Balancing Act

This is going to be short and sweet since its Saturday and a busy sports day with my son Ty having a soccer game in ninety minutes and my high school freshman playing in a water polo game over on Bainbridge Island this afternoon which involves getting us all in the car, over to Seattle and in line for the ferry. But it’s a beautiful beautiful weekend and Surfer Ty is here for the next week (hurrah!) and I’m halfway done with the revisions on Shey’s book.

I continue to write really slow, focus divided by children, hotel, and fatigue. I don’t ever remember feeling so tired and think exercise would help pep me up but now when I have fifteen free minutes I just want to lie down and get a cat nap. As soon as we’re in house I must try to get baby Mac to start sleeping in longer stretches as he’s still up two to three times a night. Dread making him cry it out but I’m exhausted and think its nearly all sleep related.

I have a huge stack of books in my TBR pile. I carried them to Hawaii for the summer thinking that as soon as I finished writing Shey’s book I’d begin reading but there’s been no time yet. I keep adding to the pile–just bought another Georgette Heyer at Barnes & Noble two days ago–but have begun reading in pieces Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth.  Have any of you read it?  It’s fantastic and reminds me so much of Ruiz’ The Four Agreements which helped me so much in 2004 and 2005 that I used the lessons to fuel Jackie’s changes in Flirting with Forty.

I love books that make me think, and challenge me to live more honestly and simply. It’s too easy to get caught up in the world and worry and fear. But fear doesn’t make anything work better and it diminishes peace and joy.

I do think it’s time to get back to exercising, too. I’ve lost some weight–not enough–but right now the exercise isn’t for my thighs as much as my head and emotions. Exercise is another of the things that helps clear my head, get me focused, and helps me feel mentally strong.

What do you do to get centered? What helps you keep your priorities straight? Share your thoughts with me in a comment and one of you will win a fun prize of a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card, a $15 Starbucks drink card, some indulgent bath products and Jane Porter reader goodies. The contest ends Monday night midnight and I’ll announce the winner Tuesday morning. So talk to me and you’re entered!