SPT: Earth Day

This week's challenge is reduce, reuse, recycle.

 

Yeah, you really are on the right post. No, it doesn't look like Earth Day around here. I attempted a couple of shots with my recycling can, but that was just weird. Hey, at least I recycle! So rather than focus on all of the conserving I do do, today I'm recommitting to change a few things.

With a new property management business underway at our house, I currently have four computers in my home, three of which are on and used daily. There are two separate phone lines coming into the house, with three handsets, one fax line, a cell phone, a Treo and a BlackBerry. Consolidating is much needed around here! I've learned that the bluetooth headset is fabulous- I can be making a peanut butter and honey sandwhich while negotiating an insurance premium! I know there are benefits to all of the technology I surround myself with, which is why I have it all, but when comes time to leave the house and I have to make sure I'm carrying more than one phone to walk to the mailbox, it's just too much. I'm working on it.

Most of the electronic "junk" I have is a bit representative of the internal "junk" I've been carrying around. I'm struggling a bit with balance. I've got a business to run, a marriage to nurture, a child to mother, a home to keep, a gospel responsibility to fulfill and a personal self that really doesn't want to get lost.

It comes down to simplifying and realigning my priorities. I have always had a tendency to get overwhelmed. I remember as a child and teenager that when a deadline was approaching and I still felt there was a great deal of work to be done, I would get a completely sick feeling in the pit of my stomache and could hardly concentrate on any one task because I was worrying that another one might not get done. I realize it's not rational, but it's how I am. My mother's wise words were spoken over and over again, "One thing at a time, that's all you can do." While I value multi-tasking, and am quite good at it sometimes, my mother's mantra has been flashing through my head recently.

I don't want to get so overwhelmed and preoccupied that the things that matter most get pushed aside. Cooper and I had a rough day yesterday. Usually when he has a rough day, it's because I'm having a rough day. The business to-do list is so lengthy that's easy to be on the phone too long or sit in front of the computer to finish just one more thing. I don't want to hear myself saying, "just a minute," 27 times. I realize that it's only a short time until he's not going to consider me his best playmate anymore and I'm going to regret it if I don't soak in these moments. He is at an age where interaction and learning are so critical and I'm the one that gets to provide that right now.



I need to reduce the current stress level and take one thing at a time. I may have to get used to the idea that my house does not look terrific all the time, dinner isn't going to be fabulous every night, laundry piles up and it's going to be ok. Priorities. Simplify. One thing at a time. Breathe. Today, on SPT Earth Day, I've got to enjoy my world a little more. Because I love him.