Taking a back seat on the bus of life
Posted on 21. Oct, 2009 in Fashion Links
I’m back from my two week holiday almost 2 weeks already, and I find I’m slowly slipping into all the bad habits I vowed I wouldn’t repeat when getting back. ( And I think that’s what’s landed me sick in bed today)
Time to think and reflect has had me realize I’ve been living in the future. Looking forward to and hoping for marriage, a successful career, starting a family etc etc.. But I think as long as the words “I want” are floating around one’s head, you’ll never be happy and one just sets oneself up for disappointment. I need to enjoy what I have right now, as that is going to slip me by and just circulate back onto the “I want” list.
Another aspect of taking time out in the Transkei and getting back to basics, seeing how the people live their lives day by day opened my eye’s as to how little one really needs. Do we clutter our lives with technology? Not responding to my Blackberry e-mail half a second after the mail’s come in was OK. People managed, no one died and life carried on.
I thought about how great it is to be so connected and to be able to converse through Twitter,Blogging, Facebook etc.. but at the same time, it really slows down productively (in one’s day job) and one’s brain can never relax. Don’t get me wrong, I’m the first person to jump on the social media bandwagon and have gained some fantastic knowledge, readership and friendships through it, but it can take over a bit if you’re connected 24/7. As for e-mails. I am taking a vow not to be so good at replying to e-mails! Sure if it’s urgent! But I found I started cutting my sourcing time for jobs in half by replying to e-mails on my phone. I would walk around Cavendish aimlessly replying to ” Hi I’d like to become a stylist, please help” and ” Hi I’m trying to find an outfit for a dress up party, please help” . I’d LOVE to help everyone, but I just can’t anymore. I even started getting people ask me if I was ok, as I didn’t respond to their e-mails that EVENING, as I usually respond right away.
I think it’s basically trying to find a balance, a sort of a middle ground. Being connected and up to date but not letting it take over. Not overloading one’s plate with trying to do everything! I’ve pulled out of guest blogging here and there and am trying to stream line my life and not have my fingers in too many pies. It doesn’t work,(at least not for me) because then there’s that keeping everyone happy factor that I don’t do well with if people aren’t happy.
It seems fellow blogger Heather Moore Feels the same 
and I totally agree. Life was a tap dance of shoots, credits, blogging, blogging for others, researching, shop orders,deliveries, tweeting, replying to tweets, sourcing, returning, keeping Facebook Fans updated, replying to mails, BEAUTY FEATURE FRIDAYS and not getting to bed before 11:30 ever. (I’m an early bird) I’m sounding a bit dramatic I’m sure, but really, some thing’s gotta give.
So, in order to get more chill time like these two cows above and enjoy the NOW, I’m not replying to your mails straight away, I’m not going to be able to keep everyone happy and I’m going to create more me time! Hahaha, lets see how this goes, because the only reason I’ve been able to get time to do “this blog post” I’ve been meaning to do since I got back, is due to forced chill time, in bed, sick and tired.
Here’s to a streamline, happier new me!
Nicolette
22. Oct, 2009
Hear, hear!! I am with you all the way Kim! I’m not in your league by a long shot so I can just imagine what your days must be like. I find that I put so much pressure on myself trying to keep people (that I mostly don’t know) happy that I neglect my two boys and husband! Ridiculous!! Touch-it is such a passion for me but I have to make sure that it’s not costing me the most important things in life which is time for MYSELF, family and friends. Jeez, I’m giving myself a little speech here, aren’t I?:-) Bottom line is, I think there is a lot of people out there that feel the same way, but we should also stop putting pressure on others to always perform to our high expectations. Good luck and hope you feel better soon!
Michele
22. Oct, 2009
I think I speak for all your readers when I say that we’d rather see less of you, than not see you at all.
That said, blogging should be a pleasure, not a millstone – and no-one will think less of you if you decide to pull the plug on it one day. In the meantime, we’re happy to have you!
Get better, and take care.