How busy is too busy?  If you pass yourself and think "hey, that was me, wonder where I'm going" does that qualify?  Life sometimes seems like a juggling act....working, grocery shopping, preparing meals, cleaning the house, taking care of your loved ones, and then there are those little pesky errands you have to do but don't want to.  Added to all that are the commitments you volunteer for that you just can't say no to, and some you could say no to but just don't. Do we do these things out of guilt, expectations from others, or is it just easier to say yes so as to not disappoint anyone?  I feel harried and find myself at a place where I'm tired.....all...the...time, and have been having constant back pain for weeks almost to the point I can't do my job (stress combined with "over doer’s disease" maybe?), and I feel that I have overextended myself to the point of wanting to just shut down and hide away some days.  I think that is what it means to be overwhelmed, which is relatively foreign to me because I normally cope so well. So, all of this to say that I have made a decision. After my commitments during this month (and thankfully they're almost over!), as of May 1, 2012 (write this down people), I am doing nothing and I mean "NOTHING" that is not absolutely necessary, nothing that won't hurt someone if I say no, nothing that will interfere with my home life and peace of mind, nothing other than things I actually want to do and will find enjoyment in, because I really need to get back to me for a while; I need to hug my husband more often and just take in his presence and enjoy our life together. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy volunteering and contributing when I can and love being with people in general, but sometimes you have to admit it's time to slow down, time to step back and reassess your decisions and commitments, and take time to "smell the roses" so to speak, go at a slower pace; and friends let me tell you, it seems like a long time since I've really and truly smelled any roses.  I think this all started in the fall of last year when we had a family situation that literally and incredibly changed our lives; add to that an accident my husband had this year that was truly life altering, and at the time I was cruising along, taking it in stride with no apparent backlash, but a couple of weeks ago, BOOM things seemed to spin out of control for me and I think all of the stress and overdoing it from the last six to nine months just came crashing down on me.  So it's time to say "no" and I question, does saying no and choosing to do only what I want to do, or what Sam and I want to do together, make me a self centered or bad person?  My answer is, I think not; BUT if I'm lucky, what it will do is make me a sane person again, one who isn't discontent and constantly having to put on my 'nice face' so much. So if it seems I've disappeared for a while, it will be just a sabbatical from all things that I can say no to, giving me a chance to smell those roses, and find some peace of mind for just a little while.  I might even do a little baking again and try some new recipes that have been waiting in the wings for so long, because I didn't title this blog Therapy for the Kitchen Queen for nothing folks, baking and cooking is my therapy!  So to all my blogger buddies, I bid you adieu until next time when I'll be back with a great recipe to share, and while you're at it, how about take a moment now and then to smell some roses too!