I’ve been feeling burned out, and was considering taking December completely off to get my energy back.
But it occurred to me that I’m already good at taking time completely off. And I’ve got mad skills for (over)working at a breakneck speed.
What I’m NOT good at is a consistent, moderate pace.
So instead of taking the month off, I decided to take December to start building much-needed moderation habits.
When I shared my thought process with my mom, she responded, “Live your life in a way that doesn’t require you to recover from it.”
Mom nailed it in 14 words, and it’s my new mantra.
LOVE this Mary! I will certainly be quoting your mother with reference to you 🙂
I will definitely let her know! It will make her day.
Does your mom offer coaching sessions? Thank you for sharing her wise 14 words!
I feel that many of us are guilty of oscillating between “breakneck speed” overworking and taking time (the month – really? lucky you!) off to “get my energy back” and avoid “burn out”.
Moderation as habit or Being “FULL ON” every day week-in week-out for the rest of our lives till the daty we checkout are all choices of Living-well-and-Dying-well. I agree balance is a key factor to go beyond this see-saw pendulum swing.
Happy Holidays and New year 2022
Best
Mani
Mom is officially retired, so I’m guessing no. 🙂
Glad this struck a chord, and thanks for your thoughts!
Wow. Thank you Mary for sharing your Mom’s special words. Sometimes we listen, and sometimes we listen and take action on what we hear. I like this especially because, if I could graph my business tasks from day to day, it’s peaks and valley’s. I get burned out pretty fast and recover quickly but I will work in 2022 to be more consistent overall. Funny, we consistenly eat, at least I do. And I am pretty much on a schedule for my daily eating so I know I can edit my life and “live my life so that I don’t have to recover from it”. Thank you!!!
Cheryl Jones, Editor “The Joy Magazine” for Women 50 and over.
Good luck! I’m working with my time management coach next week to get her expertise on how to schedule it and maintain it!
What wise, sage words from Mom! I do believe our elders are such a source of wisdom, humor, non-attachment and grace: why some cultures believe we “midlife” folks and children need them around us, consistently, to remind us what is truly important. As in YOUR life, Mary, apart from doing or non-doing, just the consistent, daily art of being YOU! 🙂 That is our holy calling, isn’t it? To live, in this world, truly as ourselves. xxoo. Not sure if you remember, but in my “former life” (haha!) as a Chaplain mostly to older folks I have performed over 100 Memorial Services. Stood graveside with the living. Heard last words of the dying. Scattered ashes out of canoes. Buried many in the Greatest Generation. You know what? None, not a signal one, on life’s last breath said “I wish I’d attended more meetings. Been more productive and responsible.” Yet many…the majority…wished they’d laughed more. “Wasted” time with others. Did simple things, when no one was looking, with great love. May that be our, the living’s manta: I do tiny, invisible things with Great Love! <3
Denise Mosher
Artist. Hearer. Anam Cara.
http://www.DeniseMosherArt.com
Great words of wisdom. I’ve been in sales all my life. I have been forever under the enslavement of meeting company or self imposed quotas. I’ve reached high levels of success but never seem to take the time to enjoy that success. It’s living to work instead of working to live. Your Mom’s words make a lot of sense. Success can mean more than higher production numbers. It can mean taking time to “smell the roses” along the way. It means loving all of what life has to offer. Then I can sustain my energy with a wider purpose and not have to end up eventually in recovery mode. Thank you for sharing!