Accept something that you cannot change, and you will feel better

Oh, Jeez. Where should I start?

Just from what has (not) happened this week....

The solenoid-valves and their vacuum tubing system. Can't fix it. Don't have enough time to, either.

Student coming tomorrow: He won't be able to work on the new high-temperature probe. It won't be ready in 4 weeks' time.

Master's student project: not going well. Cannot find the right redox couple. Don't have enough time to look into the problem. His new Faraday cage is almost ready, but the electrometer has not been ordered. Another delay.

Project money. Don't have the time to check and report changes.

Payment to a company in England. Haven't got around to checking if the payment has been made.

Project proposal. Needs to be done by next Tuesday. Thus need to be sent to everyone by Friday. This! I can do.

Time to drop everything else for the next 4 days.

By accepting something that I cannot change... does this mean I ought to give it up or do it later? I cannot give up on any of these that I have listed above. There are many more things I can add on the list if I include my private life side of "somethings." For one thing, I forgot that my husband's birthday is coming up. For the first time since we met, I forgot his birthday. I know I need to prepare my trip to see my parents, in what! less than 3 weeks. Not to mention the kids' school festival that I am in charge of. There are too many things and too little time. I have said this many times before, but this year, it's different. I simply have too many things to do.  I think this is the first time that working hard is not enough. Yes, there were times in my life that I couldn't get "everything" done. But at the same time, I knew that I could've done more if I had tried harder. This time, it's not the same. I am doing my best and all I can and it's just not enough. I can't. I don't have enough time.

I suppose this is the "something" I need to accept. I cannot do "everything."

Do I feel better? Umm, No.

But this realization forces me to make a priority list.

1. EU Project
2. Master's + Magnetometer (these two must be done in parallel)
3. DD's school festival preparation
4. Trip prep/National project, etc. etc.

So let's get them done. One by one.