Busyness Business
Hard to believe it has been over a month since I last posted! I have had to replace my laptop-- and have found how much I rely on my computer every day! I have files to review, contacts to make, emails to send and receive, people to stay connected to. It has been our discussion of late, we wonder what we did before we could stay in constant connection!
Letter writing. I still have all the letters Andy wrote to me while we were dating, letters written under tall trees north of Prince George, beside a meandering stream, from inside a tent. A lonely, dirty, hungry tree-planter letting his girlfriend in on all he was learning and doing. Before he left to plant, I bought some great stationery so I would know when his letters were in the mail. Self addressed and pens included, off the paper went to be used when he was finishing his day. In fact, some of those letters have him drifting off to sleep while he pens his thoughts. He spoke of log cabins and sustainable living, in-ground homes and off-grid energy. Dreams from a dreamer.
Many years later, we can look back on some fulfilled dreams, some that are still waiting in the wings- and can attest to the joy of living life as it presents itself! We have also, apparently, encouraged dreams in our children!We hear the talk of living off the land, off-grid energy, large gardens, using the ground to insulate and generate warmth for a family, a home meant to sustain and support! Those discussions from a generation that didn't hear our original dreams, but were likely privy to discussion over a lifetime, bringing us to the now, this time where more dreams are being fulfilled and more dreams are being dreamed!
So, why the title of this blog, Busyness Business? I completely believe that we are sustained by dreams and plans! We need to look to the future, to hope and to expect! To do that, we need to be aware of just what matters to us! We need to take time out of busyness to make sure our priorities are being focused and met, that we can set our course straight when it veers to the left or right. Friends, family, those closest to us, challenge us and encourage us to make sure that what we hope for meets with what we believe in most!
While I was offline, I spent time in my office space, working on a course that will take about 2 years to complete. It is full of womanly information- intended for me (and other students) to fully understand the needs of a woman over a lifespan and in her different phases of life. Nutritionally, functionally, hormonally, physically and, in this particular case, herbally to support her wellness. I have been challenged to examine my own personal wellness practices. I have a lovely chart for the Healer's Heart which reminds me of balance in all aspects of life: partnership, compassion & kindness, respect & non-judgement, presence &listening, service &giving, professionalism, self-awareness & reflection. When I am wondering how I am working with others or need to check in on myself, this chart helps with the questions to help me focus on my priorities. It is sometimes hard to remember when I am caught up in the busyness of life! I had a lovely chat with a close friend recently. When we get to this Wise Woman stage of life, we can find ourselves a bit adrift, looking for affirmation through work or finding ourselves busy with demands that don't always fit in well with our personal expectations of who we are. We have spent about 30 years as wife and mother, chief cook and bottle washer, all things to all people often to the detriment of ourselves! Through this course I have been involved in, I am reminded again to put busyness aside and make sure I know what my own focus is, my own self and what my principles are.
I am working now on taking inventory, if you like. A LIFE INVENTORY. As we prepare for retirement and our next phase, it feels scary and unsecured! I want to go into it with intention, much as I have with most of my adult years.
Aviva Romm suggests that perhaps once a year or so, we take a few hours to ourselves, perhaps a bath, some music, candles, a glass of wine, creating an intimate setting for ME. Then, allow creativity to flow while setting up priorities for ourselves. I know many folks who practice vision boards, setting priorities and dreams to paper. It can look like a poster or drawing or collage-the sky is the limit. But the areas of focus are: fun & pleasure, spiritual practice, wealth, health, romance, family, career, friends & relationships. it should take several hours or a day/evening to look at priorities in these areas. I think allowing oneself to dream, to wish, to reach for the sky is never out of the question in this journey. Once we have captured it all on paper, we have it there as a reminder of what we think is important and what we think we need to achieve balance in our lives.
As I write this down, I realize I may be preaching the Gospel to myself. What in my business or personal life is driving right now? What is my focus? How can I maintain balance? Am I practicing kindness and compassion, service and giving? Busyness business. It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, in the business that drives us that we forget WHO we are! Take time to write a letter, to draw a picture, make a phone call, read a good book, craft a story or a quilt or a gift! Get in touch with what makes you tick!! And get rid of the extra things, those things that are artificial, or someone else's goals--find that balance, that place! I know who I am and Whose I am--and that keeps me balanced and focused when I remember to keep my priorities aligned with purpose!
Letter writing. I still have all the letters Andy wrote to me while we were dating, letters written under tall trees north of Prince George, beside a meandering stream, from inside a tent. A lonely, dirty, hungry tree-planter letting his girlfriend in on all he was learning and doing. Before he left to plant, I bought some great stationery so I would know when his letters were in the mail. Self addressed and pens included, off the paper went to be used when he was finishing his day. In fact, some of those letters have him drifting off to sleep while he pens his thoughts. He spoke of log cabins and sustainable living, in-ground homes and off-grid energy. Dreams from a dreamer.
Many years later, we can look back on some fulfilled dreams, some that are still waiting in the wings- and can attest to the joy of living life as it presents itself! We have also, apparently, encouraged dreams in our children!We hear the talk of living off the land, off-grid energy, large gardens, using the ground to insulate and generate warmth for a family, a home meant to sustain and support! Those discussions from a generation that didn't hear our original dreams, but were likely privy to discussion over a lifetime, bringing us to the now, this time where more dreams are being fulfilled and more dreams are being dreamed!
So, why the title of this blog, Busyness Business? I completely believe that we are sustained by dreams and plans! We need to look to the future, to hope and to expect! To do that, we need to be aware of just what matters to us! We need to take time out of busyness to make sure our priorities are being focused and met, that we can set our course straight when it veers to the left or right. Friends, family, those closest to us, challenge us and encourage us to make sure that what we hope for meets with what we believe in most!
While I was offline, I spent time in my office space, working on a course that will take about 2 years to complete. It is full of womanly information- intended for me (and other students) to fully understand the needs of a woman over a lifespan and in her different phases of life. Nutritionally, functionally, hormonally, physically and, in this particular case, herbally to support her wellness. I have been challenged to examine my own personal wellness practices. I have a lovely chart for the Healer's Heart which reminds me of balance in all aspects of life: partnership, compassion & kindness, respect & non-judgement, presence &listening, service &giving, professionalism, self-awareness & reflection. When I am wondering how I am working with others or need to check in on myself, this chart helps with the questions to help me focus on my priorities. It is sometimes hard to remember when I am caught up in the busyness of life! I had a lovely chat with a close friend recently. When we get to this Wise Woman stage of life, we can find ourselves a bit adrift, looking for affirmation through work or finding ourselves busy with demands that don't always fit in well with our personal expectations of who we are. We have spent about 30 years as wife and mother, chief cook and bottle washer, all things to all people often to the detriment of ourselves! Through this course I have been involved in, I am reminded again to put busyness aside and make sure I know what my own focus is, my own self and what my principles are.
I am working now on taking inventory, if you like. A LIFE INVENTORY. As we prepare for retirement and our next phase, it feels scary and unsecured! I want to go into it with intention, much as I have with most of my adult years.
Aviva Romm suggests that perhaps once a year or so, we take a few hours to ourselves, perhaps a bath, some music, candles, a glass of wine, creating an intimate setting for ME. Then, allow creativity to flow while setting up priorities for ourselves. I know many folks who practice vision boards, setting priorities and dreams to paper. It can look like a poster or drawing or collage-the sky is the limit. But the areas of focus are: fun & pleasure, spiritual practice, wealth, health, romance, family, career, friends & relationships. it should take several hours or a day/evening to look at priorities in these areas. I think allowing oneself to dream, to wish, to reach for the sky is never out of the question in this journey. Once we have captured it all on paper, we have it there as a reminder of what we think is important and what we think we need to achieve balance in our lives.
As I write this down, I realize I may be preaching the Gospel to myself. What in my business or personal life is driving right now? What is my focus? How can I maintain balance? Am I practicing kindness and compassion, service and giving? Busyness business. It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, in the business that drives us that we forget WHO we are! Take time to write a letter, to draw a picture, make a phone call, read a good book, craft a story or a quilt or a gift! Get in touch with what makes you tick!! And get rid of the extra things, those things that are artificial, or someone else's goals--find that balance, that place! I know who I am and Whose I am--and that keeps me balanced and focused when I remember to keep my priorities aligned with purpose!
Comments
Post a Comment