For everyone out there that struggles with that seemingly impossible
work - life - balance
this one is for you!
There is no such thing as work- life balance.
You are never really either working or a mom/dad/caregiver.
These roles fluctuate and bump into each other. Work interrupts your home life and kids need things will you are working.
And that is why I work on vacation.
*When I choose to and because I have the agency to be able to do that, which I understand not everyone has*
My children had two days off of school and we went to Orlando to escape the cold, gray days in Maryland.
And during that time, I answered emails and participated in the online training, The Global Family, which was the kick off for the in-person training that will be held in Nairobi, Kenya in August 2023 in partnership with APT Kenya and Dr. Janet Courtney.
(a work trip that my kids get to go with me on and benefit from)
People will say, "disconnect Jen"
But here's the thing. I love my work. I love my family more, but I love my work. And, after years of trying to figure out this elusive work life balance, I learned a powerful lesson from an odd source:
Rob Dyrdek, the skateboarder and star of MTV's Ridiculousness.
And the key lesson I learned from him is switching out the word balance for the word
HARMONY.
Rob says,
"When you harmoniously integrate all aspects of your life and build them simultaneously towards success, you can achieve more with the effort you put in."
Rob talks about how his life flows without friction. Instead of trying to be Rob the Dad and then Rob the TV star and then Rob the business mogul; his goal is how to keep all of the parts of his life in
HARMONY.
And I've been working on this and I think he's on to something.
I can be present with my 8 year old while he braves the scariest roller coaster in the park and then participate in a 2 hour webinar from the hotel room while my kids are hanging with their grandparents that are on vacation with us.
There will be other trips where I don't work at all.
The thing about harmony is that you get to decide what feels like flow and what feels like friction. And with that mindset, you can flow more seamlessly between your many roles and identities with less stress, guilt or shame.
You know you are in harmony when you feel fully present in each moment and the other elements are all happy as well.
Work webinar was a success.
Family vacation was a blast.
Husband is happy. Kids are happy. I'm happy.
The only thing unhappy is our feet from all the walking, but that's evidence of all of the fun.
That's harmony.
And it's beautiful when you can make it happen.
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