April 1, 2013 Evolution

Those of you who have been following this blog know that I set an intention last August to blog daily, and, for the most part I've kept that promise to myself made in what I felt then was a public forum.  Given my love of the printed word, both my own and that of others, as evidenced by the extensive library in my home, it wasn't such a hard promise to keep, especially when I found that by writing at night before I went to bed, my sleep improved immeasurably!

Today, I take that intention one step further by joining a more public Ultimate Blog Challenge.  This event is touted to not only give me the opportunity to share with other bloggers, but offers some tools to blog better and, I'm hoping, make my blog more interesting and even *gasp* more useful to a wider audience.  Although I am not currently using this blog to sell or earn anything, but merely as both an outlet for my need to write and a place to share what I'm learning while traveling this particular Human Experience on my Spiritual Path, I join a group who blog for reasons of their own, some of which may well be monetary.  I believe this opportunity was put in my path for a reason, and am excited to see where it takes me and how my blog, once again, evolves.  I look forward, now, to sharing my thoughts with a wider audience, and to learning from others who are at different stages in the blogging experience.  (It still amazes me that I've actually been pecking away for someone besides myself for over 4 years!)  I am looking forward to comments, questions, suggestions and examples for improving not only this blog but the person behind the page!

One of the rather interesting side effects of setting new intentions is that my efficiency increases, at least in the short run, and perhaps even longer.  Traffic, or lack thereof tonight was even cooperating!  I don't know where everyone who normally lengthens my commute was tonight, but you certainly won't hear me complain if they stay there from now on!  A 20 instead of 30-35 minute drive home suits me just fine and gets me here with a lot more energy which wasn't expended on sitting, waiting and attempting to avoid the antics of other drivers also anxious to get home!

After a quick and not as healthy as usual dinner, I caught up on some email, cleaned the cat boxes, swept and mopped the floors, took out the trash and started a load of laundry!  For me, this is an excessive amount of ambition after a full day's work, but as I've mentioned before, I consider writing in my blog my reward for taking care of other things first, whether it be lunches, cleaning the kitchen, medicating the cat or finishing chores, so it follows that the more chores and other tasks I complete first, the more I get to write!  (OK, so lunches aren't made yet, but as it's not even 9:00 PM and everything else is done, I am giving myself an early evening gift tonight!) 

In retrospect, not all of the intentions I've set have become habit yet, but those which have are so deeply ingrained that it is almost impossible for me to neglect them now.  Because this is so, I have no doubt that others will follow with equal or better success, in their own time.  I'm finding that when I set an intention, the seed is sown, but if the timing isn't right, it may not germinate at that time.  It doesn't mean that I can't make something work for me, it just means that I'll have to set the intention again at a later time, in hopes that I get the timing right if I keep trying to make it stick.  It's a lot like learning a new line dance.  If I don't like the music, or if some of the steps seem awkward to me, no amount of practice is going to result in the muscle memory I eventually find with each dance I learn and learn well.  However, in some cases, I might find that later on, I can try learning the dance again and it just clicks, though there are others that my mind just refuses to accept and they will always be the ones I sit out. 

My intentions, however are things I really want to change in my life, so I'm hoping that I won't sit out the ones which have yet to take hold indefinitely.  Granted, sometimes, the Universe steps in and changes things up.  Sometimes, this is done because the intention I set isn't really what I need to get where I'm going so it needs to be altered.  Achieving that altered state might take some doing, or some resetting or even a complete 180 when I find something which shows me a better way.  But sometimes, I know the Universe is just having a little fun at my expense and teaching me patience by giving me frustration.  I could talk myself hoarse trying to convince my wonderful nemesis that my patience is getting better, but in the end, I'd just get more frustration for my trouble.  Clearly there is a reason I'm being pushed to become more patient and until I hit the desired level, I'll continue to get lessons. 

The intention I have not yet been able to turn into a habit is regular exercising.  My knee has been twinging and I know I need to do the exercises for it every day, but still, I manage to miss more than I get.  I bought the Wii and the Wii Fit, but haven't been on it in ages.  That doesn't mean I'm sitting around doing nothing all the time.  I'm dancing at least 2 or  3 nights a week, and am on the floor more and more lately.  I have been taking lots of opportunities to walk, though I haven't managed to hook up with friends for a hike yet.  I am practicing line dances in my living room, much to the amusement and annoyance of my cats.  (but I was able to learn one dance well enough to be able to avoid other dancers who don't quite have it yet!  Who better than cats to teach you to change direction quickly due to an unpredictably moving obstacle?  Essentially, what I'm trying to say is that I will keep reiterating this particular intention until it finds its time and starts to put down roots.  I know I will be the better for it, and really can't quite understand why it hasn't managed to set in, but perhaps taking on another responsibility like this Ultimate Blog Challenge as well as a new opportunity to write in another forum will give me the impetus I need to bring that intention to fruition.

In the meantime, maintaining the intentions I have set will certainly occupy more time and require increased efficiency on my part.  Just as things getting busier at work are causing me to prioritize better and wake up earlier so I get out of the house sooner.  In the last couple of months I've gone from rushing out of the house between 5 and 15 minutes late every morning to leisurely walking out the door 5 to 15 minutes early.  It makes the start of the workday a lot calmer when I can take my time getting settled in, cooking up my eggs and checking mail for potential new tasks.  I can take the time to review due dates and mentally prioritize my growing list of requirements.  It also means that when my brain has had enough, I can and do take some time to defrag it so it is clear and ready to move on to the next assignment. 

Now that I've done the usual meandering between topics, I'll finish it up with tonight's gratitudes and get this puppy shared with the masses.

1. I am grateful for opportunities to expand my horizons.
2. I am grateful for efficiencies.
3. I am grateful for new resources.
4. I am grateful for a chance to step outside a comfort zone I hadn't realized I was in.
5. I am grateful for new sources of feedback and writing ideas.

Love and light.