Jono and I were recently on a late-night walk with our dear friend Pastor Mat-whom I respect ever so much- when I decided to pick his brain.
I asked Mathu for help in my life. I love the simple but sometimes things just get crazy up in the Grime world. And I am not always sure why.
He said, "You need to organize your life," and I sputtered for 2 dramatic offended seconds because I have more TO-DOs and Lists than any other person I know.
Why would I need to organize my life??!
And then I realized... he is right.
When I am deeply honest, some days I run around like a crazy person and no one-including me-is at peace. I hate those days. So TO DO lists or not, something needed to change.
Frankly, a huge part of the problem is that I am neither a cat nor a Hindu, though the convenience of having multiple lives is quite clear to me. There is just So Much I long to see, experience, do and be a part of in this lifetime.
Since I can't have 9+ lives, I tend to fill, fill, fill my days to the max, only to discover I'm not really living after all- I'm only busy. My hours are filled, but I'm empty, not full.
So I decided to humbly take Mat's advice and organize my life. I am guarding my schedule carefully so my days will be full of peace and JOY and not just full of stuff to do, do, DO.
That conversation was about 2 months ago and I have to say that I have been so happy in the weeks since then. I've slowed down, breathed a bit more and dreamed about our life this year.
I put "reading and personal growth time" into my weekly schedule and some much-needed ME time. I left a couple of spots a week open to grab a coffee with a friend. (Any takers?) I am leaving more than 5 minutes between my "To-Dos" so I'm not always rushing from one thing to the next.
I have heaps to learn, of that I'm sure. But I'm doing it from a happy place of serenity.
So I guess I'll seize my one life and live each day fully, happily wherever I am. I will be here now.
This is me skyping with an out-of-town wedding client yesterday. Don't I look so legit?
She actually said, "You sound so professional!" And it made me smile.
Fortunately our lack of home internet means I get to have fun meetings like this from the comfort of our dear local Starbucks. Amen.