Last week was a whirlwind. The annual dream that is my city’s independent theatre festival has just wound to a close, so the one man shows and knife throwers are finally packing their trunks and reluctantly moving on to the next prairie city. After a week of running around the steamy downtown between shows, helpings of Gelati, mini-photoshoots with friends, and checking my e-mail far too frequently, I was in need of a little space from the city.
Mister and I packed our things headed out to the lake for a low-fi, no internet holiday. There were board games, movies, records, and those really good (really bad for you) curly fries that you only buy at walk up stands where nutritional information fears to tread. I even bought two $10 hunks of chick lit for the occasion. So you know I meant serious business, is what I’m saying.
We had a brilliant time steeped in watching Mystery Science Theatre 3000, reading in the hammock (which we broke!) and in watching my mother’s two huge dogs along with our own (total FOUR DOGS) which was was a little overwhelming, but fun. By the end we were referring to them as the Little Dogs and the Big Dogs until Mister pointed out that it was pretty Jon & Kate.
I always intend to step out of my normal routine and spend my days at a slower pace, with less time online and more time with my hands on puppy leashes, shutter triggers or in Mister’s hands and day trips off to anywhere seem to be the perfect time to just remember how to begin to do that. Things like checking my e-mail once a day instead of every time I see a computer or my phone come easier after a little time away, and I’ve even moved my computer into my craft room so I can use it for movie watching from my day bed and for listening to music while I sew instead of just for Twitter and e-mail.
I saw a show during the theatre festival that forced some perspective. It talked about how much life we all had left, and how we were using it. It asked, how many more trips to the park will you go on? How many times will you lie in your lovers arms? How many times will you feel wonder at the possibility before you? How many meals will you be proud of, or new friends will you make? Thinking like that, even for a minute makes you step back and appreciate what’s in front of you.
Between the show and the time away from my normal routine I’ve managed to step back for a moment and I re-discover the little things. I came home from the lake and got a movie subscription where I can have any 3 movies out at any time, and I’m going to watch His Girl Friday this week. A movie I’ve always wanted to see, so why not now? There are books I want to read, and old friends I want to hug before they move away. There are bloggers who move me who I would like to be better friends with, and I’d like to make more friends in my prairie city, especially as my friends are starting to move away. I want to learn to sew properly and scrapbook all the pictures I have. So why am I putting these things off? Why not do them now?
Mandy is calling it her summer of me, and I’m calling it my summer of starting over. What have you been putting off lately, and more importantly, why not try it now?
{image: Wai Lin Tse}
Princess of the Universe
Honey, if you ever want to book a scrapbooking day, I’m totally there. I’ve neglected my terribly of late…
xo
mandy
Love, love, love this. Stepping back and just taking a deep breath from it all has been exactly what I needed this summer. Putting things off doesn’t pay, you only get one life, might as well live it now and enjoy it. Here’s to a wonderful remainder of the summer!
Renee
I’ve been putting off cleaning… for good reason. I hate cleaning.
But seriously, I need to get back in touch with ME. The boy and I decided last night that after the wedding, we’re going to do some quality soul searching to get back to who WE are, individually and as a (married!) couple. It’s going to be great. And I think the authentic ME needs to watch more MST3k… because I love that stuff!!
Nora
I’m coyping Mandy, as you know, and having a Summer of Me as well. I have lost touch with my crafty self, my baking self, my cooking self, my exercise self, my sending-notes-for-no-reason to those I love self. And it’s draining. It’s kind of terrible to realize when you wake up that you’re gonig through the motions, just to get through the day, and that you aren’t always doing what you want.
I’m planning a lake trip with Irish.
I’m thinking about hiring a personal trainer.
I’m deciding on what I really want to do with my darn graduate school degree that is almost finished.
I’m going to get my own domain for my blog.
It will take time, but I will do these things.
(Also, I have His Girl Friday in my queue on my movie subscription and can’t wait to see it!)
erin
i just wrote a long comment but it didn’t post! grrr.
basically, i loved and am inpired by this post, you make me want to be a better me too!
andhari
you slways have some great insights for me to ponder about. And yeah i feel pretty guilty now about my blog checking and twittering routines. Your weekend sounds lovely, with the big and little dogs and your hubby without the internet
Pam
You are so right. I am constantly on the computer all day long because of work, which makes me check my email constantly all day long. Then when the weekend comes, I feel like I should check my email or see what is going on on whatever site, but I don’t. It feels liberating.
AshleyD
Oh my, Kyla. I love this! If you weren’t about a million miles away I would have to come give you a great big bear hug right now!
What I want to do:
-Begin reading through those two boxes of books about counseling my mom’s friend gave me
-Go tubing with my best girls
-Begin teaching myself how to cook
-Strengthen my friendship with certain bloggers who fill my heart with happiness
-Continue being joyful and live in the moment
Megan
I look forward to the weekends. Not only are they work-free, but I try to make them internet-free as well .. even if that means curling up on the couch next to Husband and watching tv. Weekends are the perfect time to unwind.
You’re such an inspiration, Kyla.
Elle Bee
Oh Kyla, your little escape sounds wonderful.
I want to read more. My stack of books is growing and with school starting in the fall, I’m sure it won’t get much shorter. I want to take more time to relax. To drink wine and laugh with the Boy, instead of rushing around to get things done. I want to be able to let some things slide.
Lindsay
I wish there were more lakes near here, there’s something so lovely about sitting on the banks and daydreaming. Sounds like your having quite a nice summer, hope it continues to be everything you hoped for!
Amber from Girl with the Red Hair
Your posts ALWAYS, always make me stop and think!
You’re right – why am I putting things off? (Well, partially because it’s so darn hot and I don’t want to move) BUT before I know it, it will be winter and I’ll be whining about the cold so I need to take advantage of lying in the sun, spending time with family and friends and reading my giant pile of books!
Your right – there’s only so many hours left in life that we can do these things, so why not do them NOW!
Your weekend sounds amazing, btw!
Marie
Couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve been putting off a lot which is only going to hurt me in the end.
And your little holiday sounds absolutely perfect! We all need to do that more often. Take a break and smell the proverbial flowers.
SoMi's Nilsa
Oh how this blog post touches me so, Kyla. Ironically, I take away from a technology conference that I need to simplify my online life. Pretty funny. I’ll be writing more on this subject tomorrow … but just know this post hit a nerve. A good nerve, that is.
Shop Girl*
Sounds like an absolutely perfect weekend away… and amen to your last paragraph. I almost felt like you were writing about my life for a minute.
I guess I kinda need this to be my summer of “right now”… I’m terrible for putting this off instead of seizing the moment. But enough of that–I hope your summer of starting over is fabulous, looks like you’re off to a great start!
Elly
Oh wow, that sounds like a great time away. I especially love the ‘low-fi’ aspect of it. Sometimes we get so caught up in our online lives that we forget to take some time for ouf offline ones . . .
Allie O.
Sounds like a wonderful time away. I’m definitely in the camp that it’s important to turn off, get outside and experience life to its fullest.
Oh, and that photo looks EXACTLY like a little cabin I used to stay in when I went to visit my grandma (it was in her yard until a few years ago). Nostalgia.
Maggie
oh gosh, the things I’m putting off keeps growing: I have a stack of books to read. I want to learn how to use my camera, and I want more time to devote to playing the violin.
your weekend sounds absolutely lovely. I wish I could convince my (soon to be) mister to unplug for a whole weekend, but he would probably die of withdrawal.
Larissa
YES! I’ve been talking about a year of just me for my 25th year…this is fabulous! I feel so much inspiration from your words! I guess sometimes we get caught up in lifes petty little things that we forget to see the larger picture and do the things we want to do… I think i’ve been ignoring my inner needs because maybe I’m too scared to do them alone?? I mean why should I settle? If I want to do something, why compromise to someone else, or for that matter hold myself back?
wine tour in the willamette valley
weekend beach trip
a picnic in the park
and going to see harry potter…
oh I’ve missed reading your stuff, I hope the summer is treating you wonderfully! (im sorry I’ve been so MIA!!) hugz <3
Jessica
Girl it is the summer of you. You are fabulous
Janie
Lovely, thought-provoking blog. I got a job today! So all the little things I’ve been putting off – going to dinner with the boy, getting my cut cut in a new style, joining a gym and/or taking pilates classes, and saving for travel – are all completely doable and right at my fingertips!
Kudos on being so wonderfully inspiring!
My Summer Song « Walking through the Rain
[...] like graduate school and extra hours at the office can wait. As Kyla mentioned in her most recent post, it’s important to think about how much time we have left and what we’d like to spend [...]
Jill Pilgrim
For me, its not that I put things off, I get incredibly anxious when things aren’t done. My days start and end with lists of things to accomplish (big and small). I feel like what I’m not doing is living in the moment. My mind is always on to the next big project/small task before I can even enjoy having just accomplished something.
Gorgeous post as always.
Mermanda
Kyla, you motivate and inspire me as always. I have to say that my 101 in 1001 days list was my own way of forcing myself to stop putting off things that can be done today. I have done about 1/4 of the things on the list and I get so much joy each time I cross something out.
steph anne
Great post!
I noticed that I like to plan things but sometimes they stay planned for too long. I need to seriously do what I say I want to do soon instead of putting it off. Great example is the new house – I better do the things I said I wanted to do ASAP!
I love being internet-free on vacations. It does make the time go slower and it makes me appreciative of the time and things around me.
Melanie
Hawksley Workman?
E.P.
Oh, Kyla, I love this summer for you. This post is SO inspiring and makes me want to really focus and spend sometime on these things for myself, as well. I’m going to start one step at a time, and I think that begins with my upcoming move in with a friend in this little town.
I’m so happy for you and that you’re getting to do so much this summer. It sounds like an absolute dream.
michelle woo
Love this. Sometimes, less can be so much more.
Angel
You’ve summed up everything I feel about my life in a better blog! I am so tired of being wired in (even though it’s technically my job) and I just want to live life. I feel like I’ve been putting my life on hold, which is so uninspiring. I want to be inspired by life and live it! Wonderful blog!
Kate
I love the picture at the top of this post. That’s where I want to sleep — it looks so cozy and camp-like.
What I was putting off before my recent 11-day camping trip was cutting down on my online time. I’ve been much better since I’ve been back and today I went through my Reader and unsubscribed to all the blogs I haven’t been reading. The sheer number of unread posts when I got home from vaca made me anxious and that’s not something I should be anxious about — I should be reading blogs because I want to, not because I feel obligated. Now the only blogs I follow are ones I’m genuinely interested in (including yours!).