The idea for this entry came to me when someone else pointed out that today, May 1st, is 1/3 of the way through the year. I honestly had never thought about the year that way. Many businesses mark the passage of time in weeks, months and quarters, with some starting at different times. (Some fiscal years start in January, some in July, some in October, and some, like Wal-Mart start in February.)
So, today marks the beginning of the second Tri-mester of 2012. I had heard of tri-mesters in pregnancy and grade-school I think it was, but not really since then. Semesters and quarters, yes, but few people seemed to divide the year up into threes. Still, it allows for another point of reference. It offers another chance to start fresh.
May 1st has significant meaning for me for other reasons. I can think of three important personal things that happened to me on May 1st in different years.
I can say that looking at this marker, so far this year has been pretty good for me. I have already met at least one of my goals for the year and I am making progress toward others. I must remind myself that, like time, I need to keep on moving.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Success in letting go and adapting to changes.
I had the day off from work on Friday. The first thing I did after I woke up was to check Facebook. That was a mistake. That one little act sucked me back in to the workplace mentality being seeing updates and complaints by co-workers. It was while on Facebook, however, that I was rescued from my doomed fate. I read a blog about the interruptions caused by cellphones and computers. Armed with that information, I left my cellphone in another room most of the day. I was on the computer, but tried to limit myself there as well.
I had some more small success in my discipline of self discipline by doing two loads of laundry and washing some dishes fairly early in the day and calling to set an important appointment before lunch. One problem I had was that the weather did not go as planned. The forecast was for a sunny afternoon, windy and a high of 70. What we got instead were rain showers, wind and mid 50s if that. So, the laundry I hung out on the outside clothesline to dry, instead got an extra rinse and very little drying.
While I was in the process of calling for my appointment, I realized how many phone directories I had. So, seven outdated phone directories are in a box to get recycled this coming week.
I had some more small success in my discipline of self discipline by doing two loads of laundry and washing some dishes fairly early in the day and calling to set an important appointment before lunch. One problem I had was that the weather did not go as planned. The forecast was for a sunny afternoon, windy and a high of 70. What we got instead were rain showers, wind and mid 50s if that. So, the laundry I hung out on the outside clothesline to dry, instead got an extra rinse and very little drying.
While I was in the process of calling for my appointment, I realized how many phone directories I had. So, seven outdated phone directories are in a box to get recycled this coming week.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Where to start...
In the beginning, there was so much randomness that I didn't know where to begin. I don't know how many times I have wanted to start a project, but just didn't know what to do first, and, as a result, nothing got done. Hopefully that will not happen with my current project.
I plan on working on self discipline over the next 6 and a half weeks. I hope to have a cleaner house and more good articles written, as well as some new material for future writing.
Today was the official first day. Though not perfect, I was disciplined more than usual. I did not get up as early as I wanted, but I did cook a healthy breakfast of oatmeal. I did not prepare spiritually for the day before I left the house, but I did while I was in the car on my short drive to work by leaving the radio off and collecting my thoughts and trying to focus my attention on spiritual matters. I may have been rewarded for this by having EVERY light between home and work stay GREEN for me.
I did what I had to do at work, only sending out a few text messages while on lunch, and leaving right on time. I continued a simple evening at home, resting for about 30 minutes, sending a few more texts, getting ready for recycling tomorrow, cooking a simple meal. Instead of watching the news, I watched a documentary on The Salton Sea in southern California and a day in the life (and an interview with) a 105 year old woman. After starting the dishwasher and heading to my room, I realized that I had not written anything yet today. Bad discipline.
So, today was a good start in self discipline. At least I had some luck with a low-key day and got the kitchen sink looking less cluttered instead of just ignoring the mess. So much more yet to work on, but day one was OK.
I plan on working on self discipline over the next 6 and a half weeks. I hope to have a cleaner house and more good articles written, as well as some new material for future writing.
Today was the official first day. Though not perfect, I was disciplined more than usual. I did not get up as early as I wanted, but I did cook a healthy breakfast of oatmeal. I did not prepare spiritually for the day before I left the house, but I did while I was in the car on my short drive to work by leaving the radio off and collecting my thoughts and trying to focus my attention on spiritual matters. I may have been rewarded for this by having EVERY light between home and work stay GREEN for me.
I did what I had to do at work, only sending out a few text messages while on lunch, and leaving right on time. I continued a simple evening at home, resting for about 30 minutes, sending a few more texts, getting ready for recycling tomorrow, cooking a simple meal. Instead of watching the news, I watched a documentary on The Salton Sea in southern California and a day in the life (and an interview with) a 105 year old woman. After starting the dishwasher and heading to my room, I realized that I had not written anything yet today. Bad discipline.
So, today was a good start in self discipline. At least I had some luck with a low-key day and got the kitchen sink looking less cluttered instead of just ignoring the mess. So much more yet to work on, but day one was OK.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Starting early, or is it late?
One of my resolutions for 2012 and other prior years was to write more than before.
I have written more on hubpages tom-vogler.hubpages.com this year, publishing something new about every two weeks or so, but I'm afraid I've been neglecting my blog. So, 7 weeks into the new year, I renew my intent to write.
The timing of this renewal comes the day before the start of Lent. I see Lent as a time of sacrifice as well as a time of preparation. Writing more often (hopefully daily) will be a sacrifice because it will require self discipline to set aside a few minutes a day and give up some other less productive uses of my time. It will be a time of preparation because hopefully I will develop my talents and come up with some more good material for my portfolio.
I actually started Lent yesterday by going into the chapel on my way home from work.
I have written more on hubpages tom-vogler.hubpages.com this year, publishing something new about every two weeks or so, but I'm afraid I've been neglecting my blog. So, 7 weeks into the new year, I renew my intent to write.
The timing of this renewal comes the day before the start of Lent. I see Lent as a time of sacrifice as well as a time of preparation. Writing more often (hopefully daily) will be a sacrifice because it will require self discipline to set aside a few minutes a day and give up some other less productive uses of my time. It will be a time of preparation because hopefully I will develop my talents and come up with some more good material for my portfolio.
I actually started Lent yesterday by going into the chapel on my way home from work.
Getting one step ahead of things.
Hmmm. Yesterday. Monday, February 20. It was the day I finally gave in and started taking my daily allergy pills until sometime this Fall. This is the earliest I have ever started taking them on a regular basis. When I was younger, I would take the pills only when symptoms occurred, which meant I would suffer for a while before taking any action to solve the problem, then wait for the medicine to take effect.
Somewhere over the years, doctors advised me to take the pills every day during allergy season. This seemed like a good idea, since it was likely that many days would be allergy days between Spring and Fall. I would take the pills from about late April until mid-June, then from mid August until the first frost usually in October.
Two years ago, my Doctor surprised me when, during the dormant time of early March, he asked me if I was taking my allergy pills yet. Puzzled, I replied, "No, not yet!" He said it was a good idea to start taking them about 3 weeks before symptoms start.
So, since this year has been a particularly mild Winter, and since I have had some annoying health problems in the past few weeks, I decided to start taking the pills now, just in case my premonition is right.
Somewhere over the years, doctors advised me to take the pills every day during allergy season. This seemed like a good idea, since it was likely that many days would be allergy days between Spring and Fall. I would take the pills from about late April until mid-June, then from mid August until the first frost usually in October.
Two years ago, my Doctor surprised me when, during the dormant time of early March, he asked me if I was taking my allergy pills yet. Puzzled, I replied, "No, not yet!" He said it was a good idea to start taking them about 3 weeks before symptoms start.
So, since this year has been a particularly mild Winter, and since I have had some annoying health problems in the past few weeks, I decided to start taking the pills now, just in case my premonition is right.
Friday, August 12, 2011
What is a day off?
No, this will not be a lament saying that I am overworked or stressed out or have so many demands on my time that I never have any free time. Instead, I will attempt to rationalize what tends to happen on my days off.
What is a day off really for? It is so nice to not be required to be out of the house for 9 hours plus on those days off. I usually have two such days a week, though not always the same two. Some days I do leave the house for minutes or hours, some days I do not.
I try to arrange things so that I can do some errands after work so that there is less on my MUST DO list on my days off. That doesn't always work out that way though. For example, today was my day off and what did I do? LAUNDRY. A load of whites, a load of lights, and a load of darks, which must be taken down from the line after I type this. GRRRR
I try to catch up on housework. Sometimes I can do it on days that I work, but larger things must wait until days off though.
I try to catch up on correspondence on my days off. Paying bills, etc, I can do on days that I work, but correspondence which requires me to express genuine thoughts and feelings in a thoughtful way, I like to save for my days off.
I may spend more time on the computer on my day off. This can be good and bad. I am more likely to do something relaxing on my day off like watching a dvd or television or reading a book.
The biggest question I have is how to balance what needs to get done with the need for recreation and relaxation. I am still working on this.
What is a day off really for? It is so nice to not be required to be out of the house for 9 hours plus on those days off. I usually have two such days a week, though not always the same two. Some days I do leave the house for minutes or hours, some days I do not.
I try to arrange things so that I can do some errands after work so that there is less on my MUST DO list on my days off. That doesn't always work out that way though. For example, today was my day off and what did I do? LAUNDRY. A load of whites, a load of lights, and a load of darks, which must be taken down from the line after I type this. GRRRR
I try to catch up on housework. Sometimes I can do it on days that I work, but larger things must wait until days off though.
I try to catch up on correspondence on my days off. Paying bills, etc, I can do on days that I work, but correspondence which requires me to express genuine thoughts and feelings in a thoughtful way, I like to save for my days off.
I may spend more time on the computer on my day off. This can be good and bad. I am more likely to do something relaxing on my day off like watching a dvd or television or reading a book.
The biggest question I have is how to balance what needs to get done with the need for recreation and relaxation. I am still working on this.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
High and low tech living in the same house on the same day.
Today was a sunny and very warm day. Some may even call it hot. Like yesterday, the high was in the low to mid 90s and unlike what seems like the past two weeks, it did not rain, nor was it even a bit cloudy.
I was off today and had things to do around the house, so I did them. I am so glad for several modern conveniences but I am also glad I can use some low tech approaches as well.
Kitchen appliances are modern luxuries I like. Toaster, refrigerator, stove, two cup hot water boiler, etc. I did my laundry using a relatively modern washing machine, but instead of using the dryer, I used the low tech method of drying them....on a clothesline outside in the wind and sunshine. I used the dishwasher to wash and dry some of my dishes, but did others by hand and let them air-dry. I plan on cooking chicken for Supper tonight, but I also have some mint in a pitcher of water setting out in the sun to make a pseudo mint tea to drink cold a little later today and this week. The nice part would be saving electricity by drying most of my clothes that way for 6 months out of the year.
In keeping cool I made use of both modern and old fashioned methods. In the morning, when the temperature cooled into the mid 60s, I opened the doors and windows to let the cool air in. When the temperature warmed up later in the morning and in the afternoon, I closed the windows and doors and let the air conditioner cool the house. Another option could be to spend more time in the basement in the hot weather because it is about 15 degrees cooler there than the rest of the house.
I was off today and had things to do around the house, so I did them. I am so glad for several modern conveniences but I am also glad I can use some low tech approaches as well.
Kitchen appliances are modern luxuries I like. Toaster, refrigerator, stove, two cup hot water boiler, etc. I did my laundry using a relatively modern washing machine, but instead of using the dryer, I used the low tech method of drying them....on a clothesline outside in the wind and sunshine. I used the dishwasher to wash and dry some of my dishes, but did others by hand and let them air-dry. I plan on cooking chicken for Supper tonight, but I also have some mint in a pitcher of water setting out in the sun to make a pseudo mint tea to drink cold a little later today and this week. The nice part would be saving electricity by drying most of my clothes that way for 6 months out of the year.
In keeping cool I made use of both modern and old fashioned methods. In the morning, when the temperature cooled into the mid 60s, I opened the doors and windows to let the cool air in. When the temperature warmed up later in the morning and in the afternoon, I closed the windows and doors and let the air conditioner cool the house. Another option could be to spend more time in the basement in the hot weather because it is about 15 degrees cooler there than the rest of the house.
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