Work. Play. Work again.

I caught myself staring out the window… again.

It’s my favorite time of year, but somehow I’m always too busy to enjoy it. I have a couple of self-imposed deadlines to meet and I’m trying to clear space on my calendar to dive head first into writing a novel during NaNoWriMo in a few short weeks. We’re in the midst of a remodel, and decluttering… always decluttering.
And now, here come the holidays— a time of year I love very much, but one that feels full of expectation.

I sat watching the squirrels gather out my office window, and I noticed how much fun they have as they work. The larger fuzzy squirrel, with his mouth full of acorns, seemed so intent at his work, until the little chatty one attacked from behind! Acorns abandoned and the chase was on! Up and down and around the trees again and again and again; chattering, playing and flying through the tree tops.

And suddenly, the play stops and they are back to gathering again.

Wouldn’t it be great if work could be like that for us as well? Head down and hard at it- until it’s time to play. Imagine how much more productive we could be if we took an unexpected break every now and then for fun.

Don’t get me wrong…

…my life is wonderful. I get to travel and play with my grandsons, dig my feet in the sand or hunt for the perfect pumpkin.
But my fun is planned— deliberate and organized. I’m not a fly by the seat of my pants girl very often!

Don’t get me wrong… my life is wonderful. I get to travel and play with my grandsons, dig my feet in the sand or hunt for the perfect pumpkin.
But my fun is planned— deliberate and organized. I’m not a fly by the seat of my pants girl very often!

Some of you who follow along on social media know I have started a new coaching business with my friend Lea. I’m still meeting with a few women every week who are making amazing changes in their health habits, but I’ve also started working with authors who are launching their books and writers who are ready to write publicly.

Coaching has been the best career decision for me: I get to meet wonderful people, learn their stories and watch them grow from week to week. It’s fascinating to have a front row seat to the unveiling of a dream and the empowerment so many of my clients feel when they finally make the change that pushes them toward their goals.

Good coaches don’t do it for you, they walk with you and teach you how. Some one once told me “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he’ll never go hungry.” Good coaches lead by example, from wellness habits and social media posts, to naps and play time.

In an effort to be the best coach I can be, I’m going to try to put “too busy” on the shelf. I hope to give everyone in my life the best of me, so that will mean a few new habits. I’ve been retired for a while and thought I could dive in like I did “back-in-the-day”. Ha! I’m haven’t been scheduling my time in a way that allows time for the people I love. I’m color-blocking my calendar, saving times for walks and talks, writing and prayer, cooking and fun as well as fulfilling work with a friend I love, meeting new people and launching their amazing words into the world.

Late last night

I was reading the manuscript of an author we get the honor to help launch, and I saw a streak… and then a swirl.

Late last night, I was reading the manuscript of an author we get the honor to help launch, and I saw a streak… and then a swirl. I let my curiosity pull me out of the house and into the car. I turned left off my street into the dark, hoping to catch more.

The skies opened up, allowing the northern lights to creep down to our latitude. Cars lined the dark gravel roads hoping for a glimpse. We were blessed with movement and streaks across the sky… an ebb and flow of the universe somehow swirling into our space. It was comforting, almost like walking through a dream.
I like to think in those moments of awe, we’re closer to God- that the Spirit is there swirling in the magic of it all.

And suddenly, the lights stopped and I headed home to read again.

Work. Play. Work again. Seems like the perfect life to me.

Be Happy.