These are the days
These are days you’ll remember
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you
Are touched by something
That will grow and bloom in you
These are days that you’ll remember
When May is rushing over you
With desire to be part of the miracles
You see in every hour
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you are touched
By something that will grow and bloom in you
These are days
These are the days you might fill
With laughter until you break
These days you might feel
A shaft of light
Make its way across your face
And when you do
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
See the signs and know their meaning
It's true
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
Hear the signs and know they’re speaking
To you, to you
These are days you’ll remember
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you
Are touched by something
That will grow and bloom in you
These are days that you’ll remember
When May is rushing over you
With desire to be part of the miracles
You see in every hour
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you are touched
By something that will grow and bloom in you
These are days
These are the days you might fill
With laughter until you break
These days you might feel
A shaft of light
Make its way across your face
And when you do
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
See the signs and know their meaning
It's true
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be
Hear the signs and know they’re speaking
To you, to you
~10,000 Maniacs~
I admit it. I'm a scheduler, a planner, a routine lover. But when the
temperatures begin to rise the landscape business slows way down so
there is no better time than now to slow myself down too. That being
said.....this summer I'm throwing all caution to the wind and just going
with the flow. This is a bit out of my comfort zone, but I am learning
that when I'm not worrying about when and where I need to be that I'm
really *here*. Geez....that sounds a bit confusing. I guess what I
mean is that I'm much more present. I'm living in the moment instead of
planning it. There is no constant clock watching. Instead I find
myself totally relaxed and grateful for this time with my family and friends.
The businesswoman in me is better when I am scheduled, but I'm a better
mom when I go with the flow. It's very tricky to find the balance
between the two. How about you? are you a planner? or do you go with
the flow?
If you need me these days I'll be sitting on the back porch enjoying a glass of wine. Instead of counting minutes I think I'll count my blessings instead. Won't you join me?
Have you checked out our Flickr Pool lately? You've just got to stop by and see all the amazing photos! I'll be picking another Abstract photo for our Attraction to Abstraction INFOCUS selection on Saturday. Be sure to check it out!
22 comments:
Ahhh, yes, Leigh! The here. The now. It sounds so lovely but it's so hard to do, isn't it? Like you, I'm more of a planner than a go-with-the-flow type but since my retirement, I'm (still) trying to find the balance. I'm so goal oriented and that's hard to let go of. I keep asking myself "Why are you doing this to yourself? You're retired!"
Here's a toast to all of us: To the here. To the now.
Cheers!
Dotti
every year in may i say can hardly wait until summer a break from the routine. more spontaneous fun. then by august i'm completely worn out and ready for the routine to come back. :) i think like anything, for me balance is the key. something i always struggle with. glad to know i'm not the only one. :)
I'm the exact same way Kelly! I will be very ready for the kids to be back in school August 1st so we can be back in a routine, but until then I'm going to do my best to go with the flow!
Ah, great post, great. I'm a planner who fights the planner within herself. I get the planning mostly out of my system at work. Mostly. Often I look around home and think, "GET ORGANIZED AND ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING." I think about that. About how our culture is so task oriented, you need to have something to show for your time. I dunno. Is that healthy? I dunno. I know sloth is not the way to go but again, back to camera stuff, I plan this morning (plan, ha!) to make Fishboy pose so I can replicate the settings for a shot in the photography book I am reading (David deChemin, Photographically Speaking) and see if I can learn what I want to learn. The house? A mess, really. My hair? Don't go there. Do I need groceries? Yep. And what am I doing this afternoon? Sitting on the couch to yell at the tv while Spain plays Portugal in the Euro Cup (soccer). It's fun for us, to watch that. I find I got into it this year more, the soccer. Soooooooooo, if you're feeling you're not getting much done, well, read this comment and think, "That Fishgirl does not accomplish much." I fight between wanting to get enough "done" to feel "good" and a sense of ah, okay, did it. That part of me fights with how much is too much and how does one relax. What relaxes me, what stresses me. Identifying the triggers. As Dotti says, it's different at our ages being not with kids in the house, the seeking balance of play/work. Striving to be a laid back and fun person, not a worry maniac (as is my wont). This is one honking long comment. I'm going to sign off and find the model.
Mucho good vibes to you great women here,
Pam/Fishgirl
Truth to be told I have always been a "go with the flow" person and therefore get very little accomplished! That is the unfortunate part of being a non-planner I am afraid. My lack of planning and organization also makes it difficult to keep up with on-line friends and blogging! I try to embrace the non-planner in me and admit that at my age I am unlikely to change:)
Great post on a topic that I think many of us are struggling with. A balance between structured and free flowing days is ideal, and I find, a real challenge to achieve. I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I check off things on my todo list and have a productive day. Yet, I really enjoy doing nothing too; however, it's tainted with a guilty feeling. (sigh) Yoga has helped me "be fully present" and enjoy the small moments -- that's what increases my joy.
I'm loving the replies. It makes me think of "the stuggle that dares not speak it's name," the battling the feeling of planning versus not planning. I thought about it all morning. I think because we're all here as photographers, there is that strong pull to nuture the creative side of ourselves, the artists within. It takes lots of empty space in the daytimer to do that, whimsy, play, exploring. For many women, that kind of time is a pie in the sky dream as each of us attempt to balance care of selves, care of family, care of home, work, etc. Anyway, what can I say? This post really gave me pause to think. My big epiphany came a few years ago when it struck me bang on the head that all things need care. That one cannot do it all. If you want to do x, well, y might not get so much time. I gave up a lot of things then and tried to spend more time doing the things I liked. Balance. It's a bugger. Any helpful tips most welcomed. Thanks for talking about this whole thing.
I can't wait to see your replicated shot! I'm going to have to check out that book. Sounds like a good one. And btw...I love your long comments. They really make my day!
Oh how I wish I could be a go with the flow person all the time, but I would get nothing crossed off my to do list! It's that balance that I strive to find. Thanks for visiting Gail!
I keep telling myself that I want to try yoga, but I have yet to do it. I get such satisfaction when I check things off too! Thanks for stopping by Gina!
Pam, you always help me to see another side of things and I so appreciate you for that! You are right, it's hard to pencil in that creative time because to me creativity cannot be scheduled. With landscape design it's very hard for me to schedule a time to sit at my drafting table and draw because sometimes I'm feeling it and sometimes I'm not. My creativity does not always happen between the hours of 8 and 5. A lot of times a design idea comes to me in my sleep and I wake up to reach over to my pad of paper on my nightstand and sketch it out before I forget it.
Just last night I came up with a great idea for my next FOL post. The words were flowing and I should have just gotten up, opened the computer and start typing. But of course, sleep was more important and I totally forgot the words running through my head. I struggle with writing. I'm not good at it and I know it takes practice, but it's a very hard thing for me to do. I want my words to flow like yours do so please tell me the secret!
Finally getting the chance to stop in and read your post, Leigh. I guess I had too much "planned" for today! I am definitely guilty of being a planner and have to work at going with the flow. When my kids were young, my calendar was my life and it ruled me -- school, homework, sports, dentist appointments, etc. All scheduled and there was little time left over for me. So at this point in my life I'm really trying to not be so scheduled and to just have fun. I am more able to look at laundry that needs to be done or groceries that need to be bought and say, "I'm going out with my camera. That can wait for later." I can tell you, it definitely feels good! And wow, I can so identify with your reply to Pam's comment about words coming to you in the middle of the night that are totally gone the next morning! Makes me want to have a tape recorder by the bed. Wonderful and thought-provoking post, Leigh. And I don't think you have trouble with words at all. I always love reading what you write. Please don't compare yourself to Pam! Nobody can write like she does I don't think!
love this topic. I find it easier to go with the flow when I'm with my kids - I take their lead. at work, I am a planner. on days off, I will have a list to work from but also give myself permission to sit and do nothing - something I learned from my yoga studies - take time to breath. recently I have added something to my tool box - an iPHone app called mindfulness that I have reminders throughout the day to remind me to slow down, to breath, to be aware of what is going on. i love that reminder in the middle of a work day; reminds me of what really matters.
That's a cool app, Ashley! I really enjoyed this post today. I'm reading it too late to save today's workday, but tomorrow I'll do better. Love the words of that song - and so fitting
Now that's ironic Leigh!
Imagine the planning it took for photography when you only had one shot to get it right, like Ansel! And BTW girlies, I have a sign on my kitchen wall that says "A clean house is the sign of a dull woman." My son gave it to me when he was about 8 - I guess he realized even then that I wasn't getting it all done! ( I also have a magnet on the frig that says "Dinner will be served when the smoke alarm goes off......sigh....
First, I love that song....one of my favorites (takes me back to high school!), second, your photos are amazing (as always!), and third, yes I am a planner. I am trying to be more go with the flow, but it takes work to break away from the lists of things I have to do! Having three spontaneous kids does help!
P.S. I think you are a good writer with wonderful stories to share....don't be too hard on yourself!! :-)
xoxo,
Steph
Love this post, and love the fact that you are giving yourself permission to slow down and enjoy these down times. Lovely, lovely photos and no, I am not a list maker and I do "go with the flow". Without the care of a family anymore it is much easier to not be a planner and to go with the flow.
I think I need the "dinner will be served when the smoke alarm goes off" sign! I can't imagine getting one chance at a shot...I would surely fail!
It takes me back to high school also. That wasn't that long ago, right?
I like to think I'm a "planner" but truth be told-I shoot from the hip most days. I may have a general idea of what needs to be done and when but that's about it! Unless it's time to get my hair done! That's written in stone! lol!
xo,
Linda
When my family was young I had to be a planner or no one would've ever arrived on time!
You are such a smart one... you voice what I wished I had known "back when" I love your photos and that song is so cool-- Its all about summer to me!
Hugs!
Claudia
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