Getting a little more out of life

I need something exciting to look forward to.

I try so hard to not be ungrateful. I have three wonderful, healthy children, a good job and a house I (mostly) love. So many people can't say any of those things. And I AM grateful.

But that doesn't mean I can change the way I feel. My family is my world, and I would do anything for them. Sometimes, though, I feel like there's nothing to look forward to beyond work and the usual sports practices and games and dance recitals. There is so little downtime to truly enjoy time with my children.

I think another big part of the problem is the guilt I feel when I consider doing something for myself instead of spending what downtime I do have with my kids. So this is where I find myself.

I'm in a real funk.

I'm not saying I need a grand vacation. My dream of seeing Italy can wait; I'm still relatively young. Even a night out with friends for drinks and dancing; a quiet dinner with my mom; a trip to a big, awesome bookstore or a museum ... that's more along the lines of what I need.

How do people make times for the things they want to do, that they LIKE to do? You read articles all the time about how women should make time for themselves, that it's good to dedicate time to things you enjoy. The practical application of such an idea is not as simple as it sounds.