• ABOUT
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Let’s Work Together
  • Shop
    • Shop Our Photo Presets
    • Shop Our Amazon Favorites
    • Shop our Etsy
    • Shop our Poshmark
  • Contact
  • Hire Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

Oak + Oats

A Colorado Lifestyle Blog

  • Motherhood
    • Mama Buys
    • Pregnancy
    • Childhood
  • Marriage
    • Date Night
    • Wedding Anniversary
  • Lifestyle
    • Photography
    • Family
    • Friends
    • Holidays
  • Home
    • Before & After
    • Yard & Garden
    • Recipes
    • Hosting
  • Travel
    • Travel Tips
    • Snapshots
    • Disney
    • Colorado
    • Colorado Springs
  • Ask Elizabeth

September 22, 2017
Blogging & Business

I Cannot Do All the Things

I cannot do all the things.

This isn’t the first time I’ve said this – I say it to myself all the time. And even more than that, my friends and family so sweetly remind me of this truth when I’m caught in my head.

I’ve heard it a million times. But it always sneaks back up – that lie at the back of my head that says I can do it all, be it all, have it all.

At the beginning of this week I got really sick. Apparently some kind of horrendous stomach bug is going around and my weak immune system was all “pick me!” But really, I spent the majority of the week in bed and the rest of it recovering. This was not what I planned. I had posts to write, photos to take, emails to send, camping trips to go on, meals to make, laundry to fold, and a social life to maintain. But there I was with barely enough energy to make the trip from the bathroom to my bedroom.

On top of all the day-to-day things I do, we’ve been thinking and working on Oak + Oats behind the scenes too. I was going to keep trying to do all the things but after a week of being sick and “falling behind more” I think it is best to admit it to myself and step back from some things for awhile.

Because what I realized as I agonized not only in sickness but in guilt as I binged watched Once Upon a Time and prayed I wouldn’t throw up again, is that often the deadlines and expectations for Oak + Oats are imposed by me. I can move the deadlines – I am the one who set them. I can change the expectations – I’m the one who set them up. There are so many “shoulds” in blogging & business that I just pile them all onto my list. But not every should is a should for me. Two years ago I wrote something about this too.

If you need the freedom to take a couple “shoulds” off your list or move a self imposed deadline or adjust set expectations, here it is. We all need to do this sometimes. We cannot always do all the things. And when you are lying in bed sick (which hopefully you are not but if you are) I hope you let yourself rest & heal and not give into guilt.

All this to say, I’ll be stepping back from some things but still around. Thanks for your understanding and grace. This community means so much too me and I couldn’t do any of this without you!

PS: Today is the first day of fall! I took these pictures this week – looks like fall is peaking through around here.

Related

Spread the love
Previous Post: « Honey Orange Margaritas
Next Post: Shades of Autumn: Style favorites under $50 »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emily of Em Busy Living says

    September 26, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    Sorry you were so sick! Hope you are feeling better. All of your work will be waiting for you when you’re ready for it.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Mayberry says

      September 28, 2017 at 10:19 pm

      Thanks Emily!

      Reply
  2. Elizabeth says

    September 28, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    Sorry to hear that you were sick! It’s no good when something interferes with eating! But I’m so glad you wrote this. I think that I need something on my wall that says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” then right next to it “I cannot do all the things” haha while it sounds contradictory, what you wrote up there makes a distinction. We can’t wring ourselves out! So thanks for this. And I hope you’re able to get back on track this week!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Mayberry says

      September 29, 2017 at 4:21 am

      Girl. Tell me about it! hahah. AND YES! He equips us to do His will and His tasks and He gives us strength not our own. But we can’t do all things and be all things even in that. We always have to sacrifice something to do something else well. Thanks for your sweet encouragement!

      Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hello + Welcome!

Hello Friend! I’m Elizabeth, a Colorado photographer, writer, & blogger. Most importantly, I am a Christ follower, wife, mama, sister, daughter, and friend!

Welcome to Oak + Oats! Here we look for the remarkable in the every day. We love photographing our daily moments, making memories, and sharing our favorite places here in this space.

Our happiest days are spent together – many of those with a camera in hand! My free time (ie: Nap Time) is spent behind my computer screen sharing our tips and stories with you! I’m glad you’re here!

stay up to date

READ MORE ABOUT

  • Motherhood
  • Marriage
  • Childhood
  • Photography
  • Home
  • Colorado
  • Travel
  • Holidays
  • Ask Elizabeth

OLDER POSTS

Sourdough: An Essay & A Recipe

All The Love You Can Give

Februray Book List

Mornings Full of Breath Prayers

January Book list

Hello 2023: Looking forward

Goodbye 2022: Looking Back

2023 Christmas Season In Photo

Our Christmas

Holiday Gift Guide: The Christian Lady

Footer

MOTHERHOOD

Oh Baby
Mama Buys
Pregnancy

COLORADO
Colorado Springs

HOME
Recipes
Hosting
Before & After

MARRIAGE
Date Night
Anniversaries

TRAVEL
Travel Tips
Snapshots
Disney

SHOP
Shop our Amazon List
Shop our Presets

Copyright © 2023 · OAK + OATS