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This Week
Hey there,
Last week, I watched my 7-year-old learn to ride a bike. She fell seventeen times before making it across the driveway. By fall twelve, I was ready to call it quits. She wasn't.
"I'm not done yet," she said, brushing off her knees.
That moment stuck with me. When did we adults start believing that falling meant failing? When did we start demanding perfection from day one?
This week, I want to talk about the power of just showing up...
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The Weekly Spark
Issue #127 • December 4, 2024
The Myth of Work-Life Balance
Hey there,
For years, I chased the mythical work-life balance. I imagined it as a perfectly calibrated scale: work on one side, life on the other, both hovering in perfect equilibrium.
Spoiler: it doesn't exist.
Not because you're doing it wrong. But because the metaphor itself is broken. Balance implies a static state. Life isn't static. It's dynamic.
Some weeks, a project demands your full attention. Some weeks, family needs you. Some weeks, you need you. Trying to maintain perfect balance in all of this is like trying to hold a yoga pose during an earthquake.
"Instead of balance, think rhythm. Life isn't a scale. It's a dance."
Here's what I've learned: instead of balance, aim for integration. Instead of separating work and life into competing boxes, look for where they can reinforce each other.
The question isn't "how do I balance everything?" It's "what does a sustainable rhythm look like for me, right now, in this season?"
★ ★ ★
Three Sparks This Week
1.
Read: Cal Newport's new piece on
Slow Productivity is a manifesto for sustainable work.
Key insight: work at a natural pace, not a manufactured one.
2.
Try: The "energy audit." For one week, note when you
feel energized vs. drained. Patterns will emerge. Adjust accordingly.
3.
Listen: This interview with Esther Perel
on reimagining relationships with work hit different. "We've made work
our primary relationship."
★ ★ ★
Your Action This Week
The "Good Enough" List
Pick three things this week where "good enough" actually is good enough. Not everything needs to be exceptional. Sometimes, done beats perfect.
Reply to this email with your three things. I read every response.
Until next Wednesday,
Sarah
Curator, The Weekly Spark
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S
Meet Your Curator
Sarah Mitchell
I spent 15 years in corporate marketing, climbing the ladder everyone told me to climb. I hit every milestone: promotions, corner office, the whole deal. And I was miserable.
Three years ago, I left to figure out what actually matters. The Weekly Spark is what I learned along the way: weekly reflections on work, creativity, and building a life that fits.
I live in Portland with my husband, two kids, and a dog who has more followers than I do. When I'm not writing, I'm probably overthinking my coffee order.
Common Questions
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Once a week, every Wednesday at 7am EST. That's it. No surprise emails, no promotional blasts, no "just checking in" messages. Your inbox is sacred and I respect that.
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Yes, completely free. The Weekly Spark will always have a free edition. I may introduce a paid tier in the future with bonus content, but the core newsletter will remain free forever.
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