I grew up in the South, raised by an amazing woman who loved unconditionally. She truly was a renaissance woman. While I was growing up, she painted, baked, and hosted large family gatherings to celebrate holidays and milestones. When I was 13, she entered the workforce and worked long hours. Yet, I always remember her being there for me and those she cared about. She made it all look easy, but I came to find out how difficult it was.
My journey was different. I focused on my career and moved to the amazing city of Los Angeles to pursue that career. My life took a turn when I left the private sector and joined the non-profit sector almost 30 years ago. This has been one of the greatest gifts of my life, the opportunity to serve. I then became a mother and realized how very difficult it is to be the best mom, the best wife, the best sister, the best friend, the best worker, the best homemaker, the best community member, my best self. Balance became an elusive concept.
I struggled for many years being overcommitted and with little time for self-care. It wasn’t until the world reset during the pandemic that I finally started to heed the advice of a dear mentor, “put the oxygen mask on yourself first.” Finally, I am taking walks to spend time in nature, taking more vacation to spend quality time with loved ones, and creating more balance across the main parts of my life that I care about. It is important for all of us to be present for our families, our friends, our colleagues, and the community around us – at a time when our world needs us more than ever to champion justice and equity.
Elise Buik is the president and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles County. @elise.buik
