There are 8 recipes on my to-do wall today. Five more lined up tomorrow. Last night, I whined to the BF (who is out of town this week) about feeling underwater.
You know that feeling of getting knocked off your surfboard or kayak, only to have wave after wave keep pummeling you, as you try to regain your balance?
Yes, well. This week, no regaining of balance is to be had.
Some weeks are like that.
Some weeks are too busy.
Some weeks, you bite off more than you can chew.
I want to run away from these weeks. I don't like them. They make me feel like a failure.
But running away is never the answer.
Letting weeks like these teach you: is.
Here's what I'm learning this week:
1) Go to yoga. I haven't been. And realize now, late in the week, that carving out the time to stop, stretch, breathe and silence my frenetic mind would have been 8x more worthy than downing 2 glasses of bourbon during panicked late-night editing sessions. Dear me, go to yoga. Even when you're tired. Even when there's so much on the plate. Even when. Especially then.
2) It's okay to say no. I realize now too much of this week was brought on by myself. When clients asked for this or that, delivered by this or that deadline, I could have said "I'll need another week" or "another day" or anything. Anything instead of just "yes". Life can be a conversation. By allowing myself to be a yes (wo)man, I've been putting periods on experiences where there should have been commas, semicolons and run on interactions with life and breath. Periods are nice, sometimes, because they set shit in stone and help you make things happen. But I want to remember the power of allowing myself a semicolon. Even if it means I look a little less superhuman, sometimes.
3) Schedule in time for perfectionism. I've reshot 2 recipes this week. Because I am a perfectionist. Sure, I can be a hippy, dippy creative, too. But at the end of the day, when I deliver work goods, they reflect on my ability and I want them to be right. Hey me: remember this when setting up your deadlines. Schedule in a little less to-do's everyday, so you can amply focus on the needs-to-gets-dones. Okay? Do this for you. Because, peace and perfectionism can live within the same space. But only if you give them time to dance around each other, give them space to breath and sync.
So there. No running away froms. Just three lessons, learned from a week that feels like it will kill me.
Instead, I'll stare into the frustration and franticness, stop. Learn. Let it make me smarter, better, moving more toward peace for next week. And the week beyond. And the week beyond.
And until then, avocado toast. 'Cuz ain't nobody around these parts got time for anything else.
Tahini Lemon Avocado Toast
2 servings | 5 mins
- 2 large, thick slices sourdough, toasted
- 2 Tbsp tahini
- 1 ripe avocado, pitted
- 1/2 tsp Maldon Smoked Sea Salt
- a pinch of pink peppercorns, fresh ground pepper or red pepper flakes
- 1 cup watercress
- 2 Tbsp roasted & salted sunflower seeds
- 2-3 Tbsp olive oil
While toast is still hot, schmear with tahini. Top with half an avocado, sea salt and pepper. Smash with fork. Top with watercress, sunflower seeds and a drizzle of olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste, if more is desired (for me: more is usually desired).