Do Whatever Works Until it No Longer Works – Part 2

If you don’t like something about your current life, consider  doing  something different.

Well over a year ago I wrote a post with this heading –  Do whatever Works Until it No Longer Works. It was inspired by an article I read in Tricycle written by Natalie Goldberg.  A few days ago, in a webinar I facilitated, I suggested an exercise: If you don’t like your current life, (or something about it)  do something different. Obviously this means do something about the things you can influence or change.

Lucky me,  I decided on the spot that this was  the weekend  to switch my bedroom and my study. My current set-up wasn’t working, particularly since Covid 19 became the unwanted guest in our lives. Although this was on my mind, for ages, the task seemed more laborious than my complaints.  Consequently, I kept putting it off.

I tell you this, in case  you have anything in your own life that needs to be changed.  If so, I urge you to do so. What unfettered joy I felt, after working for a full day, with son-in-law and grandson to make the move.  Even with all the things still left to be done…, well, I feel like a brand new woman. I now have a lovely and efficient workspace and a bedroom that is a cozy nest. The new configuration  makes it easy to tackle the organizing.  I have several projects I want to complete, and I view this simple and manageable change  as an opportunity.  Furthurmore, I look forward to improved productivity, creativity and a quietening of my mind.

Of course to make a space that works, often requires giving things up.

This happens with illness and ageing too. Hanging on to what is no longer important, means less time and resources for what is most important.  Even more, to have time to focus on what you really want to do, requires saying “no” to some competing purposes. I am getting better at this but I have concluded that when it comes to books I am a lost cause and happily no longer feel a need to change.  What, I wonder may you have a hard time letting go of?

I heartily recommend that we all intentionally think about ways to live through this winter, where we feed our body, mind and spirit.  How will we socialize while keeping our distance? What can we take up that will get ourselves outdoors? (especially for those of us in cold and snowy climates who are no longer skiing) Perhaps snowshoeing.

What lifts our spirits and make plans to do more of it.

In a recent webinar one of the participants posed a great question during our exchange:

When is the last time you did something for the first time?

Now that is a great reminder to do or learn something new.

We are nearing the end of October, the US election is within days, Covid -19 is far from over and we go on standard time here in North America this Sunday, while we sleep. Winter is also on the horizon and lots of changes coming quickly. Consequently, setting up a few practices that we can rely on may help us keep our boat afloat even as the wind blows.

And if there is something that has been bugging you that you can change, I suggest you give yourself the gift of making the change. You will not regret it.

Please enjoy your days as best you can and may you stay well and live your best life with whatever comes your way. Warmest greetings and deepest thanks, Trudy

A favourite short poem by Nancy Gibbs Richards

In this time of waiting

and not knowing

how things will unfold,

may you find a pool of calm,

a place of peace and rest

deep within your soul.