When Other Things Get In The Way

Where has the time gone? Time goes quickly if you do not pay attention or get distracted with other things.

I am back after a long blogging hiatus. Ready, refreshed and renewed.

My life has had many major transitions since my last blog post.

Caretaking of Parent
Passing of parent
Injury/Illness
Carekaking of ill and aged dog
Passing of Dog
Househunting
Planned Remodeling
Moving
Unexpected Remodeling  (roof repair and replacement)
Big Events
Unexpected Travel

I finished out my Executor position with my Father's Estate in the Spring of 2014.  My father had passed in March of 2013 after many years of health issues of which I was primary caretaker upon his many hospitializaions. In early May 2014,  I went on a short trip and "tripped" and broke my shoulder. Summer of 2014 was spent doing physical therapy. In the summer of 2014 we began house hunting again and our beloved pet Bucky was beginning his decline in health. In September our beloved Bucky, Norwich Terrier, passed at the age of 15.

In October 2014 we purchased our new home and I began an intensive remodeling project, serving as general contractor for the project which included wallpaper removal,  wood flooring installation, sanding and refinishing.  In addition to having the whole interior house painted, some drywall installation in the garage, a whole house painting of the interior, electrical work and some tile repair work.  We moved into the house 2 days before Thanksgiving. About two weeks later we had a major roof leak and were expecting five houseguests for the holidays. Two days before the guest arrived we had a second leak.

January and February 2015 was spent supervising contracted repairs in the Study as the ceiling had to be replaced as well as exterior house repainting and deck repair.  In late January we had a new roof installed. March was vacation time and my husband and I took off for a much need break on a cruise. April and May saw me working on a kitchen stovetop changeout and new kitchen fan installation project.

May involved traveling to a family graduation, then June started party preparations for a friends's big birthday and our first Fourth of July Party Blowout. August involved a cross country road trip and family and friends reunion.

September and October 2015 brought some health issues and November another cruise. December was spent getting ready for the holidays and subsequent houseguests.
So that brings us to now - January 2016.

All this confirms my thoughts that big transitions take time and that some things just take time to get through.

Comments Welcome.

Make Time For Fun

Let's talk about having fun. Fun is something we all need to take seriously. After all, all work and no play is what makes a day dull and us boring.

How can you have fun Today? How can you make fun everyday a priority? Having fun is different for each of us. For some it may be reading a book, watching a favorite TV show or movie, using Pinterest or Facebook, playing solitaire, going for a walk or spending time talking on the phone to a friend or family member. 

It is especially important to set some time for fun when we are overloaded with a long "to do list" or complex project. Fun needs to be incorporated into our day when we are in the middle of a life transition or living through a stress filled period in our life such as when serving as a primary caregiver for an acutely ill person or child.  It may seem like a misuse of our time but the "fun break" or "Fun out" will make us more productive and effective in the long run.

When we schedule in fun, we maintain a good balance in our life. 

So what fun are you planning today?

This is a revised post from 2009

Winds of Change - Fall is Around The Corner

Does the upcoming change of season get you excited or anxious? Seasonal change can be viewed as a happy event or one of dread. Seasonal change means preparation for new weather, events and activities. For me Autumn is my time of learning and creativity. Summer to me is my time of rest and rejuvenation.  Winter is my celebration and reflection time. Spring brings me energy and excitement. 

How do you view the seasonal changes?

Maybe it is time to work with a life coach. Contact Terry when you are ready to make a transition in your life.  

Look For Dust

Coming back after vacation is disheartening and refreshing. At first one may welcome one's bed and then one may face a mountain of snail and email.

This is a good time to look for dust - dust in your life. What is no longer serving you?

Do you have piles of books and magazines that are unread, or conversely read and no longer necessary? Spend some time culling out the piles. This will help you see new opportunities ahead.  

Check out your closet, do you see clothes no longer worn or cared for. These are great for donations to charity.

What about activities you no longer care to do? Do you have a retired hobby or uncared for collection. Reduce these former treasures to make space for your life today.

Making Today Fun

Let's talk about having fun. Fun is something we all need to take seriously. After all, all work and no play is what makes a day dull and us boring.

How can you have fun Today? How can you make fun everyday a priority? Having fun is different for each of us. For some it may be reading a book, watching a favorite TV show, going for a walk or spending time talking on the phone to a friend or family member.

It is important to set some time for fun when we are overloaded with a long "to do list" or complex project. It may seem like a misuse of our time but the "fun break" or "Fun out" will make us more productive in the long run.

When we schedule in fun, we maintain a good balance in our life.


So what fun are you planning today?

This is a best of post from 2009 because Terry is currently out having fun.

Another Desk Vacation

Last year, I featured some visual odyssey websites that allow you to take a mini vacation without leaving your desk. I've located some new locations for you to go visit and have listed some of last year's favorites.

First,  get ready to go on your mini vacation and empty your email in box, clear out your voice mails. Tidy the area around your desk and shred any needing to be shredded documents.  These tasks makes you productive although it may take you a while. After you have done these tasks you will certainly be ready to go.

Here are this year's desk vacation locations:

Note - All these are personal essays with wonderful photography that may make you feel you are in the specific location. 


Northern California - Write On Time - Traveling Tuesdays  - trip option to:
Salmon Lake California,
Point Reyes, California 
San Francisco, California

Maine - Maine cottage  from Sesame and Lilies

Virginia - James River, Surrey County  from Haven on Hanover 


Italy - Tuscany Beach Trip  from Villa Pacis

Canada - A trip to Vancouver from Windlost


On the list, last year - but well worth a return trip:


Greece - Santorini from Oia Santorini


Happy Traveling.

1000 Days at Sea - An Adventure for All

I have been enjoying the adventures of the 1000 Days at Sea Team ever since July of 2007. That was about Day 80 or so days into the ocean going adventure that officially began Day one leaving New York Harbor in April 23,2007.

The premise of this extended ocean journey has been to circumnavigate the globe on a boat (A 70 foot schooner) without stopping, restocking or resupplying for a thousand days. It has been a life long ambition of sailor Reid Stowe.

While this journey like many,  hasn't quite turned out as expected,it has been an adventure non-the-less with lots of interesting twists and turns of events. The schooner is now expected to return to New York in June of 2010.

What I have liked is watching the path of the Schooner Anne on Google Earth, discovering weather overlays and exploring surrounding land areas I had no real knowledge of before. In the early days, photos of the adventure were posted by Soanya. It was amazing to see how many shades of blue there were. When Soanya left the journey (about day 300) the photos were still posted but not with her practiced eye. Reid, however soon filled in the space with his art and interesting stories and reflections.

Recently, the several times weekly posts have decreased due to computer problems. Regardless, it is always interesting to read the updates and check out the Schooner Anne's position on Google Earth.

By following and understanding the components of an adventure that is not our, it can suddenly seem to become partly our own life and experiences. It can be a great break in our day to follow an epic journey or a time period progression (see The Uniform Project). It can be a window into a world that we never knew existed. It can be the catalyst for our own future adventures.

 
Other post on the Transition Your Life Blog about 1000 Days at Seas Adventure

900 Days at Sea 
Take A Desk Vacation
Seek to Enjoy All Things
600 Days at Sea
300 Days at Sea
Remote Island...Very Remote 

Looking Forward

As the new year approaches, it is a good time to look forward!

What events are planned in your near future?

• Do you have graduation or completion in 2010?
• Do you or family or friends have milestone birthdays or anniversaries? 

 What are your celebration plans?
 

What would you like to create for yourself in the near future?

• Be more physically fit
• Reduce cluttered living
• Learn more about ________________
  
• Finish________________
• Get started on ___________
• Visit _____________
  

What is your plan of action?

Now is a great time to start working on your future. If you are stuck, you might want to review these earlier postings:

Taking a Looking Back
Stuck and Stagnant
Resizing Your World
Look Elsewhere

Visual Vacations

Today I ran across a fun video. This video is a nice colorful escape. Look for the action to begin at about the 38 second mark.

Extreme Sticky Note Experiments


For some of the previous escapes I've featured - here are some fun links:

Type City

A Tour Worth Taking

Music and Clips Worth Watching

Take A Desk Vacation

No time for a real vacation this month? If you want to go on Desk Vacation without leaving your desk - Here is a next to perfect strategy.

First, clear your desk, and empty your email box. Let your phone go to voice mail. Turn off the cell phone. - get ready to go.

Now the reward:

Each of these blogs provide great photos and reader story experiences. The way they are written makes you feel part of their environment.


Scotland - Claire's Garden
Alaska - Living in Tok, Alaska
Greece - Santorini
At Sea - 1000 days at sea

Do you have any other recommendations?

Time for Fun

Let's talk about having fun. Fun is something we all need to take seriously. After all, all work and no play is what makes a day dull and us boring.

How can you have fun Today? How can you make fun everyday a priority? Having fun is different for each of us. For some it may be reading a book, watching a favorite TV show, going for a walk or spending time talking on the phone to a friend or family member.

It is important to set some time for fun when we are overloaded with a long "to do list" or complex project. It may seem like a misuse of our time but the "fun break" or "Fun out" will make us more productive in the long run.

When we schedule in fun, we maintain a good balance in our life.

So what fun are you planning today?


Related Earlier Posts -

See Seek to Enjoy All Things
See Recess
See Finding Brilliance in a Dull Day

A Tour worth Taking

A couple of days ago I ran across this wonderful clip that was made to celebrate the 25th year of the publishing company - Fourth Estate - a division of Harper Colins. The creativity and animation is wonderful. It was created by Apt Studios, and filmed by ASYLUM films's to celebrate 25 years.



This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.


Take a look and enjoy.

Fourth Estate has a blog called 5th Estate if you want to see their current books and info.

If you like this little adventure you might also want to go back to my August 17, 2007 post about Type City and take a tour.

Joy, Friendship and Vacations

Today I am reflecting on being joyous. I have recently had some opportunities to reconnect with old friends from year's past. It is great to get an update on one's friends lives. I think you have to be in the right frame of mind to do this. For several months I purposefully procrastinated and did not return emails as I knew I truly wasn't in the right place to share or be fully present.

To get to the right place I now know I needed to turn a "state of mind" corner. This happened with a much needed vacation. A week by the beach really refreshed my mind and spirit. I now feel much more present and joyous. Even if you have few funds available this year, I encourage you to take some form of vacation from your usual life and improve your state of mind. It is amazing how time spent away from one's usual responsibilities can move us forward.

Music and Clip worth watching

Sometimes you stumble across something unique and extraordinary. This little gem is worth watching. The graphics, concepts, message and music are all very succinct and to the point. Take a mini vacation for your mind today and visit.

Leo's song by Impactist