I very distinctly remember the year 2005. The year was distinctive for many reasons, but mainly because I hit my stride career-wise, and in the height of things, I was juggling 6 different gigs at once.
It was a crazy time, but enormously satisfying. I was teaching multiple classes of acting and public speaking, directing two different plays at the same time (not recommended), writing a book, and privately coaching about 5 different clients during this time period.
To say I was busy is obviously an understatement. Each day I kept post-its by my alarm clock to tell me what day it was and where I had to be. Yes, it was insane, overwhelming, at times stressful and mind-boggling and yet I thrived. In hindsight, the balance of my life was completely out-of-whack; I had no social life or relaxation time to speak of. But I believe everything happens for a reason, and eventually I made up for it!
I think balance is essential. I really do. But I also discovered that I'm the type of person who needs to have multiple activities going on all at once in order to stay interested. Boredom kills creativity. Like a shark, I need to constantly keep moving or I lose interest in myself.
So now, 7 years later, I'm back to the juggling act. I'm not quite up to 6 gigs (nor do I want to be), but I am once again, writing (of course I am), coaching, directing and teaching. And loving every minute of it. And though it takes some effort these days to do so, I find ways to make time for the special people in my life. My friends are very high on my priority list; so I make time to meet for coffee or a brew and keep in the loop. Finding the balance of work and down-time.
I do not feel overwhelmed quite yet, though I anticipate I will as the play I'm directing goes into tech, the deadline for my writing projects get closer, and my students demand more of my attention. But the thing is, I've done this before, and I can do it again. And this time around, I'm really learning to enjoy the ride.
It's going to be a great summer!
10 comments:
Fantastic! Watching you thrive with all your creative endeavors is a wonder to behold. Go, Debbie, go! Cannot wait to see the fruits of your labor! A great summer indeed.
Great post, you are a talented lady and glad things are going well. I also am happy to be fortunate enough to be among one of your friends. I agree this is going to be a great summer!
Wow! That's a lot of hats. You wear them well. Break a leg!
Awesome. Where do you get your energy and would you mind packaging it? Good luck to you!
Tell us how you feel when your play goes into tech! LOL! STRESS!!! Break a leg!
What play are you directing, and when can we see it?
It's amazing how you juggle all those hats.
Just don't wear too many, or you might go bats.
I don't know you do it all. For me, getting up in the morning and going to bed at night, and doing a few easy things in between, is about all I can handle well in a day.
I should have said. "I don't know HOW you do it all."
This sounds like a topic that might make for a funny play: someone who has many jobs (like you) and at some point gets confused (NOT like you), and who therefore goes to Job 1 with the tools needed for Job 2, and to Job 2 with the tools needed for Job 4, and so on.
And the person is so spaced out that she doesn't even realize what is happening, so when, for example, she shows up at someone's home to tutor a child in 5th grade math, she brings her gardening tools. And she keeps answering the kid's questions about how to do quadratic equations with an explanation of how to plant geraniums.
Just a crazy thought, but if anyone can write it, you can: a hilarious comedy by Debbie Lamedman.
You Rock!
i love hats!! :)
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