Left Feet Only Need Apply: Curing the "Once I" Syndrome

Things these days are getting simpler for me, in as much as my schedule seems to get filled.  For instance, when getting dressed, I only need to find my left shoe.  Other professionals doubling as parents who need to get out of the door ASAP while child is agonizing over sitting in the car seat, and you are thinking of the impending doom if you don't arrive to your meeting on time (breath) know how much time this can free up.

Facebook followers may have learned that I have a stress fracture on my right leg.  The remedy for this injury is a boot (thus why I don't need a right shoe), rest, as little walking as possible, foot elevated and no high-impact activity.  Of course I didn't read the "foot elevated" part until this morning... oops.

But here's the thing, in order to follow these doctor's orders as best I can, I have to change my schedule.  And if on Saturday someone had suggested I "change my schedule," I think I might have laughed in their face.  For up to this point, I claimed there was no wiggle room in my schedule.  I thought the requirements of juggling all that I am left little room to change.  But I was wrong, and not only that: I have had the answer for so long but have failed to notice what has been right in front of me all along.

First let's discuss the problem.  Some might call me a "forward thinker" - always planning, thinking ahead, etc.  But I had this self-discovery yesterday at church that I am a victim of the "once I" syndrome.  Here is how I've suffered from this illness in my life: Ending my study abroad in South Africa my last year of college, "Once I get to the U.S. and have a job...," In the U.S. in my first job, "Once I get into law school" In law school, "Once I get into graduate school."  In graduate school, "Once I move," "Once I change jobs," Once I graduate law school," Once I have my baby," and these days, either "Once I move (yes, again) or "Once I finish my dissertation."

Seriously, "once I" realized this, I was amazed at how often I think this phrase...

And this morning on my way to work, I saw a young lady, holding a coffee with an apron in hand, looking like she was on her way to a restaurant/server job.  And I thought, "Aw, remember when?"  And I can't tell you how often I say, "Remember when I lived in Saratoga for the summer?," "Remember when I lived in South Africa?," "Remember when I lived in Hoboken," "Remember when I lived in Baltimore?"  Believe me, these all have more attached to them than location, depending on where I was, and what I was doing, but the point is, I am constantly asking myself to "remember when," and promising myself "once I."

So, I said, what do you have to work with now?  Well here are three major advantages I have in my life for the next 8 or so weeks that will help me to control my life, but get healthier at the same time. 1. I cannot exercise heavily, which means no responsibility at the gym, which means no certification video, which in sum saves me a lot of time. I can exercise at my own time. 2. I live, for the next few months at least, within 2 miles of 3 gyms to which I belong.   I can leave work slightly early, head home to change, pick up Samara all requiring only 10 minutes ride to any destination

Finally, 3. I am a consultant - this is the major "duh ha" moment.  I have been trying to get up at 4:30am since Samara was born and have failed miserably.  I just cannot.  But if I leave work an hour and a half early - the days my schedule will allow - I can then work on email and other admin stuff at my leisure either at night or over the weekend. I am a consultant.  I can create my own hours (within reason around my meetings and deadlines).

These three "perks" last until the end of June.  And I think I will take a step back, not think so much about the "once I" and make sure I make the most of now, so I'm not always thinking "remember when."