18 Comments
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Nancy Myers's avatar

You've got this girl! All of those busy days will soon be wonderful memories that you will have forever! Slow down and enjoy everything you are doing!

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Maile Silva's avatar

You're so right, Nancy! Thanks for the encouragement!

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Jen Snow's avatar

I relate to this! I used to want to cry over having more than one calendar item on the same day. And the I decided to do a seminary degree at the same time as our three kids hit teenage years and the last year of that master's program I was also working part-time. I actually really thrived in that season! My window has lowered a bit now that I have graduated and I am actually kind of missing that wide open window season....

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Maile Silva's avatar

Jen, I agree that these things do tend to be seasonal! And I have a feeling that I will be the same way once this season has moved on...I'll miss it. Thanks so much for sharing!

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Kara Lea Kennedy's avatar

Thank you, this made me smile. And your comment, “when I realized that I could do things without knowing all the details or doing it all perfectly,” helped me understand the old adage that “the devil is in the details.” What lurks in the dark space of worrying about the unknown? Good things to ponder!

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Maile Silva's avatar

I never even thought about that phrase in that way before, Kara, but you are exactly right. Thanks for sharing that--now you've given ME something to ponder!

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Kara Lea Kennedy's avatar

Aw, thank you!

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Jenny Gehman's avatar

If that window of yours is going to be wide open, may all good things fly in!!

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Maile Silva's avatar

You're so kind, Jenny! Thank you!!

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Mel Bjorgen's avatar

I resonate with the "window of tolerance." It was wide open when I was studying to get my MDiv for three years; it had to be. Now, as I am transitioning from one job to the next, I can feel it closing. My mind and body want to be "settled." The time is coming soon.

Also, I know I need some good self-care when I am so tired that a hard, dusty floor looks like a welcoming place for a nap.

Take care of yourself, dear. <3 I don't know if you like facials, but if you do, I have found them to be the most zen and relaxing. I tell the person doing it I don't want to talk, and then, WOW, relaxation city!

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Maile Silva's avatar

Mel, you nailed it about self care. Yesterday I had a day off from the shop and a list of about 3 million things I needed to get done at home, but I spent three hours just cooking fun recipes for myself instead, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Cooking is definitely self care for me and I felt so rejuvenated afterwards. Self care is definitely the key.

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Mel Bjorgen's avatar

I love baking as self care ❤️

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Patti Adkisson's avatar

It feels there is just something in the air right now that exhausts me. I don’t have to physically do a thing to feel the weight of it. My window of tolerance is only a very smidgeon. I’ll be looking forward to the rest of your story when good rest brings back your words!

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Maile Silva's avatar

Patti, I have a feeling a lot of folks are in the same boat--there's a lot of heaviness in the air these days. I hope you can feel a refreshing breeze floating in even through that smidgeon of open window!

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Annelise Roberts's avatar

Oh my goodness, Maile. I needed to read this. We didn’t buy a bookshop but we moved cross country and started a business and had a baby and I am still trying to grasp for the shreds of my previously manageable life that is I think never going back to the way it was.

In many ways it is so much for the better — there is so much more life without my control freak. But I’m so uncomfortable all the time because growth is hard, and I’m sitting here with a twitching eye because of caffeine overload.

Yes, my window is expanding. And also some days, all of a sudden there is no window because I’ve fallen out of the damn thing.

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Maile Silva's avatar

Oh, my word, Annelise, your last line had me in stitches. Because there's that, too. So many times EXACTLY THAT. Good gracious, you are right that growth is hard. Stinkin' hard. Hang in there, friend, and keep a firm grip on that window ledge!

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Tresta Payne's avatar

Oh girl. I feel this. Before we bought our deli I was content to never leave home and overwhelmed if there were too many outings per week. I loved having people over, but why did people also want me to come to their houses and events? There is something about being busy and out of my comfort zone—about activity begetting energy maybe?—that is a fine balance, and the yawns and vastness in my brainspace are big clues.

Looking forward to the juicy story whenever those words return ; )

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Maile Silva's avatar

"Activity begetting energy"--YES! Such a strange way that our bodies work IF we maintain that necessary balance. And you are right--it IS a fine balance. Thanks for sharing, Tresta. Always good to know that someone else out there is "feeling it," too.

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