This weather is for the birds.
There are areas of Southern California where more rain has fallen in recent days that they had in the entire year of 2007! It's wet out. And the San Fernando Valley is not set up for this much water.
Storm drains are running, but the water still flows through half a lane of traffic. Where roads usually narrow from parked cars and trash cans, and commuters usually think, "Yeah, I'm in a good mood, I'll pull over so you can get through here first," we now smile and ponder, "Sure, sucker, you go first through that puddle and I'll wait to see if you make it."
The morning walkers and joggers are nowhere to be seen. Moms and strollers on the way home from school drop offs are now moms and cars.
Yet, as I crawled through the flooded road by the peacock place, where peacocks, chickens, geese and ducks sun usually themselves in the horse arena, I saw a goose in the wading pool, splashing away merrily. Several others stood in line in the downpour as if waiting their turn.
I guess it is all a matter of viewpoint.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Living Mindfully
I don't make New Year's resolutions, and technically this is all a result of having the doctor tell me that all of my ails are stress related, but as 2007 came to a close I realized that I am not really living my life. I am rushing through it.
Once again I find myself focusing on living mindfully, experiencing the moment. Whether quilting, writing, reading or just being, I need to be aware of what is happening.
As I begin, this means not entering into projects with a deadline. Quilt swaps and challenges are fun, but not when I save them 'til the last moment to complete. Writing toward a deadline lately seems to mean a rushed story that lacks much.
I will take time to explore and learn. I will let the story direct me instead of trying to force it into a mold. I will allow first drafts and learning quilts to have flaws, and watch for improvement as I go.
Even my diet has become mindless. How can my body deal properly with stress when I can't even say what I fed it?
I might not accomplish as much, but in the long run I will have projects I can be proud of, that show my enjoyment for what I do.
Isn't that what life is about? Enjoyment?
Once again I find myself focusing on living mindfully, experiencing the moment. Whether quilting, writing, reading or just being, I need to be aware of what is happening.
As I begin, this means not entering into projects with a deadline. Quilt swaps and challenges are fun, but not when I save them 'til the last moment to complete. Writing toward a deadline lately seems to mean a rushed story that lacks much.
I will take time to explore and learn. I will let the story direct me instead of trying to force it into a mold. I will allow first drafts and learning quilts to have flaws, and watch for improvement as I go.
Even my diet has become mindless. How can my body deal properly with stress when I can't even say what I fed it?
I might not accomplish as much, but in the long run I will have projects I can be proud of, that show my enjoyment for what I do.
Isn't that what life is about? Enjoyment?
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