Does it seem to you, or am I the only one, that life is moving at a much faster pace than you can ever hope to keep up with? Do you start your week, your day, with a well-thought-out list of tasks, and even taking the time to prioritize them, according to the “Big Rocks” theory? Do you drop into your bed at night with endless tasks swirling around in your head – things you forgot – things you did not get done but planned to? Do you worry your family members will begin to resent you your obsessive compulsion with work? Or worse, are you starting to worry that your health will someday not support this crazy, maniacal way that you live?

Such is a day in the life of a harried shopkeeper such as I. As like every other day, armed with my Weekly/Monthly Planner all neatly updated for the week – which is how I spend Sundays – and done in PENCIL, of course – still high on the heels of a successful Saturday sales day, off to work I go, full of plans and ideas and….intentions. I’m going to get Amanda started on her task list I so carefully prepared; then I’m going to scoot off for an hour at the gym, followed by an hour shopping for necessities at the local discount store. (Ever been COMPLETELY out of toilet paper AND tissue paper?) Get to work, get Amanda started, help her a bit, make some necessary phone calls to complain about the new unauthorized phone bill charges, and order some tags; pay a couple bills. By the time I look at the clock, it’s already 11:30 – no way can I fit in the gym today; the insurance agent is coming at 1:00 to sell me yet another new fangled policy designed to save me money, followed by the sales rep at the newspaper to sell me on ad space I simply can’t be without. Run to the Dollar Store in search of store decorations. Get paged – AT THE DOLLAR STORE – Ms. Smith, you are wanted, RIGHT NOW, back at your office – Next time I look at the clock, it’s 4:30, with one hour until closing, and I wonder now….where did this day go?

We close the store and I go home. As I count the 24 steps to my home, I am reminded of my gratitude for not having a commute, like so many do. Ahhhh, a moment of gratitude. Next up: answering emails. Chatting with friends and family via IM. I am reminded of my stop at the Dollar Tree, when I passed over the Valentines Day cards in favor of an e-card. No, I do not like the draft you have presented for my new logo; no, I am unwilling to purchase 3 months of internet service maintenance for a flat fee; no, I am not buying your new jewelry designs, and no, no, no, I do not have time to talk to you right now. NO! I am too busy to cook, I am too busy to talk, I am too busy to even remember that I am old. I have a granddaughter. I want to know her, and her me.

It is 11:30. I PLANNED to get to bed an hour ago, but my brain is active; no, it’s on overload and gushing out ideas….task lists, to-do lists, forgotten tasks….must write them all down – quick, before I forget!

Can you relate? Is it me? Have you figured out how to balance it all and be Super Wonder Woman? If so, you should package it up and sell it – you would be a retired millionaire. Truth is, we, as a society, ARE juggling more than generations before us have had to juggle. It’s a different world we live in and we feel it every single day when we realize something, or someone, has sacrificed. A ball was dropped. The disappointed faces; the tears. So what do we do – we sit down with our Weekly/Monthly Planner, and IN PENCIL, we start all over again. Tomorrow is a new day.

Love you. See you in store,

Betsy