'No Pain, No Gain'

Inspired by Betty Wright's song, 'No Pain, No Gain'

"Anything worth havin' at all

Is worth workin' for and waitin' for"

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When I listen to this song now at 42 yrs old and now reflecting being 10 yrs old and hearing this song for the first time then, it means so much to me now. Balancing as a woman with a husband, three children, a dog mom, and working is a lot. However it's doable. I have learned that many women have come before me and have had to do much more. However, is there a different way to do it where we don't burn out? Can we say no to some things and yes to others? Sometimes it seems as if life just won't slow down, but we have to keep up or choose when to slow it down. Choosing to work differently during different hours that are conducive to my children's needs sometimes means having less things, however more quality time and more experiences.

If you really had the time I mean really had the time to sit for 24 hours and reorder your life like a puzzle. The only difference with this puzzle is all the pieces fit together no matter what you put where, because you are the designer of your life. You can do this at home with a vision board digitally or old school with scissors and pictures. Start with the four main things in the center. Mine would be God, my husband, my children, my parents and my siblings. Work then comes next. It's a priority, but what I do for work, how I work, where I work, and how much our work depends on the core 4 things.

Life balance to me is like growing a flower. You are so excited to see the bloom, but the bloom is sometimes no matter how beautiful it is, it might only last for one night to be seen. I had a flower once that only bloomed once a year and only at night. By morning it would die. I say that because it took me paying close attention to it's size, water, and posturing. I had to make sure that I am paying attention to it's preparation to bloom before it actually blooms. Life balance is the same, you must pay attention to it on a regular basis. Plan for it. Adjust to it. Lean into it. Fail at it and start again until you get it. Balance is not about homeostasis, it's about maintaining what works for you and your life and level of eustress and preventing and eliminated distress.

Sometimes life balance means leaving a 9-5 job with benefits to protect your health and mental health. Believe me, I know. So, if you are 38 or older and are considering a life shift to balance your life, consider investing in yourself and let's look at your plate and do some life balancing together! My name is Angel and remember, 'No Pain, No Gain' is a must sometimes, but not all the time!