A Year of Gratitude

January 2, 2013 at 6:03 am (Improvement)
Tags: ,

Sometimes focusing on a few details is better than looking at the whole picture.

That lesson can apply to so much in life, whether it’s the big project you have due at work, the house that needs a good spring cleaning or a photography project.

It’s one of the lessons I took away from my photo of the day project in 2012. There are many such project outs there. Some people look for letters in architecture. Some people photograph a menu each day. Mine was simple: 365 Days, 365 Photos.

I haven’t taken a photo since Dec. 31. It feels weird but I wanted to give myself a break. I suspect I’ll still be taking lots of photos but even if I don’t it’s okay because now images are captured in my mind.

I did learn much from my project, including:

  1. I still have lots to learn about photography. I worked hard to capture good images, but I didn’t always succeed. I sometimes ended up with some blurry photos. And you know what? That’s okay because life isn’t always clear.
  2. I definitely was more observant. I learned to look at the big picture – the sweeping vista of a vineyard in Tuscany, for example. I also looked at the details, such as the green olives on the trees that bordered the vineyard.
  3. I smiled more because I was more aware of my surroundings and the simple pleasures of life. I noticed the tiny details – the grace notes – of life.
  4. Even on the most challenging days, if I simply paused, there was much to be grateful for and this project helped me to remember that.

I’ve collected all the photos in a PowerPoint presentation. One slide, one day, one photo (although sometimes multiple photos). When I look through the photos, I realize that nature is a good thing, and I need to spend more time in it. I came to appreciate when the sun set and rose and the different phases of the moon. I was aware of the different cloud shapes.

I didn’t photograph my friends, but rather the experiences we were having, such as book club, dinner out, a walk, shopping.  It led to one of my realizations, which is that I’d rather have experiences than possessions.

Most importantly, I learned I have lots for which to be grateful.

2 Comments

Wasting Time Is a Good New Year’s Resolution

December 30, 2012 at 7:16 pm (Improvement)

When I leave the office, I try to leave it behind. The problem for me, though, is I have just as many activities outside of work that keep my mind in overdrive. It’s always a challenge for me to totally disconnect.

Working out doesn’t do the trick. It does help me in solving problems. In fact, the other day I was on the treadmill and suddenly the idea I needed for a project popped into my mind. Still, I need to shut down and simply be.

People talk about the importance of not wasting time and always doing something constructive. I know people who travel and use all of the time in the air to catch up on correspondence, write emails, finish a report. I like to simply read a good book or stare at the cloud formations.

I think it’s important to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. It’s why in 2013 I photographed something that made me happy every day. I never missed a day. I came to really appreciate life’s simple joys. (More on this topic next week.)

I discovered that jigsaw puzzles are a great way to disconnect. (Photo by Cynthia Price)

I discovered that jigsaw puzzles are a great way to disconnect. (Photo by Cynthia Price)

I’ve discovered two ways this year that allow me to completely disconnect. The first one is bird watching. Nope, not the kind where you take your binoculars and you hike and keep a list of all the birds you see. Mine is really simple. Put a feeder or two outside a window. Sit in a comfy chair and kick back and watch the birds.

Yes, I sometimes make a mental note of the black-capped chickadee, the dozens of finches, the tufted titmouse or the cardinal. But for the most part, I simply enjoy watching them swoop in and dine. I like looking at their colors and unique markings. I like watching who is the aggressor, who waits his turn, who makes way for others. The next thing I know, an hour has passed.

During the holidays, I found a new pastime – jigsaw puzzles. Growing up I was never a big fan. I was an athlete and didn’t have time to sit still. But it was yucky weather and my sister had given me a 1,000-piece puzzle. Apparently, she thought I was ready for the big leagues.

I started with the border. And then I began filling in the picture, searching for that white piece with just a hint of green in the lower left corner. Hours later, I had made significant progress. More importantly, I had not thought about anything else.

At this time of year, as we all figure out our goals and resolutions, don’t forgot to figure out how you can waste time and find the joy in life.

1 Comment

My Month Without Television

September 2, 2012 at 11:08 am (Improvement)
Tags:

Still water w/ rock

Not using television as a distraction has made me much calmer and more relaxed. (Photo by Cynthia Price)

In July when I was still watching television there was a commercial in which an Olympic athlete said they had not watched television since last summer. The point, of course, was that they were too busy training.

I wasn’t training for the Olympics, but I realized I was too busy. So I gave up television for a month. I thought it would be difficult, but it wasn’t. I didn’t even miss watching the Olympics (fortunately, the opening ceremonies were in July).

Now that the month is completed, I may indulge with a few movie rentals from Redbox (I didn’t even allow movie rentals in the house). I’ll also watch a few of my favorite fall shows, such as NCIS. I won’t, however, keep the TV on as a distraction. I’ve realized that keeping the TV off as much as possible is one of my “Absolute Nos.”

Without television, I’m not feeling the need to spend money on the newest fashions, the newest designer crazes or the newest cereal. I’m reading many more books (10 in August!), which means the piles in my house are disappearing. I even made time to tackle some of the piles. That means I’m feeling more organized and relaxed.

I’m enjoying the quiet. With fall in the air, my windows are open and now I watch “Cat TV,” which is the myriad birds at the feeder. I even have a bird book to identify them – from the red-headed woodpecker to the black-capped chickadee (my favorite) to the tufted titmouse to the nuthatch.

I will, on occasion, enjoy an evening or two of mindless television watching. My experiment, though, helped me realize that television is not the way I need to unwind.

Do you know what you need to unwind?

2 Comments

TV as a Distraction Makes My ‘Absolute No’ List

August 15, 2012 at 7:38 pm (Communications, Improvement)
Tags:

I’m halfway through my month of self-imposed no television. Fortunately, the opening ceremony of the Olympics occurred in July. I may be the only person who was not bothered by NBC’s tape delay of the coverage since I didn’t watch any of it. I read about it in the morning paper, followed events on Twitter and learned of medals on Facebook.

Books

By not watching television my pile of books is decreasing. Really! (Photo by Cynthia Price)

I didn’t miss the TV viewing. In fact, I’m not missing it at all. The first day or two was rough because my habit was to come home from work whatever the hour and turn on the television. I viewed it as background noise. What I didn’t realize is how much of a distraction it was.

Without television, I’ve cooked more, read more and gone to the gym more. I also have enjoyed the quiet of my home.

One of the books I’ve been reading is Cheryl Richardson’s The Art of Extreme Self-Care. Ironically, I’ve had it for a few years and now that I’m not watching TV, I have more time for reading.

One of the chapters focuses on creating an “Absolute No List,” which is a list of activities that I won’t tolerate in my life. As a result of my experiment, I’ve decided I won’t tolerate using television as a distraction.

What’s on your Absolute No list?

1 Comment

Restart Your System

August 5, 2012 at 8:38 am (Improvement)

Sometimes it’s good to restart the system, whether it’s a computer or yourself.

Every so often at work, I have to stop and let my computer update its system and then restart. It takes several minutes. That happened the other day and the message really struck me. I realized I was due for a system restart.

I’d been working long hours, traveling a lot, keeping up with outside interests and completing home projects. I was off track on several fronts, including my fitness routine. I was due for a system update.

I quickly scheduled a long weekend. In advance of it, I made a “To Do” list. Whether I completed it or not, didn’t matter. It just felt good to list everything I needed to do so the items weren’t weighing on my mind. I would do as much as I could. Anything I didn’t finish, I would schedule the time for in the coming weeks.

I also took time to journal and review my personal mission statement. I realized I had too much on my plate so I made a few phone calls, acknowledging to others that I had too much to do and it was time for someone else to step up. As much as I disliked removing myself from some committees, I realized I wasn’t doing any of us any good if I wasn’t doing it well.

I created a plan of action to get me back on track with some key areas that are important to me. For some reason, I always let those slide, and now they’re inked into my calendar.

Finally, I scheduled unscheduled time. It sounds crazy, but I have found that for me I need at least one weekend a month where I have nothing planned. I blocked those weekends on my calendar to keep them free.

Sometimes it’s good to restart the system.

2 Comments

« Older entries Newer entries »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 267 other followers