Friday, February 26, 2010

I'm Late, I'm Late




"I have noticed that people who are late
are often so much jollier than the
people who have to wait for them."
~ Lucas, Edward Verrell, 365 Days and One More


I don't know how many times I've felt like the White Rabbit, scurrying past because I was late getting somewhere again. I really hate being rushed and always in a hurry, but ever since I can remember, being late has been a bugbear for me. My family can attest to that... I was often the last one scooting into the family car when I was a kid.

Now it's my sweet and patient husband who's standing in the foyer as he waits for me. We used to have a little joke that we'd heard somewhere that he had to wait so long, he almost got the garage re-painted. Except one day when I commented about him having had to paint the garage, expecting his usual cheerful retort, I recognized the response was a lot less enthusiastic and cheerful.

That's when I realized I needed to do something about this. A few years earlier I had stopped to ask myself why I had such a habit, and I did make some small progress. I was interested to uncover two re-occurring patterns in my life. Here's what I discovered:

1. Just one more thing. For as long as I can remember, I've always squeezed in extra errands or tasks to do at the last minute. It wasn't urgent before, but suddenly I think I need to sort that pile on the side of my desk as I'm preparing for a trip or getting ready for a meeting. And, the unscheduled stop at the post office on my way, which I thought would only take a minute, took 20, and suddenly I’m behind schedule.

2. Creative impulses pop out at the oddest times. I’m not sure why, but I'd often find myself trying my latest card-making idea or wrapping that neat gift I found (but don’t need until next week) in the midst of drying my hair, ironing the top I need, and gathering what I need to take along.

Knowing I tend to work this way, I now try to plan 15 to 30 minutes extra, especially on those days when I really do need to be somewhere at a specific time. So, if I need to leave the house by 9:30 (and I mean I need to be in the car driving out the garage), then I tell myself that I need to be ready by 9:00. That way I still have some leeway for the last minute drink of water and stop at the bathroom, or to grab the library book I just remembered is due today...

It's making a difference. As I say, I'm not perfect at it, but I'm getting there. And the happy result is that my days feel less stressful, less hurry-hurry, and best of all, more enjoyable because I don't experience that feeling behind.


Enjoy your weekend... 
Brenda





Sunday, February 21, 2010

Simply Sunday: On Laughter



"Laughter is
the closest thing to the grace of God."
~ Karl Barth


"A day without laughter is a day wasted."
~ Charlie Chaplin


"A merry heart does good like medicine."
~ Proverb 17:22




Here's wishing you something wonderful at which to laugh today!
Brenda
xox







Saturday, February 20, 2010

Blogging Tip: Does Your Blog Matter?



Have you ever wondered whether you should continue blogging? Whether it makes a difference to anyone else if you blog or not? Whether you should be spending all that effort creating your posts, not to mention the time visiting those wonderful bloggers you've met online?

A while back, in celebration of her first year anniversary, fellow blogger Sande Chase from A Gift Wrapped Life shared her thoughts about why blogging matters to her. She really touched a chord with me. If you are reading this, I have a feeling you might also be inspired by her encouraging post. Below I've included my favourite line from it....

"Continue blogging until your heart is content.
If you have words to say, say them and someone here will hear you."
~ Sande Chase

The first time I saw Sande's gorgeous blog, I was captivated. She shares a gift for creating beauty that my heart only dreams about. I used to lament over why my 'reality' never quite matched my 'dream' for expressing beauty. But over the years, I've learned that rather than focusing on what I didn't seem to have or couldn't do.

I'm learning to 'drink deeply' from these wellsprings of creativity deposited in other people, and am gaining confidence to rejoice in their gifts without feeling insecure.

We each have our gifts and our place to make a difference, and together we can be assured that a beautiful tapestry is being fashioned, if we each use those threads and colours we've been given. Our own contribution of threads and colours are needed to complete the work of making a difference here in cyberspace. 

So, dear beautiful readers, blog till your heart is content ... share your life in the way that bubbles up from your inner self. And, trust that it will give those of us who read your posts some amazing 'glimpses of heaven in unexpected places'.

Hope you are encouraged to carry on!

Brenda




Thursday, February 18, 2010

It Will Come Out A Rose

 


"Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern;
it will come out a rose by and by.
Life is like that -- one stitch at a time
taken patiently and the pattern will come out
all right like the embroidery."

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes


* * * * *

Here's wishing you a wonderful day,

Hugs,
Brenda
xox