Work Hard; Vacation Easy

I always take two weeks off for the Holidays; the week before Christmas to the week after Christmas. This year I was given one extra week at the last minute. I am not complaining! I am not the everyday American employee with paid time off, however. I am self-employed and must save up prior to my time off and budget accordingly. And because of this, I work hard and vacation hard (or easy!).

I was honestly looking forward to going back to work since my break has allowed me to rest and rejuvenate. I was also looking forward to resuming my flow of income. But I took this as a sign that maybe I do need one more week to just simply and plainly be. Yes, I am one of those people who sees certain life situations or happenings as signs. To me, signs are little messages from God pointing me in a slightly different direction than where I think I am headed. In my daily quest for balance, these last two weeks have allowed me to take care of my self, spend quality time with family and friends, organize my home, move some furniture around, transition my toddler from the crib to a "big girl bed", and sleep more than five or six hours at night. What a feeling to actually sleep a full night! Who knew that all these months suffering from exhaustion were due to my daughter's loathsome feelings towards her crib. Of course she woke up every night and screamed for hours. She was ready for a big girl bed. Last week I just had enough. I needed to sleep and needed to not feel so defeated every night. Bedtime had become such a battle. I had visions of rocking my sweet angel face baby to sleep at night, singing her lullabies, and kissing her forehead. Instead my reality was a strong-willed, screeching 25 pounder who refused her crib. When I decided to give to her whims and put her in my bed, I woke up every morning with an aching back and terrible mood. There wasn't enough coffee or ibuprofen to get me through my morning. Now, just one week after her departure from the crib, I am waking up so refreshed and happy (as is she!).

So, just a few more days of vacation and off to work I go. Until then, I will continue loving every moment of rest because 2012 is going to be a busy and wild year with my last year of grad school and my husband's adventures. Here is to a productive 2012!!!