'Tis the season

I have not participated in Five Minute Friday for a while.  Every Friday FMF sends out a word for the day and writers write for five minutes.  Just set the timer for 5 minutes and write. No editing, no back-tracking, just write.  So I did.

...

Five-Minute Friday

The word is SEASON.

And… go!

…

’Tis the season!

To do what?

To be jolly?  

Maybe, but the nightly news lately certainly does not encourage jolliness.

To get back on track?

To take on a new project?

Maybe to start cooking healthy stuff.

Certainly to tackle those archives.  The boxes and bins full of old books, papers, files, and other leftovers from a busy life.  A life too busy evidently to stay current on pitching stuff no longer needed.

For me of course, ’tis the season for NaNoWriMo.  

Lately I have been thinking about the seasons of life.

’Tis the season for…

• Letting go of some things… to make room for better things
• Figuring out what matters most
• Finding some wisdom for prioritizing

Yep, certainly need wisdom - for so many things, but yah, priorities are a biggie. I want to pay attention to what season it is.

Morning

Morning

I like morning.

I love morning.

I feel fresh in the morning.

I feel energized in the morning.

Optimistic.

Confident.

Morning is a gift.

Morning is the gift of a fresh start.

A do-over.

A chance for redemption.
Early morning is quiet and serene.*

Mornings are precious.

I love morning so much. 

I want to take advantage of every minute.

I might try to fit too much into my morning.

I want to go for my walk in the morning before it gets too hot.

I need to walk early in the day while I have the most energy.

I try to get maintenance stuff done in the morning so I can enjoy having my life in order for the rest of the day.

But…

I ALSO want to write in the morning while my mind is fresh and creative. In fact, I really like to write first thing in the morning before anything has a chance to distract me.

There are SO many things I want to do in the morning. 

Consequently I often try to do too much with my morning.

I expect too much from my morning.

Yikes!

I don’t want to spoil my morning by packing it too full.

Instead I want to find ways to cherish the morning. 

To respect it. 

To enjoy it.

To value it.

To celebrate morning. 

I choose to celebrate this morning.

I will celebrate tomorrow morning and every morning that I am given.

I appreciate morning as the fleeting moment that it is.

I savor morning as a fine thing of beauty and choose to handle it lovingly.

This is a Five-Minute Friday post.

...

* Thank you, Busy B., for the reminder.

Forget

Five-Minute Friday

Set the timer for five minutes and type.

No editing. Just type.

Today's word: Forget

Ready. GO.

...

I tend to forget things. 

Important things. 

Not just the usual things that one might expect as signs of aging.

Nope. I’ve been doing this for a long time.

Important things.

Like decisions I’ve made.

Priorities I have settled on.

Goals that I want to reach.

Disciplines that I want to incorporate in my life.

I get all excited about them.
Determined.

They are important and I want to do them.

But then I don’t.

Why?

Because I forget.

I don't just forget to DO it.

I even forget what it WAS.

And then I feel silly.

So I ask my man…

Do you remember that big decision I made?

That big thing that I wanted to do?

To incorporate in my life?

I remember there was something that I felt very passionate about.

That I was going to do!

Once a day - or twice a week.  Or something.

But now I can’t remember what it was.

How can I forget something so important?

Something that I really thought I wanted to do.

How can I forget that?

Maybe the better question is: How can I remember?

...

STOP

...

Perhaps I should explain that yes, I HAVE found some good methods for remembering the things that are important to me. In fact, I seem to always be improving my systems.

I just didn't happen to talk about that in my five minutes of writing above.
I guess that was a lament about the tendency that keeps popping up.

Five-Minute Friday: PRESENT

It is Five-Minute Friday – the day hundreds of people write for just five minutes on the same prompt and then share their words with each other on Kate Motaung's site. No editing, back-tracking, or revising. Just writing for the joy of writing. I have not participated for awhile and it seems like it might be time to do it again.

Today’s prompt: PRESENT

...

It’s a present. 

You don’t take back a present.

That’s what the Herdman kids said in “Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

You don’t take back a present.

It’s a present. 

It is my present.

The present.
This moment.

It may not be all that I would have chosen, but it is what it is.

I’m learning. Slowly. Learning that accepting and appreciating “what is” generally makes it better. Makes life better. Makes the present more enjoyable. 

Appreciating the present. 

Being grateful for the moment. 

For what has been given to me.

And the parts of it that I would not have chosen? The parts I’d rather were a little different… Well, I can choose what to do with them. Will I minimize them? Will I compensate for them? Maybe I can find ways to enjoy them or at least cope with them.

But whatever I choose to do with it, this is what I have. 

This moment. The present. 

I can look around and drink it all in. 

Or I can complain about the parts I don’t like. 

I can try to wish it away. But I don’t want to do that. 

My momma always told me not to wish my life away. 

Whenever I would say something about wishing for this or wishing for that. 

Getting anxious for whatever it was I was looking forward to.

Don’t wish your life away, 
she said. 

Maybe that means something like “the present is what you have. What will you do with it?”  

...

I have this moment.

It is a gift.

It is my present.

...

And using this picture again reminds me of something I wrote almost a year ago now - about appreciating the moment - which you can read here.

Fill (Five-Minute Friday)

Fill (Five-Minute Friday)

I guess I used to think it was important to fill things up.

I had a big house and it was full.

I had the biggest kitchen in the county with huge cabinets and I tended to fill them up.

I used to fill my calendar - partly because I seemed to judge my importance by my busyness.

...

I don't think I do that so much anymore. Since beginning the downsizing process, I have learned much about the value of less. The value of empty space - whether on my calendar or in my pantry.

Because we have been living in a tiny house on wheels we have had to live with less. Fewer pans, fewer dishes, fewer and smaller utensils. Fewer clothes. Fewer books.

When we get back home next week where there is more room to spread out, I wonder if I will be tempted to fill things up again. Will I want to fill the shelves? Will I tend to fill my calendar again?

I hope not. I think I've had my fill of living with excess. I really really hope that I will be able to continue pitching so that we can live with less and less.

...



To participate in Five Minute Friday write for five minutes on the topic of the week and post it on your own blog or post your five minutes of writing in the comments here each week, or on the Five Minute Friday Facebook page.

This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.

Just write.

Begin (Five-Minute Friday)

It’s Five Minute Friday – the day hundreds of people write for just five minutes on the same prompt and then share their words with each other on Lisa-Jo Baker’s site. No editing, back-tracking, or revising. Just writing for the joy of writing. Won’t you join us?
Today’s prompt: begin.

...

Where shall I begin?

Beginning has not been in the foreground of my mind because I've been more in the finishing or wrapping-up or winding-down mode. But there is some saying about every ending means a new beginning - or something. Or maybe it is that new beginnings often require endings first. I don't know.

But even as we BEGIN to wind down our trip, I am BEGINNING to think about the next part of the journey - and wonder what all that will hold.

Certainly I would think there will be some sense of a new beginning. Certainly. A new adventure. We don't know what the new journey will look like nor where it will take us. We don't know whether we will sell the farm this fall or how long we will be there in the cabin.

There are definitely some things that I can begin when we arrive back in Michigan. I must begin. Like the next phase of sorting and pitching. I sometimes wonder if people get tired of hearing me talking about sorting and pitching. Sometimes I can imagine them thinking "Are you STILL doing that? Aren't you finished YET?!?"

Nope, not finished. Maybe we have only begun. Nevertheless, we shall begin again - and get rid of more stuff.
 

Five-Minute Friday: Exhale

I love Five Minute Friday and have participated once in awhile. I keep telling myself that I want to do it more often. It is simply an opportunity to free write for five minutes with no editing or revising. Hundreds of people do this and link up on Lisa-Jo Baker's site.

Writing friends, this makes for a good exercise.

Today's prompt: EXHALE

...

Exhale.

Remember to breathe.

That's something I tell people sometimes. People who seem so busy that I might be concerned about their well-being.

I sometimes feel like I don't need that reminder - because my life is relatively free from stress. However, once in awhile, I do need the reminder - simply to force myself to breathe more deeply. To calm down and relax.

My stress does not often come in the form of busyness these days - partly because of the season of life I'm in, but also because I have worked hard to back off from busyness as much as possible. That has been a long slow process. It involves not only slowing down my schedule, but also involves a deliberate acceptance on my part that the idea of a simpler life is indeed okay. For so very long, I connected busyness with my sense of worth. If I'm busy, I must be important; right?  What a crock! I'm a little embarrassed now to remember how important that was to me. Then again it is a very prevalent belief in our society.

I guess I'm still learning. And I will continue to remind myself. Inhale and breathe in simplicity and beauty. Exhale and breathe out those remnants of that false worldview that equates activity with value.

Inhale and enjoy.
Exhale and let go.

Five-Minute Friday: Write

Five-Minute Friday
It is Friday.  I haven't done FMF for a really long time.
Thinking about doing it again.
Write for five minutes with no editing.

Finding a timer
Setting it for five minutes
The prompt is: WRITE
Ready... Go!

...

Write

I want to write. At least I say that I want to write, but then I question myself so often. I ask if I really do want to write - or do I just want to have written. Yes, I've written about writing - about the process of writing, about all this - numerous times.

When I write profusely, I feel good about it. When people like what I've written, I feel even better. When I don't write much, I feel sad - or guilty or defeated or something. I ask myself why I don't write when I say that I want to.

Writing coaches say to ask yourself why you want to write. Why really? I might go there here. On the other hand, I also wonder why I don't write.

I don't write because I get distracted. I may think of something that I really want to write about, but then something else comes along to grab my attention.

I don't write because it is hard work. An idea comes together and I may speak it and it keeps growing and I say I need to get this down. But then I try and it doesn't come together the same way again. At least not easily. It feels like hard work. It is hard work.

I don't write because I keep running out of time. Like right now... Time is up.  Drats! 

But I did write.

　

　

　

Comfort

Five-minute Friday - when we set the timer & write for five minutes
Today's word: Comfort
Ready?
Begin!

...

I like comfort. I really do. I like to be comfortable. I enjoy things that sooth my spirit or my skin or my tired achy muscles. I prefer situations of ease rather than distress. I choose to be around people who make me feel good. I protect my comfort zone fairly diligently.

Conversely I don’t like to be uncomfortable. I get grouchy or whiny when I’m uncomfortable.

Certainly it is normal to like comfort. A HUGE percentage of retail business is done because people like comfort. We buy satin sheets or thick thirsty towels – for one primary reason: comfort. We invest in good warm boots so our feet will be comfortable. Mattresses come with weird number systems to insure our comfort. We buy bigger houses and nicer cars and fancy La-Z-boy recliners and we turn up the heat or crank the AC to be more comfortable.

Is it a bad thing to value comfort? I don’t think so. Comfort can contribute to our health and well-being. If I cannot get comfortable in my bed, I don’t sleep well – thus affecting my physical and mental health. Being uncomfortable with a toothache or a headache can be a clue to seek medical attention.

But seeking comfort can become negative and selfish and self-serving. Certainly it is often tempting to put my comfort ahead of doing the right thing. Perhaps it is a matter of obedience or of priorities. Maybe it’s okay to seek comfort and to enjoy it – as long as I am not putting it ahead of loving the people in my life or doing the right thing – and as long as I am willing to set it aside when it becomes necessary or wise.

…

What speaks comfort to you?
What price would you pay for comfort?
How much comfort are you willing to give up for a good cause?

Five-minute Friday: HERE

Five-minute Friday - when we set the timer & write for five minutes - with no editing
Today's word: HERE

...

I am here - stuck in the middle.
On Facebook.
In social settings.
In life.

I have lots of right-wing conservative friends and I also have a bunch of flaming liberal friends - well, and pretty much everything in between. And I like that. Sometimes. But sometimes not so much. Some days Facebook is not a comfortable place to be - what with all of the colorful posters and two-word slogans screaming from my news feed. Then there are the days when I might want to post something heartfelt - like "I really like Michele Obama" - or some other potentially controversial status. But I think twice - or thrice or more times - because I'm pretty sure SOMEBODY will yell at me. Well, maybe not yell, but scold me or condemn me or jump down my throat or something. Or lecture me. Or label me.

Sometimes I'm tempted to de-friend everybody who disagrees with me - but then I wouldn't have any friends. Besides these are my friends. I like them. AND I can learn from my friends on both sides.

Besides most of the time I kinda' like being HERE - stuck in the middle - even though it feels like I don't belong anywhere. Here is where I am. Here can be a pretty good place.

...

I have both conservative and liberal parts within me and I think I can understand both viewpoints. I hope that I am conservative in the best sense of the word - as in conserving resources, taking good care of people and things and responsibilities. I admit that I am naturally conservative when it comes to being cautious or wanting to do the right thing. On the other hand, I also hope that I am liberal in the best meanings of that term - that I am generous and lavish - extravagant even - with my love and compassion, with my respect and loyalty, with service and helpfulness, and most of all with grace.

Yep, I am HERE - stuck in the middle. And that's okay.

Five-Minute Friday: AFTER

Five-Minute Friday - when we set the timer & write for five minutes - with no editing

The word is AFTER

Ready
Set timer
Go!

...
After.

How many times have I heard myself (or others) use that word?
After we retire maybe we can do this... or that...
Living out there in the future somewhere
Wistful

After you clean your plate you can have dessert. Or a candy.
Or get down from the table. Or go play...
Referring to some type of reward. After I do this, then I can do that.
A motivator of sorts

I also use it to help determine sequence. Order. Steps of action.
After can be a trigger to remind me of something important.
Let's see; what was I going to do right after that?

What...
What's going on?

...

(Pause timer.)

...

What was that?
What just happened to my keyboard?
Evidently I hit some weird combination of keys and locked everything up on my document. I couldn't continue typing until AFTER I figured out how in the world to fix it. Or until I happened to hit a magic key...
Which I guess must have happened

And now I'm out of time...

...

So what was I going to do after this five minute project?
And you?
What are you doing after reading this?
Were you reminded of something?

...

Well, this did not go well - especially with the tech glitch right in the middle. There's no coherence, no points, nothing that anybody would want to read. But then it wasn't going well even before the tech problem.

Maybe I should start over again.
Yah, maybe I will.
Maybe right after I...

Five-Minute Friday: broken

Every Friday, Lisa-Jo Baker hosts this event and picks a word for the day. Participants are to set a timer and write. No editing. Just write.

Today's word: broken

Ready
Set timer
Begin!

...

Broken
I think I qualify. I feel broken lately. My body doesn't seem to be working the way it should. Mal-functioning. Broken. Stiff, sore. Old. Drats. I don't want to be old. Well, maybe I wouldn't mind BEing old so much if I didn't FEEL so old. If I could be strong. Or agile. Or flexible. But I don't like being broken.

Broken relationships - here & there - make me sad. I can see the pain, feel the pain.

Broken resolve. My broken resolve. I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but at times I do resolve to accomplish certain things. I get all gung-ho and fired up about a project. But I am so NOT good at fulfilling, completing, accomplishing what I had resolved to do.

...

I'm a fixer. When things are broken, I want to fix them. But I don't know how to fix my broken muscles & joints, whether to seek medical attention...

I am tempted to try to butt in and fix relationships, but I know I might well make things worse.

And obviously I don't know how to fix my broken "finisher" mechanism - whatever it is that keeps me from carrying through on my resolve.

...

Time's up.
...
But wait! There's more.
Now that I think about it, I realize that my heart is broken. Heavy.
My thoughts are too jumbled and my emotions too raw to be able to express in words yet.

But yes, I'm feeling broken - heart-broken - now that I take a minute to think about it.

Five-Minute Friday: remember

Five-Minute Friday

I'm trying something new today: Five-Minute Friday. I've dabbled before, but today I'll try to link it and make it all official. Every Friday, Lisa-Jo Baker hosts this event and picks a word for the day. Participants are to set a timer and write. No editing. Just write.

Today's word: Remember
Ready?
Set timer.
Go!
...

Let's see; I had a whole bunch of ideas. Things I wanted to write about if only I could remember.

I do remember that I wanted to capture this or that feeling, something about this amazing person or that beautiful place, or maybe even that heart-warming encounter and ensuing conversation. Oh, there are so many things to remember - and to try to capture before they fade away like my tropical tan.

There are also some things that I don't need to DO anything with - other than just remember them. Cherish them. Close my eyes and remember the good warm feeling or the gratitude.

But wait! There are other things to remember. Things I'd rather not. Goofs I made. There was that one goof... No, that was a downright faux pas - or however you spell it. Yah, no; those aren't so much fun to remember. Those make me wish that I could learn from them - so that I never do something so stupid again!

Oh, if only I would remember that lesson.
Ahead of time even.
BEFORE I open my mouth.
Come on, brain; remember...