When I was teaching, often my students felt overwhelmed by a task. I tried to teach them "how to eat an elephant." I even had an art student paint me a poster demonstrating. In case you don't know how you eat an elephant: one bite at a time.

Recently, I have been forgetting my own lesson. Not only have I felt overwhelmed by the eating healthy elephant, but I've been confounded by the number of elephants that I have.

In the last few days, I seem to have put my head back on straight(er) and subsequently watched about 6 pounds of re-gained weight evaporate.

Have any elephants in your house that you are willing to share?

My biggest one really is my house - no storage and too much stuff. Perhaps you saw the article about me in last week's Parade Magazine insert in the Sunday paper? The article was about pack rats.

BTW: If you are interested, "MY" Jeopardy commercial is running again. During the show, a commercial tells the cities they will be visiting for try-outs. I'm the excited fat lady behind the names of the city - full shot!

Now I can say that I realized one of life's dreams - I've been on Jeopardy - almost more than Ken Jennings! Now, I understand "be careful what you wish for - you might get it!"

quote:

Originally posted by jillybean:
This is the big one: my dd and her relationship w/my boyfriend, which is not going very well right now. But taking it one day at a time.
Jill

My mom got divorced when I was 13. My sister and I TORMENTED anybody she ever dated - and she didn't date a lot or have many relationships.

Any boyfriends that she did have, had put up with a lot... and to be honest, we put up with a lot at times, also...

Sending hugs your way because it isn't easy for you or dd or db.

My biggest one is typically the eating plan. But that has been on the back burner.
This is the big one: my dd and her relationship w/my boyfriend, which is not going very well right now. But taking it one day at a time.
Jill

I have way too many elephants to fit in my 3 bedroom house. I share some of these elephants with my husband and others amongst friends.

1 - Becoming financially independant - With a small group of friends we have been following the study guide from "Your money or your life" Very informative and has helped us alot, but it can be overwhelming if you try to do it all at once.

2 - Healthier eating and exercise - We talk alot with our group of friends how to acheive this. Usually over supper. I can at least say that I am making progress on this one.

3 - House management - Trying to stay on top of the laundry, the clutter, the dishes, the housework....So amny things to do, not enough hours in the day!

4 - Environmental Issues - My husbands latest bugaboo is peak oil. We try our best to live environmentally freindly, but sometimes we bite off more than we can chew.

From this list it seems that we cn be eating elephant for the rest of our lives. The worst part for me is that I know that there is too much here to realistically work on at one time, even with baby steps. I have to be able to focus on one or two things at a time. We are trying to work something out before we burst.

I have a huge elephant: My doctoral thesis. I have only taken a couple of nibbles. Plus preparing to defend my preliminary exams....

Congrats on the Jeopardy spot!

quote:

Originally posted by Alli Coffin:

Bee,

I'm feeling a bit like this myself right now. I think, at least for me, it's the strain of the new schedule now that the kids are back in school (schools, actually!). I'm hoping by the end of this month we'll all have settled into the new, more hectic routine.

Is it possible that the same sort of thing is impacting you right now?

That is definitely part of it - trying to juggle work, school and the extra curricular activities and the new schedule just feels a bit overwhelming right now. Hopefully as we settle into a routine, it will get easier.

quote:

Originally posted by Bee:
I'm still struggling with my work schedule right now. I've noticed that this week I've been dreading going in which is a very bad thing. Today I made a deal with myself that if things get too crazy, I'll just back off even more (as it is, I'm only now working ams while dd is in school).

I was starting to feel like things were slipping out of my control but I have to keep reminding myself that I'm in the drivers seat here.

Bee,

I'm feeling a bit like this myself right now. I think, at least for me, it's the strain of the new schedule now that the kids are back in school (schools, actually!). I'm hoping by the end of this month we'll all have settled into the new, more hectic routine.

Is it possible that the same sort of thing is impacting you right now?

This is really timely for me and was journaling about it this morning actually.

My elephants:
1. 10 yr high school reunion (I volunteered to help and am now doing EVERYTHING),
2. Work projects (tho actually pretty ok),
3. Casa Fries (keeping the house running, cleaned, stocked, financed, etc.),
4. Health (eating well, exercising, staying aware)
5. Overall feeling of having "things to do"

I think I create things to keep myself entertained in some sick way. I definitely see some perfection problems, too. Today is definitely a timer day, maybe only 5 or 10 mins at a time.

I also need to remember to give myself credit for all the things I DO do instead of just immediately looking at what else I still have to do.

I'm still struggling with my work schedule right now. I've noticed that this week I've been dreading going in which is a very bad thing. Today I made a deal with myself that if things get too crazy, I'll just back off even more (as it is, I'm only now working ams while dd is in school).

I was starting to feel like things were slipping out of my control but I have to keep reminding myself that I'm in the drivers seat here.