Friday, 16 October 2015
ali keilly writes: Day to day....
ali keilly writes: Day to day....: Life, severely gets in the way of living.....in particular, life, as we know it today in such a fast paced society becomes hectic at...
Day to day....
So busy are we connecting with friends on Facebook, many of whom we seldom see, or have never met. Whether it be Facebook, Twitter or any of the other social media sites that are available to us, it can quickly become an obsession. Don't get me wrong, I'm as guilty as anyone else in this regard. I enjoy seeing what's going on, I enjoy the information available to me through these sites....I love the political postings, the art, both modern and historic, the self help, the spiritual guidance and the hundred and one other things I open and peruse. I love that I have connected to some old friends I never would have without. I love that some strangers now feel like friends. Nevertheless it is, by definition, an isolating pastime. I'm not going out at those times and meeting friends for coffee, or sitting on a clifftop enjoying nature, or swimming in the sea or walking with family along the sand or through a forest. But we all know that, we know the benefits and the dangers of the Internet. Nevertheless it's something a big percentage of us are well and truly hooked into by now.
Except it's not just that is it, everything is so fast, so hectic. Modern life goes at a hundred miles an hour, most of the time we must scrabble to keep up. If you are married, you have to accommodate your husband or partners routine, his timetable, your relationship. Then, there is care of the house, the laundry piling up, the supermarket shop, cooking, or getting to the local markets. Or there's your job, how will you pay all the bills otherwise? The school run, the keep fit, doctors, dentist, whatever ...if you're lucky you find a little time for yourself. Truly, I've barely scratched the surface have I. Of course you may even need a workman, or dropping something off to the repair man, taking the car for a service, petrol needed, a car wash...so many tasks that must be kept abreast of, then what about the animals, your pets? There's the garden, we should be growing some vegetables shouldn't we? Keeping chickens, trying a hive, living green, perhaps plants in the house, herbs on the window sill, decorating etc. Then what about birthdays, holidays, sick days, clubs, hobbies, outings and the rest. I know in my busiest years a sick day was like a present to myself....I could step off the merry go round for a day...but then, going back again it was twice as difficult catching up. With the guilt on top of course. Now, in addition to all that mundane stuff, you have modern technology of the kind already mentioned with social media, but with electronic reminders to pay bills, or threats if you're late, Internet banking, telephone calls to persuade you buy, or answer a quick survey. It never stops does it, the worst of it is, a lot of people think it's normal..... just life. Except I'm now mature enough to remember a different way of life......when a less hectic routine was normal.
Well, it's certainly life as we know it now. I must say I could do with a shot of alcohol just listing all the stuff we must do. Come to think of it, I think I'll buy a bottle of red wine today. On Facebook an article said a glass of red before you go to bed slims you right down....I like the sound of that! Easy peasy slimming method. Of course, most of that stuff already mentioned, is only maintenance of what we have already put our energy into creating in the first place. It's no wonder TV is popular....you can sit there and veg out, or even sleep. 'What me fall asleep...my mouth was open.....I snored.......I never did! '.....Uh uh, I'm alert and on top of things at all times, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
My youngest son is now at the stage where he accuses me of being deaf. 'Mother, I told you that already, you even answered me'. Or, 'no, that's not what I said.....Oh Mother', he despairs. Imagining a life where he must shout constantly to make himself heard, or one in which I begin wandering off in the wrong direction through lack of hearing his instructions.....Little does he know I zone out a lot. Well seriously, I have told him that, but he doesn't believe me....after all, he knows I'm deaf! If I'm writing, or reading, even painting or watching the box, I zone out......I miss a lot.....oops....sorry!. Ok, I do, but it's not deafness, rather it's that I've found a way to get me some 'me time', some 'quiet time!' I like it inside my head.
O.K. I can't wind back time, unless we really do experience one of those end of days scenarios. Which I sincerely hope we don't, because I do enjoy the Internet, and lots of the rest. I can only suggest you each learn how to zone out a bit more, which might be hazardous to the traffic but hopefully not! Or, you add at least one thing to your daily routine which is solely for you. Some precious 'ME' time. A half hour of meditation to soothe the soul, a short time in your favourite beauty spot, without the phone on. A half hour nap after lunch, or a walk along the river really looking at nature around you. Perhaps an extra few minutes in the shower going through all the positive things you want to happen today, or this month. Whatever you decide on, do it every day,...I know you'll reap the rewards......it won't slow life down, but it will enable you to mange it all a bit better...please let me know what happens.....better use social media to do it....ok folks, full circle now....log on.....but also
ENJOY THE MOMENT.
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