Raise your hand if you are tired of ‘busyness’.
When people ask me how I’m doing, I try never to say ‘Busy’, but the reality is I’ve got lists that put together could stretch out the office door and down the stairwell.
But of course, I’m busy. That’s life and I’m not an exception. My goal however, is to reframe the word ‘busyness’ and instead to think of it as ‘I’m living a full life’.
I just returned from two fabulous weeks from visiting family/teaching a workshop in Ireland. Just before I left I was asked by Steidel Fine Art if I’d like to be part of the Jackson Hole Fine Art Fair. My pieces had to be out there by September 12, which means it had to be shipped by September 6th and I only arrived home on August 26th. I wasn’t happy with what was in my studio inventory and needed to create a new piece for the show. My step-son and daughter-in-law just purchased a fixer-upper and the little girls room needed to be painted (of which I love painting) so I volunteered to help them get their new house in shape for the girls to be able to get settled before school. And Eatons’ Ranch workshop is just around the corner (I leave Thursday) so I have to prepare and pack everything in my car. It’s been 4-weeks of ‘busy’.
I’m not telling all this so that you go, wow. I’m telling you this because ALL of these things I choose to do with all my heart. I wouldn’t give up any of them.
I’m incredibly blessed to be able to go to Ireland and spend one of those ‘epic’ nights with my cousins, eating, drinking and laughing until the wee hours of the morning. Followed only by spending a week with two of my ‘besties’ introducing them to ‘my Ireland’, capped by teaching at the amazing EOM Studios in Co. Mayo.
I love that people respond to my artwork and want to see more of it.
I would never give up the look on the little girls face when they saw their new room painted lavender and purple.
And well, Eatons’ Ranch workshops are the highlight of my year.
There is a quote by Brené Brown that I just love.
“It takes courage to say yet to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.”
I also suggest it takes courage to live a full life choosing those things that make you happy. The ‘busyness’ associated with those things, well is just part of it.
But come the end of September, I’m looking forward to slowing down and saying yes to resting and playing more.
Because that too, is what living a full life is all about.
I’m curious to know, how do you handle feeling too busy? Would love to hear from you in the comments below.
Be well….be creative,
