I aspire to a life that looks like one of my Ikebana arrangements. When I say this I’m thinking of the way in which spaces are created, touched—and not filled. I’m thinking of the impact, the beauty, the serenity and the peacefulness of such a composition.
The big challenge is gaining and maintaining the open space/free time in my life. Commitments, values, desires combine to make this challenging—and these are the things I mindfully choose. Recently I began to think about those things I don’t choose. What were they? How were they filling my time?
The telemarketers were the first to draw my ire/fire. Next were the sometimes funny/clever e-mails that get passed around the globe. I realized I was answering the phone because it rang. I was reading time-wasting e-mails because I knew who sent them. What I needed to do was clear. A change in boundaries and behaviors was called for. I have made those changes.
Having addressed these time bandits, I moved on to the papers. I’m a stacker and while that works for a while, the system reaches its limits pretty quickly, I forget what I have—or I remember and I have difficulty finding it. While Martha Stewart-type orderliness is appealing, it has been beyond my grasp.
For weeks now, I’ve been getting through the paper, tossing out all that is outdated and/or unimportant. I even scheduled a consultation with a professional organizer reasoning that if I were able to do this myself, I would have done it. She observed my “system” and has made some suggestions for making it more comprehensive and user friendly. She’s coming again later in the week to give me some at-the-elbow coaching.
There are other time bandits and energy vampires I’ve identified but I can’t address all of them at once. I’m making headway and that’s the good news. Meanwhile I have an image in front of me, a springtime flower arrangement of tulips, pussy willows, calla lilies and reeds that illustrates my ideal and keeps it in my consciousness. It evokes a heartfelt and enthusiastic “Yes!”
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