Slingshot Time
Is Summer Over Yet???
Last month, in addition to keeping my children, dog & (most) houseplants alive, I:
Hosted five visitors over 11 days
Held a yard sale
Planned & hosted two sleepover birthday parties and two family birthday parties
Watched my kids perform in Newsies
Grieved the sudden death of a client
Saw The Chicks & Barbie
Remodeled my bathroom
Was a guest on a podcast
Single-parented for 10 days
Coached my regular clientele
Took my kids on day trips
Launched my new program, Align
And prepared for the first day of school
This isn't the first time life has felt too full. And it certainly won't be the last.
What I did differently this summer is that, even when life got so full, I cared for myself far more than in the past. I created more space for downtime.
I met with my own coach.
I reached out to friends.
I played my word puzzles.
I even tried something radical.
I took myself out on 2-hour “dates” once a week, only doing something that filled my soul on that day. No work. No chores. No obligations. Just purely soothing experiences by myself: wandering an art gallery, walking a local trail. Those kinds of things.
Even when I knew that To Do List wouldn't get done without me. Even when it was uncomfortable. Even when everyone needed me.
I call this Slingshot Time
A slingshot works only because you pull back in the opposite direction of where you want to go to build up enough energy and tension for a powerful launching forward. It only works because of that pulling back.
Pulling back from the Doing isn't easy. Sometimes, it is even painful, especially when the inner Taskmaster's voice gets more fraught and desperate, saying that taking time for yourself will mean you will get fired, alienate your family, and ruin your life.
But this isn't true.
Pulling back is when the gas tank gets refilled.
A quieter side surfaces.
Creativity percolates.
The aches of life get soothed.
Patience builds.
Clarity emerges.
Aha! moments bubble up.
Suddenly, it is easier to launch forward.
While the summer marathon has just ended, the ultramarathon of school has just begun. So, let's talk about what you can do to keep your gas tank full--or even at a quarter tank.
1. Make a list. Take a few minutes to review your calendar and write down everything you did last August. If you're feeling extra ambitious, look at the whole summer. Write it down. Notice what you accomplished. Soak it in.
2. Check out Align. Align is a weekly pit stop for you to go from chaos to calm. It's all about Slingshot Time. We start on October 10. It's $222/month for three months of weekly support plus two 60-minute one-on-one coaching sessions. Check it out.
3. Ask Yourself. I invite you to ask yourself a few questions:
What would I gain if I could effectively manage my stress?
How would life change if I was clear about my decisions?
What would be different if I was more aligned with my values?
What is the cost of not changing?