stretched......and how I change that

This is just to break the inertia of not writing. (At least, that's what is getting me going in writing....)
I read so many other sources online but sometimes hesitate or just plain blank out on what I might want to write about myself. In my blog. I had really high hopes for this blog, but I see that I haven't had a vision or commitment to regular blogging. Which is okay, unless I'm thinking I can "do it all" without a plan. You know, enjoy a good job, maintain good family relations, have fun through hobbies and spending time with friends, etc.  Sometimes I try to accomplish a lot doing things I take pride in, such as creating a warm, nurturing home environment, like repairing things around the house, taking care of pets or sick animals, or whatever I'm proud of doing in my life that gives it more meaning.  But sometimes the "doing" is just too much and I stop enjoying it and don't even notice it.  I'm just going through the motions.  And I may not notice it until I realize that I'm depressed, tired, low in energy, dreading what's to come next, etc.  Then I need a break.  For myself.  And it's not always on a schedule. 

Lately, I've been feeling like I'm too stretched a lot of the time.  I am beginning to learn more about what I  need emotionally and what helps me to feel my best.  So, I've decided to give myself at least one day a week off, with the phone unanswered and the errands put on hold, when I can just be with myself and my two cats -- whether it's laying around with my pajamas on or checking my email and responding only to what interests me. And I know there are even more options (!). For example, I've begun drawing again. That is something I used to love to do and then I stopped. Pressure from daily life to compete, to shop, to clean, to "improve," to "get" something, plus no one in my corner really encouraging me (which I thought I needed). I am learning that I have to take the initiative, that no one else will probably care as much as I do about whether I take the time to do artistic things or not.

It's a hard lesson because it is hard for me to make art when no one is interested and I'm by myself at the house. It's easy to fall back into old, worn-out routines from childhood where the first (and only) priority was to take care of the house or the wash, or do "practical" housekeeping things ..... anything but taking "personal" time for me and my artistic expression. More on this to come....

[Thanks to Matt Groening for his cartoon.  Also thanks to http://positivesharing.com/2006/11/top-5-myths-about-workplace-stress/ for the cartoon from their site.  Looks like a good website -- check it out.]

Way to go, Obama! and the American people

In the excitement of the Presidential Inauguration, I went ahead and signed up at Facebook so I could post on the CNN live streaming page.   I  also posted on the New York Times wall via Facebook.   Pretty incredible technology.

This is what I posted yesterday on the New York Times wall:

I think this is great -- being able to share this way.  What a trip!  And you can see how old I am by that comment.  ; )   I am so excited to be sharing my excitement here.  This is the first Inauguration that I've felt a part of  and my first remembrance of a president was Eisenhower (!)   It's always been a bunch of pomp and fluff and dreariness, but this is different.

Way to go, Obama!   ... and Biden,  *and all the people*, including me, that worked for change and prayed for it and believed in it.  If we build it, they will come.  Now.  I'm excited about the presidency and the gov't.  What a change from the Ohio State massacre and Nixon.  I would say "black and white" but that metaphor really doesn't apply anymore.   How about 180 degrees!  Now we can begin to create the world we really want to live in.  Bless us all!

More as soon as I can dig my way out of my workload.....

workplace creativity and commitment

How about this workplace stress reduction photo I found? Totally unrelated to the following piece on the workplace:

"Some employers are under the mistaken impression that paying a salary is enough to earn them an employee's commitment. In fact, employees decide how much of themselves to give to their jobs based not just on financial compensation, but also on how fairly they feel they're treated... how creatively involved they are in the organization... and how meaningful and principled they think their work is.

If people you supervise feel that they are appreciated, intellectually challenged and working for a good cause, you'll receive their full efforts."

I don't have the source info on this quote; sorry about that. I grabbed it on the run.
(Photo Credit: http://members.home.nl/j.dammeijer/index.htm)

Sandy, Miles, Nathan, Mike and Me outside Kerbey Lane

These are some of the far-flung members of my family. Sandy (my niece) and Miles are from Olympia, Washington and are here to visit us and then go to Galveston to visit Miles' dad. Maybe to stay there for a while....
Mike is working here in town ever since he got out of the army a few years ago.
Nathan is working here in town also in his own therapy practice. See his website at http://www.austintherapist.com/. More info to come.....

My niece Sandy and her boyfriend Miles visit

Yay for my team; musings on fashion mags

I just couldn't resist posting this picture when I saw it. I am a fan of both these two, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Senator Barak Obama, who preside over and work in two disparate worlds -- the spiritual and the political. it almost shocked me when I saw it because I had those two worlds separated out in my own mind-- compartmentalized. LIke I had to shift my focus to take in first one, and then another, and then finally both at the same time.

What else have we (sadly) compartmentalized? I know I do that when I read a fashion magazine and then when I look at myself in the mirror and am just glad that I still look okay. Sometimes great, but never wholly "bad." Whatever that is. But I try to never compare myself to the models in the fashion mags, even their clothes. I do get inspired to wear better, but never to take seriously what they are showing as fashion on the streets of NYC or the beaches of Cancun and compare that with what I'm going to wear to HEB. (And never mind the age factor! Don't let me get started on that.)

I used to really get into reading the fashion mags (or People magazine or whatever), and it can become painful when you start comparing their life to yours or their fashion accessory to your dumpy bag from Target. Now when that happens, I drop the mags like a hot potato. I don't have time to argue with Mother Nature or the boss from The Devil Wears Prada. I don't have time to pine away because my hair makes split ends almost as fast as I can make hair. Or my skin is only happy when it's being showered with fresh air and exercise, and not makeup (!!). Except for the eyes. The eyes are okay with makeup. The rest of me wants to breathe!

Okay. That's enough from me right now. I'm outta here! Til next time....

But, hey, let me know if you think I should split this up into two different posts. I might do it. But only if you ask.

Stroke of Insight - Jill Bolte Taylor

This is the most wonderful video on science/psychology/mind/spirituality I've ever seen! Check it out!

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html