Under and Over Committed

I find that most us fall into two categories of people.

The under committed and the over committed.

Now wait just before you get all your feathers riled up. I didn’t say that every one of us falls into one of these two categories. I just said that most of us do.

Take the under committed.

That’s the typical single person, in my opinion.

You wait until the last second to commit to anything because maybe, perhaps, just in case the man of your dreams may show up at the very same exact time and ask you out.

You know exactly what I’m talking about.

You’re single. You don’t answer to anyone, least of all to some event. Forget about that. You’ve got to weigh in all your options because you just never know what the future could hold.

And really….what’s the big deal, you tell yourself. It’s not like one person will going to make or break the event.

Now lest you singles get all of the glory, I dare say that many of you marrieds may also fall in the under commitment camp. You’d like to commit. You really do. But the day you commit will be the day your thoughtful hubby – your man if I may so casually call him – will decide to take you out on a date.

So you defer commitment. You’ve been too busy lately. No one you know is going to be there. What’s the point of committing to go if you’re just gonna back out later?

Believe me – I know your reasons. I’m in your camp after all.

Then there’s the over committed.

Oh boy. That pretty much defines the entire western hemisphere. It seems like the more ways we have to simplify our lives, the more complicated they seem to be.

The kids have soccer. The dog has grooming. The husband has football – watching, not playing. The in-laws are coming. The school needs help. The church needs help. The groceries need buying. The email needs responding. You’ve got to exercise, and clean, and cook, and plan your life too.

Time? What are you talking about? There will be time in heaven – when we’re dead.

Today is for work, work, work.

And when the work is done, we’ll find more work.

Like starting a new project, or planning a new trip.

It’s fall. We’ve got to go apple picking. It’s winter, let’s sled. It’s spring, how about them cherries? And summer. Ah – summer. Let’s fill our time with stuff. Like swimming and canoeing, and camping, and smores.

Are you tired yet?

I am. And I’m over committed. So I get it. I’m in your camp too, you know!

I’m almost halfway through my life and here’s what I’ve learned: You are both wrong.

Those of you who refuse to commit are missing out.

And those of you who are over committed are burning out.

While life – your real life – passes you by.

I’m over over committing. I’ve learned to say no.

I’m over under committing. I’ve learned the joy of a yes.

But more than anything I’m learning that I need just 2 things to get it right:

• Balance.

• Priorities.

So. Are you over committing? Or are you under committing?

The people around you have noticed.

It’s time for you to change.

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