Here’s How I Do it All
Little known fact – aside from the blog my husband and I also own a brewery.
I am extremely fortunate to have a very full life. I write Creative With Kids. I help my husband run our brewery. We homeschool two of our three kids. And for a long time I’ve felt uncomfortable when people ask, “How do you do it all?!!” They look at me like I’m crazy, and I’ve wondered if maybe I am.
I have given self depreciating answers about dirty laundry and unfinished tasks.
Yes, household chaos is part of my life, but it isn’t the heart of it and I’m tired of not being me all the way.
Here’s the simple truth. I am driven by a deep desire to live this life thoroughly and without regrets. And as far as I can see, that means I live in a way that sometimes looks impossible to the people on the outside.
This is not to say that I have it all figured out (hahahaha) but I love my life. Of course there are a ton of tangles and messes and I’m exhausted many days too, but aren’t we all? I don’t want to shrink in order to make people feel secure.
I’d rather follow my joy. And I want you to follow yours.
So if you were to ask, “How do you do it all?”
Here is my answer:
I say no to many, many things.
I reassess and reorganize
I let go of what isn’t working.
I ask myself not to wallow in guilt.
I make mistakes.
I keep going.
I try to remember to ask for help.
Sometimes I hire help.
I choose priorities and I focus on them over and over again.
I ask myself to stop looking at what other people are doing.
I remind myself that I don’t have to be like everyone else.
I hug my family.
I learn to communicate.
I get sleep.
I hope.
I remember my grandmother.
When things are good I stop and I say, ‘Now this, this is good.’
I smile.
I make choices.
I learn about how to get along with my kids.
I learn about how to get along with my husband.
I make mistakes.
I keep going.
I am grateful.
And I hope that when I write, sometimes I inspire you.
You don’t have to do it all, and you don’t have to do it my way, but I do hope you’ll join me in this mission: to be brave and follow your joy. This, this is good.
This is me at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival. If you’d like more peeks into my brewery life (along with some kid stuff too) you can follow me on instagram.
Follow your joy. Live it.
All my best,
~Alissa
Parts of this post originally appeared in a Creative With Kids Newsletter in June 2015.
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Perusing or pursuing ? Somehow I feel you are NOT perusing life….motivational read, thanks!
I just fell in love with you a little more now that I know you and your H run a brewery! Maybe I’ll tell my husband that’s what I want us to be “when we grow up” ;o) Sounds like so much fun! And your list is just great. I struggle so much with balance and I can feel myself tipping a little into the “too busy” side… time to reassess my priorities again and work on connecting better with my husband, saying no to a few more things, and allowing myself more time for sleep. Thanks!
Thanks so much A Little Pinch of Perfect.
Thank you The Reformed Idealist Mom!
<3!
A thousand times YES!
So inspiring, Alissa! Thanks for sharing.
Yes!!!!!
I love this SO much, Alissa!