As I sit in 33C (an aisle seat thank goodness) on route to Toronto for the second time in the space of two weeks with a mother and child to my left, a screaming baby to my right, a pungent smell of BO and the gentleman in front having already reclined his seat, I have time (plenty of it) to take a moment to think about what I have learnt from my ridiculously crazy May schedule. A couple of months ago I wrote a blog entitled ‘Mothers Guilt‘ which talked about the juggle some of us face as a working mum. As a working mum with two small children getting the balance right between work and home is not always easy and I don’t always get it right. What I am learning to do more and more is take stock of what it is I’m choosing to do and for what reason. The mothers guilt kicked in massively yesterday after only having been home for a couple days before heading off again for work. My eldest daughter asked me why I wanted to leave her to go away to work and that she felt sad because she would miss me. I took this on board and explained the situation- Mummy isn’t choosing to go away to be away from her, Mummy is choosing to do a piece of work that fulfils her and makes her happy, which in turn allows us to have all the things that we need and want, ultimately leading to a sense of freedom and choice. If there is one thing (there are many) that I will thank my parents for, it is their work ethic that they have instilled in me. I am ambitious and driven and want to do work I love, and I do. I believe my two young daughters are learning a number of positive lessons from me, or I at least hope they are!
Never Give Up
So what else have I learnt?
Number one: how lucky am I? Very very lucky. Not only do I do ‘work’ that I love, I also have an incredible support network around me, including my two little people. It’s not easy when the work life balance is a little off kilter and you find yourself yearning not only for time with your children but also with your partner (who couldn’t be any more understanding and fabulous if they tried). Sleep is coming in at a close third as is that idea of time for yourself to just take a few breaths without thinking about all the things that need to be done.
Number two: grateful? Yes incredibly. So I might be confined to an aircraft for the next 7 hours with a rather pungent BO smell and an air conditioning unit that can’t quite decide if we are in the Arctic or the Sahara, but I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunities that continue to present themselves to me in all areas of my world.
Number three: perseverance…never ever give up. After spending a very special weekend in Ireland celebrating one of my dearest friends 40th birthdays (which included some jet lag and red bull) conversation turned to religion, love and work. Three integral parts of my world and those around me. I am not of any particular faith, although I am privileged to be a godmother three times over within the realms of religious belief. Love….a subject I could spend all day talking about in one way or another and work, one of the things in my world that makes me tick.
I learn constantly from those around me, and no more so than those that love and accept me for who I choose to be. The word perseverance came into our conversation, and my dear friend got me thinking about a whole host of things. My life has changed (through choice) inexplicably over the last two years. As well as being the hardest time of my life it has also be the most insightful because of a number of things. I was reminded of that familiar phrase “never ever give up”. That to me is not only drive and ambition but perseverance. Even in the darkest of moments and the loneliest of times, I hold onto a number of words- love, strength, acceptance and perseverance.
What words resonate with you? What do you hold close when the going gets tough?
Life is a privilege and although it’s not always easy, it is worth it so hold onto “never ever give up” because perseverance will serve you if you choose.
