 Family has always been important to me, but this year, more than ever, I'm putting family first. My son, Matthew, is a senior in high school and you better believe, I want to treasure this time before he heads off to college. So instead of teaching most afternoons, I'm leaving time to cook yummy meals and try new recipes. Is it my shameless attempt to lure him home when he's off at school? Absolutely! But seriously, my real goal is to simply be...AVAILABLE. If he's free and wants to hang out with me (be still my heart!) I want to be available. The last thing I want is to look back with regret because I didn't cherish this time.  NOT AFRAID TO SAY NOOf course, all of this hinges on my ability to say NO and truthfully, that's not easy for me. I'm a "yes" girl at heart. I want everyone to be happy. But setting boundaries is important. I've written before about the necessity of learning to say NO and this "yes" girl is definitely getting better! Mostly because I'm getting a lot of practice! The school year hasn't even started and I've said NO to:
Yikes! Just looking at that list stresses me out! But you know what's crazy? Normally, I would have said "yes" to everything without even blinking. I would have reworked my schedule to make everyone happy and then I would have been completely overwhelmed. Not this year! My priorities are set. These are the "yes" decisions I've made:
 A SIDE BENEFITOne of the best parts of this decision is that I feel a huge weight off my shoulders. Since I'm not overwhelmed with commitments this year, my focus will be better. And I'm excited about that!
There will be TIME. Because I'm MAKING time - for the things that matter most. I'd love to hear how you're making time for the important stuff!
Nell
8/25/2018 07:04:46 am
So proud of you!
Anna
9/10/2018 10:29:27 am
Thanks for this!!!! I made the same changes this year as you did! My oldest started middle school and my middle, 1st grade and it’s my youngest’s last year home before he starts school! I have 32 students I could have about 40 or more but I capped my intake this year as well to have more time with my family! I made sure I finished by dinner time and that I could have evenings and bedtime with them! This also helps me go to bed early and get a good sleep so I’m ready to tackle my busy days! I also decided to only say yes to local gigs or local speaking engagements so I’m not away on weekends! It’s so worth being home with your family as much as possible! More than any dollar amount it could add to our income! It’s great to hear you made this choice as you’ll never regret it!
Tracy Selle
9/12/2018 01:29:44 pm
Go Anna! Sounds like we're very like-minded! I LOVE all the choices you've made!
Boundaries are my mission this year too! I've created a waiting list so that I don't exceed those time boundaries and I already feel like I'm reaping the benefits. I FEEL more peaceful.
Tracy Selle
9/12/2018 01:30:52 pm
I hope you enjoy the meal planning idea. I'm not sure how I started doing that, but it really simplifies the process for me. Let me know how it works for you! Comments are closed.
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Hi there! I'm Tracy Selle. A Christian wife, mom, and author of 101 Piano Practice Tips. I'm also a piano teacher and founder of Upbeat Piano Teachers. Categories
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