23 Oct 2011

Simplify.


I've been a bad blogger this month, but I have an excuse:  I have been (trying to be) good somethingelses, mainly at work and at home.

A few weeks ago, I started my new job. It's stimulating and demanding and I love it.

It's causing big changes in my life, though. So far none I hadn't anticipated - an advantage of taking the whole summer to weigh pros and cons - but it's still interesting to observe and experience the effects.

Changing your surroundings, circumstances or lifestyle has a way of confronting you with where you're at in life. As you develop new routines and grow into them, it's easier to see how far you've come and what you need to focus on for the future.

The most mundane but possibly most significant change for me is that I have a lot less 'free' time. That doesn't sound like a good thing, yet I feel more relaxed, in control and mentally free than I have in years. It was clearly time to stop fretting, hoping and assuming, go out on the fields and bring in the harvest.

What has changed?

I always thought I was unable to simplify my life. I'm the kind of person who's potentially interested in anything and everything. That is still the case - and I'm happy because it's a good skill for a writer - but I seem to have learnt to prioritise along the way. Who'd have thought?

Most importantly: giving up a number of things (or making them less prominent) doesn't make me feel like I'm missing out. To the contrary. I am less worried and more productive. I know that what's important will still stand out, possibly more so than before.

As a result, I have set myself a deadline for my novel. I have a (small) list with the final changes I want to make, and then I'm going to unleash my baby.

Whatever happens next, I'll live and learn - and change again.

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Image: 'Harvest time' by Steve Schnabel. Available under a creative commons license. © 2009, Steve Schnabel.
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14 comments:

  1. I am envious. I am SO ready for a change.

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  2. congratulations! no worries on the blog - do what's best for YOU! i got a lot of flak from certain people when i wasn't responsive enough to people on facebook so i finally just said hell with it and got off of it and i don't miss it one bit - it's a freakin' website after all, it's not who *i* am, and without it, it's one less thing to deal with. it may seem little to some and hard to imagine to others, but we have to decide, what things in our lives are timewasters and what things are worth devoting more time to. it sounds like your novel, your work, both are things that are relevant and challenging and that's a beautiful thing. congratulations! look forward to hearing the next chapter in your saga. everyone has room to change - problem is so many thing it has to be dramatic. most changes are evolutions - tweaks here and there til ta-da! you are somewhere new :)

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  3. Yes, I've found this to be the case too. The more I have to get done the more I'm really able to prioritize and decide what's important. It's amazing how quick I can learn to live without Angry Birds if I really have to. :P

    I'm so glad you're enjoying your new job. It's good to be challenged. And I can't wait to hear about your novel. It's time to get that baby out in the world. :)

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  4. Delores: big change or will small ones do? :-)

    EcoGrrl: thank you! :-) So true what you say: what we do isn't who we are.

    L.G.: I had a short look at Angry Birds (yes, pretty new phone - smart too!) and decided it's one of those things I should try and stay away from. :-) BTW, expect an e-mail later this week. ;-)

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  5. Well done on being so positive about the changes - glad you're enjoying the job. As you know, I've been thinking about trying NaNo for the first time and even before I sign up it's making me start to look at prioritising what's most important.

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  6. Change is good. They say that so I believe it!

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  7. less free time only means more productive time
    Good luck as the release nears.

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  8. 'Whatever happens next, I'll live and learn - and change again.'

    Of this, we can always be certain, no?

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  9. Wonderful post. Simplify and grow.

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  10. Rosemary: so have you decided yet what you're going to do about NaNo? A few days to go ... :-)

    Southpaw: maybe not always good. "Change is" - that I can 100% agree with. :-)

    Rubye Jack: thank you! :-)

    Suze: absolutely. :-)

    Munk: thanks. :-)

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  11. changes are good, they makes us develop.
    Congrats on the new job and I love the pic you've chosen for the post :)

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  12. DEZZY: thanks. :-) I love the pic you've chosen for your comment. =)

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  13. I'm so glad your new job is going so well and you are enjoying it. Can't wait to learn more about your novel, great idea to set a deadline for yourself.

    I love the picture you used as well. Have a great weekend! :)

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