It’s the middle of September, not even officially fall, yet somehow, not having all my fall décor perfectly displayed had me feeling all sorts of behind. Living in Michigan, we are lucky enough to have all the seasons, even experiencing them all in one day once in a while. But as I was driving today, feeling overwhelmed with the task list that awaited my arrival home, I realized it was 84°F and I had the air conditioning going.
Then, I noticed how green the trees lining the road still were, the colors barely starting to develop. I stopped to take a photo (because that’s just who I am) and it hit me.
If nature is telling me it isn’t Fall yet, why the heck am I stressing myself out?
In the creator space, sometimes it feels like it’s nearly impossible to create content in real-time. There’s pressure to be ahead of the curve, or in this case, ahead of the season. We all feel this pressure in life, too. Commercials and stores bombard us with messages telling us what we should be celebrating, even if it’s weeks or months from now.
This is true for life in general. It’s difficult to escape the feeling of inadequacy when we don’t appear to have it all together, all the time, hitting whatever milestones society has made up for us. The appreciation for enjoying any process as it naturally unfolds seems lost. In exchange, we now seek instant results and then compare those results to everyone else.
A few years ago, I was watching a random Instagram Live. During the live, there were several questions about how to overcome not feeling successful enough. I will never forget the reply the woman gave over and over again.
“There are no rules. The rules are made up.”
I wish I knew the woman’s name or her IG handle to give her credit because her words have stuck with me.
The timelines we often hold ourselves accountable to do not exist. Like anyone else, I enjoy seeing the results of my hard work, but I need to remember (and hope you do, too) – even if it takes longer than planned – it’s okay. The time will pass either way. We might find temporary joy when we get that promotion, move into that new house, or buy that new car, but the moments are fleeting and will disappear into the past. We find ourselves grinding through the days just to get to the weekend or the next vacation, only to look back, wondering, “where did the time go?”
A piece of guidance often given to new parents is, “the days are long, but the years are short.”
The days are long, but the years are short.
Gretchen Rubin
This sentiment doesn’t just hold true for parents with growing babies. It holds true for all of us. So, in keeping those reminders at the forefront of my mind, I’m resolving to enjoy days more for what they are instead of just using them as a countdown to the next exciting thing. I love the creative process. The Holub House exists because no matter how many years go by, I always come back to content creation. But, starting with the upcoming weekend, I’m going to welcome a slower pace and do the things I love because I want to, not because I feel like I have to.