Pink plus or minus.

Juggle This: Part Deux

Perhaps it’s telling of how my self-evaluation grades are going to say that I have not had time to come back to this blog for several weeks. And I haven’t evaluated my progress for more than a month.

Halfway through my second class in the MBA program at WSU, I’m thrilled to say that I am so far not regretting my decision. I am already learning a ton from excellent professors and extremely high-level executives I am privileged to call classmates.

I still haven’t managed to learn how to clone myself, however.

I have also become much more cognizant of the quality rather than the quantity of time in my day. I have had to abandon baseball, for example, because it takes up too much time to watch. TV in general is not a priority. I don’t mean that in the annoying “I’m better than you because I don’t watch TV” way.

I hate those people.

It’s just a matter of needing to make tough choices. Besides, I can occasionally find moments throughout the week to catch up little by little on programs I like via hulu or youtube or mlb.com.

In other areas, I’ve simply had to use the “reduce and enhance” methodology.

I may reduce the number of times per week that I work out, but when I do, I try to put ever ounce of myself into it.

This workout needs to count for THREE workouts.

I don’t know if that actually is scientifically possible, but it makes me feel better.

The same holds true for my time with my husband and my kids. When we are together, we need to make the best of it. I’ve come to realize that one or two quality hours of intentionally engaging every day with my kids can be much more meaningful than 12 unintentional hours.

I have a huge appreciation for the sacrifices my family is making so that I can achieve this goal and I don’t ever want them to think that I in any way don’t recognize the important role they play in making this all possible.

Spiritually, I try to set aside specific moments throughout the day to talk to God. It doesn’t always work out the way I would like, and I don’t always have the quietness I’d like to have with those moments. But if intention counts for anything, I’m going to allow myself to grade on a curve there.

All that being said, if I’m to be totally honest, there are days when I am simply exhausted.

So how are my grades doing, in order of my stated values?

Spiritual: D (May); C+ (June – i’m at least learning)
Wife: D- (May); C- (June – making more of an effort here, I think)
Mom: C- (May); C+ (June – time hasn’t changed, quality has)
Work: B+ (May); B+ (June – not much has changed)
School: A (May); A+ (June – I actually got a real grade)
Community: B+ (May); B+ (June – not much has changed)
Misc Me: D- (May); D+ (June – I saw Randy Travis and got a hair cut)

Overall, my priorities are still completely screwed up. But I’m making slow progress.

I will make the careful note here that thanks to my family, “housekeeping” is not on my priority list. If it were, I might implode. Or at least cry in the corner in a fetal position.