“…there’s always something…”
May 24, 2019
This statement seemed to jump out at me as my husband and I dealt with another geriatric dog moment. The moment turned out to be hours of necessary clean-up from our 15+Labrador/Great Pyrenees mix dog. A very kind and sweet dog. All the dog owners who have been through these moments can shake their heads with sympathy and exhaustion, saying, “I know, been there, done that.”
It got me to thinking. Thinking about my daily schedule. Life choices. I’m a neurotically trained time management freak. Covey, Day-timer, Time Blocking, Time Tracking, the list could go on and on. As a teacher and eventually as an Elementary Principal, I learned and taught graduate students (teachers becoming Principals) how to organize their day, their week, their months, and ultimately their school year. Life organized by a bell.
Now, I have the distinct privilege of organizing not only my days but my overall life. It would be shortsighted to tell you that I’m really good with that freedom. I’m not. My tendency toward the compulsive has me so over-scheduled that I have little to no breathing room for the “something.” I can get irritated by “always something.” Irritated. A bit mad. Miffed. Well, I know that these moments of interruption might contain something new for me. The “always something” might be giving me an opportunity to learn about someone else’s story. Interruptions for Living my Encouraged Life.
OK, this is where calendar neurosis tries to rear its ugly head. I’m tempted to block out a few chunks of time to be able to “plan for” the “always something.” Nope. I’m not going to do it. Nope. What I need to do is not run such a tight schedule, so that I’m open and available cognitively and emotionally to whatever comes into my day.
How about you? Are you cognitively and emotionally available for the “always something” this week? OK, I have a challenge for you in the next seven days. When “something” interrupts your day, ask yourself how you might live an encouraged life during the moment. What are you learning about someone and yourself during these moments?
Maybe it’s going to mean you are encouraging someone else through a life challenge. Maybe it will result in you helping someone else, with no expectation of thanks, money, or reciprocal time. Maybe, it will just be the gift of listening to someone else this week. Just listening, no speaking. Reminding yourself of your body’s amazing design— two ears and one mouth. Have a GREAT week living the encouraged life! ❤️lynn
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