Six days have passed

Who would have guessed, that one could become a fan of blogging? I have to admit I wasn’t so sure I would keep up with angchronicles, especially since I never know whose reading my post. However, that is the life of any writer, you get your stories, essay, books, poems published but whose actually reading your words? And are your words encouraging or are they simply blah, blah, blah.

Well, it has been six days since I’ve last blogged and blog entries are floating around in my head. It’s just like when I haven’t journaled for a few days, and then I spend hours pen to paper in some remote part of my house at either 5 a.m. or minutes past midnight. Of course, I can’t possibly blog that long, because angchronicles is not one of the private deep dark diary type entries.

Have you ever had an inkling to try something new and then once you got started, it really felt good and you enjoyed?

A inch away from saying ‘yes’

The evening of June 1, I received a phone call, “Angela, can you help me promote the building fire fund raising event?”

You guessed it, I said, “Yes,” without even thinking that my June plate was full. Why? The building that was destroyed by fire was the new site for our new church and we were thrilled with a move in date of October 2008. (Sorry can’t go into more details here, the site is still under investigation and church members have been asked not share unknown facts.)

However, my over zealousness threw me off balance and within 24 hours sharpening my saw was impossible. I looked at the calendar and the commitments and the time frames. I took another step back and reanalyzed, I could help, but with more time and more planning for an event in August opposed to June.

It goes to show me, I never plan to fail I can simply fail to plan, especially when dealing with emotions.

So I have to..

Finding time for me

It’s the second day of June and I’ve planned to make no more commitments  for this month. That’s something new for me. Usually I say “yes”, and then each day becomes more stressful as I’m planning ways to do things for me in between commitments to others. Now, I can be a workaholic, but sometimes something or someone suffers due to my zealous need to meet all demands–and those demands stretch far and wide between church, community and home life, let me not forget calling my mother and meeting with my girlfriends.

So, how do I find time for me: journaling, walking, reading, creative writing, seeing a movie, relaxing at a spa or shopping for much needed new items in my wardrobe?

A few years ago, I took a time management workshop, via phone for 22-weeks. Then I thought I was organized, however I discovered, I was focusing all my energies in one area of my life.  Therefore, I learned to plan my day and my to do list by remembering Habit 7 of Highly Effective People: Sharpening the Saw.

To sharpen one’s saw simple means to take care of yourself by balancing four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. It goes like this:

• Physical: The way you eat, exercise and rest
• Social/Emotional: How you make social and meaningful connections with others
• Mental: What you decide to learn, read, write, and teach
• Spiritual: When you spend time in nature, expanding spiritual self-through prayerful mediation, music, art, and service.

Jesus did it. He walked along the shore, dined with friends, escaped to the mountain top to be alone, and prayed.

So, for the month of June, I plan to sharpen my saw with an afternoon lunch with friends, a weekend journal writing conference, strength training at least three days a week,  and completing a 25-day devotional Woman of God, Blooming in God’s Garden, which I’ve had tucked in my Bible cover since 2006 and just started on May , 20081 and read up Day 12.

Take the challenge with me, start today and sharpen your saw. Make time for you! First!