Make time.
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Last weekend when I was driving down to Southern Oregon I had some time to think. Driving tends to be a good "thinking-time" for me. There is nothing else to distract (besides keeping my eyes on the road) and my mind seems to just kinda get going.
Looking back at my notes (I have to write this stuff down - I slow down and move over to the right lane) the number one thing I wrote down was MAKE TIME.
Make time for what?
To see & appreciate the little stuff. To snuggle on the couch. To read. To sit at the dinner table together (this is a hard one for us). To slow down. To exercise. To CREATE stuff. To live with intent. To take deep breaths. To tell your story. To go to the doctor. To make healthy meals. To change your job. To change your life. To do something that matters to you.
Making time can have a direct, positive impact on your own life. Over the last couple of years, through this crazy journey I have been on, I have really seen how this can make a difference. I feel different because I am conscious of the little stuff. Because I try to pay attention.
Making time is not easy. It takes effort. I have to stop myself from doing what I normally do (going through the motions) and institute a change. Daily effort. But it is all good because it works.
Today, make time to do what you want. Maybe it is as simple as brewing up a big pitcher of sun tea. Maybe it is taking that first step to investigate a new profession. Maybe it is putting on your athletic shoes and stepping out the front door (with or without kids in toe) because you know you need to get healthy. Make time. I can do this. You can do this.
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89 comments
Amen, Ali!! As a mom with young ones I've learned how sacred 'me' time is. If we can't take care of ourselves and fill up our own cup, how can we expect to take care of others? Thanks for the reminder to take the time. Today I think I'll go get a big Diet Coke and actually scrap - I've been wanting to for a couple weeks and just haven't taken the time out. Since its raining out here in SLC today, I think its the perfect opportunity for some time for me! :)
Brek
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Very true. I am trying to do the same. In this messed up world we live in, nobody has time to do things they want to do anymore - it is all stuff that has to get done.
BTW - great CD.
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Wow. How absolutely right you are. Sometimes in the middle of the hectic craziness that is life, you forget to make time to make things better for yourself. Thanks for a reminder to take a step back once in a while and do what's right for myself.
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Thanks Ali! I needed that. You've been doing that a lot for me lately. I'm so glad I found your blog.
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Ali,
Sometime when I read your blog and see all the exciting things you are doing, places you are traveling to, the time you have to create - I come away feeling that my life is so ordinary, boring even and that if I have to sit on the floor one more minute playing Playmobil I will lose my mind.
But I sense from your musings that you too are searching for a life that has meaning and that even though it may seem exciting to me, it is still a life that you are trying to put together day by day.
I read something Kent Nerburn wrote that holds alot of meaning for me:
"But ours is a transient life, lived on the run, with an endless sense of process, of movement, or chasing the future. We seldom pause to shine a light upon the ordinary moments, to hallow them with our own attentiveness, to honor them with gentle caring. They pass unnoticed, lost in the ongoing rush of time."
"We have been blinded by the bright light of heroes and saints. We must learn to trust the small light we are given, and to value the light that we can shed into the lives of those around us."
Just some meanderings for the day...Oh, have you checked out Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth"? There is a huge web site devoted to it - maybe you could mention it on your blog if it so moves you. You have such a large readership (sp?)and every little bit helps:)
Peace and Thanks,
Michelle
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What a great reminder Ali. I really find peace in making time for my children. It is not exactly for me but just giving them my time, undivided, for the day brings us all a great deal of joy. And it's fun to play as well.
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We always need little pushes and reminders. Each day I work to live life with purpose to connect with the essence. It IS a conscious effort to change habits and it sure isn't easy some times. The payoff is fab.
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So totally true, Miss Ali! I am working on a few things in my life... MAKING IT HAPPEN. At least doing everything necessary for change in my life to happen. Thanks for reminding all of us to do that.
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Ali, your blogs are so inspirational! thanks for helping me see today in a different light. I've been struggling to feel motivated and inspired, but I refuse to give up and go back to not doing anything about it.
I'm studying to be an OT (doing my pre reqs now because I majored in business in my undergrad and wanting to switch to a completely different field) and it's so awesome that you're helping people aware of austim.
Would love to meet you IRL one day! your work ROCKS!
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Ali ... thank you. ... this is exactly the reminder that I needed today ... I just did our annual survey at work, reminding myself of all the ways I am not satisfied w/ what I do ... and then I pull up yours, and Cathy's and Donna's blogs and see everything that you're doing and places you're getting to travel, and the control you have over what you do ... that's the main thing ... having more choices and control ... and I know that it's because I need to make time ... that's exactly what I'm missing to institute the change I need ... I need to make time ...
you're awesome ...
thanks so much.
-A
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I totally agree. Women like you, Heidi and Cathy have inspired me to take time to express myself and in doing so, it not only made me more happy but it has impacted many women in my life. I've taken time for my blog, http://unwrittenjournal.blogspot.com, and it has totally done all of this. Thanks for your inspirations!
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Love this post, thanks Ali! See you at CKU-A next week!
Brenda
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Love reading your blog, Ali, it's always so inspirational and I've printed several of your entries and put them in a folder marked "Ali's Blog." How did you get to be so smart at such a young age? Thanks for sharing your moments with us, I enjoy your entries so much. I'd love to make a big old jar of sun tea today.....if only we would get some sunshine around here! ~Elena (who lives about 45 minutes away from you)
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Thank you for such a great post. It make me think. It made me smile. It even made me a little misty eyed.
You continually find ways to inspire me and it's not just through scrapbooking. I appreciate it!
Amy
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THanks for sharing Ali.
Making time IS IMPORTANT.
We all need to do it more often.. I agree.
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I agree! This time of year everyone is so busy & wrapped up in things that I thik it is important to make time for the little things. Turn the tv off, phone off & take time with your family. I try to not turn the tv on most evenings. It's great!!
I have even started a Make Time list & stick to it.
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today I will make time. I will make time stand still for a couple minutes. and be thankful for the last 4 1/2 years here in southern oregon. I will make time to document the happiest moments of life here before we move on. I will make time today to remember only joy!
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Good stuff, friend. Good stuff.
Summer for me is always about making time... it's too easy to just let my kids fill their time away from me, so a few summers ago I made a conscious plan to SPEND time with them - doing things together, discovering new places and learning and working together. It's a daily, conscious effort, since I give up a lot of ME time during the summer. But in the end it is SO worth it. I love that we have that concentrated time together. And we make tons of great memories. And I don't look back at the summer on the first day of school and wonder where the time went.
I have to be deliberate about it - or it never happens.
Thanks for the little inspirational push today! I'm geared up now - school's out on Friday!
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WOW -- thanks i really needed that today
:0)
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I am so where you are at right now.
I did just this yesterday.
as I thought about what to have for dinner, and contemplated having take out again..I stopped myself, went to the grocery store and made a good healthy FUN dinner for us - banana splits aside...lol because it was important to make time.
how cool is that.
I love reading your blog.
we seem to be on the same wavelength sometimes and it's just the right amount of introspection.
:) thanks!
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