Ok, so I might be just the smallest, teensy-weensy, tiniest bit burned out.

…

But … I’ve been reluctant to admit it to myself (and to all of you.)

I mean …

For one thing, I still have a lot of …er … stuff to do whether I’m burned out or not.

How is whining about it going to help?

Stiff upper lip, nose-to-the-grindstone, no pain, no gain, you got to pay your dues and all that.

…

Second, isn’t my life as a musician supposed to be all milk and honey?

Should I really be complaining that I currently have enough work, exciting music projects and money?

What if I jinx it?

(What if one of my many “bosses” reads this?)

What if I’m actually really, really lazy and will never get back to work if I take a break?

What if I say no to something and miss the “opportunity of a lifetime?”

(What if I am whining? *grimace*)

…

So.

What finally got me to fess up (aside from the observations of my friends and family) was recalling my keyword for 2010 — nourish.

Overachiever that I am, I’ve done well in nourishing my performance opportunities, contract work options and my bank account.

I haven’t done as well at nourishing some of the other parts of my life.

You know, the sleep-in, exercise, eat healthy, spend time on my art, read-a-good-book, spend-time-with-friends-and-family parts.

…

We have a saying in my family — “more credit.” It’s how we remind each other to acknowledge the hard work, hard thing, amazing accomplishment, death-defying feat or tiny step one of us just finished.

Not to minimize or sweep under the rug. Or ignore.

(Like me, with my burnout.)

…

The truth is that I’ve done a ton of work since I graduated. Musicals, gigs and concerts. Coaching, directing and temp jobs. Blogs, grant applications and web work.

And right now I’m tired.

…

Now that I have admitted I’m burned out, I can do something about it.

In fact, I’ve scheduled a vacation to rest, recharge and rejuvenate.

…

Note: That means blog vacation, too, so I won’t be posting on Friday or Monday. *smile*

“You are as young as your faith,
as old as your doubt;
as young as your self-confidence,
as old as your fear;
as young as your hope,
as old as your despair.”
– Douglas MacArthur

“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.”
– Mark Twain

“It is possible at any age to discover a lifelong desire you never knew you had.”
– Robert Brault

(And to bigsis … a blast from our past. *smile*)

The Birthday Girls

My twin sis and I will be a year older by the time you read this post. (Ok, not a whole year older, but you get my point.)

For our 30th birthday, my sister gave me a framed list of 30 things she loved about me.

It was — and continues to be! — one of the best presents I’ve ever received. It is amazingly powerful to see yourself through the eyes of someone who loves you “warts and all.”

I highly suggest you find a way to get someone to write you such a list. *wink*

(Or write yourself a list. Better yet, write someone YOU love a list.)

…

While only minutes older, my sister has always taken her role as “big sister” seriously and led by example.

A prime example is that she quit her job years before I did to go back to grad school.

She said she wanted to do something she wanted to do.

And she thought she could. (Turns out, she was right. *smile*)

Thanks for leading the way, big sis!