This Season - Meredith Rines

Let’s talk about life and the season we’re in. It’s not easiest, but knowing the end will be worth it has kept me chugging along. Motherhood is hard. Being a toddler mom is the hardest (at least so far). Trying to be a great wife and friend is tough. Building a business is rough. Being a productive employee who is growing in their practice isn’t easy.

I know this season will pass and it will happen in a blink of an eye. One day I will look at my son and he will no longer be this adventurous toddler, but a sweet (hopefully still adventurous) young man.

Here’s the thing – this season is necessary. I have big plans for my personal life and my professional life.

I joke with friends about how I hate being bored, which is part of it, but the truth is I want more. I want to give more to our son, do more as a family, live a life with less worry and more abundance.

I have to work harder, put more time in, stay focused and keep growing. I have to be willing to sleep a little less, wake up earlier, and keep my eye on the prize. BUT with all that being said, there are times when I know burning the candle at both ends is too much. That warning is usually brought on with an above-average exhausted feeling, body aches and feeling frustrated easily.

That’s when I like to take a step back and give myself the ability to refuel.

Do you know what you need to energize yourself? For me, it’s simple. A day to myself. A day where the house is already clean, laundry is done and put away, dishes are taken care of, the toddler is happy and at the babysitter’s (yes, it’s true). A day where I don’t have to think about anything, a day where I don’t have to talk to anyone unless I want to, a day with no work.

It may sound selfish, but to me it’s not selfish. It’s self-care. After all the energy, time, effort and love I put into everything I do, sometimes I just need time to myself. I think it all boils down to being an introvert who forces herself to be an extrovert during the day.

I love being involved in projects and committees around town, but that requires a lot of time. I was asked to be the conference director for a local women’s organization this year, which means I’m working with a group of women to put on a full day’s conference for about 400-500 women. It’s a lot of work, a lot of meetings and lot of compromise.

I love being a business owner, but sometimes networking requires being turned on more than I am comfortable with. Networking online is totally different than networking in real life. You strive to have your real personality shine through, but you still want to provide value and be of interest to a majority. The longer I’ve been online, the more I realize that I’m not a perfect fit for everyone. That’s okay, but it still doesn’t make it any easier to deal with unscribed notifications and negative comments or even the thumbs down on a new Youtube video.

I love being a mother more than anything in the world, but when I feel myself needing to re-energize then I get frustrated with our son. That’s when I need my husband to step in (which he always does) or I need to rely on our babysitter and family to help.

Finally, I feel like so many online business owners are striving to build their business to the point where they can quit their day job, but that’s not me. I love my day job. My day job has actually helped me become better at my own business. I work with some amazing people (one being my Dad) and I get to help so many clients every day. It’s fun, it’s hard, and it’s rewarding.

I want my own business to grow, but I have no plans on ever leaving my day job. That means I might be juggling two full-time (ish) jobs – my business and my career. I would love to be able to connect them, but that’s going to be a new learning curve when the time comes.

Now let’s talk about the past few weeks. They have been a whirlwind for me. After my big CFP exam in mid-March I flew into helping more around the office since we were in the thick of tax season. I also had parties to plan – sister’s baby shower, client open house, and our son’s second birthday party all within a three week span. We’ve had multiple ear infections, doctor appointments, swim lessons, parties to attend, and so much more. That’s a lot for this introvert who craves alone time.

Here’s what I know – this season is just temporary, but I know it’s necessary. I know that I have a lot on my plate, but I see the end goal and know I’m going to get there. Thank goodness for extra vacation days for moments like these – moments where I need to refuel my soul and my mind.