I’m finding Kat McNally’s August Moon prompts for reflective writing very helpful and curiously timely as well. Today’s question is about time and inner space. How will you make time work for you? And this is asked in particular around balancing work and ensuring you have enough time for self.
This is a perfect question for me as I’m in one of those reconsidering places in my life – looking at my habits and routines; feeling a bit out of sorts with myself and hunting for the places that rub; looking with new eyes at how I function because suddenly it’s so clear to me I’ve picked up stuff that’s not mine and not helpful to me and it all needs a sort out.
So Kat’s questions are helpful. But they’re also the kind that require pondering, and that’s a way into looking at how I am in the world.
Because it seems I always favor the more windy circuitous route, as I’m reflecting on this question I’m led to think about the blogging community who celebrates T stands for Tuesday
One of the things my guidance is continuously encouraging me to do is find the spaciousness around things To be clear this doesn’t really have anything to do with doing less, but rather allowing for a buffer of grace around things. Yes I know even as I write it, it’s not a concept that lends itself to clear written explanation. Like so many things you have to feel into it.
But this morning as I was pondering Kat’s question, looking for spaciousness around it, I decided to sit on the porch with a pot of Honey Yuzu tea and my journal and see what unfolded.
One of the challenges for me because I don’t work a 9 to 5 job is that I find it harder to hold boundaries around when I am working. It’s marvelous in the sense that I’m not bound to any particular schedule, but that also means it’s hard to find the off switch and you’re as likely to find me working at 9pm as 9am. But I don’t think I’d change that. Freedom and self-direction are hugely important to me, as is being able to mix things up. A couple hours in the studio and then a couple hours of client work, a sit on the porch and perhaps a few chapters read, and then listening for what calls to me next. In so many many ways my life is wonderful. Which believe it or not is what makes change particularly difficult for me. I stumble when I think of all the ways I want to biggify because I don’t want to give up any of the wonderfulness I have for an unknown I don’t have.
And that in a nutshell is what I’m up against in one form or another. And so I have to lean into it. But never directly because then I just make myself crazy and paralyzed. My leaning in is the circuitous dance of the crab on the beach – I approach it all sideways.
So today sitting on the porch I thought about the clouds and how they’re in this huge container of the sky moving along, shifting easily, joining forces with other clouds, then breaking off an meandering on their own, creating wondrous images that last for a limited time and then are gone, but the possibilities of other wondrous creations are there in every second.
And there it was. I decided being a cloud was a helpful metaphor and something I’m going to play around with.
And because my mind is always working at making connections, my next thought was about cloud tea. Tea grown at great elevations in the Himalayas amid the clouds and mists. And that thought made me remember the charming children’s book Cloud Tea Monkeys. I need to dig that out and give it another read.
Now tell me about you. How do you balance work and non-work time leaving yourself enough energy for what you love? Are you a member of the Cloud Appreciation Society? Take time for tea? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
What a great read…you express yourself and connect your thoughts so beautifully!
I opt for photos often and fewer words because they don’t always flow for me.
The meringue recipe made me think of something I have wanted to try inspired by some NZ and Australian friends…have you heard of Pavlova the dessert?
Balance is an ever elusive dance for me…
I do treasure being able to flit from thing to thing and take time to smell the flowers often…
Wishing you a happy tea day ~♥~ and happy resolution to your challenges!
oxo
Oh my, you’ve now put Pavlova on my must-make list – it looks delicious! Wishing you lots of joy in your flitting and plenty of flowers to smell. 🙂
I love your take on Time and Inner Space, particularly the idea of spaciousness around things. As one who is forging a new path as a creative entrepreneur, I relate to figuring out how to ‘schedule’ my work time but after reading your post, I think I might have found a way to allow some of that spaciousness in my work day =-)
And as a ‘collector’ of children’s literature, I’ll be checking my local library for a copy of Cloud Tea Monkeys to give it a read!
There’s so much wonderfulness is figuring out how to do what we love. Even the challenging pieces like scheduling time can take on a new slant from the perspective of knowing we’re in control and get to choose. Wishing you all sorts of spacious and fun Monica! And enjoy Cloud Tea Monkeys when you find it.
Wonderful post!
Happy T-Day!
xxxSusi
Thanks. I appreciate you stopping by and staying hello!
I liked the reflective nature of this piece. A thoughtful time with tea made it ever so enjoyable to see how you were going to balance time and space in your life.
I remember when I worked full time and went to school. I had NO time for anything, but I kept a spotless house, entertained, and had lots of fun while doing homework and a bit of art on the weekends. Now that I have a consulting company, I piddle. I think your post really spoke to me.
Thanks for sharing your tea inspired cloud with us for T today.
Time is so fascinating to me – it’s one of those mysteries I return to again and again and feel like I have no understanding about. I totally resonant with having NO time and yet managing to get so much done, and then having more time and less getting done.
Thanks for creating such a lovely T party.
Being housebound and governed by a fickle, unpredictable body–time moves slower most days and plans are always tentative. At first it drove me crazy because I wanted my life to be different. When I accepted it as just a factor of my new life…well, life got so much better and I have learned a lot about myself. So, my juggling of time is very different than most people’s. But I pay attention to clouds…and I smell the roses, as they say. 😉
Happy T-Day! 🙂
Good for you Rita – it sounds like you’ve found that perfect dance of grace! Wishing you lots of roses to smell. 🙂
I don’t need much to make me sit down with a cuppa. As for making time for crafting…just watch me do the housework, it is chores first and playtime later. I am a whizz with a feather duster so I can have more playtime.
Hugs and thanks for the thought provoking post.
xx
LOL – I can see those feathers flying!
This post is so beautifully written and expressed. To think I used to work two jobs, take care of a household and toxic family situations and then raise a child with my husband makes me wonder just how I managed it all. I no longer work and am so very fortunate to spend much more time with art but I feel I got more done when I was super busy…perhaps I need time management now… thanks for a great post-happy T day!
It’s such an interesting issue isn’t it? I think we all have to find our balance with productive and busy while ensuring we remain happy, and I suspect it’s one of those things that is always up for review.
I totally agree with you! My job is the exact same way, and I struggle too. I have finally come to the point where I know about how much time it takes to complete my various jobs, so I force myself off my computer when I reach that time. Knowing I will do this also helps me be more productive within that time. And I don’t have to feel guilty about it…it’s just like clocking in and out of work. I am not required to do any extra work when I finish. I am free to enjoy the day!
Excellent Jessica!
Clouds are lovely. I hope you enjoy being one!
And the spaciousness around things feels very important. Thank you for sharing that.
Thanks for stopping by and saying hello.
I enjoyed the cloud idea, and I love your teapot! I think of balance as being a very long-term process. Often not achievable day-to-day, but over the long term we can work it out. Thanks for the thought-provoking post 🙂
That’s a really helpful way to think about it – balanced over the long term. Thank you for that!
Great post, very reflective.
Over the years I have had to find a “balance” of time, and energy many times.
Thanks for visiting my blog this week for tea.
While it would be delightful if we could find our perfect balance once and never have to think about it again, it really is something we turn to again and again. Thanks so much Krisha for stopping by and saying hello.
Your post is very thought provoking, but very interesting to read your own thoughts. I don’t work outside the home so find that I faff and procrastinate then wonder where the day has gone but I have produced nothing. Well sometimes I do. I prefer to be awake into the late hours, but Wee Man needs breakfast before school of course, haha, so up I must be. 😀
Yes, those pesky little early morning chores do interfere with the late night stay ups don’t they. 🙂 Wishing you lots of creativity fit into all the spaces you can manage.
From one monkey mind to another, I have to say that so many of your responses have resonated really strongly with me! I love that feeling.
I was so fascinated to read about the conundrum of boundaries here. My life currently revolves around the demands of my family, so I tend to idealise scenarios like yours. But I see that it can come with its own challenges, particularly when you love so many things.
Like you, I find that my journal is always the most powerful portal. xx
It’s interesting how we do that idealizing thing isn’t it? You wonder about my life and I think about the vibrancy of yours with those little ones creating all manner of magic. But in any case, thank heavens for our journals!