It's the season of school. Homeschool. And a super tight deadline looming overhead. AND a myriad of life stressors that make daily life challenging. My face looks pretty much like my son's in this photo. Intensively concentrating and focused.
Do you find yourself going through stages of life like this? When balancing it all feels like more than a juggling act and instead, a complete plea for some miracles?
People ask me how I do it all? I usually respond "who says I do?" LOL! But truly, my prayer is consistently that the Lord will redeem the time for me. That I will be centered in His grace and strength. That I will prioritize what He wants me to prioritize.
I think sometimes we have a dream--at least I do--of that perfect writing day or week. Rainy. Comfy sweater. Coffee. Silence. A slow morning. Then curl up for a long concentrated period of time to whisk myself away into the world of imagination.
It's been a long time since that's happened for me! As it is, I'm up before the rest of the family this morning. Yes, there's rain and a comfy sweater, but my task list in my project management software is long. My Virtual Assistant/Social Media Management business demanding me to meet a different set of deadlines. So while my characters lurk in the back of my brain and keep pounding "don't forget us and this deadline", I've already made coffee and am plugging away on the task list.
There's no simple checklist to maintaining a peaceful balance. I wish there was. Just prayer and lots of it. Some days, I just want to cry. Others, I feel like I can do this forever. Most days, I muddle through and wonder what it will be like in eternity ... will we have deadlines there too?
Are you in a season where you could use some extra strength, wisdom, and faith? What do you do to make it through?
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Jaime Jo Wright loves to read—and write—fiction with elements of mystery, faith, and romance from her home in Wisconsin. She's a coffee drinker by day and night, lives in dreamland, and exists in reality.
Find her at www.JaimeWrightBooks.com or www.MadLitMentoring.com
Good morning, Jaime!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same place, but in a different boat.
My children don't allow me to homeschool them anymore, those ungrateful wretches. But they might have a point since the youngest is turning 29 in a couple months...
But the busyness continues - especially this time of year. Responsibilities pile on and every day's task list is overwhelming. My plate is overflowing.
But when I'm in this position (and it happens regularly,) I keep an image in my mind of a cup and saucer - my plate is full because my cup is full of blessings - poured in, stacked up, and spilling over the sides. (Psalm 23)
So I do the tasks as God brings them to me, one at a time, the best I can.
Blessings on your work and your deadline!
What fabulous imagery!! I love this so so much!
DeleteJaime Jo, you do have a lot on your plate. I get stressed out trying to do it all. My writing time is what gives, which is why it is so stalled. Today I have a free day that I am going to devote to trying to get unstuck on the writing. Good luck as you complete your projects.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to stall the writing in exchange for other "priorities". And it's not necessarily bad to do that, but I'm super gald you have a free to day to just write!!
DeleteFinally moving forward with my writing. Reading through several notebooks of notes on this novel revision I am trying to move forward on. It has been productive. I found some original character development/plot points that I did not put into my draft. Some of these will add to the story, so this has been useful.
DeleteIt's a lot to juggle, isn't it? I got home from ACFW Conference, and though I would love a couple of days to decompress and unpack mentally and emotionally, but...LIFE. Life didn't stop while I was away, and things piled up. So, here I am, plugging away to catch up. :)
ReplyDeleteI guess that's what I do to power through. Just keep plugging away.
Life didn't pause? HOW DARE IT! :) LOL I know you are the unspoken super human who juggles allllll the things ... ;)
DeleteI planned to write all afternoon, but laundry needed to be washed, lunch prepared, dishes washed, etc, etc, etc. At this rate, I'm hoping to get to my WIP in about thirty minutes from now. UGH! Life demands action even when I have a book deadline!
ReplyDeleteOh shoot! Your comment just reminded me I have wet laundry to go in the dryer! LOLOLOLOL!!!!
DeleteI'm doing laundry today, too! I need to check my dryer now.
DeleteThere's always more to do. I was at ACFW, too. Sorry we didn't get the chance to meet in person! I arrived home last night, wrote a report, then woke at 5:00 this morning to get ready for school. I kept telling myself I'd teach then take a nap when I got home. But then I arrived home and there were more tasks that needed to be done. I've given myself until 8 this evening. Then I'm going to go sit and relax with a book or a movie. No matter what is still left to do.
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