Full Plate
So, last week I dreamed I was holding a full plate and my arms were tired and I just wanted to sleep, but I was afraid to let my guard down, for fear something would slip off the plate.
Hmmm. Wonder what that means?
Today was a catch up day. I met two deadlines, barely. I cleaned off my office desk in preparation for a push to finish two writing projects. I made a list of blog topics to write about here. I blogged at my Simon Pulse blog (a few days late, but hey, who’s counting?). I finished this blog post (which I began a week ago).
I made up a To Do list to carry me through to the end of the year (can you believe it almost time to drag out the Advent Calendars for those of us who count down the days until December 25th?).
Here’s a small list of items on my To Do list:
finish revising completed novel (after doing an intensive scene conflict analysis on every scene)
write second novel for NaNoWriMo (researching heavily along the way)
make my home habitable (definition still uncertain, but definitely includes rearranging new couch and chairs in living room)
make exercise part of the daily routine (easy in summer, not so much in winter, but I did just get the WiiFitPlus game)
streamline my teaching materials for easy access (would probably save about ten hours a week if I wasn’t always hunting stuff)
download the pictures from my camera to my computer
That doesn’t count blogging, as you may guess from my recent absence. Or taking time out for family things, which include going to see my daughter when she came in for a friend’s wedding in a town about three hours from me and helping my son find a new job after his recent layoff (first one in the family, let’s hope it is the last). Or chores like taking the car in to be fixed (the check engine light is now on, and the car won’t go more than 25 mph).
I know I need to shove a few things off my plate. I plan to have my book revisions done by this weekend. And I am drafting the second book for NaNoWriMo. Unless my family…or one of the cars…needs me.
After that… I often imagine that other people have well balanced lives, but I’m not sure I think that’s anything but an uninformed fantasy. The people I know well are like me — lurching from one important task to another, trying not to drop anything too critical. Perhaps it is hubris, thinking we must say yes to everything or the world will stop; or maybe we’re greedy — not wanting to give up one thing for another. Probably, though, we’re just people, living life as fully as we can conceive of it, knowing we don’t have forever so we should do what we can, enjoy what we love, and remember to stop to hug the special people in our lives.
Maybe I should add one more thing to the list: Balance life in 2010. It wouldn’t be a New Year’s Resolution. Quite.
Then again, maybe I shouldn’t add it. Because I might miss out on something wonderful. Like spending a day looking for the perfect Christmas tree, and another day covering it with gaudy bulbs and ice-looking crystals. Like trying to figure out how to juggle four work schedules to make that visit to family over the holidays. Like hoping I get to see my cousin’s new baby while he’s still a snuggly warm newborn. Like hugging my nephew, who is about to graduate and get a job. A real, grown-up, life-supporting job. Like getting to my daughter’s graduation from her master’s program in April. Like… really, the list is infinite. And I’m thankful for that, even though technically it isn’t Thanksgiving yet. Which reminds me, I need to add buy a turkey to the list…
Kelly
