12 August 2007

insomnia & books

Oh oh how I'm SO grateful for being introduced to goodreads by a couple of friends. For the last several years (let's call it "post-baby") I've made my way through a few books, but have not included regular reading in my life, except for daily reading with Jaxon. While the Wind in the Willows and Robert Munsch and Rudyard Kipling and Dr. Seuss are quite wonderful, they're not exactly chock-full of adult brain stimulation (well, they are, but in a different way). It's sort of like looking after a child full time. It's hard work and fulfilling, but at a certain point you long for adult conversation and interaction. So, do we think there is a connection between staying awake half the night and being fully immersed in a book? I dunno, but I do know that for two nights in a row I haven't been able to sleep properly. My mind going in a billion directions at once, feeling stressed before bed I'm sure doesn't help. The first night I tossed and turned, contemplating rising around 3:30am. The second night I gave in, and warmed some milk and cracked open my book. I love reading and am really glad I'm back into it. And I like that I can read a few pages or half the book, depending on my mood and schedule.

Tomorrow I'll be going back to work. Today will be spent doing some organizing and watching Dren and Len install our dishwasher, a.k.a.: marriage saver. I'm desperately in need of some creative time as well, so I hope to get some of that. I've been making things here and there, but feeling the need for direction and focus.

Ali's new daily something project got me both inspired and a little bit overwhelmed/exasperated. Jump starts are a great thing, but for as long as I can keep going on a "daily anything", I know the day will come where I can't participate and then it becomes a negative burden. I sat with that for a few days and then realized, it's OK. I mean, that's what Ali always says herself. Mistakes are OK, and we have to forgive ourselves our faults and be grateful for what we can do; for our accomplishments, our families, friends, learning and growing.

So what I'm going to concentrate on for myself will be my version of a daily something...and I'm going to call it the Gratitude Project. The days I don't necessarily have time to make something, I will rely on my blog to document the gratitude piece. Any of those can eventually become journalling for a piece of the Project. Anyone interested in the Gratitude Project? A no pressure way to continue being grateful on a regular basis. Hmmm...I think I'm going to start today!

xog

3 comments:

sarah said...

isn't goodreads great?
i recently discovered it myself.
love it.

love the idea of a gratitude project.

Missy said...

I do love that goodreads...
and my "to read" list keeps GROWING!!

things will settle down...
they always do :)

miss you mucho..oxoxoxox

gabbyfek said...

love you, girlie...
and HOORAY for the dishwasher!
xoxoxoxo.