4.19.2011

what's the haps?

the monkey and the dino

So I have been doing a lot of thinking lately.
I keep hearing myself say, "I don't have the time."
And you know what, that makes me nuts.
Because a lot of what I keep saying I don't have time for are those very things I want to be doing. 
I read a quote somewhere (probably over here)
"If it really matters to you, you will make time"
or something to that effect (or is affect? I never know..)
Anyway, it struck me..

bright eyes
kid smiles with everything she's got, mouth, cheeks, eyes and even her nose.

Last weekend I had a bit of physical purging.. let's just say I enjoyed celebrating my in-law's 40th (YES, 40th woot!) wedding anniversary with the rest of the family a little too much- but after walking around like a zombie all day, recovering from one of the worst hang-overs I have had in more than 4 years, 
I realized that maybe I needed that 'purge' in a way.
Trust me when I say (and please don't judge me over the fact that I drink, drank, drunk- I have been beating myself up plenty over this),  
I could have done without the ick all day, and the fact that I couldn't eat until about 4pm,
but stick with me here....
I have been feeling really stuck and the light bulb came on over my (very) hung over head-
the words of my yoga teacher came to mind -
release what isn't serving you any longer, breathe in what is.

107:365, on a jet train
She doesn't fly and I cried as she walked into the station, rolling her little red bags behind her.

To start, I decided to evaluate where my time goes during the day and start to clear some space. 
Looking around the house, I realized I have a ton of crap overflowing from my closet, dresser drawers, desk, kitchen cupboards etc, etc, etc.. and all over the place.
I need to sort through all that stuff,
keep what I really love, what fits with where I am (physically and mentally) 
and get rid of the rest.

no cords baby
she thinks it's hysterical to grab the cords to the PlayStation controllers as he plays Fifa Soccer. such a funny little moment I caught here.

Second, take a look at where I put energy that really isn't necessary.
I have decided to quite facebook. GASP!
It is sort of funny to read the reactions, some super supportive, others totally blown away that I could do this or would want to.
But really, I am sick of finding out things about friends or family that I should be hearing first hand,
either in person or even over the phone- not reading it on facebook.
So if you follow me out there, my account closes on Friday-
drop me an email, give me call, stop by the house-
I need the real connection with my peeps.
This fuels me and keeps me going. It's been fun out there,
but also what really I need, is one less place to 'stop' by while out online.

108:365, yoga
I am teaching again. once a week for 45 minutes at work. It's a quick lunch time practice through the wellness program. A perfect ease back into it all I think.

Third, I am toying with the idea of only updating my flickr account once a week, maybe twice.
And perhaps thinning out my contacts- same thing with my blog roll.
Today I was out on google reader and went from almost 500 entries to 3 with a click of a button-
 holy S people, that was LIBERATING.
LIBERATING!
I am still following a ton of blogs, but I needed to clear that reading list out for me to not feel like I was trapped or missing out on something if I didn't read it right away.
I was also inspired by this post and the little computer program she talked about that actually shuts you out of the Internet for a give amount of time.
I thought, why do I need the computer to do that?
Why don't I just do that for myself....

evening walk
He was WILD the other night, so we all went out for a quick walk around the hood to burn off some energy. It was the best idea Daddy had all day!

Yes, I think this is what I need. I will keep you posted on my progress. I know it won't all happen over night. That I will probably fall back into old habits and ways and then snap back to this idea of cutting back. My blog roll will be stacked back up with unread blog posts.  
I am sort of hooked on pinterest right now too, so I am going to have to figure that one out- BUT, but, but, I feel really good about this whole idea.
I want to make time for my sewing, for my cooking, for my kids and my husband.
For my friends and the rest of my family. Real, face to face time- not I think this is what (s)he meant when they posted this or that...
hooping, bam

 
I want to keep taking pictures and documenting my life- that is really why I continue to keep this space, without it my kids wouldn't have a baby book.
So I will have to come back to evaluate what is and isn't working with all of this.
Tuning, adjusting and re-evaluating... but isn't that what life is all about?
Let's see where this takes me, shall we?

12 comments:

  1. woah boy do I hear you on all of this. Facebook is so gross sometimes. I don't experience it the way you do - most of my good friends aren't even on it - but i do find myself regularly annoyed at the lack of filters by some of my "friends." and these are people I was sort of friends with 20 yrs ago. so I tossed some friends a while ago, and cut my blog roll way down. I do upload to Flickr religiously, but only for myself and my lurking family, and not for commenting on others' photos. i went through a period where I felt guilty about not being a very active member of the Flickr community, and then commenting a lot on lots of people's photos, and then being ok with commenting on just a few people whose work I admire. this is a very long-winded, and pre-coffee, way of saying go for it! :)

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  2. PS: do you like pinterest? I signed up for an account a while ago but haven't really used it... I can't seem to figure out how to make it a meaningful tool.

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  3. I hear ya. In fact with this new job, I had to put a little chart up in my room. It's sort of a pyramid thing. Keeping what's important at the top, and the things that I can do in my free time towards the bottom. Good luck on your knew purging. Just consider it your Spring cleaning :)

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  4. @erin Thanks for the support lady! I just don't understand why I feel so obligated sometimes. I think cutting back is a really good idea for now. And YES holy moly, pinterest. I love the visual-ness of it all. I have a board for things I want to sew for me, for the kids, as gifts. I have a board for food I want to make, for party ideas I like. I so often come across a blog entry or photo that I love and now I have a place to put it so I can come back to it later. It's visual organization and I dig that.

    @simplycaitlin I LOVE that idea Caitlin. you are so smart. thanks for a wonderful idea. :)

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  5. My biggest time sucker is television. It can be on from morning 'til night, and I still won't tire of it. Facebook isn't quite that bad, but Flickr can be. But I totally hear you on the "digital" drain of things we think we need. This summer I am planning on turning off the television and reading, knitting, and reading and knitting.

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  6. I'm with you on the facebook thing..I got off there quite quickly after I got on. I couldn't see the real value of it. Like you said, if someone wants me to know/tell something, they'll call or e-mail me. I don't even feel sad about not having facebook. I've often thought about stopping my blog but it's really a great way to document and of course I love making friends through it, like you. Maybe someday we'll run into each other! I hope so. I also would like my blog to be smaller, just don't care to make it something big, just a small thing that a few people read. I don't really read lots of blogs. It makes me a little crazy thinking I have to reciprocate sometimes.

    Kyndale

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  7. @Jill TV totally sucks me in too. We got rid of cable last year and it was really a huge change in things- I do miss the cooking channel, but I don't miss the cost of it all!

    @kyndale_pease I actually liked FB for some things- I was able to keep in touch with family and reconnect with some old friends- that was great. But it also seemed like some of my closest friends were drifting away because of it- you 'feel' like you have been hanging out or keeping in touch so the effort of actually doing so stops. I think it has it's place and usefulness for sure, but I need a place to start, and FB is a good stepping stone. thanks for the support!

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  8. I know exactly how you feel. My blog roll is down to 29...wait, make that 25...and I have inadvertently quit blogging, but that's only because I am 365ing.

    I did a little cold turkey test a while back and found that it didn't really give me any more time or any more real life connection, so I continue to have my online life. However, I've become less attached to the online spaces over time, just saving that activity for people (like you!) and places (pinterest!) that inspire me. Dang pinterest!

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  9. Spring Cleaning and purging is so good for the soul....I wish we lived closer and I could come over for a cup of tea and let the kiddos play...I miss you...you're such an inspiration! Love and hugs to you!!!

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  10. @Aniyes, I totally feel the same attachment- I have peeps that I have been connected to out here for so long that I would be really sad if they weren't part of my world anymore.. and yes, what ARE we going to do about darn pinterest!!! tee hee.

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  11. @Amy Thanks Amers, I miss you too and wish you could come by for a cuppa-cup and a visit. I would love to meet Miss Mel and catch up. I really need to make a visit to C-town, it's been so long. big giant hugs...

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  12. i love that you are clearing out what no longer serves you that is HUGE!!!! and some times a very hard step to take. you go girl! and yes breath deep what does serve you.
    blessings on your purge.
    xo

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