Category Archives: Life Slots

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Ten Ways To Stay Grounded In a Busy World

This post I can’t take credit for, and I can’t quite recall the original source, but it speaks great truths to me. I often partake it some of the advice but hope to increase in those areas where I don’t. I hope you find it useful.

Ten Ways To Stay Grounded In a Busy World

1. Live simply and live deliberately. By choosing not to get caught up in the details of this fast-paced world, you are doing your part to slow down the . You will also discover that you have more time to enjoy being alive.†

2. Stay in touch with yourself. Soul searching, meditation, and journaling are just a few of the many activities you can take part in to stay aware and learn as much as you can about your emotions, reactions, likes, dislikes, dreams, and fears. Having a solid sense of self gives you a firm foundation for living in this world.†

3. Support or teach others as often as you can. This can help you form connections with people while also giving you an opportunity to make the world a better place.†

4. Consciously choose what you will allow into your being. The media bombards us with visions of hate, war, and pain. Be judicious about what you read, watch, and listen to.†

5. Acknowledge the beauty that resides around you. Whether you live in a sprawling metropolis or a stereotypical suburb, there are natural and man-made wonders just waiting to be discovered by you.†

6. Nurture your ties to your tribe. If you donít have one, create a community that you can belong to. Modern life can be isolating. When you have a tribe, you have a circle that you are a part of. Its members ñ loved ones, friends, or neighbors – can be a source of support, caring, guidance, and companionship.†

7. See the larger picture. Remember that the way that you choose to live is not the only way to live. Widen your perspective by exploring other modes of being through research, travel, and discussion.†

8. Embrace the challenges that life presents to you, and challenge yourself often. After a time, even the most exciting jobs or lifestyles can seem routine. Never stop assimilating new knowledge about whatever you are doing, and your life will never seem dull.†

9. Move your body. In this busy world, it can be easy to live a sedentary life. Movement reacquaints us with our bodies and connects us to the earth in a visceral way. It also restores our vitality.†

10. Make time for stillness, silence, and solitude. The world can be noisy, and we are subject to all kinds of noises nearly every waking hour. We are also often “on the go” and unable to relax. Being alone in a peaceful place and making time for quiet can help you stay in touch with yourself.

peace…
F!

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Time Management – The Elusive Continuum

It’s about 11:05 am on the night of the Presidential Inauguration. I took off from work today to take in the events and festivities from home. It was a very good day, historic to say the least. I’m determined to be in bed not to long from now, but wanted to finally get around to completing this post. The topic is one I thought of doing for some time, but have been only mildly energized to do so…until now…mainly due to a question posed to me from a follower on Twitter. One day last week, he posed this question to me:

How do you balance a real job and music career? I’m supposed to audition Tuesday and am thinking of bagging it due to no time!

That question…is one I constantly ask myself as time goes by. I often wonder, simultaneously, get the things done I do…and at the same time, fail to get things done as well (strange huh?). I have a to-do list to do everyday. I keep one because it is the only way I can ever get things done. There have been days where I havent accomplished a thing on that list (I’m sure I am not alone), but suffice it to say, I’m one of those people that can not operate without a daily to do list.

The music career my friend speaks of amounts my musical world – weekly podcaster (as u know), working on a CD project with my partner, playing in a band, being a musician for various music ministries in my church, writing my own material, doing recording session work for other artists as asked, and working on my own material for a future solo release. Add to that fatherhood, husbandhood, Parent/Teacher school board member and a demanding day job and….enuff said, huh?

There are many books written on time management none of which I read. I even wrote a paper on time management as my first ever assignment as a young engineer, my first job as an engineer in my mid-20s. My boss at the time was very impressed on the paper, as well as my presentation of it to my peers and suboardinates. So….(I laugh still), why does it seem so difficult to manage my time. For me, I’ve come to realize it has to do solely with steadfastness and habit, along with the continual dissipation of the sin I call procrastination (LOL). Procrastination is a thorn I have not yet withdrawn from my side, but glad to say I am making strides to realize it’s removal. Since I have always, and still do, enjoy my solitude, gaining it on the regular (even a lil bit), has become incentive to get done what I set to every day. I’ve learned to adopt the mindset try and stick to a to-do list as best as I can…the realization of crossing things of that list regularly is also incentive. Another important aspect is to truly prioritize items. I try to forecast larger things that need to be done, and break them down into smaller items to manage easier. Basically, that is the approach I take to best manage the time I have. It’s been said that each of us get the same amount of time…24 hours in a day….sure doesn’t seem like it at times 🙂

In any event, to my Twitter friend, I hope that helps. Schedule/to-do list/steadfastness. I know that you desire to make time in your life for more creative pursuits. Try these few things I’ve mentioned, if you haven’t already and let me know if they work for you….maybe you can teach me some things along the way….I’m game!

peace…
Fresh!