Funny how time sneaks by without you really noticing. There you are, going through those every day motions:-Driving to work (gas is $2.75 a gallon!)
-Buying groceries (and wishing you could rent a movie while at the grocery—to save time)
-Chatting with people about politics (What was Clinton thinking?)
-Typing press releases on your typewriter (Oh my. I’ve completely dated myself.)
-Hearing about some new movie (Have you seen “The Sixth Sense yet?”)
Then, all of a sudden ---you blink and …
-Gas is $4 a gallon
-Starbucks has taken up residence inside the grocery (along with a movie rental machine)
-People are chatting about politics ALL THE TIME (Is it really necessary for us to know what the politicians are thinking 24/7? Do we really care?)
-You’re uploading a blog entry.
-The number one movie in the country is “Hellboy 2” (People. Please. Save yourselves. Now.)
I know. Change is inevitable. I accept that. I’m just trying not to get depressed by it. Recently, I read something that resonated with me. The article talked about how our human security in this big (and lately scary) world is often linked to a need to control things in our own little worlds. It’s not uncommon for us (as we age) to go through a sort of personal downsizing of that big conquerable world we faced with confidence in our younger years. (Now, I’m paraphrasing the article—and maybe even interpreting here—since I can’t remember the exact verbage.)
In other words, we tend to retreat into our cocoons. I think that resonated because I find myself doing that. A lot lately. (“I don’t care what you eat for dinner. I NEED TO MAKE THIS BRACELET. NOW!”) I know, it’s sad. I’m not proud of this. I know we were created to be with other people—part of a community. But … IS ANYBODY ELSE OUT THERE EXHAUSTED??
My friend LB and I had an email conversation about this earlier in the week. She noted—accurately, that there seems to be more and more women out there blogging about the things that girlfriends used to get together and talk about in person—a great recipe or book, a new movie, opinions—or just sharing personal stuff. Now, we just pour out our souls in these blogs—not even sure if anyone out there is reading. Or if they care. And we don’t make time for the caring and support and girlfriend stuff.
She’s so right. I’m so guilty of this. But how do we stop this crazy, treadmill we are on? If you’re like me, your feet hit the floor at 6-7 a.m., you get the kid(s) ready for school, head to work (2 hrs round trip travel time per day), stop by the grocery, rush home, make dinner, clean up the mess, do laundry, pack lunches, walk the dog, brush your teeth, go to bed. Wake up to do it again—and discover that 2008 is almost over. What happened? And where did that year go? Or last year? And we wonder why we feel something is missing from our lives.
Note to self: SLOW DOWN.
Note to LB: I know I’ve been a crappy friend lately. I’m so grateful to have people like you in my life to help me take stock of what’s important. Can you do “cawfee talk” on Sat or Sun evening?
