slowing down

I had a major revelation this week. I tend to overcommit myself. It's not anyone's fault, but my own. I have so many exciting things I want to do, but I just don't have the time or the energy to do them!

Among the things I want to do and have semi-committed myself to doing in the past couple of months include:
-training for and running a 5K
-eating "clean" as much as possible
-teaching summer voice lessons
-painting, remodeling, updating our new house
-getting back into a 5-day-a-week gym routine
-trying to make more money having a part-time job
-playing league tennis
-worship leading as much as possible

and these are on top of the housewife/mommy/nurse/housekeeper roles that I'm already fulfilling (and take top priority).

If I could, there are even more things I would add in a second to my list of desires. Traveling, reading, blogging, late night get-togethers with friends, and more would fill my time completely up! But the truth is, even with trying to do all of these things, I'm finding I'm more and more unhappy doing the things I love. I'm starting to cut things down. Don't let me disappoint you if I've committed to do something for or with you. I would LOVE to, but it's just going to have to wait.

Maybe when the kids are all in school and I have more time during the day to play. Maybe then I can take up tennis again. Or every year pick one or two things on my list to delve into. Or maybe when the kids leave for college. We'll see.

But one thing I know. My life looks a lot better when it's not filled to the brim with STUFF to do. Even stuff I love to do. Sure, there are things we need to get done, like the house, but I can do that if I'm not doing 20 other activities that day, and the kids don't suffer.

So I'm paring down. And I'm excited about it.