...because home doesn't happen overnight.

Remember when I painted a sliver of wall in my kitchen with chalkboard paint?  (If you don’t, see it here.)  So far, it’s come in handy when making a grocery list.  Throughout the week, we jot down any items we’re in need of and then add them to the master shopping list at the end of the week.  Erase. Repeat.  A few times I’ve also written out quotes on the wall that are speaking to me at the moment.  They can be funny, inspirational, thought-provoking or downright strange.  Last week it dawned on me to share these quotes with you readers.  Maybe you can relate to them.  Maybe they’ll inspire you.  Maybe they’ll make you smile.

Here’s what my chalkboard wall says today:

Between home improvement projects (my passion), administering flu shots (I’m a part-time pharmacist by trade), potty-training a 2-year-old (NOT my passion) and making sure a certain new Kindergartener is at the bus stop on time, I sometimes feel like I’m being pulled in all different directions.  In one day, my duties run the gamut…from wiping poopy butts…to consulting with nurses on patient medications…to painting a piece of furniture white…to doing lunges at the gym.  I wear many hats.  But this quote reminds me that each day requires a little something different from me.  Like Mondays require me to be more of a pharmacist than a home decorator.  Like Thursdays (my first day off during the week) allow me to catch up with my kids and enjoy their company that I’ve missed over the 3 previous work days.  Like very rare getaway weekends with Handy Hubby remind me to not let our relationship fall by the wayside in the midst of everything else.  Every day is new.  Every day is different.  And there are days I’d rather be at home DIYing instead of at the pharmacy working.  And there are times, too, where I’d rather be at work talking to *mostly* rational adults instead of witnessing a 30-minute toddler temper tantrum.  But this quote reminds me that there’s only so much I can do in one day, and the best I can do is to find a good balance.  And the scales may tip one way one day and another way the next.  It’s a balancing act between doing and being.

What about you?  How does this quote pertain to you?  Does it conjure up any different thoughts or feelings?

9 Comments

08.September.2010

I love this! It’s a good reminder to enjoy as well. : )

08.September.2010

Great quote. I really can relate to it today.

08.September.2010

What a wonderful quote! My husband is so much better than I am about being productive and taking time off to enjoy. I seem to swing between one and the other, but not ever finding a proper balance!

08.September.2010

the doing is a lot easier than the enjoying for me…and you can plan the doing, but it’s hard to plan the enjoying!

the “balancing” analogy always frustrated me–it implies that if you could figure out the right place to put the “fulcrum” between work and family, everything will be perfect…but as you point out, often what works one day doesn’t work the next, and kids are changing moment-to-moment…and sometimes in that moment-to-moment change is when we can find the most joy!

09.September.2010

Hiya, found you here after reading your story. I can identify with lots that you said. Your blog looks great! (Love the cherry blossom bit…)

10.September.2010

love the chalkboard wall and your quotes, i try to do the same to keep me motivated (and to avoid frustration!). found you via Holly’s forum, you have such a beautiful home!

13.September.2010

i just found your blog courtesy of another blogger and love it :) This quote made me smile- I’m in law school, work full time, and have a husband a home that I love to spend time with/at. It’s always a constant balancing act. On weekends like this past one, where I even pulled an all nighter on a SATURDAY to get a memorandum completed, and then re-mulched my yard with my husband on Sunday, just to start the week today with little sleep, that would sum up my thoughts about life in general in one sentence. Thanks for sharing :)

28.October.2010

I love your blog! I have been obsessively reading it the past two days. I love your creativity, but even more so, I love your attention to the nuances of life. When I saw this quote, I knew I had to comment. My life is definitely a balancing act as I am a freelance artist and designer and also work full time an hour from where I live and am just married and bought a new house and all that fun stuff. I feel like I never have enough time for all of it! I learned a very good point from a great friend a couple months back to schedule time every day for activities that replenish you. I was finding that all I was doing was activities that depleted me. I don’t know if this helps, but I really do try to remember this and it helps me walk a little slower, snuggle with my handy hubby, sip tea instead of gulp it and really be in the moment. Great blog. You are officially in my news feed. Oh, and I found you through indie fixx :)

28.October.2010

Margey – So true! As a mom to 2 young boys, at first I felt guilty of even thinking about doing something for myself once a day. But I’ve discovered that EVERYBODY ends up happier when I get a little creative time to myself. Sounds like you are busy, busy…thanks for taking the time to comment.