Taking my time
Carrie posted in What's happening on September 25th, 2009
Perhaps now that I have as somewhat desk job I will be more diligent at writing blog posts. And by diligent I mean, present.
But blogging is a funny thing that. It’s almost like, if you have time to blog about what you’re doing, you’re not doing enough. I suppose that’s what keeps my guilt at bay. I’m out and about and when I’m in, I’m sleeping.
I thought that ‘active’ was the best way to be but recently I’ve discovered that perhaps having something called “down time” isn’t the worst in thing in the world. It’s genetic you know, having to go, go, go all the time. I’ve inherited it from…well you can guess. My parents are just as involved in committees and groups and activities as I am. Perhaps now that I’ve done a big cull of my extra-curriculars they have even more activities running than I do. Yes, this Fall as skating, curling, hockey, Guides, Bands (x2), French, Ultimate, Braeburn, etc etc etc etc etc started up, I drew upon a new skill I have been working on and said, “No, thank you.” Not only that, I actually was able to quit some things I had already started. I mean, it’s one thing to say no to a new activity but a completely different thing to withdraw from something where people give you puppy-dog eyes and say, “We’ll miss you.” Especially in a town such as Whitehorse where there are only so many people who play the trombone. This season I cut out both bands, hockey, and French classes, Braeburn’s on the way out as soon as I can finish these reports, and I’ve abstained from organising the Friday night curling. However, I have made up for it by becoming more involved in Guides (well, actually doing my job really) and skating as much as possible. 2 main activities, that’s it.
It’s small for me but it means I can come home and sit down and enjoy a glass of wine with Ryan. I can get through my stack of books, I can learn new songs on the guitar, I can fix stuff in my house, I can blog. So while being active and alive in the community is all well and good, I think that those same people are the ones who burn themselves out trying to do everything. Easier said than done I realise - I LIKE doing those things…it’s hard to decide what to right-click “Send to trash”.
I’ve heard of people doing a rotational activity plan. They say “This year I will do X and Y.” And the next year they say, “X was great, but I’d like to try Y and Z now. Perhaps in a couple of years I’ll come back to X.” Which is what I’m feeling. I decided that all I can think about all day at work, is how much I want to skate that night and what I might practice. Therefore, it was an easy decision to keep skating. That is not to say that I didn’t enjoy band, so perhaps in the future I’ll come back to it. If returning to skating after 7 year sabbatical has taught me anything, is that you can always come back to it.
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