Running in Circles Gets You… Nowhere

posted 12th February 2010    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: All Posts, Molly, What I've Learned

I’ve been in a whirlwind lately.   20 Tabs open on my browser, mugs half full of coffee strewn about, index cards full to color-coded to do lists spread out in front of me, yoga mat abandoned in the corner.

I’ve been trying to build an inspiring, useful business to serve you awesome Quarterlifers.  Trying to plan an adorable wedding on a major budget.  Trying to supplement my salary with some major side gigs.  Trying to tap into my creative side, eat clean, read books, make love, travel, see my offline friends, keep in touch with my online friends, start swimming again, work on my stealth product launch, set up my tattoo appointments, go grocery shopping, keep my apartment clean, call my parents…

Never quite catching up on anything. Never quite feeling productive enough.

Yup.  That’s been my life lately.

I keep telling myself that this is good!  Things are busy!  I’d rather be crazed than bored!  My bank account loves all these side projects I’ve taken on!  I’m being responsible! Who cares if I’ve abandoned my exercise plan, the Big Man’s handled dinner and the dishes too many nights in a row, and I’m mainlining caffeine?

Doesn’t the world love a multitasker?  I’m a superwoman! I can handle it!

Until, I can’t.

Haven’t I learned this lesson already?  I suppose it’s going to keep coming up (poke, poke) until I stop over-committing myself.  Until I’ve got a handle on the fact that there’s more to life than getting things done, just for the simple fact of getting them done…

Life is more than a “To Do” List- I know that. I, more than most, can control how I spend my days, what I choose to work on, how I want to organize my time. But lately, I’ve been drowning in overload.  Overwhelm.

Running in circles (sprinting, huffing and puffing, pulling a extreme move now and again) won’t get me anywhere.

Because, duh, I’m running in circles.

So, what’s the plan? Slow down, simplify, recommit to my meditation practice, and practice “claiming the moment”.

Claiming the Moment? It’s a phrase from Debbie Ford’s book ‘The Best Year of My Life’.  She writes an entire chapter about how life is made up of all these amazing small moments, but if we don’t slow down and really make an effort to live them and capture them in our memory- life’s just passing us by.  In order to live a truly extraordinary life, we need to claim the moments.

When I read that chapter, it totally hit me.

I’m losing my days to a frantic pace of “getting things done”.  I’m weakening my relationship by not saving some of my personal resources (time, energy, love) to share with the Big Man. I’m diluting my strength and creativity that I need to coach, to teach, to write.

I’m letting small moments pass me by because I’m rushing through my days trying to cram it all in, just so I can wake up the next day and do it again.

Enough is enough.

Here’s to the getting off the fast track!

Here’s to starting out on a long, wandering path to Somewhere, full of delicious moments and treasured memories.

photo credit: Anna Gay

Bookmark and Share
Comments (5)

5 Responses to “Running in Circles Gets You… Nowhere”

  • Sugar-n-Spice Says:
    February 12th, 2010 at 6:22 pm

    Many of us live by the statement, "Life is too short." We think we need to cram everything in all at once but we really should stop trying to shove all those eggs into our shallow baskets. They can only handle so much. *We* can only handle so much. So what if we don't get something done right away. Push some tasks to the side so the moments that make us smile, that make us breathe, can be treasured. There is always tomorrow.

  • Kate Says:
    February 12th, 2010 at 8:51 pm

    "In order to live a truly extraordinary life, we need to claim the moments."

    Thank you for posting this – it really does make us stop in our tracks and realize how fast life is moving and how sometimes we really do take it for granted, me included.

    It's so easy to get caught up in everything, but I think it's important to take time out each day and realize that you're living in the moment and that this is your life and only you control your own destiny.

  • Molly_Hoyne Says:
    February 12th, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    Treasuring is the perfect word for what I need to do more of!

  • Molly_Hoyne Says:
    February 12th, 2010 at 9:06 pm

    You're so welcome! It was aimed at reminding me why I started this dang site in the first place! I agree with you absolutely, Kate- taking time out and living in the moment remind us that THIS IS LIFE! Make it count! :)

  • Cathy Says:
    February 15th, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    As a mom, wife, entrepreneur and etc….i feel like like that everyday. I can't catch up on my to do list. But I came to a realization one day when my daughter came up to me and ask me to read her a book and I told her later because Mommy is busy with her business. She finally burst out saying, "It's always later, later, later". I had to stop for a moment and realized that she's been asking me to read to her for a while and I should be happy that I get to have this moment with my child. From then on, I stop whatever I'm doing when it comes to my family. We will never get those moments back and kids grow up so quickly. Heck with the to-do list! It's good to have but it shouldn't be your guide in life. Thanks for posting this Molly!

Leave a Reply

name*


email* (will not be published)


website


comments