Maintaining routines and setting goals…
Establishing priorities and letting go of goals…
It is quite a balancing act, isn’t it?

People often ask how I find time for the things I do. I think a big part of that is setting goals and maintaining daily and weekly routines that enable me to work towards those goals.

I feel that I have good habits in place as far as that goes, but there is still a constant process of review. Family needs change, and consequently, routines change. Opportunities arise, and need to be assessed in the light of various goals and priorities.

Goal setting is a valuable tool. If I don’t set goals for myself, I don’t accomplish much more than my day-to-day duties. I have been fortunate to be able to meet several goals in the past couple of months (completing quilts for entering into various exhibitions, releasing my ‘to be a child’ tea towel for sale and participating more online). But sometimes it doesn’t work out like that. I have been working towards another goal (applying to participate in an art and craft market), but an honest assessment of things last week showed that it was taking too much of my focus away from my family (put simply: grumpy Mum!). So I had to let go of that goal.

I don’t like to ‘give up’ but I also know that I cannot pray daily for God to bless what I do, if I don’t also work by the God-given priorities at this stage of my life – that before I am an artist, I am a wife and mother. I try not to dwell on the things I would like to do but can’t, and focus instead on being thankful for the many things I AM able to do during these busy years at home.