I wish I could tell you mine was so busy I didn’t have time to write yesterday’s Sunday email, but that would be a stretch. We actually had a very quiet weekend around here. I did sneak away yesterday to watch my sweet niece play in her hockey championship game near the United Center—and she won! (Don’t tell my boys, but I think that hockey has to be the hardest sport to play!)
The rest of the weekend? I don’t have much to report.
I did make a list of all the little things I’ve been putting off. I ordered fabric to replace the kitchen tablecloth that has absolutely seen better days. I finally took my Apple Watch in because the face is cracked. (They couldn’t fix it, but at least now I know what I’m dealing with.) I booked our hotel for my weekend visit with Leo to see Miami of Ohio. He’s still figuring out next year, but he has some exciting options ahead. And I’ve been deep in research mode for our family room refresh. I’m trying to “elevate” the space thoughtfully and carefully and in a way that respects the reality that we’ll still have two in college next year. 😳
So I guess you could say I’ve been busy in a way that doesn’t photograph well. It was productive, but quiet. And yet, the last two mornings, even after a solid seven hours of sleep, I’ve woken up tired. Not physically tired. More… anticipatory tired. I don’t think it’s about how I’m sleeping. I think it’s more about how much I’m thinking. All good things, but big things.
Even when I tell myself not to worry, my mind still likes to rehearse the future a little bit. And here’s what I’m gently reminding myself this week: I don’t have to solve what hasn’t happened yet. I don’t have to emotionally process decisions that aren’t final. I don’t have to decorate the entire family room in one weekend. I don’t have to map out the next five months today.
I can just do the next small thing: Order the fabric. Book the hotel. Show up at the hockey rink. Organize track team-mom stuff. Make dinner. Answer the emails. There is something very therapeutic and calming about taking care of what’s right in front of me.
Maybe that’s what these months are teaching me—that not every kind of busy is crazy. Some of it’s just maintenance. Some of it’s preparation. And some of it’s loving our people so much that we care about what’s coming next. So if you’ve been waking up a little tired lately too, maybe it doesn’t mean you’re behind. Maybe it just means you’re invested.
I know we can handle what’s coming. I promise. That’s what we do. So hang in there, tackle today’s to-do list, and get some sleep. We’ve got this!
Ann Marie 💛
The idea of anticipation being exhausting is so relatable. Did you find any strategies that helped?
Hi Bet. My strategy has been to just focus on what has to happen today. It’s a good way to handle the things within my control and let go of the things I can’t. I’ve really had to work at not getting to far ahead of myself. That’s when it gets tricky to breathe, if you know what I mean. Hang in there!