Now, how does this help with my balance goal and cutting down on the busy? Well the pre-game me would have ended up creating all kinds of extra tasks like email and phone calls and running about to stores to deal with some of these things that make me a bit nervous ~ you know trying to control it all. The new me, using the game, lets it go and believes it will all come together. I remind myself I don’t need to worry about these things, it will all come together in time, I’ve planned, prepared, and done my part. When I called about the defective rack, the man on the other end of the phone said “we are just going to send you a new one, if you can get the old one rigged to work you’ll have two but we’ll get a new one to you right away” and it was here in a few days! Busy-ness meter down another couple notches, stress reduced, confidence up in future obstacles working out. Trust in the Universe soaring.
“Life is really very simple. What we give out, we get back. Every thought we think is creating our future.” Louise Hay
So I’ll keep working on balance, and joyful moments, taking risks to create the future I want, and believe in myself, God, and the Universe. I’ve not got it mastered yet, but I’m well on my way. Art and life…
“Balance, peace, and joy are the fruits of a successful life. It starts with recognizing your talents and finding ways to serve others by using them.” Thomas Kinkade
Light, Love, and Happiness,
Shannon
