That seems a tad unproductive, doesn’t it?! I couldn’t agree with you more. The way things seem though doesn’t always equate to the way things actually are.

Growing up (let’s be honest, still to this day) my dad used to joke that the theme song to my life was “I’m In a Hurry” by Alabama. If you’re not familiar with country music, it goes something like this…”I’m in a hurry to get things done oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun…all I really gotta do is live and die but I’m in a hurry and don’t know why” (sung in a very twangy voice, I might add). I am so glad that singing doesn’t travel through the web…at least not yet. Music is certainly not one of my strong suits!

So anyhow, that was/is a very fitting song for me. I used to be okay with that but now I realize there is just no point in rushing around like a chicken with my head cut off. It’s one of the biggest challenges for me though. You see my mind works in a giant “to-do list” type format. Anything that anyone mentions to me or I promise to myself goes on this list and until it’s checked off, I can’t stop thinking about it! On the one hand, this makes for a very efficient work ethic but on the other hand, it puts a lot of unneeded stress on myself and those closest to me as well.

These days along with training in all things swim/bike/run, coaching, and helping on the management side of ORR, I’m really trying to focus on slowing down and enjoying the journey of checking off those “to-do” items that comes along with each of those roles.  It’s moments like this one below that help remind me of the big picture:

That’s my precious niece, Abigail gathering Easter eggs last weekend. No matter what I’m involved in or how tired I feel, spending time with her has a way of freezing time. I’m trying to take that and apply it to all areas of my life on a daily basis. I read this quote by Annie Dillard somewhere the other day: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” That’s such a simple concept but yet so powerful and true. We all get caught up from time to time and focus on all the things we need to get done and forget to enjoy the process of getting there.

So get out there and do what you need to do but don’t forget to notice the beauty in those seemingly ordinary moments! With that, I’m off to (slowly) check off another one of those items.