Slice of Life: Sacred Time 8 of 31

It's day eight of the March Slice of Life Challenge.  31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing Two Writing Teachers team for all of their support in this event.  

This morning I woke up to light peeking in my window.  For a minute I wrestled with myself.  "Why am I still in bed," I wondered.  "I'll be late for school."  Glancing at the clock I realized it was already a little after seven.  Then a wave of relief poured over me as I realized it was Saturday.  I contemplated going back to sleep, but once my eyes open my head starts to spin.  I grabbed my computer and moved toward the living room.

I've managed few parameters in my life when it comes to time, but Saturday mornings have become one of them.  Quietly I tiptoed out of my room and into the kitchen.  Opening the cupboard I reached for the coffee to bring the day to life.  The smell quickly drifted into the living room.  Reaching for a cup I filled it with the steamy black liquid, added a little sugar, and poured a little chocolate caramel creamer into the cup.  Yes, dessert in a cup.

Saturdays mornings are a treasure to me.  They have been my day to write since my kids morphed from children to teenagers deciding that morning didn't start until it was nearly afternoon.  I work hard to protect this time of silence for putting my fingers to my keyboard.  I keep lists so I am ready to use it effectively.  Throughout the week I spin ideas so I'll be ready to write when I sit down to do so.  Some weeks are better than others, but still I hold onto this time tightly.  There is an invisible block on my calendar for Saturday morning.

My grandfather used to say, "If something is important enough to you, you'll find time for it."  Deep down I'm pretty sure he is right, but I wonder why there are so many things that are important to me which I still struggle to find time for in my life.  Where is the time to exercise?  Why can't I keep my house clean?  Oh, and that mail?!?  Why do I struggle to find time for just enjoying new things?  Why can't I finish the book I started three days ago?  I think these things are important enough for me but, I think until something is carved into my day or my week, it is easy to let other things take over this time.

This week my friend, Deb, came into school one morning and said she was going to make time to have breakfast at her island each morning.  I don't know what caught my attention about this statement.  Was it the fact that she was going to carve time for herself?  Was it the picture of peace in this little bit of time before our busy day with children?  Was it the word "island" that just made me want to relax?  I'm really not sure, but I know the statement has swirled in my head for most of the week.

The more I think about it, I suppose finding time is making time.  Maybe it's saying no to some things so you can say yes to others.  Maybe it's prioritizing what is most important.  Maybe it's setting limits for the amount of time that can be spent on work.  Maybe it's taking care of yourself a little bit.  Maybe it's making something a part of a routine so it becomes a habit.  Maybe it's just letting some things go.

In a meeting this week our principal smartly said, "Time will always be the enemy."  She's right.  There will never be enough time to do everything we want to do, but time is also our friend.  We are blessed to have it.  I don't have the answers for making better use of time, but this Saturday morning I'm comforted to be sitting here with my keyboard and cup of coffee with a little time to write.




Comments

  1. Time is a restraining force, yet even if we had MORE time, we would still have the same feelings about it! There's never enough. I'm with you -- there are many things I want to do in a day (like exercise or more time to read), but it doesn't always happen. Some activities require more energy (like cleaning or writing) and at the end of a long, busy day, I'm just too tired! It's a struggle for us all, but you have captured your thinking and given me a chance to think more about time. But that's why I love Saturdays too. (That's my slice today!)

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    1. Michelle,
      I think you are right, no matter how much time we had we would still wish we had more. I had to laugh that we both wrote about the same topic. There's nothing like a Saturday.

      Cathy

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  2. Cathy,
    I feel the same about having the time to write on Saturdays. I love taking the time to sit with the same cup of coffee (dessert in a cup-love it!) and let my fingers fly across the keys.
    Time being the enemy and a friend I think is also related to half-full or half-empty...
    Thanks for your reflection Cathy, your writing always makes so much sense to me. You always ask such good thought-provoking questions!

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    1. Amy,
      Perhaps times all about our attitude --- half-full or half-empty. I'll take half- full. Saturday mornings are time I'm happy to have.

      Cathy

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  3. It was so comforting to come across your post this morning as I'm sitting at my dining room table with a cup of coffee having just hit that bright orange "publish" button to send my slice of writing out into the world. Not only do I love your reflections on time, but it also nice to read the comments, how many of us are sitting in our homes doing the same thing at this moment, connected across time and place in our love of writing (and coffee!).

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    1. Jen,
      Isn't it funny to think that many of us were sitting down and writing at the exact same time. As I wander from blog to blog during Slice of Life, I'm always struck by how the simple things really tie us all together.

      Cathy

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  4. Sounds like we woke up at about the same time. I love how you speak about your coffee. Not being a coffee drinker I always wonder how Ray...and my mother, too...well, lots of people...like their coffee in the morning. I think my mother would have liked your dessert in a cup along with her chocolate chip cookies sandwiches with butter in the middle. As for time....people ask me and Ray if we are bored now that we are retired....but what we have found....we seem to have less time because we had set so many things to one side...and now have time to do them. Just thought I would let you know that once you retire...you will still not have time to do all that you want and need to do. Enjoy your Saturday mornings. :-)

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    1. Jackie,
      I wasn't a coffee drinker either, but everywhere I went there was coffee . Free coffee. I decided I need to learn to drink it. It took me awhile to acquire a taste for it. I still drink a cup that is quite doctored, but I do enjoy a morning cup of joe.

      I am hoping to not be busy in retirement, but it seems to happen to everyone.
      Cathy

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  5. Now I am feeling guilty for all the mornings I have invaded your special time. Next time I visit I will try and remember you need your time alone. It is good you have this time to sit and reflect.

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    1. Mom,
      You are always more important than my Saturday mornings. Besides if I didn't hang out with you I wouldn't have anything to write about. Have you seen my "mom journal"? Bahahahaha.

      Cathy

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    2. ME TOO! I love a trip to Stauff's with Cathy on an occasional Saturday! Guess we will move this to midday next time~

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  6. I am soon ready for my second cup of coffee! I am trying to learn how to manage my time during the weekends. I want to have the sense of accomplishment. Kudos for you for making time for you!

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  7. I used to wake up on Saturdays and charge around getting everything done..now I know better - that it's the only time to really enjoy a slow start to the day. Love your grandfather's saying, too.

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    1. I should get up on Saturdays and charge around to get everything done. Oh my!

      Cathy

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  8. Something you wrote resonates so much with me. You said, "finding time is making time. Maybe it's prioritizing what is most important." I think you've hit the nail on the head. We have to decide what it is we want to spend our precious time on and then just make it happen. Thanks for the message!

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    1. Carolyn,
      Now just remind me of that next week!

      Cathy

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    2. YES! That's why I went to Easton yesterday for 6 hours! Ahhh! Almost as good as breakfast at the island! tee heeeee

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  9. Thank you, Cathy, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who carves time and savors that special silence of Saturday morning. Your grandfather and my mother think alike. We make time for matters to us. Glad to be sipping coffee, reading and writing with you this morning.

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    1. The "silence of Saturday morning." < love it

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  10. I can picture your quiet house and your cup of dessert (any whip cream?). Perfect! I kind of thought the same thing this morinng - J. left for SAT, J. left for driver's ed. - a little quiet time. Then little one woke up… So, I traded one blessing for another. It's all about time - you're right. Great post

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    1. Well said, Lisa, "trading one blessing for another."

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  11. I think I have had all the same thoughts and questions as you about time...and I love how you ended with being ok with not having the answers and just enJOYing the time right then.

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    1. Saturday mornings are one of my favorite times.

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  12. Read this from my Dad's computer and was amazed that our minds were synching up today. Just finished my post and linked it to yours...Lovely. And you are making me wish I liked coffee. Sounds so good!

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    1. Trish,
      Headed over to read your post now. I don't recommend learning to drink coffee, but I do enjoy a cup in the morning.

      Cathy

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  13. Cathy,
    Time is so precious. I love so much about this post...dessert in a cup made me smile. Saying no to some things so you can say yes to others really resonates with me. That's been my mission for the last six months. Why does it take so long to learn these lessons? I wish my daughters would learn them now while they're young. :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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  14. "Finding time is making time." I like that Cathy. I'm writing that one down. Like your grandfather's words, those are also very wise.

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  15. Cathy- Think you are so right on with this post. We really do make time for the things that matter. Your Saturday morning ritual sounds like a perfect use of time to me!

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