My New Tortoise Manifesto

The combination of the death of one of the friends I grew up with, a post from my online friend, Marcus Baker about time management, a post I read about creating albums of hope and a conversation I had this past weekend with my son have got me thinking about the way I spend my time.

I have come to the conclusion that some things have got to change around here!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Problem: Thinking that there is a fire I must put out or I will never ever EVER succeed. That I’m in some kind of race against time that I can only win if I exhaust myself and ignore my family.

The Solution: What I absolutely MUST make plenty of time for immediately…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sleep

I have some health challenges that I know would benefit from my getting quite a bit more sleep than I often do.  And I know that the problem is working into the night and then, needing time to wind down after I finally drag myself away from the computer.

When I am able to stop and wind down sooner, I go to bed earlier and I get more sleep. It’s as simple as that. Only not so simple, so far, or I would have done it.

Spirituality

I don’t know about you, but I need guidance to navigate my life, and I have been sorely neglecting this part of my life. I need to spend regular, connected quiet time, retreat time, tuning in and recharging.

I am very intuitive but don’t make very good use of that gift or ability for myself and my life. Journaling often leads to insight but I just don’t take the time to do it.

Scrapbooking

Occasionally, it dawns on me, that I have not said all the gentle, loving things that are in my heart. And I truly want to leave a legacy of love that does not depend on my family’s ability to remember. I want it in writing for everyone to see. In pictures, in layouts, in loving phrases and books and albums dedicated to each of them.

I say this and I know this, but I haven’t completed a family scrapbook in at least two years. I created a mini-scrapbook for my son for his birthday a year or so again and the theme was “top ten things I love” about him. But I need to do more of this kind of thing.

Family

My son complains constantly about the computer and the time it steals from him. He tells me at least every other day that he misses me and we are in the same house!

What I want to do, in addition to the homeschooling that I do during the school year, is spend two hours of family time every day just hanging out, watching TV, talking, cooking together, reading, etc. But that will never happen if I don’t make time for it.

Reading

I regularly sacrifice time for me to work chores. Those chores feel important but are not really urgent. And I just am not wired for the kind of pressure I place in myself. I need to slow down and make sure there is time for the things I enjoy.

Tea Time

Sitting outside on the balcony with my book of tea. Looking up from the book I’m reading as I sip my tea and glance at the trees blowing in the wind. Making tea for my son in between meals or during breaks from homeschooling so we can just enjoy a moment together.

These are the things I have neglected for the past couple of years. It’s time to find my way back!

Yes, I still have a business to build, a career to create, a blog to maintain, but I have to really let it sink in that I am the tortoise, not the hare. 

Does this post remind you of ways in which you have you neglected yourself? What changes seem to be calling your name?