On My Mind: Do It for You

It’s taken me many decades to figure this out and over a year of being in Vermont living a new life to begin to take it all in. Oh my, how old habits die hard and how difficult it can be to cultivate new ones.

It’s all about giving ourselves permission, being able to try new things, asking ourselves what may be of interest, and what else we’re willing to let into our lives? Oh, and of course, just what are we are willing to let go of?

When we think about trying new things, besides the risk of just doing something new, we often begin to tell ourselves why we don’t have time to add one more thing to our busy schedules. So, there could be this fabulous thing that we would love to try and we don’t do it because… suppose we like it and then what? We might have to let something else go to make room for the new?

And, is that so bad? Well, what I am learning is that, heck no, it can actually be FABULOUS. Taking on something new and letting go of something stale that doesn’t pack a punch anymore can rev your engines, put more bounce in your step, get you excited so you want to do more of it, create opportunities to meet new people, and add some interest to your conversations. New interests can stimulate you in a way that you didn’t think possible and can encourage you to try even more new things and experiences.

Here’s how it’s working for me… I’m beginning to have some time free up because our house is just about done. No more shopping, no more picking out stuff and fabrics. Just a few pieces of art and we’ll know them when we see them, so it’s not a hunt to get it done thing.

The yard and garden has been time consuming, but I LOVE it and know I’ll never be “finished” with the landscaping. But this is one of those passions I have that really feeds my soul, so it gets to stay on the list of things I want in my life.

What I found was not as exciting anymore was the time I spent going to the gym and running on machines and pumping iron with CNN blaring over the TV. Sure, it might be doing something for my body, but I hated it. Instead of working off stress, I dreaded going and in my opinion, that is not a good fitness program if you can’t stand to do it.

So, I did an exercise reinvention and I am getting plenty of movement and action. I feel good and feel as if I’ve given myself an incredible gift. Instead of machines at the gym, I am now doing:

A twenty-minute yoga routine first thing every morning

A ten to fifteen-minute interval routine every other morning after yoga

A weekly QiGong class that I am loving for opening up my joints

10,000-20,000 steps each day – which may include walks around town and up lots of hills or hiking the mountain trails, or even gardening work, but 10,000 steps is the minimum goal

Biking, weather permitting, at least once a week

And, in winter weather, I’ll add cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

I am loving it and feel totally rejuvenated. These routines are becoming such a habit that if, for some reason, I miss doing them, I can’t wait to start up again.

So, massaging that fitness routine has made a difference for me attitude-wise and I know that by mixing things up, all sorts of parts are getting worked out well.

The other interest that I have given myself permission to try is exploring my creativity – something I had put on the back burner for way too many years. I took a pottery class last spring and enjoyed it – especially because of the people in the class. Now, I’m taking an eight-week class with an amazing woman who is having us travel all over the area to study artwork by local artists – mainly sculptures, and meeting many of the artists in person.

Over the past year, I find myself surrounded by new friends who are all creative – painters, potters, jewelry makers, sculptors, photographers, authors, Pulitzer Prize winning journalists, stonemasons, and chefs. Talk about changing the conversation! Totally different from the past and a real encouragement for me to try more, do more and possibly discover some hidden talent I never knew about.

Whether or not that happens is not the point. The point is being willing to make shifts that accommodate and cultivate new parts of myself, let go of staleness, and shake things up a bit.

It’s about seizing the day. I still have a lot to learn, but “just doing it” is becoming a lot easier for me. Seizing the day seems a lot more inviting.

I’m convinced that if I had figured this out many years ago, a lot of worry and sadness would have faded away. If I had just realized that even allowing myself a couple of hours a week to explore me and develop new interests could have opened up a new way of living. But, no regrets. I know better now.

What about you? What are you allowing or not allowing yourself to do? Are you making time to feed your soul in a way that expands your life? Willing to share how that works for you?

“Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbons.”
– Ruth Ann Schabacker