“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” – John Lennon

Have you heard this line from the John Lennon song, “Beautiful Boy”? This pretty much describes my week.

Tuesday morning, 8:10am

I’m sitting in my big comfy bed, with a steaming cup of café mocha, kissing my husband goodbye as he leaves for work. I’m looking at my schedule for the day and making plans to meet him for cocktails and a networking party after work. My daughters have spent the last 2 nights at their aunt and uncle’s house blissfully playing with their baby cousins. My husband and I are looking forward to 3 more nights of being ‘honeymooners’.

8:25am
The phone rings and I hear a weary voice on the other end that sounds like my brother. My brother and sister-in-law caught a horrendous stomach flu and had spent the night… well…. you know… every 30 minutes or so. He was calling to tell me I needed to get in the car and come get the girls (3+ hours away).

So there it was. All my appointments, schedules, plans, and to-do lists, had to be rescheduled immediately. My fancy dinner and romantic evening….delayed indefinitely. My focus shifted swiftly and (almost) completely to my family.

I was able to do a couple of coaching calls from the car on the 3 hour drive north. And after safely dropping my niece and nephew at their grandparents’ house, about 8 hours after that phone call, I was scooping my youngest up off of the garage floor, covered in…… well, you know. She didn’t quite make it into the house.

It’s days like this that remind me, I am not in control of anything. And when someone in my family is sick, nothing else really matters. As a mom, sometimes you want to run away in horror at the things you are faced with, and always, from somewhere deep inside, comes the wise voice.

“No, YOU are the ONE who must handle this.”

Later I would laugh about how the day had gone so far off track, with my daughter snuggled in bed next to me, sleeping peacefully and finally keeping down some juice.

I feel like I’m still playing catch up from the week’s ‘festivities’. Luckily, everyone is healthy now and we’re back to enjoying our summer again.

Take a moment today, to congratulate yourself on all that you do every day. For all the things you juggle, all the people you support and say thank you to all the people who support you.

I’d like to say a personal “Thank You!” to my fabulous assistant Debbie, who is always there when I need her the most. She’s also a mom and is quick to jump in and help me when “Life Happens”.

Thank you Debbie! You are a *Rock Star* !!!

Try This:
At the top of a blank sheet of paper, write “I am so grateful…..” and list 5 things you are grateful for right now. Ready…. Go!