Less is More?

I have done a very good job this year of cutting out the extra things I would normally do so that my work load will match my energy level. I have given up being an Adjunct Professor at LaGuardia Community College (which was just for my ego anyway), passed on being Team Leader at Queens Collegiate, stopped trying to be the handyman at home, and given up the role of go to guy at church (from taking out the trash to replacing light bulbs I was your man).

With my family I have had to cut back on going to every single soccer game, school event, and social get together. This has been hard to do because in doing so I have had to give up some of the control that came with being involved with everything (well almost everything). Luckily I have had a great group of friends, co-workers, church family, and spouse there to help me out. I honestly would not have made it through this year without them.

Sometimes though its hard...not being able to do what you once did. This week for instance we had a door decorating contest at the school. Here are two of the doors on the same floor as my classroom.

Here is my door.

My door is stile bare because I didn't participate. I know it is just a door but I decided not to do it because I am already feeling tired and I know I couldn't just sort of decorate the door. Ultimately, If I had started decorating I probably would have gone crazy trying to "win". This year though I think I win for knowing where to set my limits and not trying to do just one more thing, but I still feel guilty about the boring door.

I think for me that blank door is a sign of how much I have grown this year, and my guilt is a reminder of how far I have to go. You know that saying less is more, will sometimes it just feels like less.