Where have I been? I’ve been here, but not here in the blog world. School started. The two weeks leading up to the first day, I had a creeping sense of dread. I enjoy my work, but I didn’t really want school to start again. It turns out, the creeping sense of dread was a correct gut reaction. Since we’ve gone back to school my life has turned into a very “chop wood, carry water” sort of experience. And not it the blissful way Rick Fields imagines.
I go to work. I come home. I cook, clean up, set out clothes for tomorrow and repeat. It doesn’t help that the beginning of school, a time of increased activity, has coincided with a time in my life when I have little energy and am supposed to be resting and healing. So a lot of things have gone out the window. The blogs. Long bike rides. Watching movies. Taking fun classes. Having a clean and tidy house. Answering fun letters that come in the mail adorned with stickers. I just don’t have the energy right now. You should see (or rather not) my kitchen floor. Thank god for slippers.
I’m currently experimenting with a sabbath day. Not so much in the religious sense, but more in the rest sense. I keep thinking of Laura Ingalls Wilder and how Ma and Pa would work hard all week and then, out there on that house on the prairie, far away from any church, do nothing on Sundays. Just rest, while Laura and Mary played quietly with their dolls. I can’t help thinking, that for all their devout spirit, those pioneers on the prairie just needed some rest. And that is the real reason why we are supposed to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
So currently, after I finish going to church and YRUU (the high school youth group at church–I’m an advisor) I come home and sleep for a few hours. I read in bed and then spend the rest of the day doing something like that. Nothing I have to do.
This requires me to get all of my cooking for the week done on Saturday. And everything else too. This is only week two and there are a few kinks to work out, but so far, it’s nice to not have obligations on Sunday afternoon and evening. It seems like I have some space to breathe.
I am so with you on the “too busy for the fun stuff” type of schedule (hello – this post has been out for a while and though I read it on my reader…this is my first chance for commenting on it (oh and its while I am at GA work….oh well)). What is it about educators that makes us leap into a gigantic ave round about September and only to leave a few times of year until May or June? Oh yeah, its the charming darlings that we help to learn and grow (and all those other pressures). I hope that you are able to find some peace and some down time in your schedule and your life (not for blogging – although you know I love it OR even for answering bestickered letters that come to you). But, just peace for peace’s sake! I love the idea of a true sabbath. it is spiritual even if it is not necessarily religious. And you know that I LOVED the Little House on the Prairie reference as well!
BIG HUGS to you! -S
I have enjoyed reading your blog – and the comments you have left on mine. I just wanted to say hi and I hope life calms down some your way.