Slow down!

Some days, I’m so caught up in “doing”, I forget about “being.”

DOING the business things, like answering phone calls and scheduling appointments, and calming the client who has found yet another bat in her home. “Yes, Ma’am, I understand that this is the third bat you’ve found in your home this week. But under federal law, until all the baby bats have become flight capable, we can’t close up the access points. They would die. Yes, I know you’re frustrated. I’m frustrated for you, but I’m bound by laws, rules, regulations and protection acts that prevent me from evicting the bats RIGHT THIS SECOND.” 

Whew, crisis averted. 

“Yes Sir, I can reschedule your appointment for tomorrow afternoon (on the hottest day of the year, when my husband will have to traipse through your attic at 3 in the afternoon looking for a raccoon).” 

“Hello, Banker Lady who hasn’t called me back until now, 3 weeks later, and has bad news for me. Yes, thank you for your time, and thank you for crushing my dream of EVER becoming a homeowner.”

“Oklahoma Wildlife Control, can I help you?” CLICK. That one happens 4 times a day, every day. Aggravation.

“Hello, part-time employee who has called in at least once every week since we hired you. Your truck won’t start? Oh, well that’s ok, we’ll just have to reschedule THE HUGE JOB THAT SHOULD PAY LOTS OF money for next week.”

In DOING, I forget to just BE. Be a business owner, who should be happy when the phone rings, because those rings mean business, and money, and security and paid bills. Gas in the car. School supplies for the kids. The opportunity to grow as a business. I forget to BE thankful. I forget to BE a person, not just a robot who answers the phone. I forget to be thankful that this really sweet Banker Lady has spent countless hours of her time and her money and her resources to help me figure out the mess that is my credit, without ever charging me a penny. I forget to be thankful that we have an employee, who is just a kid, but biddable and a fast learner. He’s really doing a great job. I forget to BE compassionate. I forget to BE the person who can see things from more than one perspective, see past the end of my own nose.

In DOING all the mom-jobs and wifely-duties, I forget to BE thankful for dirty clothes and dirty dishes and dusty furniture and mud on the floor. I complain about the mountains or dirty laundry, and DO them, wash them, fold them, put them all away, But I forget to BE thankful that my family is active enough to get their clothes dirty, to track mud on the floor. Thankful that they are capable of opening the door that blows dust into the house.  Thankful that we had food in the house, that my children are capable of fixing their own lunch and creating dirty dishes. 

I forget to BE mom. To BE the person they can talk to, rely on for a smile or a hug. I forget to be a wife, to offer a hug and a kiss to my exhausted hubby when he comes in from work. I’m always DOING, I’m too busy, maybe later, don’t talk to me, can’t you see I’m on the phone? It’s a business call! Just a minute!

Whew. Slow down. Be. Stop doing. It’s ok to stop. It’s ok to breathe. It’s ok to play. It’s necessary!

These are the things I need to remember.