Today, the first day of the new year, seemed like as good of a day as any to begin a new undertaking, so here we go!
In my mind, I have begun teasing apart a puzzle: how can I incorporate regular creativity into my life as a working mom?
You could say that this began as a small child, when my life was filled with creative people and situations living among the Hippies in the redwood forest of the Mendocino Coast of California.
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| I am the blond on the left and my brother (yes, brother) is the brunette on the right. |
But this most recent episode came out of my work with coach and nutritionist, Ann Gibson, (Adventure Wellness). I began working with Ann when I started to feel like my body was getting into trouble about 1.5 years into mothering and breastfeeding my twins. I was feeling worn out, gaining weight, and not sleeping through the night. To stay afloat in my life, I had been getting monthly tune ups from a highly regarded Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor and acupuncturist. Though I am sure it wasn't his intention, something he said during one of our sessions set me on a new path.
"Today's stressful lifestyle is what keeps me in business. If people suddenly had less stress in their lives, I wouldn't have any work."
I was working 30 to 40 hours per week and mothering twins. I worked (and still work), primarily because my contribution was needed to pay the bills and afford the organic fruits and veggies I wanted for my children and myself. With the cost of daycare and no nearby relatives to help, our pay checks did little else - - my husband and I regularly compete over who has the most worn out jeans or the fewest articles of serviceable clothing. I was, and continue to be, in a job that I had left in 2008, but I then returned to during the recession.
On the one hand, working for a small mother-owned consulting firm has been a blessing in my life - it gives me the flexibility to determine my hours (to some degree), and I was able to be home 100% of the time with my children for the first six months of their lives. But it is not the career that I want. I am a market research analyst in the senior housing and care industry. How I got into this line of work is a story for another day, but me remaining in limbo on this career path is a significant source of stress for our family - - particularly since my paycheck minus childcare costs just barely contributes to the bottom line of our household.
In my exhausted, fuzzy state, I had to decide where to intervene in my life. Physical health? Job? Long-term career? Daily habits?
I decided to work with Ann Gibson, because I concluded that during the year-long program with her, I could tackle it all. Ann believes that impeccable self care is the answer to world peace. If you need a translation, this means that nourishing all of yourself (body/mind/spirit), helps you and has a positive multiplying effect on those whose lives you touch, inspiring more graceful moments in others. Self care ripples out into the world. This is what I needed.
On three occasions, Ann asked, "what is your deepest wish?" and each time I responded with some variation of, "I want to create."
So finally, I began working on a project that I had imagined almost a year ago. At the same time, work slowed and I became more rested and had more time to work on my rather large project. Oh...it felt good. Art is meditative for me and I felt centered in myself, more generous, and happier. My well had been dry and I was beginning to fill it again. Empowered by working with a coach, it has become clear to me that I NEED TO CREATE and I am emboldened to make this a part of my life. But how can a working mother of toddler-aged twins regularly find the time to create?
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An opportunity recently arose for me to speak (for free!) with a woman who offers career counseling. In preparing to meet with her, I began writing a business plan around my creative project. She suggested that I balance my need to create (keep working on the project!) with the need to identify a more imminent plan to bring money into the house. In explaining her process, she said that she asks her clients to identify a need in the community or society that should be addressed. First-generation college students (I was one) and global warming (any thinking mother of young children cares about this issue) immediately entered my mind.
As I thought more deeply, after our session had ended, it struck me: I should blog about my own exploration into the mom/work/creativity balance.
I am enjoying this already and hope it is beneficial to you as well.
