My life got completely rearranged this year with the decision to enroll our oldest in virtual school. It was the best thing in the world for her. She’s thriving, able to work at her own pace. And her little sister is right there along with her. The three year old can now read signs and cereal boxes and anything else left near her and she does Kindergarten math. Keeping the two of them busy and challenged is going to keep me very busy.

It’s the equivalent of taking on a part time job when I was already busy, but I have a passion for seeing that they get what they need to thrive, so I’m okay with the way my life has shifted. Also, hey, I’m with them a lot anyway. Now there’s just more structure to what we do.

But I’m having to re-evaluate everything in my life to do only what’s truly important to me. Am I passionate about it? Is it a holdover from something that used to fit me, but doesn’t anymore? In ten years, will I care? In ten minutes will I care? Am I only doing this out of fear that I can’t get anything better? If it’s not something I’m passionate about, it needs to go. There aren’t enough hours in the day.

I’m passionate about writing. I’m passionate about my family. I’m passionate about taking care of myself so I’m up to the job of writing and being there for my family. I’m passionate about enjoying life and being present in the moment.

For the rest? I’m applying the 80/20 rule. Eighty percent of your results come from twenty percent of your efforts. So I’m streamlining. If it’s an activity that I don’t think produces results and I’m not passionate about continuing to do it, it needs to go. I can’t do it all, but I do think I can do all the things that truly matter.