Another week has passed and now we've got a long weekend. I had a very tiring week. I went two days without eating until late in the day and I feel I'm paying for it. It's a reminder that not only do I need to make sure I menu plan every week but I also have to keep in mind that we probably need to buy more each week. I think I went out to pick up extra groceries three times this week. Hmmmm!!
I've been trying to do extra study this term. I'm on a team working on a new program for our school and I've realised that it's a whole new language. I feel, too, that if the school is investing in us we need to do the job honourably. After all this is all about the students' education and ultimately their future.
I went for a run this morning. In my new runners. Which carried me along so swiftly. Actually, not! I had to cut it short as I'm not very fit at the moment. I want to squeeze in a run during the week but in the mornings it's dark and getting cold and in the evenings I am usually too tired. So I will challenge myself again to exercise three times this coming week. I figure that any exercise is better than nothing so let's see.
When I look back at the week and reflect it seems that it's a time of adjustment. I have a new and very different routine at work. One day a week I work off-campus and one day a week I work on the project. The weather is changing making it harder to fit in a spot of outdoor gardening or exercise. I remember Martha Beck's advice many years ago to go with the flow when life goes awry. Life's not awry here but I think her advice still bodes well as I try to find the rhythm with a new routine and new demands. Like an autumn leaf being carried down the river, that is what I plan to do.
Today I'm catching up with friends and after that I hope to get out in the garden. I also want to get in some study. The best thing, of course, is that tomorrow is another holiday. Life is full of so many wonderful things!
During the week, as part of my reflection time, I worked on an A4 version of the following quote. I had been thinking that painting and crafting can take a lot of time but getting creative on the computer can be faster, so I tried it the other day when I had a spare half-hour. I tried to format the final product so that it was suitable for the blog but it wouldn't work. As I said above, this is a week of readjustment so you get a readjusted version of the quote (and may I say not nearly as good).
Enjoy your week and keep moving with the flow!
My holidays are coming to an end and I'm glad to say I found a couple of hours to reflect. I have to admit sometimes I overplan!! So in the second week I reminded myself to let go a little, which meant planning less and enjoying more, allowing imperfection. And it helped a lot.
The second Tuesday of the holidays I got to stay at home. I tidied up the house first thing that morning and then gave myself "time out" to stop and reflect a while. I knew if I left it to later in the day it might not happen so I made it a priority to do it before lunch.
I had already decided what I wanted to focus on. One of my goals this year - in fact, for many years - is to listen well. When I was younger I did this really well, probably because I was usually too anxious to speak! Anyway, nowadays I often find myself speaking over people. Sometimes I forget I am doing it while at other times I find it hard to stop. I had planned to use reflection time each week to focus on this sort of thing but it hasn't been happening.
My aim on Tuesday morning was to brainstorm my thoughts on listening and draw out one aspect which I could display as a reminder each day. As I started to brainstorm, I felt compelled to note all that was good rather than thinking about listening. There was much that morning that was beautiful in my immediate surroundings. It was a warm, sunshiny day and Mr S and I had been doing some work in the garden. So I jotted some of those thoughts on paper. I was surprised my mind went that way when clearly the time was meant for reflecting on listening. I'm glad I allowed myself to be open to any random thoughts. In the end, I still managed to come away with a few ideas for a small poster on listening.
There's a little girl who sits on top of a hill at some distance from the rest of the world. She contemplates life as she sits on that hill. She often appears in my doodling and, as you can see, she made an appearance on Tuesday.
I remember reading a few years ago how much easier it is to be creative when you remove expectations ("Vein of Gold" by Julia Cameron ). Expectations to be the best. Expectations to impress. I'm no artist but I often procrastinate because I think too much about achieving a particular outcome. Really, it's important that I just take time to create and express my ideas. The final result is not so important and it helped to keep that in mind the other morning.
It was great to be able to take time out this week to think about things. It did take more than half an hour but there was certainly a pay-off as I felt nourished and motivated to move along with the rest of the day. I think it also helped me to set a rhythm for this week: some time for working, some for the family, a little for friends, some for me, some for relaxing, and much to be enjoyed.
We're having a very lazy Sunday here. It's a little dull outside which makes it perfect for keeping warm inside.
I didn't get as much done in the first week of the holidays as planned. So it's time for me to reset my plans for the week coming. Mr S and I have been "refurbishing" the garden. I had hoped to have half the house clean by now. Well, the reality is one room down and many more to go! I've done a little exercise and I've tried a couple of new recipes. I made a start on some craft which was superb but have yet to complete it.
I plan too much. I really do. At one point last week I laughed to myself as I sat down to paint, cryptic crossword to my left, laptop in operation close by.
As I've hinted before, we try to cook from scratch as much as possible - but that can mean more time in the kitchen and more dishes to wash. I really value exercise but that often takes priority over other things on busy days - so the house may not get tidied. I need to do work preparation, which doesn't always leave time for the fun things like craft, blogging, reading, family tree ...
I've been waking early to take Mr S to work. If I stay up when I get back home, I can get a lot done around the house but sometimes in the morning, the wild thinking, creative part of my brain is not yet in action. Sometimes I go back to sleep after dropping Mr S off. Then I wake and feel as if I have wasted half the day.
I can't do it all. So my goal this week is to plan with my brain switched on to the reality channel. Focus on what I can do. Focus on what nourishes the soul as much as some of the practical things. Value sleep if that's what is needed. I hope it works.
Yesterday Mr S got busy baking some buns for friends of ours. Here are some photos of the buns with freshly grated coconut. His family calls them German buns but I'm not sure why. They're terribly delicious.
Have a good week.
