Just Say NO!

Life balance can be a tricky thing.  Especially when you’re being pulled in a thousand different directions.  Trying to keep everyone happy is the icing on the cake.  So often, we as women, throw too many things on our plate.  We’re working, we’re trying to find time for ourselves to exercise, we taxi our children around town, we make lunch dates and girl’s nights with our friends, we volunteer for school trips, we want to be the best spouse, daughter, sister….the list goes on!

Just recently, I have finally come to the conclusion that I cannot do it all.  Actually, I have also come to the conclusion that I don’t want to do it all.  Sometimes I just feel like I need to say yes.  About a month ago, I was reading an article that described how some of the most successful people say no to 99% of the opportunities presented before them!  They describe how every time you say “yes” to one thing, you are actually saying “no” to something else!  Having only a limited number of hours in a day means you need to pick your “yes” opportunities wisely.

So, how do we decide? How do we pick the right things to say “yes” to?

We need to search out our greatest values in life.  What do we love to do?  Who do we love to do it with? Family, career, friends?  When we know what we value most, we can say yes to the opportunities that benefit these values.  From there, ”just say no” to everything else! It can be very difficult at first, we’re not used to saying no.  With time, we will start to see the bright side.  We won’t be pulled in so many directions.  We will realize that sometimes things work out just fine even when we are not there.  We will be happier with how we spend our time because it’s doing the actual things we want to do!

Ask and you shall receive

I’m a big believer in putting things out there.  Creating the life you want.  Using affirmations to bring about the reality you want.  Sitting back and expecting things to come to you just doesn’t happen.  You need to be willing to decide what you want, put the work in and ask for it.

My youngest daughter Zoe put this into action in a small way this past weekend.  The girls and I were to have a dinner date on Saturday night.  As per their request, we ended up at Swiss Chalet.  The two older girls ordered their kids meals but Zoe decided she was going to sample off their plates and mine.  No problem.

At the end of the meal, the server asked if the children were ready for their dessert.  Dessert is included in the two kids meals and so he turned to the girls and asked them if they wanted to take home Skittles or M & M’s.  After they replied, he continued clearing the table without looking at Zoe since she hadn’t ordered the kid’s meal!  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her get onto her knees and with total confidence look at him and say “Can I please have some Skittles too?”  When faced by a question from a tiny five-year old, what’s a man to answer?  He replied yes and came back to the table with the three desserts.

Such a simple example.  Maybe Zoe knew the whole time that she didn’t need to order the kid’s meal because she could always just ask for the dessert.  Maybe she doesn’t think there are limitations in life. Maybe too many of us shy away from asking for what we really want out of life because we’re scared or we’ve placed the limitations in our mind.  In a small way, she has reinforced my belief to just go for it.  Ask for the Skittles!

 

Being mediocre

We have three girls and we try to encourage them to be the best they can be.  Whatever it may be; school, dance, a swim meet, we want them to try their very best.  I sat the other morning and wondered if I was leading by example.

I set a goal for myself to wake up every morning before dawn.  This is my quiet time to journal, reflect on the day, read or get some work done.  Sometimes it’s really easy to hit the snooze button.  I end up hitting it a few times and my dawn wake up call turns out to be me heading downstairs at 6:30.  I still get a little bit of my morning time but not as much as I had wanted.  This is mediocre.  Lots of people can get up at 6:30.  Many people have to do it just to get to work on time or organize their families.  Getting up before dawn – to work on yourself and your life, that’s not mediocre.  Before dawn is a challenge, but it is also me trying my very best at something.

Even having a gym membership can be mediocre.  How many people do you know that pay their set fees every month and show up once in a blue moon?  It’s admirable to see the value someone puts in fitness but if they’re not trying their very best at it, what does it mean?  On the other hand, there are people who sacrifice hard-earned money to keep that membership or pay top dollar for a trainer to keep them in line.  There are some people who leave it all on the gym floor every time they show up.  That’s no longer mediocre!

Every part of our life, we can just show up and go through the motions or we can show up to make a difference.  It’s always our choice.  The result will be directly related to what we put in.  Mediocre will bring mediocrity.  Discipline, sacrifice and hard work will bring greatness. Which of these do you want your children to see as an example? Which of these do you want your children to accomplish?  It’s up to you.

The Power of One

This week, Canada lost a leader. Jack Layton passed away after a short struggle with cancer.  I, like many Canadians did not know him personally and yet I felt the loss of a great person.  Jack had a vision for Canada.  He was driven and he had goals. He tried to make a difference.  So often we forget what one voice can do; how it can affect others.

I have the opportunity every day to change lives, to create inspiration and to leave a legacy.  It’s not fair to those around me to just sit back and not do the best job I can.  Sitting back means that my one voice isn’t heard.  That one voice could be the difference for someone choosing to lead a healthy lifestyle or not.  A healthy lifestyle creates a better quality of life for that one person and everyone they interact with.  Healthy lifestyle habits will be passed down to children who in turn will encourage people around them to lead a healthy lifestyle.  Imagine being surrounded by people who are feeling well, being productive and enjoying life. That one voice could affect millions!

In Jack’s words, ” Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world”. One voice at a time.

What’s in a blog name?

It’s official…I have entered the world of blogging!

Task number one was finding a name for the blog.  I’m sure you can imagine how fun that is…trying to come up with something witty and then hoping it’s not taken when you fill out the endless fields on the website! Well, I made it.  All about balance, the story of my life.  I am no stranger to the task of wearing many hats.  Upon the hooks are these; chiropractor, mother of three, supportive wife, daughter, sister, friend, exercise junkie, parent council member…and more!  Sounds even worse when you look at the list but I know that I am not alone.  Many people out there are trying to balance their life everyday with all of their own roles.

This is where the blog name came from, it’s all about balance! We will never be perfect, we will never execute all of our roles flawlessly and without complaint. We can only do our very best…and the only way to do the best is to have balance.

Taking time as a mother, free of guilt, to spend time exercising and improving our quality of life.  Making sure that we spend quality time with not only our children but also our spouse.  Indulging in dessert sometimes after a healthy choice meal.  It’s all about balance! Sounds so simple.