Life Balance?

Several days ago I was tagged, along with several other genea-bloggers, by David Bowles at Writing the Westward Sagas with something called the Life Balance Meme, which was started by Lillie Ammann at A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye.

I knew I was supposed to respond with a post, but what the heck is a meme? So, I checked the Merriam-Webster website and it says a "meme is an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture" - sounds kind of like a virus or a disease, doesn't it?

Anyway, the questions (you can respond to one or all, as desired) for the life balance meme are: How do you achieve balance in your life? What is your biggest challenge in balancing your life? What are your priorities? How have your priorities changed over time and why? What advice can you share to help all of us balance our own lives?

Reflecting somewhat on the past, my personal life seems to have been one of extremes and contradictions. I go through phases where I'm involved with one thing or another with a single-mindedness of purpose then I'll switch to something else, at times multi-tasking with several projects going on at the same time. My job definitely requires multi-tasking, and the last couple of years I've been getting more and more frustrated with having to work because it takes away from other things I'd rather be doing. It's one of those "necessary" things, but not for long! The job is not a bad one, and the people I work with are great, it's just that I don't want to do it anymore!

Life is a juggling act. My priorities change as my life changes. My life has gone through some changes in the past eight months (sold the house, got mom into her own apartment, got my own apartment, getting used to and enjoying living by myself again) and will be undergoing even more changes in the next couple of months (finishing up projects at work, retirement in June, deciding whether to move again or not, trying to wrap up various projects for the genealogical society).

Just like most everyone else I know, I try to do the "right thing" and do those things that "need" to be done as well as the things that I want and like to do. These things, not necessarily in any order, include spending Saturday afternoons with my mother, visiting friends and other family members, keeping the Phend Family reunion going, volunteering on projects for the Whitley County Genealogical Society, continuing research on my families, reading, relaxing, trying to get in better physical condition, losing weight, staying healthy, etc.

As for advice? I think Randy, the Geneaholic, said it best. . . "do all things in moderation, do them well, stay true to your principles, be happy and forgiving, love well, learn always, get a good nights sleep, eat your vegetables and fruits, and follow your dreams."