A Secret to Working Mom Success: Keep Dancing!

 

Life is a journey that can be full of unexpected twists and turns. We have to learn to navigate them with the skills of a NASCAR driver and the temperament of a Buddhist priest.--Chatón T. Turner

Greetings from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Things have been busy. I am still a working mom of three, working full time who is trying to make a difference. I do a lot of things and try to be present so that I can learn from them. I share them on this blog so that we can learn together. Below are some thoughts, hacks, and/or lessons that I have learned from navigating my world.

As most people know, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are getting a divorce. So, soon, Bennifer will be no more. Don't worry, this is not turning into a gossip rag. Instead, I want to focus on Jennifer Lopez's comments about how profoundly she was impacted by the breakup. She's been quoted as saying, "The split almost did take me out for good but [it] was exactly what I needed."

People criticize J. Lo as being career obsessed, driven, and a perfectionist. And, they try to suggest that but for her career goals and pursuits her love life might be more successful. Like those making those suggestions, I lack inside information and insight into the causation for her string of love affairs. That said, there is an alternate way of viewing this and I would like to submit this for consideration. What if her failed love affairs were part of her destiny, and her career has saved her from personal destruction after these heartbreaks.

As a feminist, I am offended that people keep suggesting that women who are successful in business cannot be successful in love. However, as someone who has been in pursuit of true love my entire adult life, I know first-hand that there are no guarantees. The best anyone can do is to do the best that they can with the person they are with. Because even though it takes two to tango, it takes only one person to stop the dance. Also sometimes, someone cuts into the dance two people are having, interjects themselves and alters everything. And, if you keep on dancing expecting to have a partner you will likely trip and/or look like a fool. So, all dance partner have to pay attention to any changes that materially alter the dance.

Still, as Billy Idol said, you can dance by yourself. Indeed, the geniuses learn how to create a solo dance that is both meaningful and beautiful.  So, take a lesson from J. Lo. Be open to entertaining new dance partners. However, if the music stops or the dance changes, keep going. Dancing is beautiful in and of itself!