We’ve been enjoying a sunny and warm weekend in Vancouver, BC this weekend, the climax of which was a beautiful wedding ceremony yesterday for our niece and her new husband.
Our hotel room is on top top floor and we have a spectacular view of the harbor.
Yesterday morning, prior to the wedding, we sat on benches in the waterfront with books and newspapers reading and people-watching.
This morning, I’m having a lazy morning (still in bed at 8:39 “thanks” to the antihistamine I took last night for my swollen-and-still-sore-from-the-bee-sting-and-perhaps-infected foot) sipping coffee in a silent hotel room. Gerry is downstairs having coffee with his siblings discussing the health of their parents.
What has struck me this weekend is how much more relaxed I feel as I’ve focused on doing and experiencing just one thing at a time–experiencing each moment as it happens.
I feel like there is a message for me, whispered words of wisdom, telling me to stop being frantic all the time. The thing is, there are so many things on my mind all the time–writing projects, book promotion, quilting projects I long to get back to, my garden, canning and putting food by for the winter, books I’m reading, and on and on and on.
I’m at the age where I know I’ll never live long enough to do all the things I want to do, and I’ve become a little compulsive about trying to fit as much in as I can. I’m realizing that in my haste I’ve lost something. I’ve lost the pure pleasure in doing these things because I’m rarely just in that single moment.
So, as I look out over the bay this morning, I’m resolving to slow down, to make lists so I don’t lose sight of all the things I want to do, and to tackle things on the list deliberately and mindfully, giving each project the attention it warrants. I’ll likely never be able to cross everything off of my list, but at least I can choose to be full-in on those ones I decide to focus on on any given day.
How do you deal with multiple priorities and projects in your life?
Related posts:
Dear Linda, there’s wisdom in your words. I so often forget to live in the moment. I’m planning,planning, planning for how to enjoy all my interests and fit them into the day, the week. It’s so easy for someone who’s curious about life and passionate about things like writing to forget mindfulness. Thanks for sharing your own thoughts about this. You’ve encouraged me to try to be more vigilant about this. Peace.
To answer your question: not well! 🙂
After having had a severe health challenge last year, however, I realize that all of the activities I love aren’t as important as the people in my life. It helps me maintain perspective and not take myself or activities too seriously. On that note, I better log off, as I have so much left to do tonight. ha ha