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It’s Saturday night, clock ticking towards midnight, and I’m watching a 2006 movie, The Devil Wears Prada. I bet I am one of a handful of people on earth who has never seen its first run, or its second, or its continuous reruns on cable, Netflix, or any other streaming service.

The Devil Wears Prada is an American story of grit, blind ambition, power, control and yes, success ……. or is it? I could not help but see a younger version of myself being portrayed on screen, as I too gave my very all to every job I ever had especially in the corporate sector. I’ve always believed I had to work harder, longer, better, smarter and more conscientiously than my counterparts but if I’m being honest, those characteristics and traits were always an intricate part of my DNA.

In the end, Andy, the protagonist, realizes that by being tied to her “PDA” 24 hours a day, she is sacrificing a huge part of her life, her family, her friends, as well as her own personal goals and dreams. I remember clear as day frantically trying to wrap up business in route to a family vacation, when my little one made me promise I’d turn off my cell phone for the next ten days. I reluctantly agreed and prayed that the deal I was working on wouldn’t be compromised during my absence. As I think about that irrational fear, in the comfort and distance of years gone by, I realize just how absurd that thought process was but at the time, it not only felt real but my ever increasing anxiety corroborated those feelings. In the end, I kept my promise, asked my co-worker to cover for me, and spent much needed quality time with my family; time I would never regret.

The antagonist in The Devil Wears Prada movie, the character played by Meryl Streep, was never able to find the “correct” balance between her personal and professional lives. The broad strokes of her career irretrievably blurred the lines so much so that neither space was free of casualties. As her personal life began to unravel, one thing was unmistakably clear ….. at the end of the day her decisions were hers to make.

Many of us have been indoctrinated, that we are integral to the health and well-being of our workplace but I have news for you, the beat goes on, whether you retire, quit, or leave your job just because….

So in the end, for you and your family’s health, happiness and well-being, be in the moment, do not multi-task when you’re with your loved ones (there’s really no such thing anyway), and most importantly create balance in your life. As I’ve always said, life is not a dress rehearsal, this life, your life is showtime!

Have you ever had a time or times when you’ve felt you were spreading yourself too thin and needed to create balance? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you.