I am obsessed with Ted Talks – Life Hacks. I’ve already watched the first set of talks on Netflix and just embarked on the second half yesterday while doing things around the house. I have this weird thing, now that I have cancelled cable to not watch anything that is crap for my brain. I love watching stuff that makes me think and makes me grow. It’s not exactly helping anyone else but myself, but I figure that I might as well share what I learned since it is just that good.

This guy (yes I am horrible with remembering names and even worse when it comes to movie names or stuff like this – you can go to Netflix to find it or Google it) started talking about work-life balance and my ears stood up like a cats in interest. This has always been a subject that I have spoken to peers and friends about. It’s so important.

I come from a working a family, we work hard – very hard. I’m sure most people reading this do too. There is nothing wrong with working hard. It even feels good at times to get stuff accomplished and keep on moving forward. Actually, getting stuff done, feeling successful and growing is what makes me tick. I love that and I love it when my friends talk about their successes and how much they have done for their family and themselves.

Only problem I see here is that sometimes we people focus so much on working hard and success that we forget about what matters. Right now is what matters. Our family’s matter, our health matters and our free time matters. So many things matter so much more than money and working your fingers to the bone.  A co-worker sent this image to me a few weeks ago and it has stuck to my brain glue:

We must live our lives now and enjoy every single minute. The Dalai Lama is so freaking right. If you take the time to read this post, think about taking time for yourself and do it. Make time for your kids, stop and take some deep breaths and eat something delicious. Enjoy your down time as much as you can. Start planning more down time. You are worth it, stop being stressed over a bump in the road. Life always goes on and you will make it. We’re all meant to love our lives and not worry so much. The company you are working for will still be there if you decide to take just 15 minutes for yourself. It’s ok to take breaks.

America has instilled this 40 hour work week crap (let’s be honest, in the real world we work more than that) and ok, we have to do that many hours to get paid. BUT, we can NOT take our computers home from work, we can avoid checking emails over the weekend. So many people get so lost in the grind of work and it just makes me sad.

I know this because for the past 6 years, I have worked full time while attending school full time to earn my Bachelors and Masters. Woohoo! Go me that I did that, but now that  I look back… I hardly had any free time. I lost connections with great people because I was so absorbed with all that stuff.

Now, I’m hitting the pause button. Yes, I will still work but I am not afraid to stop and drink a latte or prance around the room being a complete and utter kid. And the biggest thing here, is that I don’t feel guilty about it. That’s the key. You may decide to do what I suggested above, but having guilt about it will get you no where. Own your free time, love your free time, love on your family and friends and pets.

While I just went on a rant about all this, it mainly came from the guy in the Ted Talk. He inspired me like I hope to inspire you.

Enjoy life. We only have one life to live.

To health, wealth and abundance to all who read this…

Much love,