Pruning My Life

A season of cutting back on the things that don’t serve me to make time for the things that need me.?

I’m going to admit that I talk to myself. Usually in the car. Sometimes the shower. Often pacing with a cup of coffee and my 7-year-old son yells, “Who are you talking to?!”?

During a recent conversation with myself, while driving from one meeting to another, I realized I was exhausted. I would not have time to pick my daughter up from daycare, I had a list of to-dos waiting for me, and I felt inadequate in so many other things that demanded my time.?

Another thing I’ll admit is I do a lot of gardening. And my TikTok feed is filled with tips on how to improve your landscape. It involves a lot of pruning.??

By cutting back on old growth, the plants can focus on creating newer, stronger vegetation. When tree branches get in the way of your walking path, you simply cut them off. Now you still enjoy the shade, but you won’t get smacked by leaves when you stroll past.?

Don't be afraid to cut way back

My garden offers me a lot of comfort and perhaps in this season of my life, it offered inspiration to do some pruning.??

I’ve cut out commitments that conflicted with school and daycare drop-off and pickup times.??

I’ve cut out obligations that caused me to work in the evenings or weekends — time I reserve for my family.?

I cut out opportunities that took me away from serving my clients and growing my business.??

I cut out things that made it nearly impossible for me to have time for myself.??

I would like to go to the occasional happy hour, girls’ weekend, or just sit with a book without feeling guilty for not doing something else instead.?

In that conversation I had with myself, where I recognized the stress I was under from an overflowing plate, I asked myself what I was going to do about it??

“Complain about it for six more months,” was my first response. Because I knew I was pushing it off, failing to do the work and make the hacks needed to bring forth new growth.?

That week, I set up the meetings and made the calls to make some changes. I cleared my calendar of all the unnecessary things, that weren’t leading to growth, that were taking me away from what mattered.?

You're doing enough

About six months after the big pruning, I had lunch with a friend. She also wanted to prune but hadn't yet had the crazy lady conversation with herself to figure out she had the sheers in her hand the entire time.

"What would I do with my time?" she asked.

"Maybe be a mom, run your business, or read a book," I said. "Isn't that enough?"

Prune, prune, prune.?

Now, I grow.?