Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The juggling act

I've been working several weeks now, long enough to realize the struggle to balance work and everything else in my life. The last time I was working, I was single and had no husband or child to care for with their needs and expectations. And, of course that was almost twenty years ago, and my younger self had more energy and stamina and none of the health issues I currently face. My free time was just that, free to do with as I saw fit. Now that is not the case. Free time now is a race starting the minute I walk out of work. A race to pick up groceries, drop off library books, drive my daughter to where she needs to be. Since my schedule changes with my manager's whim, it is hard to plan too far in advance and I have had to scramble to reschedule appointments. Worse, is missing social events that I was really looking forward to. But sometimes there is no alternative. Modern retail has few boundaries; stores are open seven days a week from early morning to late evening. Those shifts have to be covered, and getting off when you want for what you want, is a tricky endeavor and not always successful.
I've come to realize I must choose my battles wisely as I cannot win them all. Everything must be prioritized. Which is more important, Tuesday night choir practice or a Saturday lunch with friends? Your birthday dinner out with your husband, or your daughter's band concert? What choices are held the most dear?
My manager's only desire is to keep everything flowing smoothly. She sees to it that our little shop continues, shift after shift. Our schedule is ever changing as illness and car trouble and vacations and sick kids throw a monkey wrench into it's carefully planned precision. I've already seen tears, more than once, as schedules collide with personal lives.
Time is a scarce commodity. There's just not enough of it for any of us. Is it any different if you're a stockbroker or salesgirl? The needs of the job verses the wants of our hearts. It's a juggling act I am attempting to learn.