Balancing Act

Well, it's time to go back to work. There is only so long that a person can sit around doing nothing. Especially if that someone is me. As a self-diagnosed workaholic, I tried to strike a balance between work and life after Lillian was born. And I think I was pretty successful. Now that I don't have someone waiting at home for me to give them a bath (no offense to Jeff but he can draw his own bath if he wants one), it would be easy to jump back into corporate life in the old routine working dawn to dusk. But I have a new philosophy. A life-changing, earth-shattering philosophy. The kind you could write a "in-just-three-easy-steps" kind of self-help book about and sell at least 2 copies. But for all of you, my friends, I will share it with you for FREE!

So here it is: (insert drumroll here) one day out of the blue, I left work and didn't return for 7 months. And guess what? Work kept right on going without me! In fact, the guy who covered for me is doing so well that he is going to keep going in the job and I'm coming back in an equally exciting but different role. So basically, (here it comes) I am dispensible...in a good way.

So what does being a good-kind-of-dispensible mean?

• First, that my company, my manager and my co-workers are fantastic. They are supportive and generous and plain old good at what they do. For that and so much more, I will work my tail off to make them proud.


• Second, that life keeps on going even when we pause. So though I plan to work hard, I'm also going to strive for that ever elusive balance. As I recently heard someone say, there are 24 hours in the day, claim one for yourself.


• And finally, that there are areas where I am not dispensible (this is a critical piece to the philosophy.) I am not dispensible to my family, my friends and my faith. There will always be someone ready to step in to fill your shoes at work. Heck, even the President, the most powerful man in the world, has a line of people ready to fill in for him. But no one can be a parent to your child for you. No one can be the same kind of friend as you. And no one can secure your place in heaven but you.

And that's my new philosophy! I hope you can learn from my experience and find the balance that is right for you. Cause you too are dispensible...in a good way.