Panic

My heart had been jumping about in my chest all day. My desk, covered with a laundry list of tasks that needed to be completed by weeks end and the bickering, whining, begging for food, and the doing-what-I-can-to-irritate-the-sibling-itis of two bored kids brought me to the edge of frustration and tears. Our first meeting with the Project Purpose Wellness Coach was only a few hours away and I hadn't even begun to look at the introductory paperwork we received at the P2 Kickoff.

Ahhh, the perfect storm of stress - one that I juggle nearly each day, and one that many parents are all too familiar with. Riding the wave of chaos is a tenuous skill, and the mere IDEA of one more obligation or commitment can be the difference between the organized chaos of a smooth running schedule and a massive panic attack and a household train wreck.

With the minutes loudly ticking by and a constant stream of micro-interruptions by one child or the other (even the dogs seemed to be joining in) my anxiety grew. Anxiety about meeting Kim, anxiety about when I was going to go to the gym, my increasingly long list of To Do and the steady stream of texts, phone calls and e-mail that clamored for attention.

Summer is nearly over and unlike the kids; I've not yet had a chance to develop my own boredom.

I love this Project, I love that I am now going to the gym almost 5 days a week and I feel better than I have in years. I love that on days I meet my work out calorie burn I sleep better than I have in years. I love the adrenaline high that I haven't experienced in years, and the renewed energy I'm feeling (I've even had to start cutting my coffee with decaf!).

But (and you knew there would be a but!) I am still looking to the future and wondering how, once classes begin and I add the demands of In-Class Transcribing to the other obligations in my schedule, I'm going to find a balance. That's where Kim, the final member of our team, comes into play. She is an experienced, inspiring, genuine, and passionate individual who has the unique skill of being able to help you to identify your goals, why they are or are not being met, and then problem solving with you to get back on track or re-define what it is that you are really trying to accomplish.

Time management, I've discovered, is not my challenge. Being overcommitted is though. Ironically, it is my success in time management that has resulted in being overcommitted. I've been able to incorporate 'one more thing' so often that I've left myself little room in my schedule for the time I need to exercise. With Kim's help, I'm working on prioritizing more of the activities that I enjoy and to slow my pace a bit so that the idea of going to the gym is one of 'I get to go to the gym' rather than 'I have to go to the gym'.

Project Purpose is now fully underway. We've met all the members of our team, developed a 'rough' workout routine that incorporates strength and cardio as well as training sessions with Michelle. I'm attempting to incorporate breakfasts into my daily habit as Brooke recommended (and that is still "gonna" need some work!).

With Kim as our Wellness Coach, Karl and I are discovering more about ourselves and each other - even after 21 years of marriage and friendship there is still so much yet to learn about one another. I'm excited to see what the remainder of 2014 holds for us, and I hope that you will join us on this incredible journey.