I must
start by saying that I am not an expert on balance in any way. I stumble quite often since my life and its
many adventures are not linear but a convoluted entanglement of commitments,
experiences and desires. Even with this
blog entry, it has taken me weeks to be able to sit and type this.
I am a
full time, high school, intensive reading teacher. I also sponsor two clubs, Key Club
International and SHAPE. Both clubs
focus on giving back to the community through service, and one of them requires
several hours a week of my time. I teach
an extra class, giving up my planning period, so that I may earn more
money. On top of all of that, I am also
the chairperson of the reading department (who just happens to also do the job
of the reading coach). From the time I
get to work at 6:45 am to the time that I leave work, usually around 4:30pm or
5:50pm, I am nonstop.
I am also
a full-time, happily divorced mom. My
son is with his father every other weekend, but I have him the majority of the
time. I am blessed with the most amazing
little man. He is kind, thoughtful,
smart, silly, and an all-around amazing human being. He’s also seven years old and requires a lot
of my time. He's an A/B student who is always striving to get straight As, so we spend time together on his homework each night. He’s extremely athletic; he
plays soccer in the winter, baseball in the fall and spring, and swimming in
the summer. Usually, those take up 3-4 nights
each week during the season. So, even at
home, I am nonstop.
Exercising
is also extremely important to me.
Several years ago, I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I was extremely lethargic, sometimes to the
point that raising my arm felt like it took too much energy. I had to make several lifestyle changes and
take energy supplements, and I did. I
lost forty pounds and started to feel normal again. It’s a struggle, though, because there are
peaks and valleys, and when the valleys come, it’s quite difficult to find the
energy to do anything productive. Fitting time to exercise into my already
crazy schedule is not easy, either. I
wish I could say I was successful at it, but the truth is that I just don’t
make it sometimes.
I LOVE
to read! I’m a huge fan of paranormal
stories. I enjoy reading both young
adult and adult. I love series sets
because I get to lose myself in their worlds longer than a stand-alone
story. Finding time to read is always a
struggle. I read while I’m using the
stationary bike or the elliptical at the gym.
I read while I’m waiting for an appointment. I’ll try to read when my son is reading for
half an hour each day at home, but sometimes I just need to get dinner ready. I read in the summer mostly, when I’m not
working crazy hours every day.
So,
when do I find time to write? (insert
chuckle here) My phone has become my
friend. When inspiration hits, I use the
notepad on my phone to write out my thoughts.
Usually, that happens at the gym or at a red light or in the shower
(thanks goodness for waterproof cases). I
carry a journal with me at work and jot down dialogue in the rare, spare
moments that I’m given. I type after my
son has fallen asleep or on the weekends in which I don’t have him, after all
of the usual errands are done.
Sometimes, my brain is just too fried to type, and I just accept that my
muse needs a break. (Don’t worry, fans, I’m about 70% finished with writing The One Enlightened, book two of The
Chronicles of the Diasodz).
Still,
with all of that being said, I consider myself among the very blessed in this
world. I have a family that loves me ,
supports me, and encourages me to pursue my dream. I have a son who is the absolute joy of my
life. I have special friends who embrace
me with their positive energy and allow me to bask in their beauty and their
love. I have a job that I am passionate
about, where I can inspire reluctant readers to take a chance on losing themselves
in a story. I have been given an
imagination that creates characters so vividly in my mind that I am able to
share their lives with the rest of the world.
So, how
do I find balance? I breathe. ;-) I
schedule my life meticulously. I
remember what is important in life – my son, my family, my health, my
livelihood, and my friends. I embrace my
passions and find moments to enjoy them.
I surround myself with a happy bubble and continuously work to strengthen
its barriers. I remember that every day
is temporary, and I am given a new opportunity the next morning to start all
over again. I am not that person up on a high wire who tries to juggle seven oddly shaped objects without falling
to her death. I am the girl, sitting on
a cushion, in front of a 1000-piece puzzle, finding a way to make all of the
pieces fit, one by one. And I’m happy.