I recently flipped my schedule upside down to honor writing time. My previous modus operandi was to clear the endless slate of daily chores first. Did you catch the word endless? Those piddly diddlies never go away, so writing time never came. Now, I follow a practice taught by author Ellen Sussman (book review here). Writing hours happen first thing. For 45 minutes (timer set), I only write. No technology. No interruptions. No excuses. The remaining, equally important, fifteen minutes (timer set) is dedicated to some mindless activity.
Guess what? During that quarter-hour of non-writing time, all kinds of daily chores are disappearing. Cleaning out email. Filing. Practicing drumming or piano. The piddly diddlies are magically tamed. Setting aside these split hours first, foremost and first-thing has created space to breathe in a sense of accomplishment and time to honor the important things.
Admittedly, I wear under the weight of the End of Year times like everyone else. Piled on top of normal life are Holiday parties, dinners with friends, shopping, decorating, baking, cooking, wrapping, traveling, etc. Morning writing time has slipped from its A-One spot, but only for a week. Maybe two. Because come next year, I’ll return to making things happen, one dedicated hour at a time.
Quote of the Week…
“Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to giving.” B.C. Forbes, 1880 – 1955
Delight in the Light…
Yesterday was Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and yet, it falls during the season of light; candles in various faith traditions flicker amidst strings of bulbs adorning houses and trees. While my family celebrates the birth of the Christ Child (in faith-based as well as commercial traditions), I appreciate and respect other…
Patty Mayeux Blog 
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