John Asked...

A dear reader and friend in my coaching community, John, asked, “Carolyn, how do you balance healthy self-interest with the need to be fully present for those you care about?” The question surfaced after I shared with him how privileged I felt to have my family visit for two weeks in Lake Tahoe—the paradise I call home. At the same time, I felt conflicted because while they were on vacation, I was still working, parenting, training, maintaining a home, and upholding all the other responsibilities of everyday life. I often felt like I was short-changing my family by not joining them for the kinds of activities we usually engage in when on holiday. Somehow, wherever I was, I felt I should be somewhere else.