I was talking to a colleague today and he was saying how he starts every year with a huge goals list that he tracks daily and makes sure to work on.

I told.him that’s exactly what I used to do too until this year when I decided to throw it all out the window and it’s been so liberating.

And I also told him that if I hadn’t done that I wouldn’t have had the space to learn Korean now. I would be having to work on my todos.

I would have had room to be open.

#open #olw #stayingopen

Last night when I was lying in bed, I found myself stressing about today. I wanted to finish my books, paint, spend lots of time doing Korean and then read more books and I found myself wishing the day was really multiple days.

I used to wake up during the weekend mornings and immediately feel a sense of scarcity as if the day was already over and there was no way I was getting through my list.

But I gave that up a few months ago. Now I take my time. I don’t have anything I have to get done and so I am never behind. It’s all bonus.

So I told myself last night that I got to pick one thing that I really wanted to do this morning and if I did that then the rest was bonus.

My plan was to finish the book I was reading. I got up, finished the novel and then proceeded to paint, read another book, hosted the little one’s friends, worked on my olw book, and now I’m doing Korean.

It all worked out. It always does.

#open #olw #stayingopen

Tough tough tough day at work today. Feeling grateful and also sad for my colleagues.

Doing what I can to support others and taking what I need today.

Done with work finally, off to do things that fill my soul.

Not much else to say today.

#open #olw #stayingopen

Working to stay open. Painting. Working. Reading. Learning Korean. Journaling. Wanting to do more of my own stuff but spending time supporting and talking to the kids instead.

As I fill out forms for diploma names and baby photos, I am keenly reminded of the passage of time and that everything else can be done later but the kids are only here now and I will prioritize them fully while we have this ephemeral time together.

#open #olw #stayingopen

Yes my Christmas tree is still up.

I know the sentiment is that if we always had 3-day weekends we’d get used to it and they wouldn’t be great anymore.

For two years in the early 2000s, I worked three days a week. I never got used to it, I never took it for granted. I worked hard during the three days, managed a team, got promoted. And during the other two days I volunteered and visited museums and did things that mattered to my soul.

It was perfect.

#open #olw #stayingopen

I am finally feeling open and spacious again for the first time in a while. The calm and peace that comes with that is one of a kind.

It’s still pouring outside so it’s not that.

I’m still doing the same things I was doing last week, so you can’t tell by looking at me.

So nothing is much different on the outside.

But on the inside, it’s like a whole new world.

#open #olw #stayingopen