Jan
6
2010
One life, live it…etc
I’m all about photography at the moment, and less about the words. Our Blog Camp 365 project has rekindled my love affair with Flickr and I’m spending a lot of time ‘over there’ and less time in the blogosphere at the moment. But save me a spot would you, because my Flickr passion waxes and wanes so it won’t be long before I’m troubling your blogs again.
This renewed enthusiasm has led to another on my list of 39 things to do before I’m 40 being crossed off ‘Learn how to use the Lensbaby’. I’m pretty chuffed to be getting to grips with the Lensbaby as there’s a bit of a knack to it, which has eluded me for a year. The wife gave me a quick lesson and ta da! I can do it, ish, but I do at least know what I’m supposed to be doing which is a major step forward. Those lemons up the top were taken with the Lensbaby…I know they look blurry but they are supposed to be, that’s the result of the Lensbaby’s ’selective focus’ doodah. It’s not blur, it’s art. Giggle.
I was too hasty in crossing off ‘learn to crochet’. I can’t get to grips with the basics at all despite quite a lot of reading/YouTube watching, cry. I’ve put that project on ice until Blog Camp 3.0 next week where I intend to get the lovely Kristina in to a headlock and force her to teach me the ways of the hook.
The 39 List, which was only ever intended as a light-hearted and rather trivial project, has really got me thinking in a surprising profound way. Or perhaps it’s the thought of turning 40? I’m not sure what the catalyst is but I am continually finding my thoughts straying in to the ‘this is it…life’s not a rehearsal, one live, live it blah blah blah blah’ territory. Who knows how long I will live, but it’s a fair bet that I’m at least half way through it at this point and quite possibly that proverbial red bus is right around the corner. The realisation that there’s not ‘all’ that much time left and the fact that I still have a lot of things I want to do has really hit home in the last few weeks. The list of things isn’t getting any shorter, but my life is, so I might as well get cracking.
I’m not a procrastinator by nature, but I am a creature of habit and I really don’t like change. I’ve mostly been in hibernation since having children as I found the first few years really hard going, and it was all about survival. But those tough years are gone now and it’s time to come out of hibernation and GET ON WITH IT. By which I mean, well, life I suppose. I seem to be engrossed in the reassuring rhythm of my own personal Groundhog Day, never breaking in to a sweat or doing anything different and just going through the motions of life. It’s like I’m 89 not 39.
But The 39 List has forced me to take action and, I have to say it, I like it. I’m even considering adding bonus items like learning the cha cha cha for no other reason than ‘why the hell not’? As Julochka likes to say ‘What are you gonna remember?’ It’s a good touchstone…what am I going to remember more…another night glued to my MacBook or learning to dance, however badly? What am I going to remember…the fact that my laundry was (nearly) always up to date…or the fact that I finally learnt to crochet?
I didn’t make any New Year’s Resolutions because, let’s face it, they’re all a bit crap aren’t they? But I’m officially declaring war on inertia, and am making 2010 the Year of Action.
And that’s what I’m gonna remember.
Yep, me too with the war on inertia. And I don’t even have Mega Boys! Need a personal assistant to come and help you with that list?
Declaring war on Inertia! Now that’s a post title if I’ve ever heard one! And….It’s not fuzzy, it’s art, another good line. Love your sense of humor. Can’t wait to see pics of you cha cha cha-ing. Glad you’re getting some personal instruction on the crocheting…it helps big time! Darling Daughter is teaching me to knit this break…if I didn’t know how to crochet it would be easier. I keep trying to hold the needle like a hook, ineffective! But I’m determined. Mwaah!
What a lovely positive post.
As my dear old nan says (when I’m moaning about the state of my house), “well old duck, you’re not going to lie on your death bed and wish you’d done more housework, are you?” So true.
xx
Very true. I was thinking of signing up for the 101/1001 project, but actually a lot of the next 1001 days will be taken up with me being back at uni and catching babies. But maybe I’ll set myself a mini project of doing 38 things before I’m 38 in August. But not dancing. Or probably not dancing…
Really great post! Thanks for the reminder!
You know? THAT’s the power of wriiting! Right there!
You Go Girl…. there’s nothing I like more than a cha cha cha-ing, crocheting mad photo takin’ NBF!!!!!
And when you’re 40 I will be too because I have no intention of moving beyond the Four Oh!!!!!
bravo, spud!! we also have elizabeth to help us with the crocheting thing at blog camp, so if we come away without learning it, then we’re just pathetic and should probably take up some other madness.
and now i’m off to think of another madness….
i think i’ll just adopt about 90% of the things on your list
I am in complete agreement with you. good job, and thanks for the motivation
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” ~Annie Dillard
There is something about turning 40 (I vaguely remember it), and one does begin to think about life differently. You’ve also had some losses lately, and that’s another prod to look at life. After the big 5-0h my god – time really zooms along, so it’s good to practice while you’re at 3-9! By the way, you might remember that your laundry was caught up…it’s a sign that you have kept pace with something that is necessary AND comforting. What’s not great about having clean clothing and linens! I used to worry that being uber organized and tidy at home meant that I was lacking something else, something better. I’ve finally learned it means that I know that looking out for those things makes me, dare I say it, happy.
xo
Inertia is my middle name right now. But, to my defense, I am recovering from years of too much doing. Taking time just to be right now. Or to BE lazy. Besides, I have already turned 40 so it’s too late.
Hurrah for cracking on with new experiences.
actually we had come to a similar conclusion at the end of 2009, and have both decided to learn guitar this year. I can almost see next Christmas…Sitting round the tree, us strumming out nostalgic carols,the megaboys singing along angelicly (?) and us all wearing our christmas presents…matching jumpers…crocheted of course!
I’m so with you on the first few years of child-rearing being about existing rather than living. I’m getting to the same point as you, desperate to do something, anything other than the drudgery of being a mum/running a home. So I spent the day in the pub getting drunk with my friends, then the evening getting drunk with my husband, then we skied home in our wholly inappropriate footwear giggling for England. Much more productive that doing a colours wash and dusting the skirting boards, I’m sure you’ll agree.
Congrats on scratching “learning the lensbaby” off your list. The lemons look divine!
I’ve been in hibernation mode too (although I can’t claim kids as an excuse). I’m working on getting on with it too. lol