Protecting our Margin
“Losing it.” My husband texted me along with a jaw-dropping, belly-laugh inducing photo. He showed up at work only to realize he was wearing two different shoes. Two drastically different shoes. One black and dressy. The other brown and casual.
Oops.
For the record, scattered and mindless is typically my gig in the family. Not him. He has his act together.
And to make it even more of a head-scratcher, I was hanging out with him that morning before he left—while his shoes were on his feet. Making breakfast. Talking about the taxi schedule for the kids’ activities that day. Sorting through tasks and to-dos. A kiss goodbye.
I didn’t even look at him. Didn’t notice the major wardrobe malfunction.
That same week I had been thinking a lot about the word margin, and realizing mine has gone missing.
The days are running together with very little white space around them. Too busy. Too tasky. Too much.
Chipping away at our margin can become the default. Cram more in at the expense of the really good stuff. Maybe things like prayer, exercise, energizing hobbies, time to catch up with friends and family, quality conversations, game night with the kids. Perhaps even slower mornings, mornings that aren’t so monotonous that we can race straight past something like matching shoes!
We live in a hyper-busy society. I really don’t know the answer to changing that on a large scale. But in my own life, I’m recognizing that something needs to shift. And that is in my control. I can start with accepting the importance of protecting my margin, the space that is used to fill me up and keep me smiling rather than stressing. I can remind myself that it is okay to have downtime. It is okay to just breathe and enjoy life. It is okay to say no. It is.
I shared this concern with one of my kids and the response I received was, “Well then go into your settings and widen the margins.”
Sound like a good plan!
How about you? What are the things that create a margin around the musts in your life? Is your margin thinning too?
If so, maybe you would like to join me in restoring balance. Let’s take inventory of our musts and our margin. Identifying what takes up the center of our days and what goes in the sacred white space. How beautifully those pieces of our lives can fit together—kind of like two matching shoes:)
“Balance isn’t something we find, it’s something we create.” Jana Kingsford
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February 6, 2019 at 9:23 am
I can relate to your husband’s dilemma – I got to church one day and realized I was wearing mismatched shoes. Thanks for your good advice; we all need to “widen our margins” at times.
February 6, 2019 at 9:46 pm
Thanks for sharing Betsy! It’s fun to hear people’s shoe mishap stories. Josh said once his co-workers stopped laughing they had some incidents to share too!
February 6, 2019 at 10:20 am
What a lovely reminder, worded so well. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
February 6, 2019 at 11:14 am
This is too funny! I think most of us tend to feel overwhelmed trying to balance our jobs, home lives, and kids. It’s not abnormal to, sometimes, become absent minded!?
Thank you, Lisa for your advise…. always with much wisdom.
February 6, 2019 at 9:48 pm
Thank you! And I agree- I think it’s something most people can really relate to. It’s tough to juggle everything and keep our heads on straight at times!
February 6, 2019 at 11:45 am
I love it.
Great words for all of us to hear.
Im impressed he let you use the photo or did he?
Have a blessed day sister!!
February 6, 2019 at 9:56 pm
Thanks Katrice! Yes- he gave me a thumbs up when I asked if I could write about it. He had a great sense of humor about the whole thing. Missing all of you ladies at Bible study. Definitely something I need to get back into my margin!
February 6, 2019 at 7:20 pm
I love that you wrote about finding the “margins” after you mentioned it at a crazy school event, and we were unable to find a time to get together. You write in such a relatable way, Lisa, and your insight and encouragement is very much appreciated! You bless us with your words and friendship!
BTW, Josh is a good sport. It must have felt like a very long day for him.
February 6, 2019 at 10:04 pm
Aw thank you for your kind words, Sherry! Our conversation really started to bring this post to the surface:) So glad you enjoyed it.
February 6, 2019 at 10:19 pm
This hit home. I am working full time and I am 66. I should be semi retired
Or retired. I find my life does not balance. Too much work not enough time for friends family or hobbies. This made me think that I need new margins.
I usually put myself last and I do not feel serene. Thank you for reminding me
that I need to hit the reset button and
and seek balance with margins!!
February 7, 2019 at 11:37 am
Thanks for sharing Beth. I think sometimes we can get so accustomed to our hectic lives that we don’t even realize we are out of balance. Glad this post resonated with you. All the best to you as you create new margins!
February 7, 2019 at 6:04 pm
Lisa – thanks for your insight and witty and honest words. My new favorite word is tasky! I am tired of being so tasky! A great reminder to slow down.
February 13, 2019 at 6:19 pm
Best laugh this week. Thanks for being such a great sport, Josh. Your posts are quick reminders that we need to examine the activities we fill our lives with -no matter what age. Thanks, Lisa
February 18, 2019 at 10:19 am
I’ll pass your message along to him Juanita! Thanks so much for reading and commenting.