When it was time for us to have kids, I took a break from the professional world to be a stay-at-home mom. After many years passed, and it was time to return to the workplace, I decided to join LinkedIn. If you are not familiar with LinkedIn, it is an online professional platform for professional networking and career development. It's like Facebook in that you "connect" with others, but unlike Facebook, you don't post everyday personal things like how you visited a coffee shop and loved it. Rather, people post mainly work-related things: professional articles, ideas, concepts, tech, job openings, training, etc. For example, if you worked for a pharmaceutical company, you could share the company blog about a recent breakthrough in medicine your company developed for XYZ condition. You could also set your status as seeking work so people in your network or other companies on LinkedIn could find you and see your work history and skills.
Some time ago, I was on LinkedIn and saw that one of my connections "liked" this post. Out of curiosity, I read it. Very sobering! Don't just look at the picture and move on. Study the picture, read the post slowly, (mainly the top part to the end of the highlight), and then look at the picture again. Let the words and the meaning of this post sink in.
Work. We all have it: inside the home, outside the home, paid, volunteer. We all have work. Work is a good thing. Yet, sometimes, we focus so much on it that we forget about life itself. We forget to enjoy life. We forget to relax. We forget that people and relationships matter, not to mention our health. Don't get me wrong -- I'm a huge advocate for working hard! And, I'm not talking about work that might include different times of the year when work gets busier because of cycles and such. But there's a fine line between working hard and working too much where there is no work-life balance.
That sink full of dishes can wait, but your child wanting you to read him a book isn't going to last forever. That sales call can wait until after your child's event is over. That project looks fine for tomorrow's presentation. You've worked on it for a whole week already. Leave it physically and mentally, and spend time with your spouse or go do something that is beneficial for you mentally or physically. That kitchen floor is clean enough. You don't eat on it! And so on, and so forth. You get the idea.
"But you don't understand." some have said to me, "I work long hours so I can have a better chance at the next promotion because I want to provide for my kids what I didn't have." I'm all for giving and receiving promotions. I've been on both ends. But you know what? If you work hard to your best ability and get things done correctly and in a timely manner, your manager will know. And God knows. Besides, how do you know that what you didn't have and wanted is what your child needs and wants? For example, you wished you could have worn brand name clothes when you were growing up. Your children, however, are into the outdoors and could care less about brands. Yet you continue to buy all these brands and feel great that you are providing for them what you didn't have. But, is it what they need? Does a 3-year-old toddler know or care about the difference between Nike and off-brand, or that little toy car which they vroom up and down the sandbox and crash into other objects is made by a well-known toy company or came from the dollar store? The other thing I've heard is, "I work long hours so my wife could have a bigger house." Honestly, I've met women who live in huge houses and were miserable because their husbands were working long hours instead of being at their kids activities or being home with them.
The majority of people I talk to don't recall wishing their parents decorated their home nicer, bought them more things, or cleaned the windows more. Rather, they recall memorable activities of their childhood. Activities like time at the park, playing baseball in the yard, dirt biking, baking with mom or grandparents, getting a smoothie with dad, playing in the creek catching crawfish (btw, why is it pronounced like CRAY-fish, when the word ends in a "w" like draw?).
The point is don't let work (wherever that is -- inside the home or outside the home) overtake your time, your body, and your mind so much that you don't have time to spend time with people. Or that your mind is so busy with work that you can't be present with the people you are with. You are there but you are "not there". Or that you are too busy to cook healthy meals, and exercise, that your health suffers. The best present you can give your family and friends is to be present -- fully present.
So, what about that friend or relative whom you know could use some encouragement? Or the friend you haven't seen in a while. What about your child who is feeling like she is not fitting in because her friends are on Tik Tok or Instagram and posting things that are against her values? Texting is easy and fast but nothing beats getting an actual phone call or a get-together in person for a one-on-one time. It doesn't have to be expensive. Nothing needs to be costly. Get out a deck of cards or board game. Relax together in the backyard or front porch over some tea, juice, or coffee. I am all about low-maintenance get-togethers.
I know it's not the new year when people usually set resolutions or goals. But can I encourage you to set a goal to have more work-life balance? If you already have it, I applaud you and want to encourage you to link in (connect) with people more? Link in more than just a text. Get together or do a video call. Yes, I know sometimes it's inconvenient, but it's so worth it. Tell people you love them and pray for them. Or, better yet pray with them. We all could use prayers, right? Can I give you an example? This last Sunday at church, after the service was over, the guy in front of me whom we've met at a few church events turned around to leave and was facing me. I asked how his week was. His face was a little bit distraught and he said it was a tough week at work, and his girlfriend had a visitor that was "hard to deal with." So I said, "I'm sorry. I will pray for you guys." and started to leave. But the Lord prompted me to pray over him. So I asked him just that and he said yes. I put my hand on his shoulder and prayed for both him and his girlfriend and as I prayed, I felt his shoulder relaxed. Afterward, his face looked so much more calm, and he thanked me profusely. A lot more people need encouragement than you might think. Link in regularly. Link in with genuine relationships. Truly care about people for who they are and not just people who might benefit you personally or with your job, such as with a bonus, a transaction, or worse yet, as a step to the next promotion.
Someone once said that no one on their deathbed wished they attended one more meeting, closed one more deal, or cleaned the sink one more time. Instead, they think of the relationships in their lifetime -- what was or what could have been. Will you be more linked in this year?
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord and not for human bosses.
James 4:13-14 ESV Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
No comments:
Post a Comment