by Joan Celebi, Ed.M., CLC
Founder, SpecialNeedsParentCoach.com

"If my hands are fully occupied in holding onto something, I can neither give nor receive."

-- Dorothy Solle

This quote caught my eye this past week, since we've been talking about keeping your schedule manageable for the Fall by cutting back now on some of your commitments. (For more on this week's action step, click here)

When your "hands are fully occupied" -- the phrase reminds me of how so many of us as parents of children with special needs are completely maxed out on time and energy.

When you're overcommitted, you become far less able to appreciate - or even notice - those precious moments of joy with your children, family, and friends. You may find yourself constantly in a rush, chronically late, perhaps even a bit irritable at times. Having too many commitments on your plate can leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

Keep on simplifying. Let go of commitments that are no longer working out for you, and stay involved with only those that are deeply meaningful for you. This process of paring down may not be easy, but it's essential to living a manageable, balanced, joyful life. Saying "no" to some commitments means saying "yes" to what truly matters to you most in life.