It all comes from you.

I woke up just fine, everything was normal and I was looking forward to the day – excited to get my hands on some projects I’m working on. Then my 4-year-old woke up. She was not loud, obnoxious, or annoying, But man – I was annoyed. For absolutely no reason. Until the second I dropped her off at preschool, my mood was ick.

I immediately realized that I needed some time to myself and I had been the sole parent a bit (hubby works out of town occasionally), along with many moving parts on my work/dreams plate . I came home and made a beeline to my office, then the computer, like I promised myself I wouldn’t. Then shortly after, just laughing at myself because I found myself just sitting there watching Taylor Swift videos, drinking my coffee and having the best time.

Comparing it to yesterday, I remembered I was on the computer working constantly (when I wasn’t taking the 4-year-old to preschool & gymnastics). So, I sat there and watched music videos, tarot videos, and nonsense until it was time for preschool to be over.

No, this isn’t my grand self-care stint – but it’s a small gift I can give to myself until I can get away for a longer period. And that in itself is self-care. Balance is what you make it – it all comes from you. The imbalance also comes from you, and not from all of the external factors you willingly piled on your plate. So, you have to be the one to correct it.

Pick your battles, create healthy boundaries, drop what you’re doing, walk away and breathe.

No question, I am deeply in love with every single thing in my life that I’m working on, and every person/furry baby I give my time to. Striving for balance simply means that I love myself the same.

-Aimee

“There is no such thing as work-life balance – it is all life. The balance has to be within you.” -Sadhguru