Struggling to balance your to-do list, personal goals, and a new rescue dog? Here’s a reflection on work-life balance, playful chaos, and learning to integrate joy into ambition.

The Weight of Responsibility

Like many entrepreneurs and working professionals, I juggle a full-time job, run a small business, maintain relationships- and now -raise a high-energy rescue dog.

Enter: The Chaos Pup

In February we adopted a rescue dog. We thought we were ready, and we missed the pitter-patter of paws in our house. Our new pup arrived, and instantly my schedule went out the window!

This dog wants to play! He was in a shelter waiting for his home for some time, and now that he’s in a house he wants to run through all the rooms, jump on all the furniture (like a parkour master!), and will try to lick my face every chance he gets. 

Most of all, he wants to wiggle; when one of us comes home he essentially starts dancing! It’s hilarious, and impossible not to want to play with him. 

The Inner Conflict

And yet, I have a to-do list. I have things to do each day…

When do I have time to play with this dog?

I am feeling a bit like a “failure” because I am no longer getting shit taken care of, I am not moving closer to my big goals, and, more importantly, we have a new family member who we want to play with and cuddle and help him build good manners. 

Big Questions, Small Paws

In the last few weeks I have been sitting with this question:  Am I really here to execute my to-do  list every day? 

Let’s Talk About Balance

I don’t have all the answers, not by a long shot. And while I sit here on my meditation cushion with all these questions,  my dog is trying to sit on my lap and lick my face. So maybe I am able to do both: I can do what I want to do and play. Maybe fun and ambition don’t have to be at odds after all.

Hit reply and tell me: How do YOU balance play with your big goals?

I’d love to hear from you and I respond to each and every email!

Stay awesome, Heather