Style
Photos by Ashka Shen (Xssat Street Fashion)
Recently I had to admit defeat. I had to put up my white flag and surrender to my ego. I’ve been working almost every day as a vet. The long hours, the long commutes and the long time away from Winston has left me stressed, tired and grumpy. Add to that a hungry, nocturnal baby, and you have a recipe for fatigue. But it took me a while to realise it, admit that I was working too hard and not resting enough. I used think that saying ‘no’ was a sign of weakness. Now I see it as a mark of wisdom.
As a woman, we are expected to do it all. Society praises those who have it all, and have it all together. Men, or women, we all strive for ‘work life balance’. I don’t know about you, it seems like such an abstract concept to me, something so intangible and sometimes so unattainable. But as I’ve learnt recently, ‘work life balance’ is not rocket science, it’s actually really simple. The secret is to spend time to rest, relax and recharge. Even the Bible has been telling me to rest: “Come to me those who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
So after admitting defeat, I prayed for wisdom and discernment about how to prioritize my time, and went to the one place where I’m guaranteed to relax: The Peninsula Hot Springs. I brought the person who never taught me how to relax, my Mother, and my baby. As the three of us soaked in the warm, bubbling, and mineral-rich thermal waters, I iterally felt my stress, worries and fears melt away.
I’m very much still a ‘work-in-progress’ but I’m learning, and I’ve learnt this: to ‘do it all’ you also need to rest. This may (heavens forbid) require you to say no sometimes, and you may not be able to ‘have it all”. But with God, you can have it all together.
Where: Docklands
Wear: Feathers Shirt / Vintage Pants & Bag / Sonia Rykiel Shoes
Very wise words in your post! I’m definitely feeling the importance of rest with a newborn, haha! Funny how you prioritise things in between feed times. Sometimes I need a little relaxing me time to browse online and blog, despite the callings of the pile of laundry waiting for an iron ;)
Absolutely love those pants on you too – they really suit you and make your legs look so long! Like a model! :)
don’t we all- yes reading blogs and spending time away from motherly duties help to recharge and re-inspire us :D Thanks love! Those pants belonged to my uncle!!! He wore then in the 70s- they were tailor made for him!!
Stunning outfit hun x
Very true, we just need to learn to take a moment for ourselves. It’s always easy to go on auto pilot but we risk burning ourselves out and come to a point where we question if we really enjoy what we are doing anymore.
At least you still look fab :)
thank you May for inspiring me with your wise words. Indeed, we need to get to the root of it and ask the big Why sometimes :D