Recently, I've been really busy.  If you stop by this blog regularly, you've probably noticed that my entries have been a bit sparse lately.

I was sharing with a friend today about my busy schedule, and she shared a few great nuggets of wisdom, so I thought I'd pass them on to you.

There needs to be a balance between what fills us and what drains us.  Some activities fill us up, spiritually, emotionally, or even physically, while other activities drain us.  For example, I'm an introvert, and my husband is an extrovert, so what fills me up may be different that what fills him up.  Take cell, for example.  My husband's role as a congregational pastor requires him to visit the various cells within our congregation.  Now, for him, being an extrovert, meeting up with new people every week and getting to know them a little bit better is great!  He comes away from a meeting like that energized and excited. 

Now, me, on the other hand, I am an introvert.  I draw my energy from time alone.  Going to visit a different cell every week, and walking into a room full of new people that I don't know, and enduring a whole evening of meeting new people, answering questions about myself, and chit-chatting with others--well, let's just say that to me that is sheer torture!  It is extremely draining on me.  I am energized by an afternoon alone in the quiet of my room, reading, surfing the internet, listening to music or a good teaching podcast.  That makes me come alive!

In order to run at my best in this busy time, I need to make sure that I can balance those activities that drain me with those activities that fill my tank.  If I'm doing more draining things than filling up activities, I'm headed for burn-out or breakdown.  Likewise, if I'm heavy on filling up activities, and am not giving out somewhere, I'm also in danger of physical, emotional, or spiritual obesity, which has its own set of problems and is just as unhealthy as overdoing it on the draining activities.

Makes sense, huh?  The key is balance.  So, I need to examine my life and schedule and see what activities are filling and which ones are draining.  Am I balanced, or am I getting too full or too empty?  That's where I'm at right now--the examining stage. 

Lord, teach me to live in balance.  Help me to make time in my schedule to fill my tank.  Then, help me to give all that you have blessed me with to bless others.

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Posted by TC

I just wanted you to know that I'm going to nominate you for Best Geographical Blog over at http://homeschoolblogawards.com . :)

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