Labor Day, All Day!

"Don't get so busy making a living, that you forget to make a life."  Dolly Parton

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Tomorrow is Labor Day, a national holiday that pays respect to all of the American workers who have not only worked tremendously hard, but who have also succeeded.  When I think of this holiday I think of all of the people who have come before me, the people I look up to like my mother, and the ones who had to go through much worse in order to be accepted. 

In the past 15 years that I have been working, I have learned just how important it is to have a work life balance.  There were many jobs that I've had along the way where my balance was non-existent; where I lived and breathed work, 24/7.  When I got to the management level, my boss at the time, a wonderful leader, told me something that has forever stayed with me.  She recited a saying that one-time President & CEO of Coca-Cola, Bryan Dyson once said.  It goes like this:

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air.  You name them-work, family, health, friends and spirit-and you're keeping all of these in the air.  You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball.  If you drop it, it will bounce back.  But the other four balls-family, health, friends and spirit-are made of glass.  If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered.  They will never be the same.  You must understand that and strive for balance in your life."

I never understood this until most recently.  As someone who naturally has anxiety and wants to please everyone, trying not to do it all was insanely hard.  It wasn't until the breaking point of which I feel we all go through, that I understood how worn down I was; how tired and overworked I had been.  The speed that I was going at was a speed that was not only stupid, but also guaranteed to burn me out.  I think when we reach a true burnout in life, mainly due to working too much, we have only two choices we can make.  We can either take that as a huge sign to slow it down or we can continue on the path that we know will only lead to darkness.

By darkness  I mean anything that strips you of joy.  Whether it be depression, stress, pushing people you love away, irritability, or not wanting to do anything but be a coach potato, the darkness is real.  Anything that takes away the light within you is darkness and I think after failing and  then failing some more, I finally understand the importance of the balancing act. 

I am not perfect nor do I have a perfect life.  I never will and after 30 years of striving for perfection, I no longer do.  Each day, should be ever so lucky, we are blessed by the simple act of waking up.  Before we get out of bed and wash our face, we have the choice to start fresh.  There have been many times where I've awoken and rehashed the same story I was telling myself the day before.  Instead of a clean slate, I chose, whether deliberately or not, to live the same damn story again.  

It takes a lot to find yourself again and I think the only times we truly find ourselves are the moments that we have fallen.  I'm thankful that I have a job.  I'm thankful that I am appreciated both there and at home.  I'm thankful for all the hardships my career has thrown my way, because man alive have they taught me so much about people (in general), but also and mainly about myself.  And I'm thankful that I get to surround myself with very intelligent people every day.  

Labor Day reminds me to take it easy, to believe in myself, to have confidence, and most importantly, to work hard but not too hard where I lose myself as well.  It's the balance we all must seek in order to truly succeed.  And I am ever so lucky to be at a point in my life where seeking is no longer a struggle. 

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The balance we seek is within us always.  Only WE have the ability to go out and make it happen. 

Xo,

Kim