Day 31: "Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work." (Dr J. Trainer)

Guilty as charged.  More than once I have become easily frustrated by "interruptions" and "distractions" from my children while I have been working on "important" business.  I caught myself the other night thinking and speaking negatively about a commitment I had made with my children which would be putting me behind with my work.  What a realisation.  

I am known to get lost in my work; I love my work and often boundaries become blurred between work time and family time.  But when I return to my original "why" behind doing what I do; empowering women to find their sparkle and be the best version of themselves through nutritional and lifestyle education, I am going against what I am standing for!  I want my girls to find what they love and do more of it but I also want them to spend as much time as possible in the present.  When I focus on an endpoint in work and asking them to wait until I have finished, I am telling them that work, fear of not completing a task and future outcomes are more important than being present in the moment and also that my desire to help other people is greater than my desire to help them and be there for them.

So what can be done?  Set distinct child-free working hours which are strictly designated to completing tasks.  During this time all technological distractions need turning off and ensure that work can be completed without interruption by others.  It's not the quantity of time spent on getting tasks completed but the quality and productiveness of the time spent.  Home and play time is exactly that.  100% in the moment. 

Our children are the best constant walking and talking reminders of the beauty of the present moment.  The present moment is all we have!  Being present in the present moment stops overthinking, resentment, anxiety, fear, disappointment and we cannot be distracted or interrupted as when in the moment everything is what it is.

Challenge:
* Go and give your kids a big hug and thank them for bringing you into the present moment.
* Thank the children in your life for showing how it can be possible to live in the present
* Think about ways to plan your time to ensure work and play are separate.