too many roles

Sometimes I'm not sure how to divide my time. 

I feel pulled in too many directions.

I'm asked to be a full-time student.

I'm expected to be a skilled and experienced researcher.

I'm told I'm a leader.

I need to be a hard-worker.

I want to be a great wife.

I wish I was a creative cook.

And when it comes down to it, I feel overwhelmed.

Yep, these are all the things that have been swimming through my head lately.

So yesterday I finally did something about it. 

I talked with one of my professors and decided to stop working on one of the research groups that I was involved in.  And let me tell you, with one less responsibility I'm feeling much better.  

Yes, I'm still working part-time in one research group, volunteering in a second research group, and leading a third research group.  All while being a full-time student and wife.

BUT, I feel a whole lot better today than I did two days ago.

Only three more weeks and then I have a lovely 10 day break from school.

Ahhh I can taste the end.  It's so close!

For now though, at least I feel like I can breathe again.

And that, is enough to get me through the rest of the semester.

I think I'm beginning to realize that I can't be super woman.
As much as I want to be and try to be, it's just not gonna happen.
There are days when I may not be as prepared for school as I want.
Days when I just don't know the answer to a question.
Days when I don't feel like leading anyone, because I won't want to get out of bed.
Days when I may be a bit short with people.
Days when I won't want to cook,
or days when my cooking is just plain bad (if you ask my husband about this, I guarantee he will bring up the pad thai incident...).
And finally, there will be days when I just want to sit at home, stay in PJs, watch a chick flick, and have a good cry.
But you know what, that's OKAY.
That's right, it's okay to have days like that.
Not all the time, but ever so often, I think we need these days.
At least I do.
Because then, I start feeling a heck of a lot better about things.
I have my stress out moments and when they're over, things look just a little brighter.

As I'm sitting here writing this, it's sunny and gorgeous outside. And all I want to do is go strolling down the beach. I'm pretty sure it looks like this almost every day here, but for some reason, it seems just a little brighter today.
The wind feels just a bit better than usual.
And when I look at a day like today,
I know that things will be okay.