SPT - A Closer Look

SPT is Self-Portrait Tuesday (Thursday in this case)

Lelly's challenge for this week was to take a closer look at your life and see what it is that gets more attention than anything else. It was hard to narrow this down -- I give bits and pieces of attention to so many things. Life is busy with kids, work, church responsbilities, home responsibillities.... But the one thing that I try to give priority to, for sanity, is reading. I love to read for the different and interesting insights every book brings.

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I love how blogging gives us an interesting and unique opportunity to peek into each other's lives. It's made me think about how different we all are -- and how much alike. It's a perfect balance.

"All cases are unique, and very similar to others."
T.S. Eliot

In the book I just read - the one on motherhood - the author shared her story. I found it to be just the opposite of my story, and yet very similar.

Her story was that she entered college with a plan in mind, she had picked wedding colors and had a timeline for everything to happen -- graduation, marriage, kids, and then a quiet life of working at home (teaching violin), volunteering for the PTA and being involved in church callings. Instead, she ended up with an amazing career and incredible opportunities and then had the opportunity for marriage and children much later than she had planned.

I entered college having given no thought at all to wedding colors. I had the idea that I would graduate, have an amazing design career, and then hopefully get married and have children. By the time I was finishing my junior year and was about to turn 21 I felt strongly that I should serve a mission. It was hard to leave my program and friends and postpone graduation, and I knew that the decision would alter my future, but the feelings I had were stronger than my thoughts.

I left that summer to do an internship with a design firm in London. Served the mission (in England, incidentally) and then went home to graduate and get going on my international work visa so I could return to London and start working for the design firm since they had offered me a job.

Not long after I got home I met Chris and my whole perspective changed. I knew, the same way I knew about the mission, that I should marry him. We got married a few months before I graduated. We had Jordan much sooner than planned (against the odds). Years later Jemma came long (later than planned). My design career plans have been sidelined. Often this life seems pretty ordinary. But the point of that book was to remind us that it's more than that.

Just like the author -- I'm thankful for the unexpected course my life has taken, even if it's completely different than how I'd imagined it.

52 Blessings Project, #2

Books and Motherhood

My parents in-law gave this book to me for my birthday 4 months ago and it's been waiting patiently on my nightstand to be read. I picked it up earlier this week and have been enjoying it. Good stories, quotes and many excellent points about the need for our perception of mothers to be positive.

Organizing Project #1

I think this is my first organizing project of the year. I really enjoy getting things organized and seeing the difference...better yet, feeling the difference. And since I am always inspired by other people and their accomplishments I'm posting the results of this little, but big, accomplishment.

Jordan's closet before (behind that shoe box and the clarinet case is a major pile of stuff -- too bad the photo doesn't really portray just how messy it actually was):

Jordan's closet after about 15 minutes of time and $12 for the shoe rack:

We eliminated a little pile of stuff he's grown out of, relocated a bunch of sporting goods like baseball mitts and the lacrosse sticks, put all his accessories and hats in the blue bin, and stacked the shoes. Voila!

Word for the Year

FOCUS

I've been thinking about a word to choose for 2008. I've seen several interesting, insightful and inspiring words on my journeying around blogs lately. Many options have been bouncing around in my mind and I was wondering if I'd even commit myself to choosing a word. Today one fell into place. Focus.

(The multitasking desk)

Oh how easily distracted I am. Multitasking is certainly a useful skill, but if taken too far it can be counter-productive. Sometimes I catch myself with 5 or 6 Internet windows open at one time, trying to accomplish or read something on each site. Or I'll be in the middle of something - like cooking - when I remember something else and rush off to take care of it before I forget. The results are not always good.

In light of the thoughts in my earlier posts about time, I'm committing myself to focus. To truly live in the present moment. When I'm reading to Jemma at bedtime, I'll not be forming yet another mental list of what I need to do tonight or tomorrow. When I'm talking to Jordan, I'll enjoy our conversation without always looking for an opportunity to remind him of his responsibilities. When I'm exercising, I'll be aware of my surroundings and appreciating that moment for what it is rather than thinking of what I'll rush off to next, (or what I'd rather be doing). When I'm going to sleep at night I'll relish the feel of the sheets and the quiet of the house and the blessing of comfort.

I have a feeling that focusing on the task at hand, whatever it may be (many times not even literally a "task"), will be a pathway to greater peace and balance and achieving the things I really want to. Every day. What do you think?

52 Blessings Project, #1

Here's the start of a project I found through a couple of blog links. The plan is to post every Sunday about one thing I am thankful for. By the end of 2008 there will be a list of 52 blessings to look back on. Join in! It's not too late.

Although I could easily live without a dog, I'm feeling thankful for the one we have. Here's why: he's soft, hypoallergenic, quiet, doesn't gnaw on everything in sight, playful, eats small portions (and the food is small too), wears sweaters, is only 4 pounds (and won't get much bigger), has a cute little face, and he makes the kids happy.

Lest I Forget

I finished Gift from the Sea last night and the key to simplifying life and gaining balance lies in this:

Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery

Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present

This is a theme has come up lately in several different conversations, books, articles, and the quote above - which I have heard before (and was trying to remember this morning) - was written on the board in Relief Society today. How apt.

It also brings to mind Matthew 6:34, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

That particular scripture, and that entire sermon, has been good for me in the past. Time to remember it again.

And I love this, one of the last lines of the book:

"We find again some of the joy in the now, some of the peace in the here, some of the love in me and thee which go to make up the kingdom of heaven on earth."

The Name and Other Things

The poor pup without a name has a name at last. He still responds mostly to Puppy, and that wouldn't be so bad if it didn't sound so detached. Like he doesn't belong to anyone. Like Holly Golightly's cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's:

"Poor cat! Poor slob! Poor slob without a name! The way I see it I haven't got the right to give him one. We don't belong to each other."

His name is Hooper. He was born in a place called Hooper, so that's his name.


I've been wanting to formulate some thoughts about 2008, but so far it still feels just like 2007. I haven't really had time to think. Do you ever not have time to think?

I've been reading Gift from the Sea (in little snippets here and there, and on the plane last weekend). Anne Morrow Lindbergh very accurately describes life as being crowded and schedules tight. That's how it is at the moment. I'm trying to achieve a better sense of control and balance and, as she says, "to be the still axis within the revolving wheel of relationships, obligations, and activities."

I suppose I need to finish the last 30 pages of the book in order to find out what she discovered and how to accomplish this.