New Ventures, New Priorities
In my quest to begin the new venture of leaving behind salaried employment to start a company, it seems I have created the space in my life to reflect and review my priorities. This is actually really hard. To look at oneself and try to get down to what is most important, what is my purpose? The questions keep coming, can I have it all? Is focusing passionately on one thing going to detract from the other? What is the life I should truly be living? In taking the time to transition to this next stage in my career, my ‘dabble’ in the simple things, cooking, baking and even nurturing a garden (those are my actual herbs!!) I wonder what it is that I truly want? At first this was wonderful, the first time at home without much of a schedule that did not involve a new born baby! Finding time for the important things, I found that the 2 mornings I still had my youngest in care (that I should be working on the company set up) were not always (mostly not) used for ‘work’. But here I was doing groceries, cleaning the house, occasionally meeting my bestie for a sneaky lunch. Taking space, enjoying my recently built home, gardening, meal planning and even baking. How did this make me feel? – initially bliss! However next comes guilt, worry, the 'to do' and 'I should' list. The reality is that even if I wanted this life, with our current lifestyle (and I fully acknowledge the choice that we are fortunate enough to have) I need to bring in an income. Yet it is actually so much more than that. My work is such a great part of who I am, my sense of self, sense of achievement and accomplishment is so greatly influenced by this area in my life. It is in fact a large part of my own identity, away from being a mother, wife and homemaker. The Art of Motherhood is my way of reflecting on my priorities, my decisions and learnings in the juggling of motherhood and the other part of me.
