When someone responds quickly to a question I ask, I am delighted. It rarely happens.

I'm busy. We are all busy. And when you make something a priority, it can be a huge help to another person.

There are times when I drop the ball. A follow-up to a meeting doesn't get written down. And then days (sometimes weeks) later I remember I forgot to do that task.

I try not to let my inner critic beat me up too much about my lack of responsiveness. I'm human. I make mistakes.

And I'm juggling a lot of balls.

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends and spirit - and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls - family, health, friends and spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life." --Bryan Dyson, then the President and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises

Be compassionate with yourself and others. We're all doing the best we can.

#balance #priorities #compassion #decisionmaking