Finding My Summer Stride

Recently I expressed my desire to just “make a difference” this summer, and I spent the first week of my vacation figuring out how to make that happen. Seriously, has it only been a week?

The first part of the week was somewhat complicated by the fact that I hurt my toe on Sunday. That caused me to cancel my physical therapy session and rest a bit more than I had planned on Monday. Tuesday found me at the genealogy library and doing a couple of errands. PT and more errands on Wednesday. Thursday I went to the podiatrist for my evaluation. In between all that I did research online, cleaned a closet, and worked in the garden. Yesterday was a “stay home” day of more gardening and cleaning and research. Not very exciting stuff! My doctor and PT have released me to my own care once again, so the coming week should be more within my control and planning. That won’t make it any more exciting, but perhaps more like a vacation.

As I worked in the garden this morning two thoughts kept rattling around in my head. The first was that, try as I might, I cannot escape the fact that I am a creature of habit. I got up at 4am this morning and will probably continue to do so. I like the peace and quiet. I like to get up early and get things done. I’ve always been a “morning person”. I also like to do certain things every day- work in the garden, take pictures, write, read, answer email, check FB. I know that I will inevitably find myself on a schedule of some sort within a few more days. As I said, I’m a creature of habit.

The second thought was that “make a difference” is a good idea. I often have trouble stopping a project once I start. But I have used that little phrase to my advantage this week. I had planned to work in the garden for an hour each day and have found myself actually working 1 ½ to 2 hours.  Of course if a “real gardener” lived here he or she wouldn’t have the weed problems that I have. A real gardener would have done a better job of creating flower beds and would have cleaned them earlier in the spring!! I know many of you think I have a beautiful garden, but in reality I have beautiful flowers that tolerate my laziness! So, anyway…when I start getting tired I just tell myself “at least you made a difference”.

I also had to use that phrase this morning when I began my “office makeover”. Little did I envision that this little project will take two or three or more mornings. One hour this morning made a difference, but only a little one. My goal is not to make my office more attractive—it never will be that—but rather to make it more efficient. I do a lot of writing and research in the summer and I like to be able to find things quickly and easily. I have to admit that my workspace had become a bit cluttered over the school year.

So…I am trying to find my summer stride and a balance between work and rest. My anxiety about completing some projects “while I have a chance” must be tempered by respect for my health and an understanding that life is about priorities. Anything truly worth doing usually gets done!

I do want to comment on a couple of photos before I go find some iced tea and a book. The sunflower is the first one of the season. I love the color and variety of these beauties. There are surprises every summer!  The corn is a volunteer, no doubt planted by a bird. It is growing between two coreopsis and some mums. I can’t wait to see if the raccoons harvest it or wait for me to pick it for them. I don’t have a clue what the vine is and would love to hear from anyone who can identify it for me. It just appeared on the fence.

I hope you have a great weekend. Tomorrow I will post a piece written by my mom. I found it in some files this morning. I told you I need to clean my office!!

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Megan]

I have no idea what the plants are in your garden/yard, but I've loved seeing them.

"I know many of you think I have a beautiful garden, but in reality I have beautiful flowers that tolerate my laziness!"---LOVE this. I had a someone say something along the lines of my being a wonderful gardener to which I replied that I only looked that way because I clear out all the stuff that is dead. No one sees the plants I killed. :)