The definition and concept of priorities, as applied to my current situation in life, has been a large source of frustration, confusion, and conflict for me recently. I struggle knowing what things I should put ahead of other things, or what activities I participate in that should be pushed aside for other activities of greater priority. You see, I'm only at home (excluding sleep time of 6-8 hours a night) for around 15 to 20 hours a week, including weekends. That is the total of my free time, given I don't have to use it to study for school or do yard work, or other domestic chores. Somewhere in that "free" time I'm supposed to also find time to further my relationship with my spouse, do my home teaching, prepare my lessons for the deacons quorum, attend and help with scout troop weekly activities and
campouts, study the scriptures,
exercise my dogs, maintain my friendships, and probably many others that aren't coming to mind right now. For a lot of people, the solution would be to tone down the outside activities and "get their priorities in order." Well, that is where the whole problem and confusion comes in for me. When I'm away from from home I'm either attending to my part time job, my full time job, or my full time college classes, all of which are essential for me to be able to support my family now and in the future. Basically everything I already do seems of equal priority, but then there are also many other things waiting for me to accomplish or attend to them that also seem of equal priority. The concept of ordering your priorities and doing away with unnecessary things in your life as a fix-all of sorts really bothers me. How does that apply to me!? I have not found it helpful at all! In fact, it just gives me a feeling that it's my fault that I can't fit everything in and if I would just try a little harder I could make it work. Yeah, well most days I feel like I would fall over dead if I tried any harder. Oh, and good luck finding time for fun things and just forget about sleeping in or relaxing.
