"Tristi, how do you do it? You're a wife, a mother, an author, a blogger, you homeschool . . . I'm so amazed at all you're able to accomplish."
It is true that I do a lot of things. In fact, I'm constantly busy dashing from one thing to the next. I go to bed late, trying to get done those last little things while the kids are in bed. The next day, I do it all over again. I thought I was being productive.
Until I found this quote.
"Once the telestial sins are left behind and henceforth avoided, the focus falls ever more on the sins of omission. These omissions signify a lack of qualifying fully for the celestial kingdom. Only greater consecration can correct these omissions, which have consequences just as real as do the sins of commission. Many of us thus have sufficient faith to avoid the major sins of commission, but not enough faith to sacrifice our distracting obsessions or to focus on our omissions." -Neal A. Maxwell
The lens that has been obsuring my vision flicked and I suddenly saw myself in focus. I'm not being productive; I'm being obsessed with distractions.
You see, I don't have just one or two blogs -- I have several, and the other night, I literally could not stop myself from creating another one. The compulsion was there, I tried to talk myself out of it, and ended up doing it anyway.
All these little things I bop around doing are, in the long run, keeping me from doing the things that truly matter the most. I need to spend more of my time focusing on those omissions Elder Maxwell speaks of, and less time being 'busy.'
Consequently, I'm deleting some of my blogs and putting others on hiatus. As of right now, my blogs are this one, "Tristi's Challenges," and "Tristi's Takes." The rest are going on hiatus. I'll be making other changes in my life as well, and it's going to be hard for me. Once I've established a routine, it's difficult for me to carry on in another direction without feeling all edgy and out of sync. But that's what we're going to do. I'll have to get back with you later and let you know how it goes. I'll probably be as twitchy as a lab rat in drug withdrawal for a while.
12 comments:
You go, girl! Though I'll miss the recipes, it's much better to be sane than to have posted something-or-other.
Tristi, you are very wise. It's so easy to get consumed with *stuff*. You're smart to prioritize, and you've motivated me to do the same.
Nice blog!
This post has been highlighted on Mormon Bloggers Speak Out and streamed into MormonBloggers.com.
You are so wise in this post and it gave me a wake up call too. You rock, Tristi!
Candace
Good luck with this, Tristi. I'm feeling the need to restructure my day. I'm the same way, running from one thing to the next, and I think there's some odd kind of safety in staying so distracted. This post was good food for thought.
It's hard not to let those distractions get in the way of what's most important. Good for you!!
Tristi - It's really hard to make those changes in the beginning, but I know you can do it!
Good idea. And what's a little twitchiness between friends?
I can see your point, Trisi. But some of us just have that personality. If we put the important things first, then the rest will fall into place. Even if you weren't "writing or editing" you'd probably be doing several other things :)
I'm awfully glad that this blog is one you decided to keep! It's one of my favorites, I think I'd have withdrawls without it (speaking of lab rats! LOL)
Weston,
I could not possibly get rid of this blog -- the cosmos would explode!
Heather,
I do have a "keep busy" personality -- unfortunately, I also have an "avoid housework at all costs" personality. :) I need to get back to basics or I might lose a small child somewhere in my house . . .
Huh. I was just barely thinking if I ought to do this very thing. I haven't had quite the collection that you have, Tristi, but lately it's reached a dizzying height for me and I've begun to wonder, if maybe I ought to just put everything on ONE blog instead of having several that I feel obligated to post on.
Except, I try to keep the topics focussed to a specific group - will they get bugged having to 'read through' stuff that doesn't interest them? I dunno.
But I find it really interesting that just now, when I've been considering doing this very thing, that I read your post.
I think I should think about it!
And good for you for blazing the way!
Good for you! Dividing our focus too much makes things blurry, doesn't it? You do so much, and how amazing that you're still striving to do more. Thanks for the kick of inspiration!
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