The Balancing Act
To me, life is just one Big Balancing Act, and 36 years in I feel like I am constantly trying to get my life back into balance. Starting my own business was, and frankly still very much is, TERRIFYING. That said, I am incredibly grateful that I have the privilege to take that leap. I was lucky enough to grow up with a father who owned his own business and who was able to be present for so many events and activities to support me and my five siblings. As a father of two boys myself now, how he did that is insane to me! But he was an active presence in our lives because he had the flexibility of time, and that is the life I want to build so I can be both the father and business owner that I want to be.
My boys come first, and they always will. Finding the balance between working to launch a business and caring for two young boys is an incredible challenge, not to mention figuring out taking care of myself! Can I spend a few hours working on recipes or social media content with a 4-year-old literally climbing on me and running around like a honey badger? How do I make sure we’re making the most of our time while they’re this age - building memories hiking in the canyon or getting away for a few days of camping - while still devoting time to my own business? When can I make it to the gym when there are fevers and ear infections that need my attention? Some days (most days?) it feels like the best laid plans require a pivot so I can meet the needs of my boys as best I can. But, even when it feels like you’re crawling through the mud and muck of life, there is a way to balance all the things that are truly important when you know what your priorities are.
As I continue to work on finding that consistent balance, (and I am always adjusting). I have discovered that to see the balance in the big picture when I feel pulled in every direction is to find the common thread between the little moments. It's about each dish's placement on a tray when serving making sure you can take that dish out on one hand with ease. Thinking about each dish will get you to a balanced tray much faster than just throwing them on there and looking at it saying “hmmm this looks off.” I often find them in moments where I’m cooking with my boys regardless of us being on camera or not. It’s recognizing that I love teaching people about food and how to cook. So why not teach my boys those same lessons? Taking a moment and realizing that the boys are teaching me something, usually patience or finding joy in the little things along a trail. A lot of times, for me, it’s those little connections where precious memories are made and great lessons are learned. The other half of the equation is making sure that while you are pushing to do all things, build all the business do all the fun things with family and friends. Don't forget to take that breath, do that meditation, eat that dessert, eat your vegetables, and give yourself grace and room to grow!
Sometimes I find myself saying that the journey has been slow, but I don’t think that’s an accurate description of how the time has passed the last six or seven years since I quit working for someone else and focused on being a father and building my own business. Time has flown by - it has not been slow at all! Do I wish that my business was further along? EVERY SINGLE DAY! At the same time though, when I look at where I am now, both personally and professionally, there has been growth, SO much growth. At the end of the day, that’s what I’m striving for: growth, being better than I was yesterday, and being a healthy model for my boys. After all, finding balance in the ups and downs of life and figuring out how to grow in the inbetween is exactly why life is a journey.