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Summertime and the Livin's Easy

Journal Entry: Tue Jun 12, 2007, 9:49 PM
<img src="http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/1715/firstsignofsummerlgattiqk0.jpg" alt="First Sign of Summer" />

Well summer has officially begun. You can argue that summer started as soon as the kids got out of school or you can argue that technically it doesn’t begin until June 21 (Summer equinox) but regardless of the details, it’s definitely hot enough to be summer in my book! Along with the heat comes the more relaxed attitude that is characteristic of the season. Does anyone else have a problem accepting this?

Don’t get me wrong, I WANT to accept this idea. Every year I count the days down until summer where I fantasize that my days will be filled with exciting travel plans balanced with lazy days in a hammock reading a breezy novel and sipping ice tea. Family and friends will come over for dinner more frequently (since we’re all in vacation mode right?) and my nights will be spent with good friends, good food, good conversation, and a damn fine wine. Sadly, this never seems to happen. I feel awkward having so much “free” time. I feel like I’m not being productive. I feel that my time can and should be spent in much better ways. And instead of being recharged at the end of the season and ready to begin the fall with a newfound energy, MY summer ends with less energy than I began it with! And I suspect I’m not alone in this.

People are busy. I get it. You can’t possibly take time out of your day to relax, take a nap, read a book, watch your puppy chase a butterfly, etc. There’s work, housework, appointments, even vacation has become stressful nowadays with all the planning that must be done before hand and all the financial repairs done afterwards! I feel the same way. Yet I also feel increasingly like this is something I MUST make a priority in my life. If for no other reason, for my sanity. I have to have time to recharge my soul. My boyfriend knows firsthand the repercussions that come about when I don’t take time for myself. I’m in a “blah” mood. However, that blah mood can quickly become an upset. I walk around exhausted, complaining about things, etc. My normally optimistic attitude will rapidly become me seeing the glass as damn empty! This is definitely not the “me” that I know (and certainly not the one my boyfriend fell in love with) and yet I just can’t seem to find the time to do what I know is necessary to my well-being.

So what are we to do? I have started with baby steps. I am compiling a list of what I would do if I had absolutely NOTHING to do for a day. I also have another list of how I would spend my time if I had a week left to live (with no boundaries including financial, etc). Now hear me out before you write me off as being morbid. This list really helps me realize where my priorities lie and THEN I can also see where I’m not living in accordance with my priorities. For example, one of the things on my list is that I would see the world during my final days. However, when’s the last time I traveled and actually saw the city/country I traveled to? Not only taking pictures, but really experienced that place? That’s a perfect example of not living in accordance with my priorities. Now of course it’s not feasible to travel every day of my life. But I can start with baby steps. I can plan a trip for next summer. I can figure out what country I would like to visit the most and do some research into that country. It can even be as small as eating at a restaurant serving the cuisine of the country of my choice. The point is not WHAT you do but that you are DOING something!

SO, suggestions for comments on this blog:
• any thoughts or comments you have about summertime and it’s lackadaisical attitude
• ideas of small, feasible ways that one could start to reclaim their time to nourish their soul
• for those of you that have this practice mastered, how do you do it?!

And with that, I challenge each and every one of you to take just 15 minutes for yourself today to do whatever you feel like doing. AND not feel bad about it!

Thanks for reading,
Lindsay

  • Mood: Tired
  • Listening to: 8mm
  • Reading: your first triathlon
  • Drinking: water

Devious Information

  • Current Age: 26
  • Current Residence: austin, texas
  • Interests: ask me - there's quite a few!
  • Favourite movie: it changes almost daily lol
  • Favourite band or musician: Ceu
  • Favourite genre of music: all kinds
  • Favourite artist: Klimpt
  • Favourite poet or writer: Dean Koontz
  • Favourite photographer: Robert Frank
  • Favourite cartoon character: care bears, rainbow brite, my little pony, the true things that tell you that you were an 80's
  • Personal Quote: sometimes you have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down
  • Tools of the Trade: my creativity, inspiration, and passion

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Devious Comments

=xxx-0x0-xxx:iconxxx-0x0-xxx: Jun 22, 2008, 9:30:15 AM
Thanks so much for adding us :)
=little-stock:iconlittle-stock: May 25, 2008, 2:39:43 PM
Thank you very much for the :+devwatch: :heart:
=PersephoneStock:iconPersephoneStock: May 25, 2008, 11:58:12 AM
Thanks for the :+devwatch:
:heart:

--
Caitie Mae: I'm screwed.
Keri: We're all screwed.
Brendan: Well, it's better to be screwed collectively than individually.
Keri: So, you prefer orgies?
*BreedStock:iconBreedStock: May 20, 2008, 8:09:06 AM
many thanks for the :+devwatch:!

--
win a 1 year sub every month right here ~> [link] easy contests!
~STELLARbabe:iconSTELLARbabe: Apr 29, 2008, 5:54:45 PM
Bella, darling!!!
Long time, I've miss you doll face.
Still at LiveJournal?

--
"All god does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring."
=RoseOnyxis:iconRoseOnyxis: Apr 21, 2008, 7:24:27 PM
thanks very much for the devwatch =D

--
Why is she spinning her web...
:heart:

"What are your thoughts?" -Mike
"Killing. Lots of violence." -Me
"I meant about the picture..." -Mike
"....oh. It's wicked." -Me
*Sitara-LeotaStock:iconSitara-LeotaStock: Jun 21, 2007, 7:53:34 PM
Thanks for the watch!

--
Soli Deo Gloria! (to God alone be the glory)

~Alexandra and April
`foureyes:iconfoureyes: Jun 5, 2007, 4:37:41 AM
not the same bernie,....I don't think :)
is nice to hear from you :hug:

--
bernie :D
*Vampirella87:iconVampirella87: May 30, 2007, 9:13:13 AM
Hey there :wave:

How are you? :)
`Elandria:iconElandria: May 17, 2007, 8:36:05 AM
Thanks for adding me to your devwatch! :hug: Much appreciated!

--
USED MY STOCK? PLEASE SEE MY JOURNAL HERE [link] AND SEND ME LARGE VERSIONS FOR MY ARCHIVES PLZ!!! :hug:

Please don't speak... it would spoil the illusion I have that makes you intelligent... -.-
~twisted-soul:icontwisted-soul: Aug 23, 2006, 9:53:22 AM
hi love. long time no see. how ya been? :hug:

--
-clare-



sticking feathers in your butt doesn't make you a chicken
`londonxpress:iconlondonxpress: Jul 3, 2006, 5:20:42 PM
Hey!

Above other kinds of support on the site I appreciate watch-list additions the most as they are a source of motivation for my photography. In that sense I am thankful for your kind support! :glomp:

If you ever have any comments, suggestions, criticism on my work don't hesitate to send me a note - I always listen with open ears and would be more than happy to reply to your thoughts. I also like to give feedback in return - if you are ever looking for constructive critique I'd like to help out when I have the time.

Take care and have a great week,

Evan
`foureyes:iconfoureyes: May 15, 2006, 8:49:47 PM
thank you
:hug:

...we best be thankin' our lucky stars we're in Texas :)

--
bernie :D
~twisted-soul:icontwisted-soul: Jan 11, 2006, 10:56:47 AM
nothing major really. you can go thru my journals if you wish. i'm doing very well at the moment so no worries.
i agree, we must keep in touch!
when did you contact me thru livejournal? did you post it in your own or in one of mine?
i havent been reading other people's stuff lately. nothing personal but even sifting through them takes up too much time.
:D i'ts so nice to have someone like you around!
you are truely a magnificent person :heart::heart::heart:hug:

--
_-c l a r e-_
my stock: ~twist3d-stock
my love: ~Ani-Waya

:heart:anyone can enter my my avatar competition!!! good prizes! :heart:
~twisted-soul:icontwisted-soul: Dec 26, 2005, 10:24:14 PM
hi there. i was going thru [and deleting] old pointless journal entries and comments and i realized that i miss you... :hug:

--
_-c l a r e-_
my stock: ~twist3d-stock
my love: ~Ani-Waya

i am jack's complete lack of surprise
~swandiave:iconswandiave: Oct 7, 2005, 3:09:11 PM
gr8 Flowers :flower:

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:jedi:
=Eireen:iconEireen: Apr 30, 2005, 1:38:27 PM
thank you for the watch :rose:
~ashigaru:iconashigaru: Mar 5, 2005, 11:46:55 AM
YOU HAVE BEEN KISSED!!!

Spread the DA love around! (you can copy and paste this message on their userpage!)

*dingding* RULES:
1- You can kiss the person who kissed you!
2- You can't kiss the person more than 3 times
3- You -MUST- kiss 6 other people
4- You should kiss them in public! Paste it on their user page! c'mon..don't be scared of public displays of affection
5- Random kisses are perfectly okay! (and sweet)
6- You should most definitly get started kissing right away!

--
Satoru koto muzukashii
True understanding is difficult
~ashigaru:iconashigaru: Mar 5, 2005, 11:46:13 AM
YOU HAVE BEEN KISSED!!!

Spread the DA love around! (you can copy and paste this message on their userpage!)

*dingding* RULES:
1- You can kiss the person who kissed you!
2- You can't kiss the person more than 3 times
3- You -MUST- kiss 6 other people
4- You should kiss them in public! Paste it on their user page! c'mon..don't be scared of public displays of affection
5- Random kisses are perfectly okay! (and sweet)
6- You should most definitly get started kissing right away!

--
Satoru koto muzukashii
True understanding is difficult