The Balance

Undoubtedly the most often question I get asked in an interview is, how do you balance life as an artist, mom, and dairy farmer's wife. Now this is a loaded question in my opinion. I could tell the complete truth and reveal to the world that I am human like everyone else, I am not really what I appear to be, or I also have the option to 'paint' a more rosy picture and live up to the expectations that I have a secret formula! Over the years, I have come to realize that life is really more a matter of 'enjoying the journey',  than focusing only on my own 'TO DO' list.  

'Balance' is a very big word, and has different meanings to everyone. Thankfully I am not a gymnast because the only thing I can do is a summersault, and that would be on the floor and not the beam. As I think  about my career as an artist, there seems to be a natural rhythm of life that I have yielded too.  Again, everyone has a different rhythm - the secret to balance is finding your own rhythm and then to make the most of every day - in other words, get the car out of 'park'. 

One thing I've learned over the years is that if you want something done - do it.  We are each in charge of our own happiness and route in life.  It is important to know what makes you happy, what your goals are and to have a plan of how you will make it all happen.  For me, being a great wife and mom are equally important as being a successful artist.  At the end of the day, you can only regret so many times that you should have gone to your child's basketball game instead of staying home to work, before you start to feel like a lousy mother! On the other hand, once in awhile it is completely necessary. In my 20's, I really could run on 4-5 hours of sleep during most of the week and 'get more done', as compared to the need for 7 hours I seem to need now.  And let's talk about meals - serving hotdogs or pizza more than one night a week to my husband and growing family does not make me feel like a good mom - I've learned that a cooks best friend really is the crock-pot and preparing a roast, with carrots and potatoes takes less than 10 min. of prep time - that's only 5 minutes more than making hotdogs. 

When it really comes down to it - balancing life is about expectations that you have for yourself, your life and finding a rhythm (or balance) that makes you happy and love your life.  It is also accepting that there are some things you cannot change, some things just aren't meant to be, and that winning the lottery may not be in the cards....BUT,  that you really can accomplish most things, if you work hard and are passionate about the life God has blessed you with.  

Wishing you balance, rhythm, and love of life!  Thanks for reading............

Cheers,

Bonnie