{"product_id":"balancing-act-print","title":"Balancing Act Print","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"page\" title=\"Page 1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ethe story\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5CpBFqdIty0\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow many Froot Loops can you stack on top of one another before they topple over?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow tall would someone’s tower have to be for you to find yourself impressed?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe often relish the opportunity to declare how many activities we’re balancing. Like a status symbol, our busyness signals our importance. We could pretend the pink ones are work responsibilities, the yellow ones are family and household chores, maybe the orange ones are volunteer commitments, and the green ones are hobbies…All hail the one with the highest stack of Froot Loops! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI am always in awe of people who seem to be able to operate smoothly amidst a schedule bursting at the seams. My personality type is such that I easily get overwhelmed when I’m trying to stack more than a handful of Froot Loops at a time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI recently added something new to my morning prayer routine. After looking back on the previous day and reflecting on what went well and what I could have done better, I try to identify the most important thing to accomplish in the day ahead. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd let me tell you, it’s bloody hard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI mean, it’s a simple question. And sometimes it’s easy because there’s a specific, obvious task that needs to be completed: Deliver this speech. Finish the manuscript for editing. Paint the ceiling. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut most days, it’s not so obvious. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnswering this question goes against my inherent desire to cram my day like a Volkswagon Beetle stuffed with seventy-six circus clowns. When I survey the day before me, I usually see a smorgasbord of Very Important Things, all seemingly equal in significance. If I happen to settle on something like “spend time in the studio,” I have to fight the urge to also write “andfinishthisandworkonthatanddontforgettotakeoutthegarbage.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI’m not alone, am I?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe science is clear. We get a tiny yet thrilling dopamine hit every time we check something off our almighty to-do list – regardless of how essential the chore actually was – which encourages us to rush headlong into the abyss of productivity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have to remind myself that the question “What is today’s most important thing?” is not asking for the ONLY thing I need to do that day. Or asking me to only do ONE good or worthwhile thing all day. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt’s merely asking me to declare the most important one.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause, unfortunately, despite my desire to bend reality and make my home in the multiverse, there can only be one most important thing. (See this reflection on how we magically changed the meaning of the word “priority.”)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have found that oftentimes in this process, my most important thing is to “be open,” because the most important thing hasn’t yet revealed itself at six-thirty in the morning. But that awareness is vital because it makes me more likely to notice it when it comes. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI encourage you to try this, especially if you’re having a hard time balancing all the Froot Loops. Its power comes in forcing you to pause, nudging you to slow down, reflect, and be intentional.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy does this matter? \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis matters because when I don’t identify the most important thing for the day, I’m liable to rush off and accomplish a whole hell of a lot of things. Which seems good and feels great. But if the sheer volume of activity crowds out what was actually the most important thing I needed to do, my life slowly veers off track.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"emphasis\"\u003eIt doesn’t matter how many Froot Loops you can balance if you were supposed to be paying attention to the Cheerio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eproduct details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis colorful artwork by Jason Kotecki comes in a variety of sizes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16\"x20\" Gallery Canvas.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan\u003eThe fade-resistant canvas print is sure to make a statement in any space. It's a durable, satin-finished canvas hand-stretched on locally sourced wood frames. It features archival inks, black edges, and comes ready to hang\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e11\"x14\" Print.\u003c\/b\u003e Make a statement in any room with this beautiful reproduction printed on high-quality paper, with a partly glossy, partly matte finish. Also available framed in white, black, or red oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e10 mil (0.25 mm) thick paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003ePaper weight: 260 g\/m²\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eSlightly glossy, fingerprint-resistant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eOptional .75” (1.9 cm) thick wood frame\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eAcrylite front protector\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eHanging hardware included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16\"x20\" Original Painting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sold.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Escape Adulthood","offers":[{"title":"Unframed Print","offer_id":56780735611040,"sku":"ART-BACT-11x14","price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black Framed Print","offer_id":56780735643808,"sku":"ART-BACT-11x14-BLK","price":79.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Red Oak Framed Print","offer_id":56780735676576,"sku":"ART-BACT-11x14-OAK","price":79.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"White Framed Print","offer_id":56780735709344,"sku":"ART-BACT-11x14-WHI","price":79.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gallery Canvas","offer_id":43628086263968,"sku":"ART-BACT-16x20C","price":180.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/3231\/products\/balancing-act-sq.jpg?v=1679433921","url":"https:\/\/shop.escapeadulthood.com\/products\/balancing-act-print","provider":"Escape Adulthood Lemonade Stand","version":"1.0","type":"link"}