You Mean I Can’t Control Everything?

Last week was quite the whirlwind. It kicked off with a packed schedule of tasks and events: I took Monday and Tuesday off from work to feverishly paint. I had my daughter’s gymnastics class Tuesday and a friend’s play that night. Wednesday was supposed to be my first brand photoshoot with a reserved space downtown. Thursday was an open house at my daughter’s school and Friday was scheduled for an artist event at WeidnerCA in Sacramento. And finally, Saturday was reserved for a gallery reception where six of my pieces were being showcased.

However, my plans took an unexpected turn on Tuesday morning when Iwoke up feeling awful, eventually succumbing to a fever. It was a cruel twist of fate to fall ill during such a packed week. 

I'm not accustomed to falling sick, especially not with a fever, so I recognized that unmistakable feeling of being run down meant I needed to rest. Therefore, I made the difficult decision to cancel and reschedule everythingfor the week. It turned out to be a wise choice because Wednesday and Thursday passed by in a haze as I drifted in and out of fever-induced sleep (still with my laptop in bed and attempting to be productive).

It's ironic, isn't it? We meticulously plan our lives, but life often throws us unexpected curveballs. I thought I could control it all and maintain peak productivity, but ultimately, I had to surrender and accept the need for rest. It served as a strong reminder that I should prioritize relaxation and the simple joys of life more often. Coupled with the existential reflections prompted by the show "One Day," it prompted me to take Sunday off entirely from painting and instead devote it to quality time with my family.

Sometimes, life's reminders come at just the right moment, teaching us that it's not always about sprinting through life, but rather about finding balance and cherishing the journey.