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This year has been so full already in such a short amount of time. Last year was such a psychotically busy year for us. We were away from home 111 days of the year and wracked up some serious airline miles. We sipped cocktails in Santorini and took in the majesty of places like Banff, Canada. We made beautiful new friends and created a lot of work that we're pretty stoked about. It was a blessing in so many ways, but every blessing has a dark side, for us that dark side manifested itself in not having a lot of time to invest in our friends & community here in Seattle. We had just bought a house at the beginning of the summer and the walls remained bare until about 6 weeks ago. Our house was a pretty telling description of the state of our lives throughout the summer months. We were too busy to think and really immersed ourselves in our work (and had a lot of fun doing it).
I was always able to justify my "work-a-holic" tendencies with the fact that I absolutely ADORE what I do. I feel like many of us creatives and freelancers struggle with this on a daily basis. Because we love what we do, many of us could work until midnight or later if we wanted... but is that really the best thing for us? I've been thinking about the fact that we each of us are three-dimentional people... we have so many facets and different parts of us that make us interesting and well rounded. Therefore ALL of those parts of us need nourishment not just one part of us. I've also never heard of a creative person that was described as being "boring and one-dimentional." I think it takes every ounce of us to create something meaningful... those kind of creations don't pour out of a one dimensional person.
So in 2011 I have begun my personal shift towards nurturing those other dimensions of myself. I'm taking more time to be with friends. To stay in bed a little longer to cuddle my husband. We even started cooking together (if you know me, this is HUGE!). My dance teacher growing up always said "all things in moderation," and it is a thought that has come to mind a lot in the past year. How does a passionate, focused person keep things in moderation? This is a tough one for me, and may always will be, but I'm trying to grow in it. So the past couple of months have been filled with a nice mix of friends, hang outs, breakfasts and photo taking too. Here are just a few snaps from our Instax from the last 4 weeks.
All of this beckons the question, how do those of us who passionately love what we do maintain a healthy balance in our lives? How do YOU do it?
Thoughts
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For me, getting disciplined and organized enough to capture my creative ideas and whims on paper (or otherwise), allowed my mind to function in space and clarity day to day. That in turn, made self-awareness much easier. It's an art, to remain aware of what you need to remain full and inspired. It's a discipline to take the steps to give yourself what you need. Doesn't make sense, does it? To need discipline in order to set yourself free from yourself?! lol But I've found it to be true....
balance is SO hard. i have to involve God in it. i can't ever seem to figure out how to balance my life. but He always can :) ps. the polaroids rock.
Girl, I totally feel like I just wrote this post! This is so me too! It's hard when you love what you do that sometimes you sacrifice a lot of other things for it. We have been living in our house for 1 1/2 years, and I am just barely getting some stuff on the walls! I'm really trying to enjoy the non-busy days and relax and enjoy friends and fellowship more and not be so sucked into working. Hugs!
With all due respect, I don't think moderation should be the goal. If Lewis and Clark had been more "moderate" we'd all still live east of St. Louis. If Orville and Wilbur Wright had been more "balanced" we'd still be taking trains between Seattle and Chicago. If Wilberforce wasn't so passionate we might still be living with slavery in the Western world.
The world needs people passionate about good and right things, and as a Christian I believe those things start with being passionate about a loving God that made us, our family, our community, and so on. It's an issue of priority, not balance. For example, if my passion for my work supercedes my passion for my wife and kids then I've made work into an idol and sacrificed my family at its feet.
Be more passionate, but with the right priorities. Moderation and balance are weak goals.
[Sorry so long, but your thoughtful blog posts get me thinking...and writing...]
Wise words :) I'll remember them for when my business takes off! ;D Love your little wall display!
I've been thinking a lot about this very thing. I think it was yesterday that I read: "How you spend your time is how you spend your life". That really convicted me and brought me to a place of desiring to spend my time wisely so I don't waste a minute- and so I leave a legacy of a life well-spent. Thanks for your honest thoughts!
@Brooke ahaha! Thank you so much for catching that! Dang auto-correct!
this is healthy and wonderful. be blessed in this.
i also had a hearty laugh at the use of the word "fascist" in the place where i think you intended to say "facets". :)
loved this post, sarah! i am a big believer in all things in moderation and you're right, creatives need layers of experience to give us the insight that we do in life and in our photography. i always try to take out time in the morning for myself to gather inspiration, to have time in my thoughts, to kick start the day. my problem has always been distraction though, so for me it's more of a balance of the rest of the world vs work. lol. but everything in moderation!
that's a wicked stache chris is rocking!
I haven't done a good job of balance myself, but am learning to have people around me that can check me when I allow things to get unbalanced. SO thankful for some really awesome friends who send a text or call just to ask how I am doing with this.