Some days are busier than others, but lately I've felt like I'm going a mile a minute -- or more.
See, I work three jobs: as a copywriter at my full-time job, as an online English instructor, and as a fiction author. Not to mention the jobs of wife, friend, daughter, and sister.
And a lot of times, I'm super organized and get lots accomplished in a day. Other times, not so much.
Lately, I've been feeling really down, almost depressed about this elusive thing I seek: rest. It's like I'm going, going, going and look forward to the day when life won't be so busy. But who am I kidding? Life will always be busy! Yes, I can eliminate some things, and simplify a bit -- but I'm pursuing a dream, and that always takes extra time and energy. Plus, life just happens!
I came across this quote last week in Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts that just totally resonated with me and where I'm at:
"I don't really want more time; I just want enough time. Time to breathe deep and time to see real and time to laugh long, time to give You glory and rest deep and sing joy and just enough time in a day not to feel hounded, pressed, driven, or wild to get it all done -- yesterday."
I wrote this in my prayer journal after reading that:
I love these moments in the middle of my day: when I get to be quiet and enjoy the sunlight and bask in You. When the puppies are still and quiet with me, when I leave my cell phone in the other room, and I just am.
How rare these moments are, what with so many things crowding out my day. It's easy to get so busy -- or just make my priorities different than they should be -- and forget to spend time in quiet. Sometimes I really wish hard for a simplified life, one where I work one job and focus on time with Mike and cook good meals and walk the dogs.
And some days, that IS my life.
But many times, my days are crazy busy and I don't know what to cut or how to balance. I'm sick of working three jobs but I know there are certain times that's necessary.
There will always be something I'm not happy with, won't there? Oh Father, please -- I want my life to be filled with joy and contentment. I do. Help me to have joy and gratitude even when there are hard parts of life -- which there always are!
God, carry me. I'm pretty lost without You. I need to focus this week, relish life, and take joy in time with Mike and friends. I should stay away from the TV and read more. I should find the things I love and take more time for them.
I'm finding that life is lived one day -- sometimes, one moment -- at a time. And I'm grateful that God knows what each one will hold.
Your Turn: How do you deal with the busyness of life?
* I'll be taking off next week from blogging, since I'll be in Florida at a writing retreat!
** Check out my recent guest post on Casey Herringshaw's blog. I talked about what I would tell the pre-married me if I could!
*** Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net