Hello world!

What does balance mean to you?  To some, it might mean “work-life balance”, to others, it might mean being able to walk a tightrope.

To me, balance means eating right, exercising, and still having enough energy to be a happy mother and wife.  Balance is a lot like hula-hooping: you need to center yourself before you can manage the swirling rhythm of life around you.  Finding your center is a personal journey.

How do I achieve balance?  By eating five small meals a day, with a good mix of protein and healthy carbs, I balance my nutrition.  I’m happy to say I’m at my lowest weight since having my younger daughter two years ago!  By moving my body more frequently and lifting weights, I balance my exercise.  The best exercises are ones that utilize body weight in order to tone your muscle.  Did you know that these exercises can be done anywhere?  Finally, I try to balance my family by taking time to play (with both the children and husband) and laughing out loud.

I also need balance in my professional life.  As a recently unemployed professional, this is a struggle for me.  I am halfway between the life of a stay-at-home mom and a full-time job-hunter.  Job hunters are supposed to spend a minimum of 30 hours a week searching for jobs.  Stay-at-home moms rarely get 1-2 hours a day to catch up on errands while their child sleeps.  I’m fortunate to still have the same daycare provider I did when I was working full-time, and I do send my daughter to her two days a week.  This allows me to attend workshops and networking events, apply for jobs, make phone calls, and go on interviews.  However, I know that this time with my toddler is precious, and I should take advantage of these moments we share.

Did I mention I’m also developing my own professional speaking business??  Speaking is a passion of mine, which is why I’m a dedicated member of a local Toastmasters group.  A fellow Toastmaster once told me that my speech “The Loser” inspired her to start her own weight loss journey.  I had never thought that my tale could be the source of inspiration for others.  I’m now enrolled in a course to develop a professional speaking business.  This is a scary concept for me, but very exciting.

Balance can be whatever you want it to mean.  As the year draws to a close, it’s important to examine where you most want to achieve balance in your life.  Choosing your priorities now can help you shape the year to come.  Come back next week to read more!