Tending Two Gardens: Balancing Work and Calling
May Flowers mini series: a story on the quiet labor of tending two fields. One to make a living, one to make a life — and trusting that both can bloom in their time
There’s a quiet war many of us are fighting.
The tension between duty and desire.
Between clocking in and having fun.
Between being everything for everyone else and still remembering you’re allowed to dream, too.
For most of us, life doesn’t look like dreamy writing retreats or lazy mid-morning café musings.
It looks like early alarms. Long shifts. Endless group chats. Overlapping appointments. Exhaustion that lingers even after a full night’s sleep.
And still… we carry these glowing embers inside us.
A song that needs finishing.
A book that begs to be written.
A podcast idea scribbled on the back of an old worksheet.
A vision for a sanctuary—a space of healing and joy—for yourself and others.
That vision matters.
Even if no one else sees it yet.
Even if your days feel too loud and your calendar too full.
Even if your creative self feels like she’s been buried under responsibility.
There’s still room for her.
There’s still room for you.
So how do we nurture that sacred part of us when life won’t slow down?
You honor your daydreams like they’re instructions.
You write notes in your phone.
You whisper voice memos while doing laundry.
You treat creativity like the lifeline it is.
And sometimes?
You say no.
You cancel plans.
You take a personal day.
You make rest part of the work.
Not because you’re lazy.
But because your spirit needs time to breathe.
Because creativity is not a luxury. It’s survival.
A Few Anchors for the In-Between:
1. Balance Looks Different Every Day
Some days, you’ll feel lit up and flowing. Other days, the win is simply showing up.
Both are enough.
Don’t let perfection silence your progress.
✍🏽 Journal prompt: What does “balance” actually look like for me right now?
2. Time-Block Like Your Dream Depends on It
Waiting for the perfect time usually means never starting.
Start small. 20 minutes here. 10 minutes there.
Build the habit of showing up for yourself,
even if it’s just a whisper of progress.
🗓 Try this: Block out one “creative appointment” this week. Honor it like you would a meeting with someone else.
3. Give Yourself Grace
You’re doing a lot.
And you’re doing better than you think.
Some seasons will bloom. Others will feel dormant.
Don’t confuse quiet with failure.
✍🏽 Reflect: Where have I been too hard on myself lately? What would I tell a friend in my place?
4. Reconnect with Your Why
When the weariness creeps in and you wonder if any of it matters—pause.
Remember why you started.
Remember who you’re becoming in the process.
💡 Tip: Record a 30-second voice memo of your “why.” Save it. Play it when you need to remember.
So is it possible?
To tend to your responsibilities and your creativity?
To water your calling and pay your bills?
Yes. But not without boundaries, intention, and grace.
Let’s stop waiting for the perfect season.
Let’s bloom right here—between the noise, the work shifts, and the stolen moments of quiet.
You’re not behind.
You’re not broken.
You’re becoming.
And yes—there’s still room to dream.
There’s still room for you.
