The Mc sent me an article yesterday morning titled “How to Get the Life You Want“.
I snort-laughed as I am apt to do, and scanned the text. A few minutes later I scowled at my screen and went back to work.
It’s easy enough when it’s scrawled out on a screen for you in twenty or so easy steps. “Give yourself permission” it said and I made a mental note that my therapy appointment this week is on Thursday instead of Tuesday. “Make room for your dream” it says and I think about our downsizing our primary residence to free resources for the place in the forest.
I had clicked through the pages and read the bolded type, growing more and more irritated at the over simplified self-help know-it-all-ness of the content.
A myna bird could have written this damn article. The content wasn’t unique, in fact it wasn’t unlike the piles of advice you or I have given countless friends over the years. The simple and logical advice I’ve rarely been able to take for myself because the one liners fall somewhere in between “drink more water” and “stop saying ‘um’”. Give me an effin’ break.
When I had grudgingly arrived at the mislabeled step 3 (the second step 3, should have been step 6 but it was on the second page and someone in the editing chair is narcoleptic) and read “Pat Yourself on the Back - Regularly” I stopped for a moment and made a mental note. This is the point where I went back to work, but later I found the words still bouncing around in my wee noggin.
What am I getting so bent about? I missed this step. I need this step.
I am doing things that bring me closer to getting the life I want.
I did most of what I intended to during my sabbatical, including pitching a story idea to Budget Travel that they’ll never select but I DID IT. I’m starting my photography class tonight night after work, I’m at least walking again regularly with Beth a few nights a week in attempt to build back up to running, and I’m even starting to get back in touch with the volunteerism I drifted from a year or so ago. I have three good trips planned for this year, not including the second annual visit to The Hostel in the Forest. I’m doing it.
As a kid my mother (and no doubt yours as well) would look at the pile of peas left on my plate at the end of the dinner hour and remind me there were children starving all over the world. “Can we mail my peas to them?” I’d ask, completely missing her attempt at giving me perspective.
I guess this was my modern day pile-o-green stuff: words and ideas I didn’t want to ingest, even if they were good for me.
So here’s my pat on the back: YEAY ME! I’m doing it. The going is slow and it’s easy to be discouraged, frustrated, and even a little resentful when things (even the good things) get in my way; but the point is: I am. Progress.
For my next trick? I’m making dinner TWICE this week. I know - it’s impressive. But enough about me… what are you doing? I mean really doing…what are the dreams you’ve put on pause because “life” got in the way and what are you doing about reviving them?
08 Jan 08
9:57 am
I am very proud of you honey. And dinner was excellent! Thank you.
08 Jan 08
10:22 am
Go you! Stay focused.
I myself have a bunch of uneaten peas that aren’t going to clear from my plate all by themselves.
Thanks for giving me a push.
08 Jan 08
11:06 am
Do you really want to know or you just bein’ hypothetical? trying to get us to ponderin’……:-P
Good answer, Mc!! I’m being serious. Showing appreciation for whatever your significant other has done is a great morale booster. Ok ok so I know that’s a DUH kinda thing but you’d be surprised at how many people really don’t get that.
08 Jan 08
11:42 am
@ Mish - both!
08 Jan 08
2:50 pm
On Writing…
I’m not much of a writer.
I play one on the blog, but most of the posts, if I’m being honest with myself, are little more than rushed notes about someone else work or somesuch nonsense as a YouTube video.
Not exactly the stuff of legend or …
08 Jan 08
5:39 pm
You are very noble and disciplined, which I admire in a seester. I personally have given myself permission not to eat peas. I don’t like them, which is why they are still on my plate. I accept the fact that I need my vitamins - but if I can get the same ones from something other than peas, I’m going there first!
PS Don’t forget the famous “one [pea, kernel of corn, carrot coin] for each year of your age” strategy! Yeah, that one went down in flames when I was 12. (sigh)
08 Jan 08
11:24 pm
I’ll have to get back to you on that one. My pause button is stuck….
09 Jan 08
11:07 am
ok so now that i’ve successfully avoided your question for a day…
going to college - a baby got in the way. he’ll be 18 on sunday. think it’s about time to try and go???
writing - myself gets in the way. ’nuff said.
traveling - lack of money gets in the way. hhhmmmm, dang bills.
there’s more but I think I’m depressing myself now. LOL!!!
13 Jan 08
3:41 pm
I read your stuff regularly, but this one struck a chord. I usually forget any positives I might be engaging in and focus on the things I NEED to be doing that I’m not. I’m proud of me for:
1. Making real choices this year. 2. I started running again. 3. I’m focusing on school in a tangible way 4. I’m refining my “get it done today” skills, although “it can wait til tomorrow” is still a struggle.
14 Jan 08
9:01 am
@ Mish…what are you waiting for?
@ Jamie…welcome and YEAY YOU! Like anything else, the doing and the patting yourself on the back for the little victories both take practice. We’re not all so limber.