Sunday Musings – December 17, 2017
I found myself wondering when and if I would have time to write today. Although I have a commitment to myself to write every day, there are days when I intentionally make decisions to spend my time differently. Usually, as is the case today, I make very intentional decisions to spend time talking on the phone, emailing or occasionally listening to my body if it tells me I needs to stay in bed an extra hour. I did the later this morning. I did not go to bed until after 11:00 p.m., woke up at 4:00 for some reason and then fell back asleep until 5:00 but stayed in bed until 6:00 a.m. Once I was up, I started my usual Sunday chore of changing the sheets and doing laundry. Still later I spent extra time responding to emails and text messages.
I ask myself if there will be any time to honor my commitment to write today. I stop and remind myself that I have made decisions to allocate my time today based on my core values. Daily writing is not a core value. Keeping commitments is a core value, but commitments to people are much higher on my value list than are tasks such as writing the daily blog. On the other hand, responding to letters and notes is a high priority.
I have noticed with myself and with other humans it is very easy to fall into the trap of making tasks more important than relationships with people. As I have previously mentioned, whether I am shopping, cleaning, making a repair, or doing some other tasks it is my goal to remember that how I treat everyone whose path crosses mine as more important than the task. For me this means if I am stopping to buy milk or some other items taking time to notice and speak to the clerk is clearly more important than the purchase.
Since I am a list person I can easily fall into the trap of making checking off the items on the list the most important thing for me to do. I can make it even more important than noticing what my body needs. Does it need to stop and eat, rest, or even go to bathroom?
Nothing I have to say on this blog means anything if I violate my core values. Yet, I know I could make writing about core values more important than living my core values.
Earlier I was at the gym and about to get undressed and go take my shower. A client texted and indicated she wanted/needed to talk. For a moment I started to tell her that it was not a good time, but then I stopped to take a breath and to remind myself that it was a fine time to talk. I set aside my gym bag and found a private place to talk for the next hour. It was that simple. I know that she is a single parent and finding a window of time to talk is not easy for her. Then was the time to talk with her. If I had already committed to another person then I would have explored another time with her.
My time today so far has been well spent. There is no conflict with my core values.
Written December 17, 2017
I found myself wondering when and if I would have time to write today. Although I have a commitment to myself to write every day, there are days when I intentionally make decisions to spend my time differently. Usually, as is the case today, I make very intentional decisions to spend time talking on the phone, emailing or occasionally listening to my body if it tells me I needs to stay in bed an extra hour. I did the later this morning. I did not go to bed until after 11:00 p.m., woke up at 4:00 for some reason and then fell back asleep until 5:00 but stayed in bed until 6:00 a.m. Once I was up, I started my usual Sunday chore of changing the sheets and doing laundry. Still later I spent extra time responding to emails and text messages.
I ask myself if there will be any time to honor my commitment to write today. I stop and remind myself that I have made decisions to allocate my time today based on my core values. Daily writing is not a core value. Keeping commitments is a core value, but commitments to people are much higher on my value list than are tasks such as writing the daily blog. On the other hand, responding to letters and notes is a high priority.
I have noticed with myself and with other humans it is very easy to fall into the trap of making tasks more important than relationships with people. As I have previously mentioned, whether I am shopping, cleaning, making a repair, or doing some other tasks it is my goal to remember that how I treat everyone whose path crosses mine as more important than the task. For me this means if I am stopping to buy milk or some other items taking time to notice and speak to the clerk is clearly more important than the purchase.
Since I am a list person I can easily fall into the trap of making checking off the items on the list the most important thing for me to do. I can make it even more important than noticing what my body needs. Does it need to stop and eat, rest, or even go to bathroom?
Nothing I have to say on this blog means anything if I violate my core values. Yet, I know I could make writing about core values more important than living my core values.
Earlier I was at the gym and about to get undressed and go take my shower. A client texted and indicated she wanted/needed to talk. For a moment I started to tell her that it was not a good time, but then I stopped to take a breath and to remind myself that it was a fine time to talk. I set aside my gym bag and found a private place to talk for the next hour. It was that simple. I know that she is a single parent and finding a window of time to talk is not easy for her. Then was the time to talk with her. If I had already committed to another person then I would have explored another time with her.
My time today so far has been well spent. There is no conflict with my core values.
Written December 17, 2017
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