Often, we are caught in our daily obligations and responsibilities. At those times, we only function, and the only goal is to keep our heads above water. Mostly, those are temporary times when just too much comes together; after that, everything returns to normal. But when such busy periods become more frequent, it is a clear sign that we should maybe take a look at our activities. It may be that some of our activities have developed/been added and now require more time or attention, or simply that circumstances have changed. One example is a growing business or hobby, or a sudden life change.

When too many things pile up too often, they turn into an obligation. Then, instead of energizing us, they suddenly drain our energy. We and our interests change. We develop and grow. And as we change, we need to adjust our lives accordingly. When I look at myself, it often takes a while until I admit to myself that it’s time again to declutter to make room for life itself—to make room for myself again. Of course, some busier times are temporary, and we know that in a few weeks or months, we can go back to our old routines. Then we just need to take a break from some activities, only to continue later.

However, becoming an observer of your life can give you quite some insights. It’s funny when you realize that you do certain things purely out of habit, simply because you started doing them at some point and got used to them. It’s time to take stock: What do we have to do, and what do we want to do? And sometimes we have to choose between two things we enjoy. I’m a singer, and I love to sing. I also produce my own songs. But life has changed, circumstances have shifted, and new things have come into my life that I’d also like to explore and develop further. I still have occasions to sing in public, but I’m not pushing it right anymore and have put recording my own songs on hold for the time being. I had a wonderful and successful time, which no one can take away from me anyway. I don’t regret anything about it, since there is so much more I want to see and experience in this lifetime. If we still have a little leeway so that life can “happen” without us immediately finding ourselves pressed for time, we should have laid a solid foundation.

Of course, there can be periods when a lot comes together, but when those periods become longer and longer, we need to open the window, let the sunshine in, and shine a new light on what we fill our lives with. It’s like redecorating and renovating a house.

In Love and Light