The One Where It Gets Real: A Woman's Need to "Do it All"

Hi friends, I have missed you.

 Just a few minutes ago, I got a message from my soon-to-be Mother-in-law saying that she missed reading my blog and loves to read my posts. I've also had several messages from you all, and it's not that I've been ignoring you, I just haven't had time to sit down and...write. So here I am:o) It feels good to be here.

I must say, there have been SO many wonderful experiences in the past couple of months. In February, I was promoted to store manager of the Starbucks store that I now run. Nick and I took our first trip to Disney together with two of our best friends. I joined Thirty-One in order to meet new friends in my area and to have some fun working while I'm not actually at work. In March, I lost almost half of my staff at work, only to hire some of the best and hardest working partners I could ask for. I asked my bridesmaids to be in my wedding and they all said "YES!". Now, in April, I am leading community service projects at work. I am doing very well with my Thirty-One business, earning a great incentive prize, and it's only halfway through the month. I have met a new group of friends that I can actually connect with. My step-mom is about to give birth to my new baby brother (literally, as we speak-and I'm sorry I can't be there with you Meg!). I mean, there's just SO much to be grateful for!

But there's always a catch, right? There's always clouds in a sunny sky? Yes.

And what I struggle with, and what most women struggle with, is feeling the need to "DO IT ALL". And guess what ladies? It will never happen! You CAN'T do it all. 

It's something I've wrestled with for awhile now, and I constantly push myself to do the best I possibly can. And you should! You should ALWAYS do the best that you possibly can. But what's not healthy is when you try to be an overachiever. I, for one, bring way too much upon myself. No one is perfect. 

I believe it's all about letting go.

 It's ok to ask for help at times. 

It's ok to be vulnerable. 

It's ok to laugh at yourself.

I find myself thinking about things that have happened during the week in yoga class. My instructor, at the front of the class, saying to "let it go, let it all out", "breathe". But she also says to "focus on yourself for this next hour, without thinking about what's going on outside of these four walls." My response is usually a confused look, like, "yeah ok, easier said than done." But I'll just close my eyes, breathe, and block it out. I give myself that one hour, a full 60 minutes, to think about me and only me. To think about my health, my breathing, my soul, my spirit. It's a great feeling by the way. If you haven't experienced a yoga class, I highly recommend it. And when you do? Let me know how you like it. Email me and we will chat!

I recently had an argument with a family member who I was very close with my entire life. It wasn't until a few years ago that the foundation began to crack. I'm not completely sure what happened, how we allowed it to get that way, but it did. Instead of trying to repair the cracks with glue, we let it sit until it crumbled. Sad? Yes. I tried to reach out to this person and let them know that I am so very hurt and hope they would understand how I feel, but the look in their eyes said otherwise. I became hostile towards this person for awhile, but the more I thought about what was going on, the more I realized that they were fighting the same battle. Trying. To. Do. It All. Trying to be the perfect example, perfect cook, perfect Catholic, perfect friend, etc. The reality of it is, it's impossible to be perfect at everything. But putting everything else aside, it's necessary to put your family first. More directly, the people who have been a constant in your life, supporting you with anything that should come along. 

A friend of mine recommended a great read called "You're Already Amazing" by Holley Gerth. I was hesitant to read it because I'm not much of a spiritual person, but I thought, what the heck? I gave it a go. I loved it. The book is in a way an affirmation that reassures you that, no matter what happens, you are amazing. We were all put on this Earth to love and be loved. 

So as you move forward after reading this, just remember that you are wonderful. Put you and your family first and everything else will fall into place. Somehow, someway. It always works out. And if not? It wasn't meant to be, let it go.

Namaste. Love.