I've been in this place more than I would like. It seems like every time I turn around I'm in transition. Within the past year I've moved, reconnected with my family after deployment, lost a job, hunted for a job, watched my marriage transform, watched my kids transform, lost a dog, gained a car, gained some weight...the list goes on.
But that's every year. Every year is chaotic and confusing and difficult and complex and make the ride stop I want off. Why? Why does it have to be this way? Why does the carousel get faster? What is it that I need to do to make a change, to take the time to smell the roses, to not worry so much about working so hard for morsels more of bread?
Margin. No, not the butter substitute, margin. I don't factor margin into my life. In my interest to be everything for all people, I forget to be something for myself. And that means scheduling downtime. I've worked on enough machinery to know that downtime is a critical need for repairs, rest, and evaluation. By refusing to manage margin into my schedule, I'm forcing transition to continue. And that needs to change.
