The Blessings of Busyness and Balance

I was approached last spring by some members of my spiritual kin about attending the first start up meeting of a club to serve and support our community. I went to the meeting along with several other like-minded fellows but declined to be voted onto the board for a variety of reasons, some personal and some practical. But I did promise to become a ‘member-in-good-standing’ who was willing to help out when they needed it. True to my word, I assisted with the club’s first official event, an Open House Ice Cream Social for the community. It was a ton of fun and I managed to get roped into being on the Events Committee, which I was perfectly willing to do. Let’s flash forward to year end after I’d been a part of most of the monthly events that were planned. It seems we lost a couple of board members. I was approached by the president and vice president about being on the board, again. I told them I would think about it and show up at the next monthly meeting, which was in two weeks, the first Sunday in January. Can anyone guess where this is headed?

That’s right, I am now a board member, Associate Treasurer and head of the Events Committee. Well, that actual board position I filled was for Associate Treasurer. It seems I’ll be taking over the treasurer’s position when her term is up in another year and a half. Oh yeah, the terms are two years. Eventually, I will need to be trained on being Treasurer as well as have the bookkeeping software downloaded to my computer. My name is going on the club’s bank account as a signer on their checking account. At the time I agreed to that board position instead of the simple Member-In-Good-Standing, I didn’t think much would be required as the Associate Treasurer. Except I have to be present at all Ad Hoc meetings concerning the yearly budget, which was this past Sunday. I’m not even going to get into my duties as the Events Coordinator, but we have a Chili Cook Off January 30th, a Family Game Night February 20th and an as yet unscheduled Spring Fling Dance in March or April.

Oh, have I mentioned on here yet that I’ve accepted 31 days of yoga in January challenge from my awesome yoga studio, Bright Yoga? Today is day 11 and I’ve managed to practice yoga every day this month. Some have been at the studio, like tomorrow’s Tuesday Sunrise Yoga class @ 5:45 am while the rest has been at home, a lot of the time by firelight. And yes, it is as peaceful and heavenly as it sounds. Not to mention working full-time with a nearly one hour commute each way, my twelve-step meetings, writing and posting my blog three times a week, it’s NFL playoff season and the NBA season is kicking off in earnest, I still need to start hiking/walking and you get the picture. Lots and lots of busyness, not so much balance.

Hmmm, is there really such an imbalance though? It feels like I just need to get a little more organized and manage my time. Things that have not been my strong suit in the past. But I already bought a binder, notebook and mini file folder for my Events Committee business. I Googled Chili Cook Off tips and rules. Plus I have lots of good people to help me with events. I started back walking a mile on my afternoon break with some friends from work. We do it in 17 minutes or less. I’ve been going to 12-step meetings 2-3 times a week for the past 10 years and that will always be priority one. The writing of this blog has been a gift of such magnitude that it would take more time and effort than I have right now to tell you about it. The yoga practice is turning out to be everything I wanted and needed it to be. I had been wanting to start a home practice of yoga and attending more yoga classes. Now I am. And as much as I may grumble about my board positions for the club, I am blessed and grateful to be of service. I do have some anxiety about living up to the commitment, but I’m willing to meet the challenge, I hope. More than anything I don’t want to let these amazing people in my community down. I love and look up to them so because So much of who I am blossoming into is because of them.