Ok, what's the deal with the all new Blogger? It might look the same to you, but on the back end, things are definitely different. So far, it seems pretty easy to figure out. Analytics and Reader are integrated into my dashboard - cool! I love Google. Speaking of which, have you started using Google+? If you need an invite, just let me know and I will shoot one out to you.
Anyway .... I get so frustrated with myself sometimes. Tonight at yoga was no exception. I really hate it when I can/t get my bones and muscles to do what my brain envisions. In my mind I am flexible and strong. In reality, not so much. My hamstrings are strung so tight they feel like they could snap. My hips are tight, my shoulders are tight, my lower back is weak, my upper body is week, my thighs are jiggly and my abs are squishy. This is not the body I have in my mental world, and it is frustrating.
When I first started yoga at the YMCA, all I wanted to do was touch my toes. I had no idea. Recently I started going to Yoga4Ewa. It's the real deal, no false sense of competency in this place. I really, really love it. I learn so much at every class. The first thing I learned was how little I know.
Tonight we were working on headstands. Specifically, using your abs to lift up into a headstand, not your legs. I did it, sort of, once - for a second or two - maybe. I know just what to do, my muscles just don't obey. I want to be strong. I want to be flexible. To get there I must be diligent, and I must be patient. Hence, the frustration.
Tonight I pushed myself to work very hard. Great big drops of sweat rolled off my face and on to the mat. Yoga, with Tasha, is the only time that has ever happened to me. I don't sweat like that, ever - not running, not dancing, not even sitting in the hot sun at the beach. All that sweating has to mean progress is happening somewhere.
I know this for sure - yoga helps me manage the stress of ordinary life. When I am upside down, trying to keep my elbows in, shoulders down, head looking back, hips back, toes up, and legs straight, there is no room left in my brain for anything else, except maybe breathing - if I am lucky. There just isn't space for one more thought, and that is lovely.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
The Connection between Love and Abundance
I heard something interesting yesterday. The big 3 of life are 1. Health 2. Wealth 3. Love, and not necessarily in that order. If you have those 3, then life is pretty sweet. If one or more is messed up, then, well, not so much. That isn't news, and not all that interesting. What was interesting is this ....
If you are lacking wealth, you can't expect it to fall out of the sky and land in your lap. The way we get money, is through our interactions with other people, through relationships. If you are unemployed, who is going to hire you? A person is. If you have a job, you have to keep the boss happy. And who is the boss, yes, again, a person. If you own a business, you have to keep your customers happy. And who are customers? People.. Even if you are kid, you have to keep Mom and Pop happy to keep the allowance money flowing. Anyway you look at it, cash flows from person to person. So, if you are having money troubles, what you really have are people troubles.
Puts a whole interesting new spin on it for me. My brain has been analyzing my life in a whole new light the last 24 hours. Here are are some questions to ponder.
1. Do you think that you have to grovel for your pay?
2. Do you think that other people need their money more than they need to pay you?
3. Do you over pay for things?
4. Do you buy things to give you a sense of power?
5. Do you think you are over paid for your work?
6. Do you expect people to cheat you?
7. Do you think that the only way to get ahead is by being dishonest?
8. Do you think being poor is noble?
9. Do you know how to ask for what you want with confidence?
10. Do you know what it feels like to have more than enough for your ideal life?
Those are money issues, but at the heart of it all, it's about love. How so? Well, let me try and explain.
1. Do you think you have to grovel for your pay? (or any other physical need)
When we grovel, we debase ourselves. We grovel because we feel like the other person has power over us, that they are superior, and we are worth far less. This action comes from an extreme lack of self worth, a lack of love in the relationship with that person, and a lack of love for our self.
2. Do you think that other people need their money more than they need to pay you?
Are you willing to take less pay so the company can have more profit? Are you willing to work for less than you are worth because the customer can't afford your standard price? Are you willing to discount yourself, for the sole benefit of another? If you do, then you are trying to buy love and acceptance at the cost of your self respect. Everyone wants a good deal, but there is a line that should not be crossed. Why does their desire for a bargain out way your desire for an abundant life? There is a fair price, that is fair to all parties. If someone expects you to give more than is fair, they do not value you and giving in to their demands will not raise your standing with them, it will lower it.
3. Do you over pay for things?
Over paying is emotionally and energetically the same as working for too little. It is an attempt to buy acceptance and love. In a way you are are telling the company, or person you are dealing with, that you value them more than you value yourself. You are using your wealth to manipulate others into giving you what you want - respect, acceptance, inclusion, and ultimately love.
4. Do you buy things to give you a sense of power?
I remember when I was a kid and I had $3 in my pocket at McDonald's. I felt this amazing sense of power when I realized that I had the ability to purchase anything on the menu. (I know, this totally dates me, cause $3 won't buy you squat today). I felt very powerful, and just a little bit prideful, standing there like a big shot ordering my Big Mac, fries, shake, AND a hot apple pie. My parents almost never took us to McDonald's and they certainly never bought those silly apple pie things.
Seriously, do you every buy something expensive, or have your hair done, because you crave that feeling of power? When you walk into the store you know they have to put up with your crap because you are the one with the cash? How about taking your friends out to eat and paying for everyone, to give yourself a little boost in the ego? It's not the buying of nice things, or the treating your friends that is the problem, it is the WHY you do it that is the problem. Again, it comes down to love, or the lack there of.
5. Do you think you are over paid for your work?
Unless you really are being paid $100/hour to sit and watch TV, this is a false belief about your worth as a human being. Do you love yourself enough to just let the good stuff come your way, or are you always undermining your own success? Are you happy stuck in the muck, and afraid to let yourself rise above to where you really deserve to be? Who are you to determine what your services, skills, or expertise are worth to another? You might think it is easy, but to someone else it might just be priceless.
6. Do you expect people to cheat you?
If you expect people to cheat you, then you will be cheated. Expecting the worst, means you have very little regard for your fellow human beings, or yourself. You think the world is out to get you, and with that attitude, you are probably right. Expecting the worst in others leaves no room for love, or respect. At the root of thinking like this is the false belief that life is a zero sum game. It is not, there is plenty for all.
7. Do you think that the only way to get ahead is by being dishonest?
This is the other side of the same coin as expecting others to cheat you. At the core, it is the same false belief, that there is not enough for everyone to live abundantly. If you want some, you have to steal it from someone else, there isn't enough for both of you. Life is not a game of poker. You can get ahead without bluffing and hiding an ace up your sleeve. We can all win.
8. Do you think being poor is noble?
Believing that rich people are evil, and that if you are poor you are more righteous, is prideful. You are setting yourself above others. It doesn't matter what the reason is, if you think you are better than someone else, you are lacking in love. If you think it is noble to be poor, and you are working hard to get more income, you will either sabotage yourself into remaining poor, or come to hate yourself if you succeed at increasing your income. Being rich or poor does not make a person good or bad. It's about how you treat others.
9. Do you know how to ask for what you want with confidence?
It's important to know how to ask for what you want. If you have never been successful at asking for what you want, then you probably don't know how to do it right. I'm no expert here, but I think the key is feeling love and gratitude rather than fear and doubt. When your heart and mind are full of love and gratitude, you will exude confidence.
10. Do you know what it feels like to have more than enough for your ideal life?
If your life to this point has been a struggle, then you probably don't know what it feels like to have enough. It's hard to visualize, and bring to pass something with which you have no experience.
Even if you have had a life of financial troubles, you have had success at something. Remember that feeling, the feeling of success, and import it into your heart when you are thinking about your financial goals. It's ok to borrow those feelings of success from other areas of your life.
Just in case you were thinking that you have never had enough of anything you needed in your life, that you have always had to do without, here is a little exercise for you. Stop right now and take a deep breath, fill your lungs all the way up. Do you feel that? Your lungs are completely full, you couldn't possibly take in another breath. You have all the oxygen you need and what do you need more than air? Focus on that feeling of fullness, when you think about all your other needs.
What is the difference between oxygen, or sunlight, or food, or a house, or a big pile of money to God? It's all the same to Him. We have been abundantly provided for and it all comes from the same source. You are loved.
If you are lacking wealth, you can't expect it to fall out of the sky and land in your lap. The way we get money, is through our interactions with other people, through relationships. If you are unemployed, who is going to hire you? A person is. If you have a job, you have to keep the boss happy. And who is the boss, yes, again, a person. If you own a business, you have to keep your customers happy. And who are customers? People.. Even if you are kid, you have to keep Mom and Pop happy to keep the allowance money flowing. Anyway you look at it, cash flows from person to person. So, if you are having money troubles, what you really have are people troubles.
Puts a whole interesting new spin on it for me. My brain has been analyzing my life in a whole new light the last 24 hours. Here are are some questions to ponder.
1. Do you think that you have to grovel for your pay?
2. Do you think that other people need their money more than they need to pay you?
3. Do you over pay for things?
4. Do you buy things to give you a sense of power?
5. Do you think you are over paid for your work?
6. Do you expect people to cheat you?
7. Do you think that the only way to get ahead is by being dishonest?
8. Do you think being poor is noble?
9. Do you know how to ask for what you want with confidence?
10. Do you know what it feels like to have more than enough for your ideal life?
Those are money issues, but at the heart of it all, it's about love. How so? Well, let me try and explain.
1. Do you think you have to grovel for your pay? (or any other physical need)
When we grovel, we debase ourselves. We grovel because we feel like the other person has power over us, that they are superior, and we are worth far less. This action comes from an extreme lack of self worth, a lack of love in the relationship with that person, and a lack of love for our self.
2. Do you think that other people need their money more than they need to pay you?
Are you willing to take less pay so the company can have more profit? Are you willing to work for less than you are worth because the customer can't afford your standard price? Are you willing to discount yourself, for the sole benefit of another? If you do, then you are trying to buy love and acceptance at the cost of your self respect. Everyone wants a good deal, but there is a line that should not be crossed. Why does their desire for a bargain out way your desire for an abundant life? There is a fair price, that is fair to all parties. If someone expects you to give more than is fair, they do not value you and giving in to their demands will not raise your standing with them, it will lower it.
3. Do you over pay for things?
Over paying is emotionally and energetically the same as working for too little. It is an attempt to buy acceptance and love. In a way you are are telling the company, or person you are dealing with, that you value them more than you value yourself. You are using your wealth to manipulate others into giving you what you want - respect, acceptance, inclusion, and ultimately love.
4. Do you buy things to give you a sense of power?
I remember when I was a kid and I had $3 in my pocket at McDonald's. I felt this amazing sense of power when I realized that I had the ability to purchase anything on the menu. (I know, this totally dates me, cause $3 won't buy you squat today). I felt very powerful, and just a little bit prideful, standing there like a big shot ordering my Big Mac, fries, shake, AND a hot apple pie. My parents almost never took us to McDonald's and they certainly never bought those silly apple pie things.
Seriously, do you every buy something expensive, or have your hair done, because you crave that feeling of power? When you walk into the store you know they have to put up with your crap because you are the one with the cash? How about taking your friends out to eat and paying for everyone, to give yourself a little boost in the ego? It's not the buying of nice things, or the treating your friends that is the problem, it is the WHY you do it that is the problem. Again, it comes down to love, or the lack there of.
5. Do you think you are over paid for your work?
Unless you really are being paid $100/hour to sit and watch TV, this is a false belief about your worth as a human being. Do you love yourself enough to just let the good stuff come your way, or are you always undermining your own success? Are you happy stuck in the muck, and afraid to let yourself rise above to where you really deserve to be? Who are you to determine what your services, skills, or expertise are worth to another? You might think it is easy, but to someone else it might just be priceless.
6. Do you expect people to cheat you?
If you expect people to cheat you, then you will be cheated. Expecting the worst, means you have very little regard for your fellow human beings, or yourself. You think the world is out to get you, and with that attitude, you are probably right. Expecting the worst in others leaves no room for love, or respect. At the root of thinking like this is the false belief that life is a zero sum game. It is not, there is plenty for all.
7. Do you think that the only way to get ahead is by being dishonest?
This is the other side of the same coin as expecting others to cheat you. At the core, it is the same false belief, that there is not enough for everyone to live abundantly. If you want some, you have to steal it from someone else, there isn't enough for both of you. Life is not a game of poker. You can get ahead without bluffing and hiding an ace up your sleeve. We can all win.
8. Do you think being poor is noble?
Believing that rich people are evil, and that if you are poor you are more righteous, is prideful. You are setting yourself above others. It doesn't matter what the reason is, if you think you are better than someone else, you are lacking in love. If you think it is noble to be poor, and you are working hard to get more income, you will either sabotage yourself into remaining poor, or come to hate yourself if you succeed at increasing your income. Being rich or poor does not make a person good or bad. It's about how you treat others.
9. Do you know how to ask for what you want with confidence?
It's important to know how to ask for what you want. If you have never been successful at asking for what you want, then you probably don't know how to do it right. I'm no expert here, but I think the key is feeling love and gratitude rather than fear and doubt. When your heart and mind are full of love and gratitude, you will exude confidence.
10. Do you know what it feels like to have more than enough for your ideal life?
If your life to this point has been a struggle, then you probably don't know what it feels like to have enough. It's hard to visualize, and bring to pass something with which you have no experience.
Even if you have had a life of financial troubles, you have had success at something. Remember that feeling, the feeling of success, and import it into your heart when you are thinking about your financial goals. It's ok to borrow those feelings of success from other areas of your life.
Just in case you were thinking that you have never had enough of anything you needed in your life, that you have always had to do without, here is a little exercise for you. Stop right now and take a deep breath, fill your lungs all the way up. Do you feel that? Your lungs are completely full, you couldn't possibly take in another breath. You have all the oxygen you need and what do you need more than air? Focus on that feeling of fullness, when you think about all your other needs.
What is the difference between oxygen, or sunlight, or food, or a house, or a big pile of money to God? It's all the same to Him. We have been abundantly provided for and it all comes from the same source. You are loved.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
9 Days and Counting!
Our son has been in China since February,teaching English to children and adults. He comes home next Monday! Yeah! I love looking forward to events like this. There is no stress involved, no preparations to make - well, other than to make his bed, drive to the airport, and maybe do a little extra grocery shopping.
It will be good to have him home again. Everything is a little more interesting with him around.
It will be good to have him home again. Everything is a little more interesting with him around.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
So, You Want to Work From Home?
I have been a work from home, self employed, 1099 sorta person for the last couple of decades. Independence is in my blood - it runs strong on both sides of my family. We just don't do well working in a box, especially if that box is not of our own construction.
When our first baby was born, we determined to avoid day care, and resolved to do what it took to parent our children personally. It wasn't always easy, but has always been interesting. I've done all kinds of different things, taken on projects and work from home assignments that run the gamut from sales to real estate appraisals.
Over the years my business has morphed into freelance work, mostly writing, and other semi-technical creative projects. Lately I have found myself with more time on my hands than usual. Last week I set out to find some new clients. I started where I always do - Google.
1. Months ago I signed up with www.oDesk.com.. I did make one really excellent contact via this site, which led to inclusion as a contributing author in a published book. So, I would not count out this site entirely, but .....
The general feel of this site is that it is primarily towards non-US workers. The pay rates are VERY low, like $5 per article - crazy - kind of low, and the ads often say things like, "strong English skills important". It's sort of obvious that the hiring entities assume a large portion of their readers are NOT native English speakers. Plus, the website owners are all in between the freelancer and the client via bidding, and paying for the services. They take a percentage of every job that is facilitated through their site. Not a bad revenue model for the site, but not the best for either client or freelancer. In the future, I will probably skip these sort of sites. There are a ton of them out there, if you want to hire a person in Asia or India to work for you for cheap :).
2. A while ago, Carolyn Cooper of www.SimplyHealed.com told me about www.HireMyMom.com. She used the service to find her latest virtual assistant, and recommended them highly. I must admit, I looked at the site, but then forgot about it until last week when I began this quest for clients. This site is very different from oDesk.com.
They are geared exclusively towards women, primarily mothers, who want to work from home. The service costs $39.99/quarter or $99/year for a mom to sign up. The service is free for the hiring parties. They let you look at a sample of the current job listings before you sign up, which I found very helpful. The jobs are all reasonable, normal paying jobs for those living in America. They have a pretty wide variety of job listings, from virtual assistants, to graphic designers.
There are only a handful of new jobs added each day, so a client search via HireMyMom.com could take a while. I signed up for a quarter and we will see what comes of it.
3. I have been helping a friend with a traditional job search so, craigslist is a frequent stop for me. They have a few listings a month for writing jobs. Most of it looks pretty sketchy, but you never know. I recently spotted a section for "gigs" which translates to "temporary assignments" for those of us not in on the hip lingo of the music, or apparently craigslist world. Anyway, found some viable possible projects listed there. It's worth checking out in your city. It's at the bottom of the list just under "jobs" and is broken down by type, such as creative, writing, talent, etc.
4. I found this FaceBook guy that scans ALL of craigslist every day and posts the freelance writing jobs, at FaceBook4FreeLancers.com. In my book, he's pretty stinkin' awesome for doing all that work. I hope he has a good revenue stream built in for all his work. He certainly gets positive energy flowing his way from my direction for that service. I have applied for several very promising projects via his postings. What a great service!
In addition to the daily postings he puts out a summary every Tuesday - Morning Coffee Newsletter. It's good to check over and make sure you didn't miss anything good in the daily postings.
5. Some other great sites with opportunity listing are www.freelancephotojobs.com www.online-writing-jobs.com and www.virtualassistantjobs101.com. They have listings from craigslist, careerbuilder, etc. They seem to upload several times a day, if not in real time. These sites are free, and easy to navigate.
6. www.freelancewriting.com - This site offers a wealth of information about working as a professional freelancer. Those of us who work from home can get kind of isolated. A site like this can help you stay in touch and realize that you are not alone out there.
So, there you have it, a summary of my new client search education. Not bad for a few days work.
When our first baby was born, we determined to avoid day care, and resolved to do what it took to parent our children personally. It wasn't always easy, but has always been interesting. I've done all kinds of different things, taken on projects and work from home assignments that run the gamut from sales to real estate appraisals.
Over the years my business has morphed into freelance work, mostly writing, and other semi-technical creative projects. Lately I have found myself with more time on my hands than usual. Last week I set out to find some new clients. I started where I always do - Google.
1. Months ago I signed up with www.oDesk.com.. I did make one really excellent contact via this site, which led to inclusion as a contributing author in a published book. So, I would not count out this site entirely, but .....
The general feel of this site is that it is primarily towards non-US workers. The pay rates are VERY low, like $5 per article - crazy - kind of low, and the ads often say things like, "strong English skills important". It's sort of obvious that the hiring entities assume a large portion of their readers are NOT native English speakers. Plus, the website owners are all in between the freelancer and the client via bidding, and paying for the services. They take a percentage of every job that is facilitated through their site. Not a bad revenue model for the site, but not the best for either client or freelancer. In the future, I will probably skip these sort of sites. There are a ton of them out there, if you want to hire a person in Asia or India to work for you for cheap :).
2. A while ago, Carolyn Cooper of www.SimplyHealed.com told me about www.HireMyMom.com. She used the service to find her latest virtual assistant, and recommended them highly. I must admit, I looked at the site, but then forgot about it until last week when I began this quest for clients. This site is very different from oDesk.com.
They are geared exclusively towards women, primarily mothers, who want to work from home. The service costs $39.99/quarter or $99/year for a mom to sign up. The service is free for the hiring parties. They let you look at a sample of the current job listings before you sign up, which I found very helpful. The jobs are all reasonable, normal paying jobs for those living in America. They have a pretty wide variety of job listings, from virtual assistants, to graphic designers.
There are only a handful of new jobs added each day, so a client search via HireMyMom.com could take a while. I signed up for a quarter and we will see what comes of it.
3. I have been helping a friend with a traditional job search so, craigslist is a frequent stop for me. They have a few listings a month for writing jobs. Most of it looks pretty sketchy, but you never know. I recently spotted a section for "gigs" which translates to "temporary assignments" for those of us not in on the hip lingo of the music, or apparently craigslist world. Anyway, found some viable possible projects listed there. It's worth checking out in your city. It's at the bottom of the list just under "jobs" and is broken down by type, such as creative, writing, talent, etc.
4. I found this FaceBook guy that scans ALL of craigslist every day and posts the freelance writing jobs, at FaceBook4FreeLancers.com. In my book, he's pretty stinkin' awesome for doing all that work. I hope he has a good revenue stream built in for all his work. He certainly gets positive energy flowing his way from my direction for that service. I have applied for several very promising projects via his postings. What a great service!
In addition to the daily postings he puts out a summary every Tuesday - Morning Coffee Newsletter. It's good to check over and make sure you didn't miss anything good in the daily postings.
5. Some other great sites with opportunity listing are www.freelancephotojobs.com www.online-writing-jobs.com and www.virtualassistantjobs101.com. They have listings from craigslist, careerbuilder, etc. They seem to upload several times a day, if not in real time. These sites are free, and easy to navigate.
6. www.freelancewriting.com - This site offers a wealth of information about working as a professional freelancer. Those of us who work from home can get kind of isolated. A site like this can help you stay in touch and realize that you are not alone out there.
So, there you have it, a summary of my new client search education. Not bad for a few days work.
Monday, May 9, 2011
10 days and Counting
It's now 10 days and counting till graduation. It will be here before we know it, and gone and on to June. Ah, sweet, lovely June, with dark mornings spent SLEEPING! Yippee!! The next couple weeks will be fun, but ah ... sweet, restful June!
I find myself thinking lots of interesting things, but not writing much lately. I am not sure why exactly. Maybe the thoughts aren't really all that interesting, or maybe I am just tired of thinking about them and don't want to rehash all that old news again to put it down in words. I don't know why, but I'm quiet right now.
Maybe it's because my mind is in scanner mode. You know, the police scanner, the contraption that picks up all the police and emergency radio transmissions? Well, my brain is scanning - scanning for the important, scanning for the inspiring, scanning for opportunities. I'm open to receive - just waiting for an intelligent signal to arrive.
I find myself thinking lots of interesting things, but not writing much lately. I am not sure why exactly. Maybe the thoughts aren't really all that interesting, or maybe I am just tired of thinking about them and don't want to rehash all that old news again to put it down in words. I don't know why, but I'm quiet right now.
Maybe it's because my mind is in scanner mode. You know, the police scanner, the contraption that picks up all the police and emergency radio transmissions? Well, my brain is scanning - scanning for the important, scanning for the inspiring, scanning for opportunities. I'm open to receive - just waiting for an intelligent signal to arrive.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
27 days ...
On a quiet Sunday evening the sudden panic of a looming deadline came crashing in. One month to go, and then this phase of my life comes to a close. Like all deadlines of any significance, this one comes with lots of things to do, and permanent consequences for things left undone. It's not like I didn't know it was coming. It's a day that's been coming for years, the clock's been ticking since 1993. Yet, here it is, and it feels sudden and rushed.
There's a lot to do int he next 27 days. My mom comes in 20 day - aghhhh! It would be great if my mom could come and help me get the house ready for my mom to come stay. Wait, that doesn't work, oh well ....
Announcement s need to be printed and mailed, same thing for the grad party invites. Then there is planning and executing the actual events. Quincie has last minute homework and projects to finish. It's the mad dash to the end.
As our youngest child, graduation officially marks the end of an era. It's been a great run, I must say! I'd do it again, start to finish, all of it, and not change a thing, the good, the bad - just to have another chance to hold my tiny baby, giggle and play with my little girl, and marvel at each new thing she discovers and becomes. If somehow, that wish could be granted, I would slow down a bit. I would savor, rather than rush. I would realize that soon enough it would be over and each moment is worth lingering over. I really love being a mom. My kids are awesome.
In 27 days life is going to get pretty chill for awhile. Summer vacation will be a slice of heaven. I'm ready to be done with getting up before the sun, and I can't say that I'll miss all the driving up and down Ft. Weaver Road. This summer will be great! Then it's off to college she will go, and on to figuring out what I am going to do with an empty nest.
There's a lot to do int he next 27 days. My mom comes in 20 day - aghhhh! It would be great if my mom could come and help me get the house ready for my mom to come stay. Wait, that doesn't work, oh well ....
Announcement s need to be printed and mailed, same thing for the grad party invites. Then there is planning and executing the actual events. Quincie has last minute homework and projects to finish. It's the mad dash to the end.
As our youngest child, graduation officially marks the end of an era. It's been a great run, I must say! I'd do it again, start to finish, all of it, and not change a thing, the good, the bad - just to have another chance to hold my tiny baby, giggle and play with my little girl, and marvel at each new thing she discovers and becomes. If somehow, that wish could be granted, I would slow down a bit. I would savor, rather than rush. I would realize that soon enough it would be over and each moment is worth lingering over. I really love being a mom. My kids are awesome.
In 27 days life is going to get pretty chill for awhile. Summer vacation will be a slice of heaven. I'm ready to be done with getting up before the sun, and I can't say that I'll miss all the driving up and down Ft. Weaver Road. This summer will be great! Then it's off to college she will go, and on to figuring out what I am going to do with an empty nest.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Notebook
No, this is not a review of that awful Nicholas Sparks book. I can't read that sappy stuff. I've tried, thought I should like it if so many of my peers do, but I just don't. I am all for a story with some romance and a happy ending, but it needs more than that to hold my interest. I need a good plot twist that I don't see coming, something supernatural, or rich details of a different time or place. I do love books, but that's not what I wanted to write about this morning.
It's no longer morning, or even the same day, and I don't remember what I wanted to write about. Something about a notebook ..... oh ya, I remember. My notebook. For years I have kept a running notebook. I make to do lists, take notes of phone calls, write down important stuff like orders from clients, shopping lists, balance the bank statement, and jot down any thing I want to be sure and remember. I have years worth of these notebooks. They contain many of the mundane details of my life. Looking at them in a broader view they reveal the phases and stages of my life. There are years where each day fills pages and pages. Lately, I have found myself ignoring my notebook.
Somehow, I have even gone a couple of days without recording ONE THING in there. To be honest, those weren't my most productive days. Like take today for example - April 3, 2011 - not one thing written in there. It is Sunday, so that isn't too shocking. The other night, as I sat down to plan the day ahead, I realized that I had not gone all day without a list, and without a note. I had been a very busy day, how did I make it through without a list? Habit compelled me to make that list - even after the fact.
- Take Q to school (check)
- Yoga 8am (check)
- Update draft of PowerPoint for (check)
- Bank deposit (check)
I was writing them down, and then promptly checking them off. A few minutes in I decided I was being ridiculous. Do I honestly need a list of things checked off to feel like I had accomplished anything? Without a list am I unproductive? I stopped making my "done" list, and moved ahead to the next day. It just doesn't make sense to set goals in reverse. Reviewing past accomplishments is useful, but making a list what I DID was rather pointless.
Speaking of pointless ... I sat in a chair in front of the TV for almost 4 hours today. Do you have any ides how out of the norm that is for me? I just don't sit still for that long. I didn't get up even ONCE during that time. I was watching General Conference for 2 of those hours, but the rest of the time ... what was that about? I think after 2 hours I just got stuck there. After all of that sitting I was so tired I had to go take a nap. When I woke up I was so disoriented. I wasn't sure if it was Monday morning and I had woke up late, or what. I wasn't even sure where I was. All that inactivity really threw me for a loop. After a glass of water and gathering my wits, Q and I took the dogs for a walk.
Apparently while I was sleeping it had rained. It was so humid out there. We walked slow, the little dog freaked out when we saw little dogs, the bigger dog peed on his foot, and many a mongoose only escaped certain death by our firm grip on the leashes. By the time we got home I was sweating like I was in yoga class. It was that sticky out there.
Now here I sit, babbling on and on about nothing. I should probably get out my notebook and start a good list for tomorrow. Or, maybe not .... What was my point?
It's no longer morning, or even the same day, and I don't remember what I wanted to write about. Something about a notebook ..... oh ya, I remember. My notebook. For years I have kept a running notebook. I make to do lists, take notes of phone calls, write down important stuff like orders from clients, shopping lists, balance the bank statement, and jot down any thing I want to be sure and remember. I have years worth of these notebooks. They contain many of the mundane details of my life. Looking at them in a broader view they reveal the phases and stages of my life. There are years where each day fills pages and pages. Lately, I have found myself ignoring my notebook.
Somehow, I have even gone a couple of days without recording ONE THING in there. To be honest, those weren't my most productive days. Like take today for example - April 3, 2011 - not one thing written in there. It is Sunday, so that isn't too shocking. The other night, as I sat down to plan the day ahead, I realized that I had not gone all day without a list, and without a note. I had been a very busy day, how did I make it through without a list? Habit compelled me to make that list - even after the fact.
- Take Q to school (check)
- Yoga 8am (check)
- Update draft of PowerPoint for (check)
- Bank deposit (check)
I was writing them down, and then promptly checking them off. A few minutes in I decided I was being ridiculous. Do I honestly need a list of things checked off to feel like I had accomplished anything? Without a list am I unproductive? I stopped making my "done" list, and moved ahead to the next day. It just doesn't make sense to set goals in reverse. Reviewing past accomplishments is useful, but making a list what I DID was rather pointless.
Speaking of pointless ... I sat in a chair in front of the TV for almost 4 hours today. Do you have any ides how out of the norm that is for me? I just don't sit still for that long. I didn't get up even ONCE during that time. I was watching General Conference for 2 of those hours, but the rest of the time ... what was that about? I think after 2 hours I just got stuck there. After all of that sitting I was so tired I had to go take a nap. When I woke up I was so disoriented. I wasn't sure if it was Monday morning and I had woke up late, or what. I wasn't even sure where I was. All that inactivity really threw me for a loop. After a glass of water and gathering my wits, Q and I took the dogs for a walk.
Apparently while I was sleeping it had rained. It was so humid out there. We walked slow, the little dog freaked out when we saw little dogs, the bigger dog peed on his foot, and many a mongoose only escaped certain death by our firm grip on the leashes. By the time we got home I was sweating like I was in yoga class. It was that sticky out there.
Now here I sit, babbling on and on about nothing. I should probably get out my notebook and start a good list for tomorrow. Or, maybe not .... What was my point?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)