Originally I was intending to go through each area and talk about them a little, things I think about when I am reflecting, yet as I was working on my system, my plan, it just was not flowing. Then this morning I sat down to write some and went to Weather.gov. Here is the forecast for my area over the next few days.
Rain, rain, rain, rain, and more rain.
Yet when I look outside, it could rain, yet the sky is wonderful blue gray with streaks of white and other shades of blue.
If you keep hearing over and over about positive or negative opinions, feedback, and views of your life, it’s like looking at a distant website and not really evaluating your true situation.
Focusing Too Much?
One of my issues with this series, I believe, is that I was too focused on my writing and not just letting whatever flow in the moment. It’s like a shooter getting tunnel vision, or not seeing the big picture due to the individual tree that captivates you, or not taking the time to individually consider all the moving parts that are involved in creating that great song that moved your soul, or any other product for that matter.
Going to either extreme, being too ridged or focused, or being too surface level, are both not good for this process. Even as I am working on this, as I do most of the time I write, I am listening to a talk based show and going to some other things from time to time, it’s just part of how my best writing happens. I know I could sit here and have no other inputs, not read a website, or email ever. Yet, finding not the right balance, but the right method that works for me is what helps me to write … and I know I am not a great traditional writer. I have to focus; when my train of thought gets going, I just have to write. This applies to any situation. Sometimes I get up from sleeping to get some thoughts down. Most of my life I have keep pen and paper close by – all the time. However, that is just how I work, and you might be different.
Not That Great
One other tendency that I, and people who grew up in a similar culture, have is the tendency to downplay what we do. We overlook *wins* that should be counted, celebrated, and remembered in rough times, yet they are so common that all that is left is a combination of the present situation & the new.
That is not Good.
Yes, living in the past is not good, yet, keeping a good perspective and learning from the past can help.
The Farm Perspective
This is a story I heard at some point, and carry with me. It is set in the past, somewhere in the country of a state like Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, or Tennessee.
One day a traveling businessman was walking down a country road and came to a nice farmhouse with a white plank fence, the farmer standing inside the yard leaning against the fence looking at a beautiful fruit tree.
This tree had great looking fruit just ready to pick and eat. It was big and full, and had fallen over and smashed to the ground sometime in the recent past.
The businessman stood there on one side of the fence, with the farmer on the other; both looking at the fallen tree. After a couple moments, the businessman turned towards the farmer and asked “Wow, that is tragic, your beautiful tree … So, what are you going to do?”
The farmer glances at him over his shoulder, and then looks back at his tree. Pauses a moment and then simply says “Pick the fruit & burn the rest.”
There are many good points and ideas that can be drawn from this story, and I will leave you to think through this for yourself.
Box 1 vs Box 2
The other thought, and comment people sometimes bring up when I present the 7 areas of life concept:
Some stuff fits in multiple areas. Yeah it really does. Issues with your family will affect your physical, in the same way wins in your production, job, or career have been affected by your social & communities, family, and other areas.
Stressing over what box a *win* fits in is not nearly as important as counting the win, celebrating, and being thankful in this process.
Next
The plan is to write on the different areas, yet who knows, it could be more along the lines of this post.
