June 2019 was a month that I can best describe as biting off more than I could chew. Or as the subject of this blog suggests, existing in a clown car – a month so jam-packed that all I could do was survive in bemusement as the overloaded contents of the month spilled out. This is not to complain in the slightest. It is merely a descriptor of what I subjected myself to before I realized the implications.
I’ll briefly list the things that filled my month, then get on to the fun part: pictures and stories. Because evidently, I need to remind myself that, yes, I do like to sleep sometimes, my June contained:
- My part-time job of 15-20 hours per week
- Regular activity for growing my newly launched writing/marketing consulting business
- Prep and execution for a substantial client project for said business (about 18 hours total)
- Taking an online class that had to be completed by July 5
- Attending a two-day professional development conference
- Keeping up on an inordinate amount of homework and training for my business networking group (BNI)
- Getting both of our cats spayed, a week apart, and dealing with the drama of having to separate them because one cat didn’t recognize the other and wouldn’t stop hissing at her
- Three delightful nights at the coast with my in-laws, and all the prep that goes into taking turns cooking meals
- Three and a half days visiting a friend in Southern California
- Family BBQ with visiting out-of-state relatives
- Attending a fundraiser for a business associate
- Mother-daughter night out for my mom’s birthday
- Classic movie night with my folks (a monthly occasion)
- A church youth group event
- Whatever time was leftover after that is what I had available to do life in survival mode (grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.)
You might look at that list and notice that a lot of those things are fun. I agree. I’ll admit that June was bursting with fun as well as frantic with work and education. When all taken together, it was overwhelming. I usually like to plan my schedule carefully and spread out activities evenly, because I prefer to build margins into my weeks. It just wasn’t to be in June, and that is quite OK.
As much as I like to maintain tight control over my schedule, I also recognize that it isn’t always possible. Sometimes things pile up all at once, and people are available to visit at times that aren’t ideal. In the final analysis, I’d prefer to run myself into the ground taking advantage of enticing opportunities than pass them up for the sake of margin. Even though I put pressure and stress on myself in doing so. As a wise guy once said, “YOLO!”
Now, onto the fun part: pictures!
The next series of pictures is from my trip to San Diego to visit my friend Kim.
A quick video compilation of goofing off at Pacific Beach (original video shot by Kim Sharp):
I’d much rather be overloaded with work and fun than the alternative. So even though June was filled to the brim, I am incredibly grateful that I have abundant opportunities to live life to the fullest. My philosophy is, whenever possible, to frolic instead of walk; say yes instead of no; be silly instead of serious; and focus on the positive rather than the negative.
Everyone has their own flavor of busy, this happened to be mine last month. Thanks for reading!
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