Like a permanent pause, the winter break has extended out with snowy weather. We are all at home again today doing what work or play needs to be done. I am trying stay patient, understanding that this too shall pass and we’ll be busy busy busy again soon enough. It’s an odd place to be. But I also realize it is an opportunity to look at the decisions I need to make about who I want to be this year. And see if I’m prioritizing others over myself. And what fears I may be avoiding.
See, not too long ago I was an underachieving overachiever. My stress coping system of Industrious Overfocused combined with my never enough attitude had me doing amazing amounts of work and never giving myself the credit.
The work looked like writing, housework, volunteerism, social media making, children’s care-taking, and a good bit of exercise. I have always been a runner. Of course I never thought any of the work or exercise was enough. I’ve always been sure I just could do better than I’ve done. I just needed more. More time, more resolve, more organization.
But in the past several months, I was forced to stop. My sinus surgery mandated that I needed to literally sit down. I couldn’t exercise for three weeks as I had a wound near my brain essentially. And that combined with the ongoing battle against the pain in my hip/back joint had me down for the count. I was forced to be still. I am now emerging from this place.
I have decisions to make. I must decide if I’m old. I must decide if what I aspire to do is for other people or for myself. I must discern whether my work is important enough to prioritize over all other busyness, sometimes family even, or whether it’s OK to prioritize them over myself. It’s all my choice.
January gives us the opportunity to regroup, recenter, and redecide where we stand in our own lives. We just need to rise to our own occasion of deciding what’s next and why and who for. And we need to have a dishwasher that works.
If you enjoyed what you read, please subscribe, via the subscription box in the sidebar, to my thrice weekly posts via your email box. And visit me on Instagram to see my daily pictures, friend me or like my page on Facebook. Or come find me on Twitter or Pinterest too. I am always practicing Intentional In-touchness so chat at me please. I live for conversations.
And, as always, Thanks to you for your visit.
4 Comments
Love this. January is the month of new beginning but that often scared the heck out of me.to consider it as a time to reflect, take stock, revalue is great.
I started my own write -for -18- minutes -for- 18- days straight to see what it churns up.
By the way, we all do for other people to do for ourselves. That’s the ego. But there is a balance. When I spy bracelets in my car that I won’t really use, and it’s an opportunity to clear my vehicle of a little clutter. That’s for me. But when I hold that a bit and think…. who would really enjoy these sparkly things. And I think Fiona!! and then I get the treat of her eyess lighting up when I present them to her moments later…. well, all I can say is my world got quite a bit more sparkly as a result. And so did other folks world too. Love those beautiful ripples.
Yes to the comprehension of the balance of doing. She did so appreciate those bracelets too! Shoooey! I am sooo in favor of the write it through too! Thank you for your gifts of wisdom. Especially the one where you said everybody does it. Somehow we can never hear that enough times.
Happy New Year, Shalagh! Glad to see your writing is going so strong, as always. I too am ramping up the writing. And hmm, “doing amazing amounts of work and never giving myself the credit.” Gee, who does that remind me of? Oh yeah, me. We’re in the wet season here in Seatown, lots of inside-ness, and all I know now is spring will come. The lilac out back promises me it will. Take care.
What a nice compliment dear Blair. You had me thinking about those writing grants after you left. I’d never have thought of those. But I’ve not been around academia either. I do find that having a non-negotiable posting schedule has made me such a better writer and developed a self-trust you feel. Thank you for your flattery. I’ll sock it right in the ego bank.
Love Ya’,
Shalagh