This month was a month full of “ah-ha” moments. So many.
In fact, this month was so full, I even found a theme song… listen if you like and see what I discovered this month! The song starts at 1:40… (but if you listen to the bit of the talk before the song I found something magical there…do what you love, every day!)
Slow down, you’re doing fine. You can’t be everything you want to be before your time. — Billy Joel, Vienna
This month I contemplated what I am filling my time with. Do I over think? (Yes…) Do I under think? (Again, yes…) Do I think at all? (Oof… sometimes I don’t)
And then that quote… slow down, you’re doing fine.
I finally read Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks, and while there were some very repetitive bits, there were some very good nuggets waiting for me there and, if I am blessed to live to 80, that leaves me with just 968 weeks to fill.
And with those numbers in mind I am going to feel less guilt about “not doing all the things” … I know, but in choosing to not do all the things, I will have time to do the important things… without guilt.
The other thing I struggle with is FOMO… no, not fear of missing out… my FOMO is my fear of messing up. That perfection issue I have… and one of those little nuggets Burkeman shared was some wisdom from Rilke:
…the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer. ―
Live the questions now. Gosh, what incredible advice…because I might not have the answer until tomorrow, or next week, or next month. Or, perhaps… never... and that is okay!
This kind of thinking has absolutely changed how I am thinking about my days… the lists I make (or don’t make and really… not making lists, my gosh it is freeing!)
And so what did I do with all the extra time I found this month… what did I do with the four weeks that May gave me? I slowed down… drastically.
I signed up for an art class… water colors… and I am loving the time I spend there every day. Why is it so good? Well because I am messing up… lots! What better way to overcome that fear than just messing up, right?
And there you have my very full May… full of so many ah-ha moments. And that is exactly what I want… to be full of the things that matter.
A huge thanks to Carolyn for providing a space for us all to share the discoveries we made this month!
See you all back here on Wednesday!
I love that you have slowed down and are trying watercolour painting. Sometimes less really is more.
May sounds like it was simply a wonderful month for you Kat and I am so glad. Letting go of the Fear of Messing Up is so freeing! I hope you will share some of your watercolors with us.
You sound so content with what you have discovered in May! As June approaches I hope you can continue, making lists, not making lists, and spending good time with watercolors!
I struggle with this a lot, too. It’s really hard to slow down sometimes, especially when there are demands on my time (work, parenting, etc.) that I don’t have the luxury of putting off. But it’s a good reminder that it’s okay to not do everything — and that it’s okay to mess up occasionally!
What do we fill our time with — that is something I need to keep in mind.
There are SO MANY gems in Burkeman’s book! Sometimes the best thing to do . . . is create some space for ourselves. What profound lessons, Kat! I love it. XO
So happy to hear you got so much from 4,000 Weeks! You already know that I spread myself way too thin, but it was freeing to read, yet again, that it’s simply not possible to do everything I want. So I’ve been working really hard to pare down. It will be a lifelong practice, for sure!
Enjoy your watercolor class! It sounds delightful 🙂
Slowing down and filling yourself up with the things that matter sounds perfect. Your journey is inspiring.
Oh, that book…one of my favorites. And sounds so powerful for you. What great Aha’s to take forward woth you. (And art class!! Huge yay for art class!!)
What a beautiful post. I have always love that Rilke quote about living the question. May sounds like it was a good month for you.
so excited that you signed up for a watercolor class! I love my paints and the space that it gives when I’m in the art zone. Your month of May sounds wonderful.