Not my day... or was it?
This has been an interesting day so far... The flex of my keyboard finally broke down for good, so I have to find a new one, and I hope I do, because I don't have the money to buy a new keyboard just now. Also, I broke one of my plates. I had put a saucepan and a skillet on top of a bigger saucepan, and when I did something that caused them to overbalance, they pushed the plate down, and it landed on the floor and was shattered. It's not a big deal, and I'm grateful I didn't hurt myself, at least. I'm just going to have to buy some new plates, that's all.
That's the bad news. The good news is that my cousin's family finally came for a visit, and we had a good time. Noora was in a good mood and sat in my lap for a long time. She eventually got tired, but she couldn't settle down and go to sleep at first, they way kids can't when there are interesting things going on. She did fall asleep after a while, and she looked adorable:). Counting up, it's been a delightful day, and the weather was sunny for a change. I feel all recharged and ready to start a new week.
The virtue for today is INDUSTRIA,
which means industry, or hard work. Being unemployed, I don't do much of that stuff nowadays, except for the odd project. I've always been more of a brainy than a physical type, and I don't exercise regularly, although I know I should, and like the feeling when I do it. I come from a family of intellectually oriented people, and most of my relatives have a tidy job sitting in front of a computer. I'm not saying it isn't hard work as well, and I can testify to translating and thesis writing being extremely tiring and giving you a very healthy appetite. I actually think, though, that I prefer all kinds of household chores to translating, in terms of feeling I've accomplished something. There is an instant gratification about vacuuming, washing up and doing laundry. that I don't get from translating, even if I keep translating for many hours. I prefer the delicious feeling of physical exhaustion to the feeling of mental exhaustion, my eyes getting tired and my back hurting. Of course, a lot of the more physically demanding chores I do can lead to sore hands, feet, and back, but I sleep much better after, say, a day of cleaning house, than after a day of mentally exhausting and physically light work. Someone once defined man as a working animal, and I think there's quite a bit of truth in that. We're capable of planning ahead, of working in teams, of inventing new ways to work, and of enjoying the results of our work, and understanding that they may outlive ourselves.
Maybe it's unnecessary to define why industry is a virtue, but I'll say it anyway. Talent, good luck and an inheritance of money, character or both, only take you so far. Everything else you have to get by your own efforts. It makes you stronger, both in body and spirit, to rise above your difficulties. Looking back at what you accomplished, you can feel proud, and be justified in feeling it.
I think I'll do what I did yesterday after blogging: I'll have a cuppa and read. I'm enjoying the fruit of my labours today, you see, because I have a clean house, and nothing I have to do. I would have practised today, but that's out of the question now, so I need to think of something else to do instead. Have a great week, all of you!
That's the bad news. The good news is that my cousin's family finally came for a visit, and we had a good time. Noora was in a good mood and sat in my lap for a long time. She eventually got tired, but she couldn't settle down and go to sleep at first, they way kids can't when there are interesting things going on. She did fall asleep after a while, and she looked adorable:). Counting up, it's been a delightful day, and the weather was sunny for a change. I feel all recharged and ready to start a new week.
The virtue for today is INDUSTRIA,
which means industry, or hard work. Being unemployed, I don't do much of that stuff nowadays, except for the odd project. I've always been more of a brainy than a physical type, and I don't exercise regularly, although I know I should, and like the feeling when I do it. I come from a family of intellectually oriented people, and most of my relatives have a tidy job sitting in front of a computer. I'm not saying it isn't hard work as well, and I can testify to translating and thesis writing being extremely tiring and giving you a very healthy appetite. I actually think, though, that I prefer all kinds of household chores to translating, in terms of feeling I've accomplished something. There is an instant gratification about vacuuming, washing up and doing laundry. that I don't get from translating, even if I keep translating for many hours. I prefer the delicious feeling of physical exhaustion to the feeling of mental exhaustion, my eyes getting tired and my back hurting. Of course, a lot of the more physically demanding chores I do can lead to sore hands, feet, and back, but I sleep much better after, say, a day of cleaning house, than after a day of mentally exhausting and physically light work. Someone once defined man as a working animal, and I think there's quite a bit of truth in that. We're capable of planning ahead, of working in teams, of inventing new ways to work, and of enjoying the results of our work, and understanding that they may outlive ourselves.
Maybe it's unnecessary to define why industry is a virtue, but I'll say it anyway. Talent, good luck and an inheritance of money, character or both, only take you so far. Everything else you have to get by your own efforts. It makes you stronger, both in body and spirit, to rise above your difficulties. Looking back at what you accomplished, you can feel proud, and be justified in feeling it.
I think I'll do what I did yesterday after blogging: I'll have a cuppa and read. I'm enjoying the fruit of my labours today, you see, because I have a clean house, and nothing I have to do. I would have practised today, but that's out of the question now, so I need to think of something else to do instead. Have a great week, all of you!