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Friday, January 30, 2009

An Illustration of the Insane Pace of my Life

As of lately, my life has taken on, well... a life of its own... that is to say, without me. And it's very irritating, to say the least. I have been moving at the speed of light since Jan 1 and have not had a break. It's been one thing after another. A car accident, a heavy schedule, a stomach virus... ... ...

The reasons this annoys me...
  1. I haven't written a single new page the whole month of Jan. (OK, let's back up... actually I didn't write a single new page the whole month of Dec either. (I might as well be honest.))
  2. I feel like I have no control over my day and what I want to do with it. Before I know it, my day is over, my To DO list is still two pages long, and again, no writing got done

As, I've posted before, I write for real estate. The winter is the time I get my own personal writing done as it is usually a very slow time for the market. People don't usually list their homes now. They wait for the spring when for sale signs pop up like daisies. BUT... I've actually been busy this winter and the momentum is building. I can feel it.

To be honest, I can't even really explain what exactly is making me so hurried, but I feel I can't catch my breath. Here's a typical day of the week, for example.

  1. wake up at 7, get the kids and myself ready for the day
  2. kids missed the bus, now I have to add driving them to school to my list
  3. drive them to school, pick up my coffee (this is a MUST)
  4. go to work
  5. 12:30 see a house or two for copy review
  6. pick up kids from school
  7. drive number one to flute lessons
  8. grab dinner on the go
  9. go to the library for my writer's group meeting
  10. finally come home at 10:00 pm

Today, my planner was a beautiful thing. See, under the date, Friday, January 30th, 2009, it was blank! NOTHING - that's right, nada, bupkus, empty. Plus, I don't have a car - it's being serviced, so I can't go anywhere. It's not only a beautiful thing, it's a RARE thing, as well. I couldn't WAIT for today. All week I just kept thinking of Friday. I'll get through today and it will almost be Friday. Two more days and it will be Friday. Go to bed and when I wake up, it will be Friday.

My plans for today...

  1. write copy
  2. work on novel
  3. do laundry
  4. pack (child number 2 and I are going away this weekend)

I woke up my normal time. Got my kids off to school AND on the bus - sorry, no exceptions today - Mommy doesn't have a car! *insert maniacal laughter* Read a ton of work emails, answered all of them. That's when I started to veer... Hmm, I thought, I have some time. I haven't read or commented on any of my friend's blogs in a while.... a few hours later... I felt the whiz and whir of life speed up again. With hurry in my heart, I jumped in the shower, rushed to get dressed and ready, ran down stairs, made lunch, ate so fast, I barely tasted it when all of a sudden...

...lunch wasn't agreeing with me. My stomach didn't feel so hot. Oh, no. I couldn't have caught the stomach virus... I gazed up at the clock -

10:30 AM????


THIS is my point! I have become so accustomed to rushing and time flying by, that I assumed it was lunch time! I just can't seem to slow myself down even when life has given me the chance. I am THAT used to the rush.

So, how do you slow down your life when it wheels out of control?

18 comments:

Jean Wogaman said...

I can relate to your frustration. Much of my creative time has been hijacked by a dayjob search and my daughter's college application process, and it's not over yet. I've managed to squeeze in some writing revisions and light sketching this fall and winter, but I have yet to generate any new stories or to develop the polished illustrations I'd hoped to have for my portfolio. The frustration is turning into a low simmer of anxiety. Time is slipping by too fast.

Btw - Thanks for adding my blog to your list. Don't worry; it won't be that much of a distraction. My posts are few and far between.

PJ Hoover said...

I know!!!!
I make a list. I list all the little things I need to do. Once I have them all on paper (even if it's like 50 things) I feel so much better.

Corey Schwartz said...

We went out of town four times between Christmas and MLK day. i felt like I was stuck in a revolving door of packing and unpacking.

Take a hot bath and then get in bed with a glass of wine and a good book! Even if it is just an hour, it makes me feel much more relaxed.

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

Jeanie! Your artwork on your blog is fantastic, btw! I loved every single sketch. They really sparked my imagination.

It seems we are all feeling this rush and squeeze for time. And it might be a coincidence, but I blame 2009. I had finally taken seize of my life in 2008 and was really breaking ground with my novel. Then the holidays hit, and the New Year has just been insane! I think, I'm beyond the simmer or anxiety though, Jeanie. I'm at full boil!

PJ - so it's not just me? We all seem to be super crazed in 2009. But I will say though, your list includes insane things like garage door openers and other gadgety things to fix that would NEVER make it on my list!

Corey, I feel relaxed just reading about taking a bath and getting into bed to read with a glass of wine. Maybe if I carry that mental picture with me, it will help to relax me...

Unknown said...

I take a day off. An entire day. Nothing but laziness. Then I'm so disgusted with myself for being so lazy that I jump up, ready to work again!

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

AH... the old reverse psychology on yourself, Beth... good one!

Rebecca Gomez said...

Sheri, you could almost be describing my life! I can relate to this in almost every way. Except for the stomach flu. Well, hubby did get a stomach bug during Christmas break...

When I feel like I've lost control of my "life speed" I force myself to take a Saturday to do almost nothing.

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

Becky, sounds good to me! But it won't be this Saturday. For number two's birthday, I am taking her and two of her friends to sleep over night in a hotel. This is the coolest birthday party idea I've had yet... So we will sleep in two adjoining rooms. The chickadees will get to swim in a heated indoor pool and order room service. I don't have to cook, clean... it's perfect. And I'm spending the same amount as if I had a big silly party here in my house! Plus, one of child #2's friends, is the daughter of my friend. So she will be coming too to help chaperone! Fun, fun, fun!

Kelly H-Y said...

I'm with ya ... and we're only at January 30! Craziness! Anyway ... I exercise ... I schedule time for it ... just like a meeting! Your comment 'insert maniacal laughter' made me laugh ... too funny. Hopefully, your weekend away is relaxing and refreshing!!

hytime said...

Sheri, It sounded so good to me, that I actually got off the computer followed my own advice! :) Of course, not the wine (I still had to pick up kids at school).

And, yes, i do write with Becky. I wrote Hop! Plop! with Tali, but I co-author pretty much all my PBs with Becky now.

Corey Schwartz said...

Oops! The last comment was from me. (Visiting family and wasn't signed in right)

Sheri, let me know if ever want to do a manuscript swap. Becky and I have something new that we'd love feedback on.

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

Yes, Kelly, my weekend away, was exactly what I needed... until I came home to a gabillion work emails all wanting me to schedule something. I am so grateful to be busy working, especially in a climate such as this one, but something's got to give. I don't think I'll survive the spring market, my professional blog - greenifying your home, and teaching... I'd hate to let my young students down, but my writing and family (and sanity) must come first! Oh- and maniacal laughter is always a good thing... yes?

Too funny! I was like, Who is hytime??? I am so glad you came back on as... well yourself as I know you! And thanks for the MS swap idea. First I must finish mine. I am afraid it might be a little unfair, being that the average PB typed is between 2 - 6 pages and the average MG novel is over 100!

Keri Mikulski said...

I'm with you.. And I'm scanning through comments for suggestions because I have no idea how to slow down.. But, a blank day is a great day. :)

I like the list idea. :)

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

Keri, even though I thought the weekend away did its magic, I awoke to all my work emails and my crazy full schedule, and suddenly I am right back where I started, as if I never went away at all!

Hey, I am probably going to the NJ SCBWI workshop... what about you, my fellow Jersey girl?

Danette Haworth said...

Sheri,
You couldn't have picked a better picture to accompany this post.

It's very hard to write with children hitting me with light sabers and asking for grilled cheese sandwiches.

Time does fly; you're right. And as for your blank Friday, I must admit that I myself would be thinking about my big fluffy bed and a good long nap.

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

Hey, Danette! Actually, I had to stuff cottons in my ears to drown out my fluffy mattress' beckonings...

Anonymous said...

OMG MOM!
LOL!
That is so true!
Hey so i like the blog!
It so cool!
I like what you write about!
come check out my blog!

-Emily

PS: JK! i tricked you! ... I dont have a blog! But i want one!
Oh and PPS: I also like the picture!

love your best and most awesomness daughter you will ever have....fine including Madison,
-Emily

Sheri Perl-Oshins said...

Em - you're too funn. I'll help you set up a blog tomorrow.

JK!!!!!

“Personal limitation exists only in our ideas of who we are. Give up all notions of who you are and your limitations will vanish.”

- Anonymous