Balancing Act

Have you ever heard the expression about a person “wearing a lot of hats”?  I think we’re all competent enough to know that it is figurative.  (That’s the English teacher in me.). The older I get the more responsibilities I feel like I have; the more “hats” I have to wear.  This past year, 2014, I’ve realized that life is all one big balancing act.  I know I’m not the only one who has a lot going on, but I realized this past year I was wearing a lot of hats:  teacher, co-worker, coach, youth worker, PLC leader, daughter, sister, friend, and follower of Christ.

When you wear so many hats, life can get out of whack if you don’t handle it properly.

Many people get overwhelmed easily.  I feel like I handle stresses and pressures differently than most.  It takes a lot for me to reach my breaking point when it comes to stress, duties, and everyday tasks of life.  I’m not superhuman though; I do break every once in awhile!  But the past six months or so I’ve found the perfect balancing act.

So how have I managed to not collapse?  Honestly, putting prayer and the Word at the center of it all.

Before every new year I come up with 5 goals, I don’t call them resolutions (not sure why).  I figure calling them goals keeps me on track a bit more.  I came up with a goal for each of these five categories, these were my 2014 Goals:

• A spiritual goal:  (to get closer to Jesus by praying EVERY day)
• A goal for my soul (my mind, will, or emotions) (memorize scripture that has to do with my emotions, particularly anger)
• A physical goal (squat 45s by the end of soccer season)
• A goal that has to do with my family (get closer to my family by calling them once a month)
• A financial goal (pay off my credit card before the last day of school)

Without my first goal, about praying EVERY day, I would not have been able to wear all of those hats or even accomplish my other goals.  And ALL of the glory DEFINITELY goes to God.

I’m thankful for the “hats” He gave me to wear in 2014.  I’m thankful He provided a way for me to wear all of them comfortably, all at the same time.  I do have my 2015 goals picked out and I’ve been praying about them… I won’t share them yet, not until the new year has started…

But writing this post, I wonder if God has a change of “wardrobe: for me in 2015?  Maybe He has more “hats” to add to my collection?  Maybe some of my “hats” will “go out of style”?

Only time will tell!  Looking forward to the New year!