Friday, October 10, 2014

"Jill" of all trades, Master of none"

I'm sure you have heard that saying in the past - "A Jack of all trades, but master of none." I tried to figure out its origin, but even Wikipedia doesn't seem to know exactly from where or from whom it originated. 

As I sit here at this coffee shop this morning contemplating what to write - because I must write - this is the phrase that keeps recurring in my mind. I feel that lately I have been a Jack Jill of many trades and master of not a single one. I am juggling so many balls and, although, I am somehow managing to keep them all in the air, it is awkward, uncoordinated, and certainly not graceful.

First and foremost is my family. Always my family. There have been soccer games, volleyball team tryouts, riding lessons, piano lessons, early release days from school, dentist appointments, and shopping for fall clothes. Of course, there is the constant routine of school mornings, packing lunches, carpool lines, and homework.  This, too . . . . 

We did enjoy a lovely afternoon at a local corn maze last weekend, though.

I also have my job. It's part time, but I am discovering that no job is truly part time. Even when I am not "on the clock," my phone is chiming with email alerts and thoughts of my work related to-do list weigh on my mind.

I am still trying to go to the gym three times a week and still seeing practically no results. It is excessively frustrating and requiring an inordinate amount of my time, energy, and emotional/mental fortitude to stay committed this mantra:

Finally, there is this blog which I think is suffering the most. This is the third week in a row in which I have barely managed to crank out one post a week - my obligatory Tuesday Ten (which I love I do not begrudge at all). I came to this coffee shop this morning with one goal - WRITE SOMETHING! Yet, when I sat down and looked at my computer screen, I completely drew a blank for a good 15 minutes. Then, that phrase and these words began to flow in this far less than eloquent post. 

Somehow, I'm doing it all but I don't feel that I'm doing any of it well. Each one - my family, my job, my body, my blog - gets only my partial attention and a rather half-assed effort. I am feverishly treading water just trying got to stay afloat. I end the days completely exhausted. It's barely mid October and I'm ready for the December holiday break! 

For the rest of today and tomorrow, I'm hitting the reset button. I'm ignoring this blog and all things related to it. I'm ignoring anything work related. I'm going to the gym and giving it my all. Then, I'm surprising my girls with a movie this afternoon and relaxing tonight. Tomorrow I'm going to cheer at Megan's soccer game and laugh at a cookout with friends. I'm going to breathe deeply, take in the fall colors, and let all the balls I'm juggling drop to the ground.

I'm hitting the pause button and creating some white space in my life. (Thanks to my blog friends Tara and Robin for the inspiration!)


How about you? Do you need to hit RESET? Do you need to let the balls drop for a while? How to you juggle it all and, more importantly, how do you relax and reset?

9 comments:

Janine Huldie said...

Totally came at the right time reading this, as it is a long holiday weekend here with Columbus Day on Monday and totally hitting the pause/reset button to enjoy as much of it as I can and will restart next week once it is over. And you are right totally the "Jill" of all trades here, too - so I can very much relate and how on this on more levels then I can even begin to explain or share! Have a great weekend now!! :)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Janine! You, too!

Tamara Bowman said...

You know I've been taking a bit of a break lately. Not huge, but less lengthy posts! It helps.
And you're right about no part-time job. Mine is supposedly part-time but I find myself thinking about it and planning it 24/7!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I've just been "in a funk" lately (as my mom used to say) with everything. I'm frustrated wight he gym/body thing; frustrated with work; frustrated with blogging. Maybe I just need a vacation from it all!! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Dana. It was nice to let it all go a little over the weekend. Unfortunately, now it's Monday and back to the same old same old.

Alison said...

It is always a good thing to step back, and just be. I'm glad you took the time to do that. You will most certainly benefit from it, as will your family.

MamaRabia said...

I have had a need for a reset button before. Actually, I'm just coming off such a spell. I guess from this side of it, it's nice to look back and see that I survived the funk. Of course, I know it will likely come again, but I'll get through that one too. I hope you've gotten the break you need and you're feeling recharged!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

It was a nice weekend, for sure!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I'm feeling somewhat recharged, though I could use a really good vacation!

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