For your Transcendentalist pondering tonight, a quote from Henry David Thoreau's Walden: "Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail."
I ran across this quote in my mad scramble to amass curriculum for 2008-2009. (I know, I know--it's only June. But these things have a way of sneaking up on me, so I'm trying to be proactive.) The quote struck me as particularly fitting for this point in my life. It's a very special summer: I'm getting married to an absolutely wonderful man. I can't wait to get started on this next phase of my life; sharing the daily joys and sorrows with my best friend... who, after four years of dating, can still make me tingle whenever he smiles at me. How lucky am I? (Very lucky--yes, I know!)
And yet, sometimes I forget to prioritize my relationship. Sometimes, the wonder and frustration of love gets pushed aside by laundry and grocery shopping. I can't focus on the important things, because I'm too busy defrosting dinner and obsessing about work drama.
So how do I change? I want to enjoy my life. I don't want to "fritter away" this amazing summer worrying about things I can't control... or working on things I don't really care about. So, how does a high-strung perfectionist with a long to-do list learn to take a breath and enjoy the little things? How does she learn to let go of all the needless minutiae?
I have no idea, but it's my goal to find out.
2 comments:
First - I am searching for the same answer - so when you find it, let me know! :) I find it hard to be honest with myself and say what's truly important in the moment when I feel that everything is important!
And second, to answer your question. I got the template off of a website, http://thecutestblogontheblock.com/index.php
They just changed websites, so they're still working out a little kinks, but they have tons of layouts and a few other things you can do - and super easy directions! So hopefully you can find something to your liking ...
I didn't know you were getting married!! Congratulations!! You look beautiful in you picture!!
Hurray for a Katie blog!!!!
I'm not suggesting this as a solution, but pregnancy sure helped me lower my perfectionist standards!!! When you're sick and tired and uncomfortable, some things just don't matter as much. :)
I've been through a couple phases of seeking balance. The one that's working for me right now is to keep it simple (no wonder Thoreau is famous...). I'm still a list maker (it's just so satisfying to cross things off, and my brain can't hold more than one thought at any given moment, so the list really is essential), but my week is broken into simple tasks for weekdays - one big thing for me, and one big thing for the kids each day -- ie, Monday we go to the pool, and I do some bit of house cleaning, Tuesday we go to the library, and I update finances. It seems to be working for me so far -- it's much better than the detailed and neverending routines that used to rule my life. I'm more calm and kind when I don't feel so regimented.
Also, you have to forgive yourself (and everyone else!) if things aren't working like you want them to - being frustrated just makes everyone cranky. :) In somes ways, I fight against that because it feels like I'm lowering my standards, but in reality I'm improving my virtues - love, patience, long suffering, etc. Not glamorous, but certainly useful in every day interactions. :)
Sorry for the novella....
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