You know what? I am not done.

I am not done with shopping for the start of school (my daughter still needs new sneakers). I am not done cleaning out my closets (I started at the beginning of summer…three years ago). I am not done with writing my book (despite working on it for two years now). I am not done with shopping for two baby showers (one gone by) and two out-of-town kiddie birthdays (both gone by). My nails look awful and I have a stack of magazines I subscribe to just piling up. And I am not spending enough time with friends.

I was feeling pretty crappy (like lots of other working moms I’m sure) until I read about Hazel Soares in the June issue of The Week Magazine (I am just getting to the June issue!)

Hazel is a ninety-four year old woman who graduated from high school seventy-eight years ago and couldn’t afford college because of the Great Depression. This past summer, Hazel graduated with and undergraduate degree in art history.

Said Hazel, now a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother: ”It’s taken me quite a long time because I’ve had a busy life.”

It left me realizing that in the last two months I have made a decision to work outside the home again, developed my resume, started part-time consulting work at a huge, global company, gotten engaged ( ), and gotten my house up for sale (read: clear out half of my belongings (clutter) and repainted), taken a vacation with just me and my daughter, and gotten a new puppy!  Whew!

Hazel has helped me see that I’ll eventually get to all that other stuff that I’m “not done with.” I’m just busy right now.

Thank you, Hazel, for giving me better perspective.

- Swati