Tagalance!

I've been tagged by the Dancing Star and I love it! I love her! I love taggage! And, I keep finding that the Dancing Star and I have SOOOO much in common, it's kinda crazy! If you read my answers and her answers, they are somewhat similar.

So, here goes:

THE BALANCE MEME

How do you achieve balance in your life?
"Balance"? What in the world is "balance"? Okay, all joking aside; I've never been too good at "balance". Ask Linlee, I've never been good at splitting my life between friends and boyfriends, or even friends and family. I've been known to neglect friends and that is NOT something I'm proud of - I'm actually very ashamed. I wish I would have known better, but I didn't and I am really trying to be better friend to the people who have been so great to me, but I feel stupid. I don't know...I don't feel like I achieve balance in my life. I'm one of those "all or nothing" types. Fortunately, it's a lot easier to work towards balance when you get rid of a bad relationship. I'm trying...


What is your biggest challenge in balancing your life?
Remembering everyone and everything including MYSELF. I think I'm very absent-minded and I tend to focus on one thing or person more than anything/anyone else at a time. Like I said, I'm an "all or nothing" type and it's hard to devote a small piece of myself to everyone and everything in my life. And, the worst part about it is that I always come last. I need to learn to do things for myself once in a while while devoting a small portion of myself to everything and everyone. Basically, my biggest challenge in balancing my life is "balance". I just don't know how to do it. Sometimes I think I need to take a Time Management course.

What are your priorities?
Family (including Koko)/Friends
My House/Finances
Work
Community
Myself

Have your priorities changed over time and why?
I would say, yes, they have. The reason I say, "Yes" is because as a teenager, family really didn't rank too high on my priority chain. I know that's horrible, but friends and partying were my #1 priority (and, I'm not saying that I always treated my friends the way they deserved to be treated, but they were always the most important part of my life). However, as I grew older, I realized that family is always there for you and that they love you unconditionally. I didn't see eye-to-eye with my parents as a teenager, and now I realize that they just wanted the best for me and that they weren't just being "sticks in the mud". So, as the last decade passed, my family (including cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews, etc.) really moved up on the priority chain and surpassed friends slightly. But, I have certain friends who are so very important to me and they are considered family - Linlee and Bethy!

Also, I think I used to be a bit more selfish than I am these days. When I was younger, work definitely came last and "home and finances" weren't even on the radar. Community? Puhlease! I surely didn't do anything for my community.

What advice can you share to help all of us balance our lives?
Remember yourself - you count too!

Okay, I don't tag anyone because, quite honestly, I don't think anyone would answer it for me! But, if you're reading this and think that you'd like to participate, please feel free!