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Reflections September 2012

Life Now

Time Enough

By Dusty Reed

When I turned 50, a less than favorable cloud began to form. It kept saying, "why begin anything new? Just settle in with what is at hand.” Enjoying each moment was favorable but the lack of desire to plan and pursue future goals was frustrating.

I hear it from others, sense it from within: time – there just doesn't seem to be enough of this commodity!

I believe there is enough; it is just how we choose to make use of it that makes the difference. In this day of fast foods, cyberspace, and all the generosity of continual advancement of technology in so many fields, our minds and bodies can’t find opportunity to keep caught up with it all... but we try! Rule #1 to prevent stress: don't try!

Each person has a gift, a passion that can envelop our being, absorb our time. Once we sort through the debris, get our priorities in order, delete the activities that are not absolutely necessary, we can find and take that precious asset of time for our choice of activities.

We have the energy. Many express either that they are experiencing high motivation or the complete opposite, lack of it. For some, it is like a roller coaster, at the peak one day and in the valley the next. Are we creating our own roller coaster track? Can we simply go with the flow?

We can find time for anything we choose. As we become immersed in our passions, other activities will fall away as unnecessary or as a lower priority. Those that are necessary will be accomplished.

When I turned 50, a less than favorable cloud began to form. It kept saying, "why begin anything new? Just settle in with what is at hand.” Enjoying each moment was favorable but the lack of desire to plan and pursue future goals was frustrating. It was like I had plopped into an easy chair, content to watch the world go by without the energy to get up and get anything started or even to get my mind to function to make plans. If the plans had been willing to reveal themselves, enthusiasm would have followed.

I was eventually so etched into this rut that when changes came, they were accepted into the routine without much emotional response. Was this because of the little nagging voice that reminded me frequently that I was now over 50 or was it the next step to keep me in my home with necessary family obligations through the next several years?

We did have some fun experiences, one being that we made our home a Bed & Breakfast. After several years, guests were not as frequent and it became a chore to prepare for "unexpected" guests.

The big old house became a burden for upkeep. We began driving around the area, just fantasizing about the idea of moving. Our travels began taking us to a lakeside community, just a few miles from town.

We found and chose to move to a smaller house near a lake. Minimal maintenance was required in comparison to what it had been at the big house in town. After his first year away at college, our son expressed that this home and our style of living could give it a retreat hideaway atmosphere. Yes, I desired that but I didn't yet see that as a possibility, at least in what I considered a retreat.

I began releasing some obligations. I had a yearning for our home to be a bit more organized, rather than so much extra clutter. The clutter was and, at times, can still be mostly paperwork. Other clutter included memorabilia, and sentimental gifts from others – keepsakes that have been around so long from habit of saving that their meaning has been forgotten.

How do I desire to make our home a retreat? A place clean, spacious, yet cozy; release of clutter, extra nicknacks and unnecessary clothing. Releasing appliances we are not using or need. Organize paperwork, unused space and containers. Work with one area per week, working with it daily. Delegate appropriate projects to my husband and son.

Establishing our own fingerprint on the new home gives a feeling of contentment. We planted some new spruce trees, lilacs, peony bushes and new flowering plants for the patio. We painted the house a color of our preference. We began adding some other yard ornaments and structures that were pleasing to us.

Becoming acquainted with our neighbors may not fit with the idea of "retreat," but after working from the time we moved to this area, I found my natural yearning for some socializing included in this new lifestyle.

Today I am also making friends with time. It is not my enemy. We can work together and accomplish whatever I desire. With practice, we can create quality more than quantity.

How long does it take for this practice to take shape? It doesn't have to take time at all. It can happen the minute a decision is acted upon.

 

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