I’m a big believer in life handing us the right things at the right time. No, really. Stop laughing. I don’t mean that goodness drops out of the sky into our laps, or anything, but that if you’re doing your best and paying attention, things have a way of working out. A little elbow grease, a little divine providence… who knows?

And I’ve never been particularly patriotic, but I’m here to tell you that I have never been so excited about the July 4th holiday as I am this year.

I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m burning out, exactly. Let’s just say I’m feeling a little singed around the edges.

I’m tired. I’m cranky. I’m doing too much and I’m not doing any of it particularly well. On the surface, it’s business as usual. I take my work seriously, and it would take a lot more than a little bit of stress to cause me to miss a deadline. Nevertheless… I’m short-tempered and it’s taking me twice as long to do half as much. I’m not going to win any Mother of the Year awards right now, either. When I’m working I’m wishing I was with the kids, and when I’m with the kids I’m thinking about all of the work I should be doing. I feel overwhelmed, but not for any one specific reason.

Singed.

Fortunately—help is on the way, in the form of a much-needed holiday weekend. We’re heading out of town for a day as a family, and then after my kids head off with their dad, a couple of dear friends are coming here to spend a couple of days.

I will not work.

I will not fret.

I will sleep in and laugh a lot and maybe have a glass of sangria or two.

I will shake off whatever’s going on with me this week.

I hope.

The stakes are higher, when life balance goes awry, when you are your business. If I could’ve taken a sick day (mental health day?) this week, that might’ve helped. But it isn’t an option, as a freelancer. Heck, it’s not an option even when I’m genuinely ill. It’s an unthinkable extravagance, an unscheduled day off. So I sucked it up. But “suck” is the operative word in that sentence.

And yet… tomorrow is a holiday. And then the weekend. Sometimes, life hands us what we need.

Here’s to our country’s independence, and to me finding a much-needed attitude adjustment.