I wanted to write a post about how I really do have all the time I need. Not all the time in the world, or all the time I want, all the time I need. I wanted to write about this because after feeling like I didn’t have near enough time all last year, this year, I’m in a very different place.
I was thinking about this after both of my birds passed away and then I removed their cages from where they sat for so many years. I think I mentioned previously how I finally came to understand how much time I had willingly, and somewhat unknowingly put into taking care of a particularly ailing bird. With both birds gone I looked around and realized I had more time and space. Not just the physical space related to the cages, but mental space.
I was all excited about having all this “extra” time. I was thinking how I was going to spend more time practicing guitar, I was going to work on traditional art projects as well as computer art projects. I was going to get back to writing my articles and getting them posted on time. I was going to dive head long into studying for my test for the day job. I was going to get started on other projects that I’ve had on my ‘to do’ list for ages. There was so much I was thinking I would jump right in and start doing.
That’s not what has happened. Having so much time to do things makes it easy to put them off, as most people will recognize. It’s also incredibly distracting. There is less urgency in how I utilize my time. If I’ve only got an extra hour, I get the laundry folded, the dishwasher loaded, the trash taken out and the bathroom cleaned. If I’ve got an extra 5 hours, well, what to do with that time. Should I do some cleaning? I can play guitar. Oh, I can read that book. Maybe I’ll work on that art project. Then again, I could start cleaning out the storage. See what happens? By the time I finally settle on something to do with the time, it’s all gone, it’s time for bed.
I think activity is like a perpetual motion machine. The more you do the more you can do. Suddenly having all this time is a bit like my perpetual motion machine has slowed down or stalled. It may need a little kick start.
I have time off from the day job starting soon and though I have a couple of appointments, there isn’t anything else really planned. However, I’ve started finalizing my travel plans for that trip to Australia and that means things are getting real. It’s time to ‘knuckle down’ and get some things done. I intend to take that test and get it passed, before my trip. So there is that. I’ve got a traditional art project that I’ve got outlined and it’s about ready for me to get started on the detail. I’ve also got some clarity on the computer art project that I’ve had in mind all year and I think I’m ready to see some progress there. I’ve made some big progress in the guitar area and I’m looking forward to more time working on that. And that doesn’t include things like painting the living room, getting ready for my next black belt test, and cleaning out the storage and the garage.
While all that sounds like a lot. The thing is, because I have those open hours in my days, it’s not. For people who have obligations of children, family, church, clubs, school, and such. They have the time they need for the things they do. For me, because I don’t have many of those things, I have all the time I need to do those things I’ve listed off, and probably more. I really do have all the time I need, it’s just in how I approach it and what I do with it.
We’ve had a blues jam, and I had some cool bits happen with it. I’ll share that next time. I may even have some of the video posted by then. I’ve already got the video edited. I’ve got a few pictures from it to share as well. It was a little odd because the weather was weird and the crowd so sparse. Still some good things came out of it. Not quite sure when the next one will be though so I need to keep up the practice so I’m ready when it happens.