Simple Abundance

"March arrives, the last hurrah of winter and the first whisper of spring. Slowly our spirits reawaken, along with the natural world, bare, now blossom with new growth. Deep within we feel stirrings of hope. Turn over the earth in the inner garden. This month we plan the seed of the second Simple Abundance Principle. Simplicity - in the fertile soil of our souls."

Each year I start the book, Simple Abundance, A Day Book of Comfort & Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach and each year I stop reading the book around this time. It's like a new year's resolution to exercise and it putters out when spring weather arrives. In the 3 years I borrowed it from Tellisa and then got my own (thank you Leann & Jeff) I always find something else to do rather than give myself the gift of time to enjoy the special 10th Anniversary Edition. Well, this year, it's going to change. I will set aside my knitting, painting, decorating, riding, visiting, partying, tv watching and computer surfing... for just 10 minutes to read a chapter a day. The other 10 minutes will be devoted to the elliptical..and if I get lazy, then I can combine the two, but this is my vow. I WILL read every word in this book. I WILL use the elliptical for more than a clothes hanger. I WILL TAKE TIME FOR MYSELF! (and then take another 10 minutes to share it :)

MARCH 1

Day 1, 10 minutes on the elliptical and I'm beat! Stage 1, level 5 and my legs are already sore, but my back feels better and I actually feel energized. Now I need to unwind before bed and the perfect way to do that is to READ!!!! Rather than continue where I left off in "Angelina: An unauthorized biography", "Simple Abundance" it is! I love the fact that the chapters are just over a page long!

Today's chapter, "Restoring Serenity to your Daily Endeavors". Sarah says to dramatically change the quality of our lives, we can restore serenity "when women stop behaving as if they were whirling dervishes". I was quite offended...but then I googled dervish. Yeah, a spinning top, going in circles could be said of the same. Or ADHD. Start one project and mid stream you see something else that needs doing so you do it, then something else and so on. Squirrel! While multitasking is something that I tend to take pride in, apparently "Serene women do not become sidetracked.". In order to "recover our sanity" is to "concentrate slowing on completing one task at a time", all day, every day (just like Grace Kelly.)

So if concentrating fully on one thing at a time, maybe I won't have to retrace my steps as often. Like when I forget what I walked into a room for, or where I left my keys, put my cell phone or what chapter I was on. Oh wait, this is going to be easy.. tomorrow's chapter title is March 2nd! It's subtitle is meditation. That's going to be a tough one. How can I sit still for that long if I'm just learning how to be serene?