Sameness

After a couch nap and nine hours of solid sleep, waking up naturally, I am excited about a day without work and going on an adventure.  Breaking from my sameness routine, I’m going to a new area to do errands, take my dog for a walk and take photos.   Then we are going out to dinner at a new place.  Sometimes a little shake-up from routine can mean the world.  Of course I am just planning this now and who knows how it will turn out.  It’s still cold and windy and there’s a lot to do on the home front this weekend.  I was mindful yesterday of being on time and present at work, so that made that better.  Structure and routine can be good, but if that’s all there is to one’s life, not leaving room for spontaneity or creativity, it really does dampen the soul.

Three Days

After a very special party last night, I am looking at a three day weekend where it’s up to me to make it a nice balanced time including relaxation, recreation and refreshment.  My usual outlook is to do what to I have to do and then collapse in between, but no one makes me do that except myself.  I still wrote a to do list, but instead of all errands and chores, there are things like walk, knit, read on it.  Let’s see if this works.

Making Time

I was determined to incorporate some creative me time yesterday and it worked.  Eventually, my energy came back after spending some time at lunch photographing, taking a long hot shower at night and then crocheting.  Lesson learned, but not always given the attention it deserves.  Going to try to do the same today.  One day at a time.

Walking

After 2 months of snow & ice, I was able to go for a real walk – as in fast & some distance yesterday.  It’s amazing how quickly one gets out of shape.  I’ve been out every day photographing, but not really walking.  Now to do both since it’s supposed to be above freezing all week.  Step by step trying to find balance.  In the meantime, back to work today and it will be a day of meetings.

Circle of Life

That phrase is used in a lot of ways, but specifically I am referring to the act of making a circle, putting in various aspects and then scoring them.  This exercise is supposed to illustrate where things are lacking and where too much energy is used in other areas.  If I would have done this last year, only four of the 10 areas would have had any percentage of my energy.  Now I can say that some attention is paid to six out of ten, but still the emphasis is on the big four – work, living space, family, finances.  My blogging projects have helped in two areas – creativity and spirituality, mainly creativity which is spiritual.  This leaves health / fitness, fun, friends and relationship sorely lacking.  I’m healthy and have lots of friends, but I guess I take those things for granted and figure some day, when I have time, I’ll put more effort in those areas.  That’s kind of pathetic, when paying attention to them would also help in the fitness, fun and maybe relationship areas. Meanwhile, I forgot to do some important things at work and that’s what I was thinking about when I woke up this morning.

The Divine

I do feel that if one walks cheerfully over the earth answering that of god in everyone and chooses love over fear and trusts that things will work out one way or another and that everyone has gifts or a purpose, one is connected to spirit.  I know that when I don’t use my gifts, I’m overly nice to the point of getting walked upon and / or choose fear, that life sucks.  When I do answer that of god (sometimes buried in layers) yet protect myself from the layers, live with love and use my gifts, then I have a wonderful sense of contentment and joy.  What I am still lacking is the ability to see that of god in my self.  If I did, I would consider my gifts and needs as a priority and take better care of myself, loving myself, my body and living a more balanced life.  This is what this blog is supposed to be about – getting to that point. It’s hard to learn all of this stuff when it was so lacking while growing up, but not impossible, just needing more effort.

Last Day

2008 is drawing to a close and since it’s been a tough year, I’m not sad to see it go. I’m not one to make resolutions for the new year, but feel that these morning pages and my photo blog have been very helpful to me, so I hope to continue. Of course I hope to live a more balanced life – inch by inch it might be possible. Happy New Year!

It’s not the job

In this economic time, I am grateful to have a job – a job I like, people I like, and a very short commute, with good benefits.  However, after having six days off, sleeping a lot, being very social, doing things I enjoy and relaxing, the lack of balance in my life while working is sad.  This will be another short week of work and I have some interesting projects lined up for my days off already. Some day I’ll figure out how to have a job and balance – maybe.

Two Feet

I took my resentment to a place where I heard that a spiritual master from India had spoken about how we have and need two feet to walk in balance.  One foot (similar to our brains) represents the spiritual, emotional creative side and the other foot represents our busyness doing.  If you spend all of your time on one foot, your walk and life are out of balance.  Americans tend to spend most of their time on their busy foot. No wonder I’ve been having foot pain on & off this past year.  I canceled plans I didn’t want to do, then went home to ‘be creative’ and relax, after a spiritual morning and my resentment is gone and my foot pain has subsided.