Preparing for a Snow Day

Article by Wendy McCance

This weekend in Michigan we are expecting to get as much as half a foot of snow. This will be the first significant snowfall of the year. I began writing a list of all of the things I wanted to get done before the snow hits. My list looks something like this:

Buy groceries
Get an oil change
Fill up the gas tank
Make sure the kids have boots that fit
Get new tires on the car
Get food for pets
Stop by the bookstore for a new book to read
Get any errands out of the way

I sat back after I read my list and at first thought that what I wrote was fair enough. I mean, wasn’t this the typical list that anyone would make in this type of situation? After a little thought, it occurred to me that some of the items on my list were ridiculous. Seriously, why would I wait 7 months before getting an oil change? Why should a fair amount of snow be the reason to suddenly take care of that need? Why didn’t I make sure the kids had their boots sooner? I used to be so on top of these matters and yet, recently it appears I have been dragging my feet.

This thought process began to swirl a little out of control as I tend to over think everything. Was I keeping up on household duties? Was I staying on top of my personal relationships? How much was I really allowing to slide through my fingertips?

That’s when it hit me, I have become so obsessed with my career that I just haven’t noticed how much has gotten pushed off to the side. I have always been of the belief that when you find what you love, other things will suffer. You can’t love everything and give each thing the attention it needs equally. Inevitably some things will fall to the side as your focus narrows in on what you are feeling the most in tune with.

The lesson I learned from the seemingly simple list I created was that I need to stop and reflect more often. I need to reevaluate where my energy is being used and make sure that other things that are just as important don’t fall through the cracks.

So I wonder, have you had an experience like this? Also, just out of curiosity, what does your list look like when a snow day is approaching? Are you meticulously organized or do you just let things fall where they may?

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Wendy McCance

Wendy McCance is a Michigan based freelance writer and social media consultant. Wendy has gained attention as the founder of the popular blog Searching for the Happiness which can be viewed in 6 local papers online, including the Oakland Press.The combination of writing skills and social media knowledge is what makes Wendy such a powerhouse to work with. Stay tuned for opportunities to advertise, guest post and as always, have your questions answered.

To contact Wendy McCance about a writing assignment, interview or speaking engagement, please email her at: [email protected]