I learned this lesson years ago...not to schedule my life every waking moment. But something went awry this month and I slipped back into "Sure, I can do that!" mode. Almost every empty space on my "old school" paper Day Minder calendar has something written in. I'm reminded of my post from last month where I talked about not being able to answer sufficiently when someone asked me what I do to "keep busy". I need to send her a photo of my September calendar.
I love having a full, abundant life with lots of friend and family time (grandkids, childcare, family dinners, birthdays, gallery outings, coffees, breakfasts, lunches, craft days, Tribe gathering of we 12 who sit in circle together monthly, facilitated by Hub and me, so some prep work goes into it.)
I love being involved in social justice issues -- re-joining and attending a Physicians for Social Responsibility event (climate justice) and a Housing Hope dinner (homelessness/affordable housing).
I love political activities -- candidates' nights, hosting a house party for a city council candidate, and the usual Resistance work of contacting members of Congress over the latest policy outrage, attending "Together", A Womens' Empowerment Event with my SisteResistors.
I love my yoga classes, including the series of five one-on-one classes I'm taking with a Yoga Therapist who is helping me with my alignment and core strength to address some back pain from my mild case of scoliosis.
I am following doctor's orders to get moving more often on the treadmill or aerobics class.
I'm starting a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class (8 week series, plus full day retreat next month) to address my Demon Anxiety. It's something I've wanted to do for years and finally it's offered here in my own community.
I'm still volunteering for my old foster care agency and wondering if I should contact the second grade teacher for my granddaughter and see if she can use a grandparent classroom volunteer. I so loved that last year.
I love it all....and realize I'm barely keeping up. The first 10 days of October look similarly booked, until we head to Chicago for a week. After that, things clear out and I mean to keep it that way!
I've heard we keep repeating ourselves until the lesson we need to learn is truly learned. Mine has to do with finding so many varied aspects of my life worth pursuing to the point of barely being present to any of it as I prepare for the next thing. Here I am again, in an old familiar place.
The good news is, I've caught myself in time. I've at least learned to breathe through it all and find moments of calm and quiet in the midst of "too much to do". I'm flipping the pages on my calendar seeing mid-October through the end of the year with lots of white space. I'm in charge of keeping it that way. I'll keep you posted.
At least that's the view from here...©
My September (and every April) gets over booked. But my reason is I'm trying to get everything done before the winter snows begin. It can wear you out but I think you've got a great balance of stuff going on in your life between family, exercise of mind and body, social justice and other do-good stuff. A good tip I try to do is actually write on my schedule a day of rest. The theory is if you guard your time day, you'll make the day of rest happen.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good balance...just a lot in every aspect. Scheduling rest is a good idea. I try...then get tempted to fill in that white space. I will try harder! :)
DeleteWe, who believe in being involved, fight this battle over and over and over. (Remember, we are meeting for lunch in October) I figure I have ten years of action/ activity
ReplyDeleteand rembering available and I don't want to say "no" too early. So I say "yes" and keep my calendar filled with love. The "we love you" calender woll be filled with others. for now, I say "yes" to the life I have but you must decide what to say "yes" to anjd what to say "not now" and when to say "never!". It is our gift to be able to make those judgements. So be it and go in peace.