Deep Dive: Help! My Life is Out of Balance!

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dr. Laura Call of the Day – Episode: "Deep Dive: Help! My Life is Out of Balance!"

Episode Overview In the March 13, 2025 episode of Dr. Laura's Deep Dive, Dr. Laura Schlessinger delves into the pervasive issue of life imbalance, challenging the notion that true equilibrium is attainable. Throughout the episode, she engages with callers facing various struggles related to balancing professional ambitions, family responsibilities, and personal well-being. Dr. Laura emphasizes the importance of making deliberate choices over seeking an elusive balance, advocating for prioritization to foster a more fulfilling and less stressful life.

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Dr. Laura’s Opening Perspective on Balance

Timestamp: [00:32]

Dr. Laura begins the episode by debunking the myth of balance, asserting, “There is no such thing as balance. They're only choices.” She shares her personal experience of relinquishing certain aspects of her life, such as her syndicated column, to prioritize her family and professional commitments. This sets the thematic foundation for the episode, highlighting that attempting to juggle too many responsibilities often leads to a lack of fulfillment in any single area.

Key Quote:

“There is no such thing as balance. They're only choices. That means when life gets too chaotic, when you feel frazzled and unhappy and like you're not doing anything particularly well, it's time to take something off your plate.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [00:32]

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Caller 1: Evan's Dilemma – Choosing Family Over a High-Paying Job

Timestamp: [03:02] - [05:55]

Evan calls in seeking advice about his contemplation to quit his well-paying job for a role that offers better work-life balance, even though it entails a 50% pay cut. His primary concern is the impact this decision might have on his wife and child.

Discussion Highlights:

• Evan’s Concern: Balancing financial responsibilities with personal happiness and family time.

• Dr. Laura’s Guidance: She urges Evan to confront his wife directly, asking, “Did you ask your wife if she'd like more money or more you?” (see [03:38]). This emphasizes the importance of prioritizing personal relationships over financial gains.

• Identity Shift: Dr. Laura discusses how Evan’s identity is closely tied to his job, advising that embracing a new sense of self centered around family and personal interests is crucial for a smoother transition.

Key Quotes:

“But it's going to be a tough adjustment for you. Your identity is going to be more in family and hobbies.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [04:08]

“You’re actually being unselfish. [...] You’re giving up the money and the identity and the status to be a better husband and a better dad and a better person.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [05:08]

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Caller 2: Kelly’s Struggle – Caring for Her Mother While Managing Family Life

Timestamp: [06:42] - [14:15]

Kelly reaches out seeking advice on how to balance her responsibilities as a wife and mother with caring for her mother following her father’s passing after a prolonged battle with cancer. Her primary concern is not neglecting her immediate family while attending to her mother's emotional needs.

Discussion Highlights:

• Dr. Laura’s Tough Love Approach: She candidly tells Kelly, “This is going to sound harsh, but they need you more than she does. She has coping skills. They don't.” ([07:26]). This underscores the primary responsibility Kelly has toward her own children.

• Practical Solutions: Dr. Laura suggests tangible actions Kelly can take, such as regular phone calls, texts, and involving her children in small gestures like drawing pictures for their grandmother.

• Encouraging Independence: She advises against Kelly becoming her mother’s sole support system, recommending that others in the family also share caregiving responsibilities.

Key Quotes:

“There is no balancing. There is no balance. There's only choices.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [06:53]

“You cannot be all that she needs.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [10:02]

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Caller 3: Amy's Conundrum – Prioritizing Marriage Over Work

Timestamp: [17:23] - [20:27]

Amy, a mother of three teenagers and a business owner, calls seeking advice on how to improve her marriage and spend more quality time with her family without compromising her professional responsibilities.

Discussion Highlights:

• Simplifying Choices: Dr. Laura employs a direct approach, asking Amy to confront her priorities by metaphorically choosing between her husband and her business.

• Actionable Advice: She encourages Amy to resign from her role in the business to reconnect with her husband, stating, “If you put it that way, I don’t really think he’s going to give you an argument, honey.”

• Selfish vs. Selfless: Dr. Laura reframes Amy’s decision to prioritize her marriage as a selfless act rather than selfish, reinforcing the importance of nurturing personal relationships over business endeavors.

Key Quotes:

“You’re a lucky woman. You are a lucky woman.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [19:48]

“You can’t do everything for anybody or anything. That's a silly comment.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [19:51]

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Caller 4: David's Challenge – Rekindling Marriage Amid Parenting

Timestamp: [20:38] - [23:34]

David calls in about a long-standing dispute with his wife over the lack of quality time they spend together as a couple, separate from their roles as parents.

Discussion Highlights:

• Acknowledging the Issue: Dr. Laura recognizes the depth of David’s frustration, noting, “You’re losing your mind” ([31:59]).

• Creative Solutions for Couple Time: She suggests practical ways to create intimate moments, such as setting up a picnic in the living room or dedicating specific evenings for watching a movie together without distractions.

• Navigating Parental Roles: Dr. Laura highlights the complexities of maintaining a romantic relationship while being parents, urging David to find intentional moments to reconnect.

Key Quotes:

“Stop arguing and try to find times in the evening where you put a picnic down on the floor in the living room and turn on a chick flick and watch it with her every now and then.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [23:03]

“If she were an at-home mom, it would be a different issue.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [23:34]

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Caller 5: Mary’s Overwhelm – Navigating Dual Identities at Work and Home

Timestamp: [28:44] - [35:43]

Mary, a listener balancing a demanding career and family life, expresses feelings of being stretched too thin, trying to be both a dedicated professional and an attentive mother.

Discussion Highlights:

• Dual Identities: Dr. Laura empathizes with Mary’s struggle of maintaining separate personas for work and home, leading to mental exhaustion.

• Emphasizing Choices Over Balance: Consistent with the episode’s theme, Dr. Laura reinforces that Mary must make conscious choices about where to focus her energies, rather than attempting to maintain an unrealistic balance.

• Encouragement to Prioritize Personal Well-being: She motivates Mary to prioritize her happiness and mental health, pointing out that overcommitting leads to diminished quality in all areas.

Key Quotes:

“There is no balancing. [...] There are only choices.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [29:02]

“You know you're hot. You know you're good. You know you're smart. You know you're confident. We know it already. Geez, don't you know when to stop proving something.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [33:57]

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Dr. Laura’s Closing Remarks

Timestamp: [34:17] - [35:56]

Dr. Laura concludes the episode by reiterating the central message that striving for balance is counterproductive. Instead, she encourages listeners to embrace the necessity of making choices that align with their priorities and values. By accepting that one cannot excel in all areas simultaneously, individuals can reduce stress and cultivate a more meaningful and contented life.

Key Quote:

“You have one life to live in between now and dead. How do you want it to be? You're not going to be here forever, dear.”
— Dr. Laura Schlessinger [33:08]

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Conclusion

In this insightful episode of Dr. Laura's Deep Dive, Dr. Laura Schlessinger provides no-nonsense advice to listeners grappling with the challenges of maintaining various aspects of their lives. By dismantling the myth of balance and promoting the importance of making deliberate choices, she empowers individuals to prioritize effectively, fostering a more harmonious and less overwhelming existence. The episode serves as a compelling reminder that while it’s impossible to excel in every area simultaneously, thoughtful prioritization can lead to a more fulfilling and manageable life.

Transcript

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[Dr. Laura]

To all my episodes of Dr. Laura's Deep Dive in your favorite podcast app. Search for Dr. Laura's deep dive podcast and follow my deep dive today. Dr. Laura's deep dive deep dive Dr. Laura's deep dive podcast Let me bust a myth for you. There is no such thing as balance. They're only choices. That means when life gets too chaotic, when you feel frazzled and unhappy and like you're not doing anything particularly well, it's time to take something off your plate. I have never been able to balance anything in my life. Work, hobbies, family. Never. But I have given up many things to simplify and prioritize. In July of 2000, I wrote the last of my syndicated columns that appeared weekly in publications like the Desiree News, Jewish World Review. Well, with my television program debut approaching a full time radio program, a family, my charity work, social life, exercise, I knew something had to give. So I used my last column to tell readers I want to share a personal fork in the road that has kept me awake the last couple of weeks. Though it makes me sad, it's evident that unfortunately, I can't do it all. No one, despite popular belief, can do it all. Be it all, have it all. I'm living proof of that. I put a lot of time and effort into this column. My heart wants to continue with it, but my brain knows better. To do so, I would have to sacrifice my number one priority, family. I understood then, as I do now, that the number one rule of stress management is to give something up when life gets overwhelming. Like me, my caller Evan was in a rebalancing mindset when we spoke, trying to make the tough choice between a better quality of life with his family and and his well paid but overwhelming career. Because the point here is that when you're balancing, that means you're doing a little bit of everything and a lot of nothing. Evan, welcome to the program.

[Evan]

Hi, Dr. Laura. Thanks for taking my call.

[Dr. Laura]

You're very welcome.

[Evan]

Yes, I called you about three years ago and gave me some expert advice. So I know when I had another laundry who called.

[Dr. Laura]

Thank you. How can I help?

[Evan]

Yes, my question is I am debating quitting my job and taking a much lower paying job. Be about a 50% pay cut, but it would be a better work life balance. I'm not sure if that's fair to my wife and child.

[Dr. Laura]

Did you ask your wife if she'd like more money or more you?

[Evan]

I did. I mean, she seems supportive. You know, she's saying all the right things, but it's been a long time since we've been.

[Dr. Laura]

Well, is she a liar?

[Evan]

No, I don't think she's a liar.

[Dr. Laura]

Well, then your wife wants more of you. I bet your kids want more of you than money.

[Evan]

Right.

[Dr. Laura]

But it's going to be a tough adjustment for you.

[Evan]

It is. I put a lot of self worth in my job, especially, you know, my title and my income. So I mean, it is going to be an adjustment, but I'm not sure they.

[Dr. Laura]

That's really what this call is about, sir. Everybody else is going to adjust. Fine. The toughest, toughest change is going to be for you. Your identity is going to be more in family and hobbies.

[Evan]

Yes, I might actually have time for hobbies.

[Dr. Laura]

That's right. And hobbies are part of mental health, by the way.

[Evan]

I mean, is there an easier way to make the transition smoother?

[Dr. Laura]

No, no. Come on. I guess you could be drunk or stoned, but then you wouldn't be very effective.

[Evan]

It would not seem so.

[Dr. Laura]

You know, the bumps in the road make the journey more impressive when it's done right.

[Evan]

So it's okay to be selfish in this instance, to do something better for.

[Dr. Laura]

No, it's never okay to be selfish. You finally are being unselfish.

[Evan]

How do you see it that way?

[Dr. Laura]

Because you're giving up the money and the identity and the status to be a better husband and a better dad and a better person and somebody who can enjoy life more. I don't understand how that's selfish. I think that's selfless.

[Evan]

I mean, I guess it's a matter of perspective.

[Dr. Laura]

Yeah, you got the wrong one. You got the wrong one, babe.

[Evan]

Okay, well, I guess I just needed some words of affirmation. And since I got it from both an outside source and in my family, I feel pretty good.

[Dr. Laura]

Good. I'm glad you feel pretty good. But get that I'm selfish crap out of your head or I'm going to pinch your head off.

[Evan]

Okay. Well, I appreciate some of your time. Thank you.

[Dr. Laura]

You're very welcome. People are brought up with the misconception that life is to be done all at one time instead of sequen. But most of us quickly notice that you can't just cram everything in. Women, especially, bend themselves into pretzels because they don't want to let anybody down or hurt anybody's feelings by saying no. But the only way to be successful and productive in life is to choose not to take on more than you're capable of doing. Well, yes, it can be hard to say no, but you have to be willing to, even if the recipient of that no is apparent, as I discussed with Kelly when she called. Kelly, welcome to the program.

[Kelly]

Hi, Dr. Laura.

[Dr. Laura]

Hi.

[Kelly]

Thanks for taking my call. My question is, I'm trying to figure out how to balance my marriage and children with caring for my mom. And we just lost my dad last week. He had been battling cancer for a third time and gave it heck. And after seven months, you know, we knew it was coming. And my mom is in good health. But, you know, emotionally, I'm just trying to be there for her, but I don't want to neglect my wifely duties and my children. I have three boys, ages 4, 3, 3 and 1.

[Dr. Laura]

This is going to sound harsh, but they need you more than she does. She has coping skills. They don't.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dr. Laura]

So I understand. And there. And there is no balancing. There is no balance. There's only choices. Call her every day. Text her every day. Good. Okay. This is not defend yourself moment. I'm just making a list of things you can do without having to drive over there. She can come visit for a weekend. She has friends, she has relatives. You cannot be all that she needs.

[Kelly]

Okay, you're right. I knew you would say that. I just don't want to feel guilty and leave it all on my brother's lap.

[Dr. Laura]

It's not leaving all. When I was widowed, there is no way in the world I wanted my son to spend all his time caretaking me.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dr. Laura]

My friends closed in and I had to spend a considerable amount of time just suffering. Because that's normal.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dr. Laura]

Freaking out and suffering and being negative and all that garbage that comes with that. But you can't fix all that for her. My son couldn't fix that for me. And he has a life, so I'm telling you from firsthand experience as the mother, it's not your job, but calls and texts and pictures of the kids and the dog that threw up on the carpet and cute things and calling and singing, having the kids draw pictures. This is all great. This makes you smile even though you feel like crap. But you're just sitting there holding her hand and looking pathetically into her face is not going to help her feel better.

[Kelly]

Okay, thank you.

[Dr. Laura]

This has nothing to do with guilt. I'm just being reasonable here. And I know from which I speak. From what I speak. Yeah, I know from what I speak. Because I would have felt she's not.

[Kelly]

As strong a woman as you, Dr. Laura. Not many women.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay, well, maybe that's true. But I would have felt a lot worse if I had usurped my son's life.

[Kelly]

True.

[Dr. Laura]

Because I'm a mother. I see it as flowing downhill. And yes, they're very loving. My son and daughter in law love me to pieces and we do so many things together. Go on Instagram and you can see how nutty this family is. But you don't sit on your kid's shoulders. So you have three kids. Have them draw pictures, have them call and say, hi, Grandma. I mean, there are a lot of cute things you can do for that momentary smile. I sure liked the momentary smile. It helps. It helps. So if you go into a dark place, you think, okay, I still have this. So those are the cute things you can do. And it shouldn't be all on your brother either.

[Kelly]

I agree. That's why, you know, I feel like I need to do more as the only daughter. But, you know, it doesn't matter if.

[Dr. Laura]

You'Re the only daughter. Nobody. None of that matters. None of that matters. If she had 16 more daughters, it wouldn't change my conversation with you. Your family is a wonderful production company to send sweetness towards your mother. Just being there is not going to do it.

[Kelly]

But it's okay to have her come for a weekend?

[Dr. Laura]

Yeah, I think it's a good idea because she can play with the kids, you know, cook some dinner, go out, go for a walk, cry a little bit. But live a life with you and your family. That'd be much healthier than you going over there for her. It'll be much healthier because when people get in that depressed state, they tend not to want to do anything. So to drag her butt somehow. Send a car. Send a car service to go pick her up if she doesn't want to drive. Mom, I know you're depressed, but I need you to help me with the kids. She'll be over there.

[Kelly]

Yeah. They're a good distraction from the sadness, that's for sure.

[Dr. Laura]

Gosh, aren't they puppies and kids?

[Kelly]

They are.

[Dr. Laura]

And kittens. I should throw kittens in there. Kittens do it also. Does she have any pets?

[Kelly]

No.

[Dr. Laura]

Does she like cats?

[Kelly]

I don't know. That's a good question. I know they're easy to care for and not a whole lot of maintenance.

[Dr. Laura]

No, they take care of themselves. My two grandkiddies, you know, wash and wear.

[Kelly]

Yeah. I have looked into grief and support groups for her to try to get her back out there. Talking about. At least talk about it and then maybe eventually start volunteering and putting her energy into something useful.

[Dr. Laura]

But you're gonna have to let her design that and not be her camp counselor.

[Kelly]

Okay. I'm good at that. Yeah.

[Dr. Laura]

Yeah, I know. I can tell that. Don't be the camp counselor.

[Kelly]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

And it takes a while. I would say it takes a good year. And then people start wanting to do stuff. And I'm sorry, but you realize it's only a week ago, so the shock part is still there. The depression part comes later. Right now, it's just shock. Even though she was anticipating him dying, it's just shock.

[Kelly]

Yeah.

[Dr. Laura]

At some point, she should get a cat.

[Kelly]

I like that idea. Yeah, I'll suggest it.

[Dr. Laura]

Thank you. I thought you were going to say I'd get her one. Good girl. All right. Good girl. Kelly, I'm very impressed. All right.

[Kelly]

Thank you.

[Dr. Laura]

Take care.

[Kelly]

Thank you.

[Dr. Laura]

Have to take a break, but I want to keep talking. I have to make a choice. I have to eliminate something. Okay, I'll eliminate me talking for a moment so we can take a break. This is all very stressful. I'll be right back.

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[Dr. Laura]

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[Dr. Laura]

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[Amy]

Hi. Thank you for having me.

[Dr. Laura]

You're very welcome. What can I do for you?

[Amy]

I am a mother of three teenagers. My husband and I own a business. I only work while the kids are at school or at their activities, but feeling like my husband is not super happy and I think it's because our home life is suffering because I don't have much time. At the end of the day he likes to have me at work because I have some skills that he doesn't. But I'm struggling between.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay, let me ask him at work. Let me ask you a question. Okay, sure. Work, husband, kids. Okay. Work, husband, kids. I'm going to eliminate one of Those I'm going to have aliens from Mars take your husband away or I'm going to have aliens from Mars take your kids away or I'm going to have aliens from Mars destroy your business. Pick one.

[Amy]

Yeah, that's a pretty easy choice.

[Dr. Laura]

Well, then why don't you make it? Don't answer the question. You have the simplest problem that I will hear all week.

[Amy]

Now that you say it that way, I understand. Yes, you're right. We just need to find somebody to replace me at work.

[Dr. Laura]

Yeah. Give him three weeks notice and tell him I'm going to go back to be your girlfriend, your wife. When you come home, there are going to be warm arms waiting to wrap around you. And for that I'm giving three weeks notice so I can be that woman again. If you put it that way. Yep. If you put it that way. I don't really think he's going to give you an argument, honey. I want to go back to being the woman who wanted to wrap her arms and legs around you. You think he's going to argue with that? I don't think so.

[Amy]

No.

[Dr. Laura]

Yeah. See, simplest problem. You're a lucky woman. You are a lucky woman.

[Amy]

I know. And I just want to do everything for him.

[Dr. Laura]

You can't do everything for him. You can't do everything for anybody or anything. That's a silly comment. Better you should be his girlfriend. Unless you want him to hire a whore. He can either hire somebody to work in the business or hire a whore. Which would you like him to hire?

[Amy]

Yeah. Not a whore for sure.

[Dr. Laura]

Good. Well then go back to being his woman and let him hire somebody to do the work at work there.

[Amy]

Yeah, I'm going to do that.

[Dr. Laura]

But remember.

[Amy]

Thank you.

[Dr. Laura]

Arms and legs wrapped around you. You have to frame it that way. If you don't, you're just going to have a fight.

[Amy]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay. David called me because he wanted more one on one time with his wife and to improve the quality of their relationship as a couple. I wondered how he would react if his wife came home from her physician's assistant job, wrapped her loving arms around him and delivered the same message that I had encouraged Amy to give her husband. David. Welcome to the program.

[David]

Good afternoon Dr. Laura. How are you today?

[Dr. Laura]

Good.

[David]

Definitely an avid fan and often on long term listener. Based on your terrestrial radio past and now serious. My question is regarding a dispute I've had with my wife for quite some time and the question basically is is what do you feel is an appropriate amount of time for?

[Dr. Laura]

I don't give Numbers out. I don't give numbers out. And for how long are you having the same argument? And what's her position? And what's your position?

[David]

My position is this. I want to know how long have.

[Dr. Laura]

You been having the argument? That was the first question.

[David]

I'll say since our sir. Five years now. Five year argument. This is based on the idea of. We have four young children and I believe we do a lot of things together with the family and we spend a lot of time in doing things with the kids. But I don't feel like one of your. I don't feel that my wife and I spend enough time together on our own without the kids. We don't have that, as you would put it, the boyfriend, girlfriend.

[Dr. Laura]

Are you able to get your wife on the phone right now?

[David]

I would love to. Unfortunately. I can. She's working.

[Dr. Laura]

Yes, but everybody at work has a cell phone and they take personal calls.

[David]

Yes, I would do that. She sees. She sees patients. She's actually. Yeah, that's not.

[Dr. Laura]

She sees patients as a. What?

[David]

She's a pa. Physician assistant.

[Dr. Laura]

I know what a PA is. And what is her specialty?

[David]

She's just primary care. I don't mean to say just. She's primary care.

[Dr. Laura]

So who takes care of the kids all day?

[David]

We have them in a Montessori school during the day, which I know you're not a fan of.

[Dr. Laura]

She wants to spend more time with the kids because she's not there raising them.

[David]

I agree with you. I do agree with you.

[Dr. Laura]

So stop arguing and try to find times in the evening where you put a picnic down on the floor in the living room and turn on a chick flick and watch it with her every now and then. Plan something cute with grandma there. But she's an appropriately guilt ridden mother who's not raising her children and is caretaking everybody else for a living and feels guilt about not spending the family time. So you're going to have to work around the reality.

[David]

Okay.

[Dr. Laura]

If she were an at home mom, it would be a different issue. That's one of the consequences of the situation you have. So you're going to have to sneak together time in. Kids are in bed, you put some wine, cheese and crackers on some blanket on the floor in the living room with pillows and you turn on a stupid movie and you hug, snuggle and maybe even have some great sex. That'll be together time. All right, we have to take a break. There are some things we don't have control over and my breaks are one of them. I'll be right back.

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[Dr. Laura]

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[Mary]

Hi, good afternoon Dr. Laura. I've been a listener to you for a while and thank you. You're great. My question today has to do with balancing professional life, ambitions and family life and demands.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay, slow down, slow down, slow down.

[Mary]

Okay, I'm sorry.

[Dr. Laura]

No, no, there's nothing to be sorry about. I just need you to slow down. Because there is no balancing. I have for my entire career tried to remind especially women, there is no balancing. There's only choices. And choices mean things are left by the wayside because you chose something else. Because you can't do them all. And when you try to do them all, usually kids and husbands pay the price. So you really have to make choices. For example, when I was on in Los Angeles, I was on KFI and I was on at nights. That was fine. I took care of Derek all day. Daddy came home 9 o'clock, I got in the car, off I went do my radio show 10 to 1 in the morning. Okay. I was younger. I could handle it. Couldn't stay up that light anymore. Anyway, there was a rumor that they might put me on afternoon drive time. That's considered the elite time next to morning drive to be on the radio. It was a rumor. I went home and cried because I knew I'd have to turn it down. Why? Because I was a mother. I wasn't going to have him come home from school to no mom and go to bed with no mom. Fortunately, it never panned out, but I would have turned it down. So I am the best person for you to talk to about all of this.

[Mary]

Thank you.

[Dr. Laura]

And I'm proud of myself to this day. Do you think I'd tell you this story if I had dumped my kid and taken the job? Do you think I'd be bragging about this story? Probably in Ms. Magazine I would. I showed my kid that. You make choices for your career. That's how they talk. I'm very. Well, I was going to say I didn't have. I didn't have to make the choice, but I had made it anyway. So. There are things I have never done that I would have loved to have done. But we only live one life. And we can't do it all. And we can't balance shit. We really can't.

[Mary]

I think you're right. I think that's what's driving me nuts. I am one person at work in my career and then another person for my family and.

[Dr. Laura]

And you're losing your mind.

[Mary]

Two separate people. Yes. Because you don't want at either when you're trying to do both.

[Dr. Laura]

So send your husband and kids over here or do something about your job.

[Mary]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Dr. Laura]

You're very welcome. And I appreciate very much that you called. And I hope I helped you to because I completely. If there's anybody on the face of the earth who understands what's going on in your head, it is me. And I gotta tell you, when you make the choice and when you change that job situation, you will be so freaking relieved. You will be surprised.

[Mary]

I know I might gut that I will, but I. I feel guilty. I feel that I am just that it's taken me a long time to finally be honest with myself. And I'm supposed to be able to do this for a living and advise people on how to do this. And I just.

[Dr. Laura]

So what? You have one life to live in between now and dead. How do you want it to be? You're not going to be here forever, dear. This is it. You get to be the architect of your life for the next, what, 40 years? And you'll be dead. Come on, live it the way you want to live it. Yeah, there has to be a time when you live your life the way you want to live it.

[Mary]

You're correct.

[Dr. Laura]

And you're killing yourself right now. Yeah, for what, world peace?

[Mary]

No, I think to feed, you know, personal ambition and to feed. To prove something.

[Dr. Laura]

Ah, you proved it already.

[Mary]

Yeah, I think you're right.

[Dr. Laura]

Yeah, it's already proven. Come on, you know you're hot. You know you're good. You know you're smart. You know you're confident. We know it already. Geez, don't you know when to stop proving something? It's proven.

[Mary]

I appreciate your comforting words. And you're very wise beyond your years.

[Dr. Laura]

And I got a lot of years, so maybe it just fits. Being overly busy is hard work. It's hard on your mind. It's hard on your body, and it makes you worry. It takes away from your friendships, sex with your spouse, time with your kids. You have no peaceful rhythms. You don't have time to be creative. You're not happier. No one ever said, I hate lying on a blanket in the grass, staring up at the clouds. But a lot of you have said you're too busy for such things. Hmm. Maybe it's time to make a different choice now. Go do the right thing. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform. Okay, we've got Katie's project, Dan's bake sale. Emma has a test tomorrow. Uh, sweetie, I'm out of my blood pressure, man.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Managing the house while Mama's gone is not easy.

[Dr. Laura]

But did you know that now Walmart Pharmacy has prescription delivery straight to your door? Wait, what? Really? Yep.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Just upload your prescription to the Walmart.

[Dr. Laura]

App and keep doing your thing.

[T-Mobile Representative]

We'll bring your groceries and prescriptions all in one bag and straight to your door.

[Dr. Laura]

Thanks, dad. When does mom come back? In 38 hours and 47 minutes. Now your pharmacy comes to you. Welcome to your Walmart delivery.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Not available for all prescriptions.

[Dr. Laura]

Exclusions apply.