Daily Distractions

Taking on work, family and schooling is a major juggling act. Then you have to add in all the unexpected life events that come with keeping all of these balls in the air. For instance, your child is not feeling well and you need to get a sitter, your car breaks down, the children come home with a boatload of homework and you have an equal load to complete the next day, too. You reach in the mailbox and extract a bundle of envelopes---including past due bills. It can become overwhelming.

One morning in my second year of college, I woke up as normal and started my day. By the end of the day I was feeling a bit of rushed. I was late getting to my first class because my boss handed me a last minute assignment. I needed to complete her letter by early morning so I stayed late to ensure it was on her desk when she arrived the next day. On the way home a warning signal appeared on the dashboard of the car. “What next,” I thought?

Well, the drama continues. The next evening I started dinner and found I was missing a key ingredient, my son told me he had a Physics project due the next day and needed a large lab beaker for water. As for me, I had an exam the next evening and had planned to sequester myself to study. Then I found a past due bill lying in the mound of mail that one of the children had placed on the table. By the way, the warning signal on the dash was still there.

I grabbed my keys and my child and off we went to find lab supplies for his project. On the way back I picked up the can of tomato sauce that I needed for my dish. I helped my son get started on his project and prepared our dinner while giving him assistance with nailing wood to a large board.  Within a couple of hours we were done, had our meal together and I was able to prepare for my exam.

Before I opened the books, I looked at the bill and saw the due date was after my next pay day. As for the car, I decided that I would take it to the shop after my exams. I had handled what I could control and there was no need to ruminate about the bills and money to repair the car. My priority was to study and pass my exam. I needed my head clear to focus. I passed the exam, my son’s project impressed his instructor and I paid that bill. As for the car, it died even after I put all my money into the repair.

 By the end of that week I could have been feeling I was being pulled in every direction, instead I focused on what I could mitigate. The rest I deferred in my mind to address later.

An unexpected event is inevitable and you can allow it to disrupt your day. Distractions can convince you that the additional responsibilities for completing your schooling are just too much. Or you can decide what it is you can control and work on that.

Week after week, there were situations that could have distracted me and made me think I was not up to the challenge. I knew better. It may have seemed easier to quit--again. I didn’t! I persevered and you know the rest of my story. GSU BBCIS 1997