As I am headed back to work today and thinking about how great it was to be with all my family on vacation I’m wondering how to get my mind reengaged with life, how to kickstart my heart again if you will.  If you take a vacation well, I believe you should disconnect yourself from work as much as you possibly can.  If I am on vacation but constantly worried about work and things that I have already gotten covered, I’m not getting much of a break from one of the main things that vacation is.

So that’s what I did.  I haven’t read any emails or answered phone calls or made setlists.  I haven’t worked on the Web site or played with a single graphic.  I haven’t even picked up my guitar.  But now I am back and vacation is over.  Now I have to get my mind going again on all things normal life.

What do you do?  How do you reengage?  Or do you find yourself not actually taking a break?

In the midst of a crazy week that is full of so much work related jobs, tasks and opportunities, I am fighting a battle that I have lost before.  One of the ways that I have struggled in our marriage so far is by working too much.  While working for a church it is very easy to get into the mindset that the work is for God and that it is more important.  Of course I would never agree that my job is more important than my family, but as they say, actions speak louder than words.

For me it isn’t staying out too late or being gone on work trips.  It was much more subtle to me.  I didn’t realize it.  Some of it I wasn’t even seeing as work.  It was just answering emails or playing with graphics or listening to a song on repeat on my iPod.  Yes, occasionally I would bring some more major work home, but it was when that became a regular occurrence.  It was when I would try to perfect something I was working on instead of spending time with my family.  I didn’t realize it, but I was only giving them my emotional, mental and physical scraps.  I was spending so much time thinking and worrying about my work tasks that my brain was consumed with these thoughts and my focus was lacking in the areas it needed to be focused on.

So changes had to be made.  I had to become more efficient with my time in the office so I didn’t have much to bring home.  I had to learn to prioritize my tasks and be ok with not being able to complete everything by the end of that week.  I had to learn to say no to things so that I could say yes to the more important things.  Yes, there are times that we have to get things done and my amazing wife has been great in supporting me when those times come up.

This week is another battle for me.  Fortunately losing the battle doesn’t always mean that the war is lost!  We lose the war when we choose not to fight anymore.  Fight for your family today.  Let your actions be the words that they need to hear.  Tell them you love them and are fighting for them and they will always be more important than work!

The last couple weeks have been pretty busy at work.  I came back from our trip to Oklahoma and had to play catch up.  We had others on vacation (so of course we stopped working and went to the beach for 2 weeks…or not).  We had Memorial Day (it wasn’t Labor Day was it?) and had that week shortened.  We have a million things coming up and so there is just a lot to get done.

That’s cool, but I’m curious.  When you have hit the wall, run out of energy, not made a dent in your “to do” list, or daydreaming about your next 5 Hour Energy drink, what do you do to re-energize yourself?  Is it food?  A person?  A prayer?  A song/album?  Red Bull with wings?  A movie?

Simon Says answer the question!

Today is one of those days for which we have been waiting for a long time.  No, we didn’t have the baby today.  That is another one, but it is coming soon.  Today is the day that starts maternal vacation!  Yesterday my wife said goodbye to the House Of Blues and today is the first day of her maternity leave.  It has been a long time coming and she has put in more hours than any pregnant woman should.  I can’t imagine carrying a baby around inside as well as trying to keep up with planning and running parties.  The later makes me tired just thinking about it.

So she now has some “her” time and hopefully will be able to get a bunch of rest that she will surely need in a few short weeks.  I can’t tell you how proud I am of her (except for how I just told you) and how she has dealt with all this and pressed on.  Congratulations, Kara-Kae!  Welcome to the semi calm before the storm of your new job!  Enjoy it while it lasts!