No, I did not write my manuscript...
No, I did not even start writing my manuscript...
Yes, I am feeling particularly overwhelmed at the moment and writing here is one way to sort through my thoughts...
Albert Einstein is credited for many things, but there is one thing that he apparently said that resonates with me right now: "In every difficulty, lies opportunity." I find that every time I am feeling challenged, overwhelmed, and super stressed out, I turn to my  organizational self and try to "clean house". Tonight I not only literally cleaned house, but I also was able to make some sense into my educational loans (which aren't due yet) but hover just slightly below $100,000... I definitely went over board on this borrowing business!!! Good thing I plan on working in the public sector for a while and therefore I hope to be able to qualify for the public service forgiveness plan... but I will try and figure all of that out this week if I can make the necessary calls.

Finances weren't really what was stressing me out today though. Relationship matters always take the winner prize when it comes to throwing me in a tizzle...  and so after yet another series of fights with dear husband and yet another weekend of crazy kids in the house, I just could not handle it any longer and crumbled... just like a cookie!

Here are the challenges I need to tackle in no particular order at the moment:

• Fixing my marriage
• Getting back in shape
• Nurturing my other self... all that I could be if I ever had the guilt-free  time to be it!
• Paying my debt down
• Saving for retirement
• Investing in my first home
• Choosing a dissertation topic
• Applying for dissertation funding
• Getting a higher paying job
• Traveling to visit family in all four corners of the world every year
• Traveling with the kids as a way of teaching them life, culture, history, geography, and a fearless sense of possibility
• Preparing for my qualifying exams
• Preparing for my next conference presentation
• Preparing my famous manuscript
• Nurture my friendships
• Nurture my family ties

Not  insignificant challenges... where do I start????????? How do I break them down in manageable chunks that don't feel so damn overwhelming???? Which do I need to focus most on first? Which can I leave for last? Uggghhhh.....