Balance

So no pics with this one...but at my institute class tonight and this whole semester, we are talking about balance in your life. Tonight we talked about physical balance and the importance of eh hem, sleep. (among other things) Anyway, this is a HUGE challenge for me to have balance in my life in all areas, like physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual. I mean really, who knows a mom of toddlers who doesn't call other adults on the phone just to have some intellectual balance? Not that figuring out 5 million ways (no I am not exaggerating, have you met my 3 year old?) to answer why the sun is hot, isn't intellectually stimulating, but sometimes we just need to talk with grown ups. Also I should maybe read something challenging or stimulating...

And emotionally balanced? Oh there is such a thing? Sorry but I have completely forgotten there is even the possibility of this. One of the things we talked about tonight is that all the areas need to be in balance to help any area that is out of balance. THIS is my ticket, I think. If I work on not being so exhausted, run-down, intellectually and spiritually starving, maybe I can get this impatient, grumpy mama under control.

So...here is my goal. You are supposed to write down goals and tell other people so that you actually get them done, or so you feel guilty when you don't. But either way it's worth a shot right?

Physical goal: I get two because this is my worst area. I can't realistically sleep more right now, so it's more about the other parts. Make one healthi-ER food choice every day, like if I want ice cream, I'll have yogurt, or instead of a cookie I will eat a healthy muffin, or a carrot (don't laugh, I might actually eat a carrot, what's up doc style). Do one physical activity every day (dancing with the boys in the living room, going for a walk, sledding, etc.)

Spiritually: I am doing really well lately, knock on wood, I don't want to jinx myself. But I have actually been reading my scriptures almost daily (huge improvement) and praying. I have also sat through an entire sacrament meeting twice in the last month (a HUGE feat), and have gone to my institute class 3 weeks in a row. So, my goal is to keep doing this stuff. Actually my one new goal is to start teaching my kids more about the gospel, maybe reading to them from the book of mormon illustrated stories or something, or listening to primary songs a little....

Intellectually: Really I am too tired to exercise much in the way of brain cells. So...I will play tetris! :) I am a tetris addict. I don't know if this will really count or not, and I probably won't do it. I am a dry tetris-aholic. I know myself well enough to know I can't play it. It's opening a doorway I don't want to open. I get out of control. It's a good thing I don't feel this way about Ben and Jerry's. :)

So hopefully if I get these things in balance, then the emotional part will catch up. I know I am much less grumpy when I am well rested. Well rested you say? How does a mom with two toddlers get well rested? Truth? We don't. We just like to dream about being well rested. Dreams which are often cut short by crying babies or people checking out of hotels at random hours of the night. Oh wait, that's just me on that second part.

Well another point we talked about in my class tonight was that you have to take care of yourself first. The whole airline oxygen mask thing. I think this is a struggle for pretty much every mother I know. But I am going to try to not feel guilty when I do something for ME. I think I do a pretty good job of taking care of me, as much as I can, take baths, relax, get baby sitters when I can to get a break, eat a treat (no this does not conflict with my physical goal, the guest speaker in my class tonight said not to deny yourself when trying to eat healthier, or you will resent your diet choices and they won't last! So you have to make changes you are willing to do the rest of your life! I am willing to eat treats the rest of my life! I know I am a cheater, but it works for me...), watch a movie I like, read for fun (when not falling asleep), spend time with friends, girls night out, etc. So I am going to do that now knowing that I HAVE TO, and my kids NEED me to.

There you go, ramblings from an over-tired-newly-single-mama.