Putter-Putter Course
One of my recent missions has been to create more puttering time in my schedule. It's pretty full, and with all good things, but was leaving me feeling a little starved for time within my own mind and heart. Here's what I mean:
Monday: Up at 6;30 to organize day, play with TB, prepare for work; work 9-4; workout with Tom 4:15-5:15; home by 5:45 or 6:00 (depending upon whether or not I had to stop anywhere); take TB out to run around like loons; feed them and me; massage MW (my massage therapist) around 7:30-10:00; take TB out again; clean up the kitchen; go to bed around 11:00
Tuesday: Up at 6:30, as before; work 9-5; home somewhere between 5:45 and 6:30 (again, depending); dinner and play for TB and me; receive a massage from MW 7:30-10:00; clean up and possibly take another bath (depending upon how much oil was involved, whether muscles need detox help, etc.); bed around 11:00-ish.
Wednesday: Daytime schedule same as Tuesday; standing date with my mom for the evening; bed around 11:00.
Thursday: Same as Tuesday, but I have the evening to myself--usually filled with tasks, like bill-paying, researching medical stuff for work, etc.
Friday: Same as Tuesday, but either Doc comes up here, or I go down there to begin our weekend together.
Also, when I was working that schedule, I was coming home at lunch time at least three days per week because I didn't want TB to have so many long days.
It might not sound like so much, but I can tell you that there's some algorithm for how many hours of other work one hour of medical massage equals. It's not a 1:1 ratio. It's partly because it's physical, though, certainly, stevedores have a much more physical job than mine. But, even more, it's mental. Very few jobs require the same kind of continual and intense focus. Surgeons are further along this continuum, though most aren't in surgery five days/week. They need to have office hours.
I'm not trying to say that only the intellectually superior can do this work. No. Just that how much energy it requires is unusual.
So, anyway, when I was in Massachusetts for my SER class, PT, my dear friend and an herbalist, told me that I must incorporate more than just Thursday evenings as unstructured time in order to support my health. I was already thinking along those lines and, so, loved hearing that. Among other things, I was fitting the flower essences into the nooks and crannies when, really, they need to have a good amount of presence at center stage: it's a deep passion and personal exploratory realm, and I've got stores who want to carry them and are waiting.
I've adjusted my schedule and it's really making a difference. Now, it looks like this:
Monday: Same as before.
Tuesday: Up when I feel like it (usually about 7), with no alarm; take care of TB and putter; work 12:00-6:00 without a break; evening same as before.
Wednesday: Daytime same as Tuesday, evening with mom.
Thursday: Same daytime schedule; cleaning lady comes (I'm trading body work for house cleaning and occasional yard work! woot!!!); evening alone in my sparkling home.
Friday: Same as before.
This works great, as our office needs more late appointment slots for working folks. And I cannot begin to tell you the ease it's brought me! I can work on my gardens, with the essences, go walk in the woods or along the river, or lie in bed and read. It's FABULOUS. My treatment quality has ratcheted up a notch, too. :)
Fast-forward to this weekend: Doc is with her parents and sister and nephews on the Jersey Shore (suck-ass weather, but they're having a good time) until next Monday night. That means I have the entire weekend to wander. It feels unbelievably seductive and exciting.
It is so nice to be at a place where I can embrace my need for alone time and just roll with it as part of creating the highest quality life I can manage. I mean, it's even built into my relationship with Doc. Our plan includes an out-building with heat, water, and power that will be my flower essence studio and private space. She doesn't feel the need for one, but I'd be down with it if she did. It's amazing to have these basic needs be received for exactly what they are and supported. How much easier to draw closer when I know that I can have as much space as I want and need?
"Love is just like breathing when it's true." Amen, Emily, Amen.
I'm a happy girl. :)
-Dot
Monday: Up at 6;30 to organize day, play with TB, prepare for work; work 9-4; workout with Tom 4:15-5:15; home by 5:45 or 6:00 (depending upon whether or not I had to stop anywhere); take TB out to run around like loons; feed them and me; massage MW (my massage therapist) around 7:30-10:00; take TB out again; clean up the kitchen; go to bed around 11:00
Tuesday: Up at 6:30, as before; work 9-5; home somewhere between 5:45 and 6:30 (again, depending); dinner and play for TB and me; receive a massage from MW 7:30-10:00; clean up and possibly take another bath (depending upon how much oil was involved, whether muscles need detox help, etc.); bed around 11:00-ish.
Wednesday: Daytime schedule same as Tuesday; standing date with my mom for the evening; bed around 11:00.
Thursday: Same as Tuesday, but I have the evening to myself--usually filled with tasks, like bill-paying, researching medical stuff for work, etc.
Friday: Same as Tuesday, but either Doc comes up here, or I go down there to begin our weekend together.
Also, when I was working that schedule, I was coming home at lunch time at least three days per week because I didn't want TB to have so many long days.
It might not sound like so much, but I can tell you that there's some algorithm for how many hours of other work one hour of medical massage equals. It's not a 1:1 ratio. It's partly because it's physical, though, certainly, stevedores have a much more physical job than mine. But, even more, it's mental. Very few jobs require the same kind of continual and intense focus. Surgeons are further along this continuum, though most aren't in surgery five days/week. They need to have office hours.
I'm not trying to say that only the intellectually superior can do this work. No. Just that how much energy it requires is unusual.
So, anyway, when I was in Massachusetts for my SER class, PT, my dear friend and an herbalist, told me that I must incorporate more than just Thursday evenings as unstructured time in order to support my health. I was already thinking along those lines and, so, loved hearing that. Among other things, I was fitting the flower essences into the nooks and crannies when, really, they need to have a good amount of presence at center stage: it's a deep passion and personal exploratory realm, and I've got stores who want to carry them and are waiting.
I've adjusted my schedule and it's really making a difference. Now, it looks like this:
Monday: Same as before.
Tuesday: Up when I feel like it (usually about 7), with no alarm; take care of TB and putter; work 12:00-6:00 without a break; evening same as before.
Wednesday: Daytime same as Tuesday, evening with mom.
Thursday: Same daytime schedule; cleaning lady comes (I'm trading body work for house cleaning and occasional yard work! woot!!!); evening alone in my sparkling home.
Friday: Same as before.
This works great, as our office needs more late appointment slots for working folks. And I cannot begin to tell you the ease it's brought me! I can work on my gardens, with the essences, go walk in the woods or along the river, or lie in bed and read. It's FABULOUS. My treatment quality has ratcheted up a notch, too. :)
Fast-forward to this weekend: Doc is with her parents and sister and nephews on the Jersey Shore (suck-ass weather, but they're having a good time) until next Monday night. That means I have the entire weekend to wander. It feels unbelievably seductive and exciting.
It is so nice to be at a place where I can embrace my need for alone time and just roll with it as part of creating the highest quality life I can manage. I mean, it's even built into my relationship with Doc. Our plan includes an out-building with heat, water, and power that will be my flower essence studio and private space. She doesn't feel the need for one, but I'd be down with it if she did. It's amazing to have these basic needs be received for exactly what they are and supported. How much easier to draw closer when I know that I can have as much space as I want and need?
"Love is just like breathing when it's true." Amen, Emily, Amen.
I'm a happy girl. :)
-Dot