Do you ever have one of those days – maybe every day – where it seems like you go and go and go and finally at 8 or 9 or 10 o’clock at night you realize that you haven’t sat down, except maybe to go to the bathroom or in the car for a few minutes to run a quick errand? It seems to me like I’ve been having a lot of those days lately. (Yes, I did just get back from vacation and yes, I was on my feet all day – going, doing, seeing. It was exhausting.)
I don’t know where the time goes every day, but it seems like every time I look at the clock an hour or six have gone by and I’m still on my feet doing this or that. Now I didn’t think running an inn was going to be a walk in the park, but neither did I expect that there’d be more days than not that I rarely have a chance to actually sit down. I even have help now and it still seems like I’m on my feet all day long. Always something to do.
I have an awesome front porch complete with swing, a cozy back porch with comfy furniture, a front balcony with a gorgeous view of the sunset and a back veranda that’s peaceful and private, yet I rarely sit in any of those places. It’s a tragedy really with cooler weather creeping in, too. Those spaces are wasted on me.
Well, not any more. We all need a little more front porch sitting if you ask me. And I for one intend to utilize those places more in the future.
I’ve decided that from now until the end of the year, I’m going to try to take a few minutes every single day to simply sit. Sitting has great benefits (in my opinion). A forced slowing of movement accompanied by some deep breaths to purge the hurry out of my system. I may even close my eyes and just listen to, feel, smell my surroundings. A new perspective for a few minutes.
Some of my cyber (and real) friends, blog about great places they go and visit, hikes they take, sunsets at the lake, wildflowers in bloom, which I always enjoy reading about. I’m always envious that they have found the time to go out and do what they love. I’ve decided to be more like them and I’m starting by simply slowing down. By slowing down I’ll be able to focus on peace and beautiful places and enriching my life more with the free gift called nature. Perhaps I don’t need to rush about all the time. Hmmmm.
So, who’s with me? Who’s going to carve out a few minutes every day to slow down and just enjoy being alive? Let’s all try to remind ourselves to sit (or get up and move around if you sit all day), relax, take a few quiet moments to reflect on your day or simply enjoy being alive okay? Come on gang! We can do this.
Word of the day: Felucca
Fun fact about me: My feet hurt all the time. A result of being on my feet all the time no doubt.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, September 2017. Photos courtesy of Google Images.
jansenschmidt 
I hear you! There are days when I just plop myself down at a student table and ask questions while they are working or when I am trying to get my classes to talk about what they are learning – I’ll plop onto the demo lab bench on the side or the lab benches on the side of the room, but that’s hardly relaxing. It does give my feet and legs a rest. I do take time in the morning to do my Daily Devotion and Five Minute Journal – in that order. Then I am in the basement getting ready for the day and sometimes, like now, I take time to respond to a blog post, but for the most part I am on my feet and on the move from 7 AM until 3 PM. Then the students are gone and it depends about what’s on the schedule – kids, home, wife, exercise, other commitments…..now I do have to sit down to grade papers and plan, but that’s really not sitting down to take a load off my feet and think. In short a long response to say, I hear ‘ya. Oh BTW, you forgot about the sweet tea, you gotta be sippin’ sweet tea on that front porch while you are sitting peacefully on the swing thinking great thoughts. Have a great day and remember to smile. Peace.
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I thought of you Clay when I wrote this. You are on your feet a lot in the classroom, yet you always post the most amazing photos of places you take the time to enjoy. I envy you. Going to the lake house and finding those special moments during the day to capture some piece of nature to photograph. Those little things are the things I need to start doing more of.
Thanks for taking the time to visit today. I know you are a very busy man. Enjoy the rest of your week. Find some time to sit down my friend.
Patricia
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Ha! Since I’m writing full-time, all I do is sit! I used to run all day when the kids lived at home. I could eat ANYTHING!!! But like you, I have to stop working and force myself to go outside or do something fun. What’s up with that?
If I don’t add “go outside” to my list of things to do every day, I forget! We have taken a lot of vacations and have two more to go this year and I know what you mean. I need to relax once in a while instead of running from one point of interest to another.
Love this, Patricia!
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Susie, I remember those days from my previous life as an office worker. I’d look out the window at the world going on around me, but rarely take the time to actually to out and visit that world. Now, I’m the opposite, on my feet all day and still looking out the windows at life going on around me. I think time goes by so fast because we don’t take the time to slow down. Perhaps by slowing down, we’ll feel as those the days are lingering. I’m going to try that anyway.
Thanks for stopping by. But, don’t stop posting of your adventures, because that’s how I’m living my life vicariously is through bloggers like you who go out and discover things.
Patricia
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One of the reasons time flies is when we experience the same schedule and environment. Our brains don’t go into hyper-drive like they do when we experience new places. Our memories blend. Stopping to do nothing is really important! Maybe today, I’ll join you. Thing is, I just got back from visiting my mom for a week and leave on Thursday for Kelly’s graduation. I’ve got a lot to do!
Thanks for the nudge! I came to the conclusion that I need to post more often and not work so long or hard on my stories. The short photo posts bring as many visitors as the ones that take days!
Lots of adventures ahead!
How is the writing coming along?
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My writing moves forward in spurts. Like you, I find that so many other things crowd into my writing time. It always gets back-burnered. That’s going to change in October (personal things changing in my life) so I should get back on track where that’s concerned. I have a long-term goal chart so hopefully I can stick to that.
And I know exactly what you mean – too many things to do. All. The. Time. I’ve started putting “writing” and “porch sitting” on my to-do list so I remember that those things are important as well.
Take care of yourself.
Patricia
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Surely that doesn’t mean you forget to go skiing, Susie.
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Of course not, David! Ha! It’s a little thin out there.
Nice to “see” you!
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I still have that terrible habit (smoking) but it does force me to go outside on the back porch & enjoy just living in the woods, listening to the wood sounds & oh! the smell is so wonderful! The sweet smell of the flowers in my yard & my sweet olive tree will just send you to heaven! Yes, I know I should Stop Smoking but would I get around to my break – probably not!!
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Joelyn, I think we can all take non-smoking breaks; same concept without the cigarettes. I’m never an advocate to keep smoking, so you really should give that up, but I have always been envious of smokers because they ALWAYS take their breaks during the day.
Thanks for stopping by today. And thanks for reminding me – it’s time to go take a break. (Now give up those nasty cigarettes.)
Patricia
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I totally get going all the time! Time just seems to slip by so fast, and there’s never enough of it to get done everything that I want to get done…and I forget to stop and smell the roses or look up at the stars, to take a few minutes to breathe and simply be. I think it’s important to remember to do that. Have a great week!
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YES!! Look up once in awhile. I love dappled sunlight through the canopy of leaves but I rarely look up to see it. And smelling the roses – this too is a long lost art. People used to wander in their gardens for the shear joy of wandering in their gardens. I have a garden, but I rarely wander.
Time to change all of that. From this day forward I shall wander a bit more, look up, and smell the world around me. Let’s do that together (in our cute fall boots).
Thanks for stopping by. Now get out there and sit quietly for a moment.
Patricia
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Vacation? What’s that?
Even though I sit most of the time, I can relate! My enforced break is my dogs. They’ll drive me nuts (short drive, I know) around 6-ish if I don’t take them for a walk. Still, this summer, more than ever, where did it go? One of these days I might even get back to blogging and answer that question LOL.
Enjoy and stick with that new habit of taking a break every now and then, especially with that wonderful porch!
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Sitting or standing, either way, take a break from it. I know we all fall into the “habit” of trying to do too much. I don’t know anybody who tries to do too little. I know there are lazy people and that just comes naturally for them, but I’m talking about actually purposefully trying to not do anything for a short while. It’s hard. I guess we’re just the over achievers huh?
Thanks for stopping by. I know you had to stop doing something to come here and for that I am grateful. Now, stop what you’re doing and sit still for a few minutes. Close your eyes. Enjoy!
Patricia
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I would sit out on the front porch, but my recliner would be jealous. It insists that I spend several hours a day with it while I watch TV or take a nap. Being retired is tough – you never get a day off.
By the way, you mentioned adventures. My friend Jane Sadek went to Cairo a few months ago for a wedding. I wonder if she rode in a felucca while she was there.
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Going to Cairo for a wedding does not sound like fun to me be it in a felucca or not. But, a recliner ON the porch sounds heavenly.
I’m glad you get to find time to sit and relax Dave. You’re one of the rare few.
Thanks for stopping by. Remember to get out of that recliner once in a while my friend.
Patricia
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