The No Excuses Project: Doing this will stop me from starting more important things
September 2, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under No Excuses Project
This week’s excuse, ‘doing this will stop me from starting more important things, is a common affliction for those of us with many interests and is often met with the reponse ‘better to do nothing at all than to do the wrong thing.’ It’s a hard one to undue because there are always more ideas and projects than their are hours or hands. It’s the excuse that’s the problem, though.
Have I cured myself in a week? Not hardly, but I believe this one boils down to trust; trusting that things will work out, that neither time nor our lives are linear and that things can branch out to bring us back to the other fork in the road. We take the path we are meant to take and the path we take is always the right one. Do I sound convincing yet?
Somehow it’s easier when the passion or conviction is strong – I must go to Europe! and we go. When it comes down to choosing between a continuing education class in belly dancing or kaleidoscope making it’s a slightly tougher call. Maybe we are supposed to stay home and write that novel instead…
I think my only real answer is to look at the project or question that is calling and ask if it in itself is an excuse, luring me away from dealing with what I know needs my attention. If it isn’t, than it is the right thing to start, or research, or ponder in that moment. And it’s ok to set it aside later when something else legitamately calls. Once the excuses are eliminated, it will be completed in due time.
Next week: It’s not my nature
The No Excuses Project: I’m too old or too young
August 19, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under No Excuses Project
It’s been a busy week so I haven’t really had a chance to sit quietly with this excuse “I’m too old” or “I’m too young”. But, like most things, the world conspired to keep it a learning experience regardless. First of all it’s been a week of having everyone I’ve talked to tell me some story about my father. I think it’s totally natural when someone dies to think back about your experiences with that person but when you’re on the receiving end it can be a bit overwhelming. It seems universally acknowledged that my father never used this excuse on himself. He ran and won a local elected office when he was 80 and went to war when he was 17. He was always making plans and getting toys in his Christmas stocking.
So why is it that he was constantly telling me that I was too young or too old? As the youngest child “later” was the most common response to just about anything new that I wanted to try and “it’s time to grow up” was the admonishment for anything that I didn’t. And while I never let that stop me I think a thread of it made it’s way in. It was implied in my adult life as well – how could I possibly be old enough to know how to do my taxes? or do home improvement? or go out on a date?
There are also times when I feel that I missed my chance; that if I wanted a particular thing that I should have set about achieving it years ago. It can be hard to have faith that things work out in their own time. We want evidence that will support the theory and yet some things are more binary and only result in a yes or no answer. For example, how can you possibly gather evidence that true love is coming? Other than reading your horoscope or consulting a psychic, that is. You either have it or you don’t and neither circumstance is proof that the other will not be in your future, regardless of your age. At least this is what I keep telling myself.
This one is the type of excuse that affects my attitude and thus influences my actions more than it affects the actions themselves. I will be continuing to watch and observe to see where I can eliminate it and am hoping for some significant changes.
In the meantime, it’s time to pick one out of the bowl for next week but… I’m not in the same location as the bowl and won’t be for more than a week – a perfect excuse opportunity! Instead I’ve decided that an excuse that I know is in there and seems most fitting for this week will be the focus: I’m too tired.
Overlapping
May 11, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under Visual Meditation of the Week
If the high mountain meadows waited for the winter snows to clear before the wildflowers bloomed, there might not be any. Some years the snow never completely leaves before the next winter starts in.
Are there areas of your life where you are waiting for something to happen that isn’t truly necessary before starting towards a goal? For example, a friend that says she has to lose ten pounds before she can start dating again?
Mt. Rainier, Juliet Chase, all rights reserved
