Lately I’ve felt myself being pulled so many different ways and planning so many things I’ve forgotten to take moments as they come and be thankful. Being prepared, having goals, and planning those things out are always necessary. There is nothing wrong with to-do lists and busyness. It is okay to take time, write things in your planner, be strong and independent in your plans.

But here’s the thing: even superhero’s have their weaknesses and idle times. They have to recharge, go with plan Z, and even fail.

The other great thing: I am not a superhero, and neither are you.

You don’t have the pressure of the world’s safety riding on if your son makes it to karate on time. Your instagram followers will not care if that last Tuesday you forgot to post your ‘Tip Tuesday’. There are so many moments in life that are left better unplanned and spontaneous.

Recently, I’ve been hard on myself thinking that I need to be doing more and working harder on my dreams and my passions. That idle time is wasted and my goals will never happen if I let them move slowly. Hard work is important. Putting the effort and the hours in are necessary components to success. But guess what – that’s not the only thing that leads to success. You may work 3 hours and accomplish something someone else has to take 12 hours for. Or, you may take weeks and months and even years to build up a business or an idea that others seem (on the surface) to so flawlessly execute.

One of my favorite bloggers wrote about how being a workaholic does not equal success. I work HARD, but I don’t let that work take over other things I value in my life. I’ve managed to graduate high school and college with TWO bachelors degrees, sustain a full-time job while planning a wedding and a move, while attempting to build up my Everything Enthusiast blog. My idle time with my family or fiancé does not mean I am forfeiting success. I’m balancing that time and letting myself grow at the pace I’m supposed to.

My words are not to say that hard work is not necessary. It is necessary. Great things are never accomplished by sitting idle day-to-day. But success is not the most important thing in this life. I am not a superhero and there is no medal at the end of the race for me. The world will continue to move forward if my to-do list doesn’t get finished right away. Putting projects and planning on hold to enjoy the moments in life doesn’t mean they won’t get done.

So have grace for yourself. Embrace your organized habits but remember that you are one person. Spending your days worried about your next to-do list will only make today’s seem that much more impossible.

Be gentle with yourself, you’re doing the best that you can.