scribblechic

The past two weeks have felt a little frenzied, my predictable pattern of activities adjusted to accommodate additional commitments. The experience of stepping outside my routine lent me an occasion to reflect on the busyness.

The first adjustment came in the form of a fall fundraising activity for my daughter’s elementary school where I joined Kindergarten classrooms, encouraging pint-sized Picassos to create concrete manifestations of their limitless imaginations. Colorful conversations over crayon sketches were charming compilations of curious questions and unedited statements of self. This happy diversion from my daily tasks shifted the balance of quieter, individual pursuits and I quickly sacrificed morning runs along with errands.

The sound of the school bell seemed to mock me as I then raced to scavenge our kitchen for meals. Having lost the time I often use to gather ingredients for a more spontaneous menu, I found myself planning ahead for family dinner. I was planning my time and moving more productively, but something was missing from the new routine.

I cut short the nagging at my subconscious that I was overlooking an essential piece of my days and pushed forward determinedly. Our long standing quiet school nights were turned upside down by enrolling both children in extracurricular activities. In an effort to create opportunities for individual interests to balance the expectations of academics we allowed each child to select one physical activity and one social activity. We are learning to divide our time between homework, family dinners, play, and practice. This adjustment has underscored my need for patience and the absence of stillness.

As we approached the weekend, we supplemented lazy afternoons for time with friends in an effort to recapture lingering pieces of summer.  After a busy week this meant letting go of housekeeping expectations for homemaking efforts, spending more attention on the quality of time shared rather than the appearance of a perfectly maintained house. I relaxed into time with friends aware the work of our home was undone.

Last night I attended a committee meeting for a school-parent topic, finding my way into another new experience. Facing a personal fear of public speaking, I set aside my nerves  placing myself in a more vulnerable position in the interest of an honest dialogue with strangers. Where normally I weigh my thoughts in writing, in this new setting I am trusting others to listen while I sound out my uncertainties.

Returning home from the meeting, at the end of these busy weeks, I measured my tired mind, body, and spirit conscious that despite my best intentions to challenge and inspire each of my family to embrace full days I had lost valuable pieces of my routine that lend me resilience and center my actions; simple acts of self-care amid the busyness of the day. I have learned I must create an unbending structure of care allowing therapeutic moments of stillness and meditative movement. Time among friends must be balanced with time alone; pausing to exercise, read, and write are essential to my well-being. In the busyness of these past weeks happy discoveries and an appreciation for change has fostered a greater awareness of self. I needed to make room for new activities to appreciate the absence of activity. I needed to make peace with discomfort to become more comfortable with new endeavors. I need to allow myself moments of happiness on busy days ever mindful of the value of time.