By  Shelly Gail Morris



Of course it’s complicated, it’s life, chicky. I’m not yelling — just writing loudly. Life is complicated and messy and freaking hard. Don’t make matters worse by taking on projects and kid activities that will stress the crap out of you and send you flailing around like a chicken with your head cut off. If you are running in a thousand different directions, completely out of breath and never accomplishing a thing—begin the process of uncomplicating your life.

Make a list of all the crap you have to do. List the things you absolutely must do. Be honest about the things you really want to do. Literally get your priorities in order. And if belly dancing is at the top of your “wanna do” list—that’s okay. You are important. This task is to get you fulfilled and happy. Try to mark off the things you do that can be altered. Carpool. Delegate. Say “no thanks.” Opt out. Just rid yourself of all the insanity that ruins your days and needlessly complicates your life.

I have girlfriends who insist they want to have lunch. But before
we can meet they have to run 15 errands, send a fax, count reports, check in with their husbands, stand on their heads, do jumping jacks and get 15 broken nails repaired. If it is really that complicated to get together with your girlfriends, you seriously need to rethink your priorities. It’s not that difficult. It’s 45 minutes of consuming food. Find the time. Girlfriends will be there when you are depressed. Girlfriends will be there when your man is an a%&. Girlfriends will be there when your parents are ill or your kids do something embarrassingly stupid. Don’t make them feel like an inconvenience that you are attempting to squeeze into your life. Girlfriends should be a priority—right there with coffee and wrinkle creams.

Complicated relationships can be trying. But I’m all for relationships, even the uncomfortable ones. Not talking is not communicating. Let’s keep talking, and maybe someday we will get past the weirdness. Sure, there are screwed up relationships that we can all do without, and if those relationships are making you crazy, move on.

Give it a rest. Drop duties not relating to the happiness of your life and your family. Give yourself a break. Life goes by quickly and you don’t want to spend it exhausted and annoyed at the world. You will like yourself better. Your family will appreciate your revived mood. Make real time for real people. Get off the cell phone. It’s messing up your hair and making your voice irritatingly loud. Simplify your life and you will be happier. I’m just sayin’.