Over the last 30 days
Posted on 04. Jul, 2010 by Laura-Jane - Whimfield in Personal
Over the last 30 days I have:
- Weeded our giant, weedy garden, which contains kale, lettuce, garlic, onions, beans, carrots, radishes, beets, corn, watermelon (might be dead), potatoes, peas, beans, and probably a few other goodies that I’m forgetting;
- Hugged my mother and my sister in real life, who normally live thousands of miles away;
- Slept alone in my own bed for seven nights while Cameron was traveling across Canada;
- Cleaned my entire house like I’ve never cleaned it before;
- Fell asleep on the beach;
- Spent time with the man I love;
- Rode a bicycle;
- Bought new clothes because I need to become more glamorous;
- Went to a drive-in movie theatre;
- Received a hand-written letter from an old friend;
- Watched Cameron work/work/work very hard on our seemingly endless house renovation;
- Contemplated getting a dog (again):
- Talked ourselves out of getting a dog (again);
- Jogged (once);
- Hit the snooze button;
- Listened to Sally Seltmann’s amazing album “Heart That’s Pounding” over and over (especially this song, this song and this song);
- Read “Put Your Dream to the Test” by JC Maxwell (good book, go read it);
- Ate only raw nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables (details here);
- Wondered, for the seventy-millionth time, what I am doing with my life;
- Played my cello passionately for the first time in almost three years;
- Drove around by myself to take photographs of some of my favourite places;
- Had an idea for a novel but realized that I have no dedication or drive for hard work;
- Danced with Cameron in the dark in a public place;
- Fell in love with this quote regarding stepping out of your comfort zone: “A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships were built for.” Think about that one for a second. It’s deep!
- Listened to my heart.
christy
Jul 4th, 2010
Loved the catch-up on your life! It’s been too long! (I can’t imagine you needing to be more glamorous though; you seem to already have that down pat!). Can’t wait to see updated garden pics (looks like that was from early spring).
nik
Jul 4th, 2010
You’ve been very busy since your last post. Was so happy to read the latest update on your life in PEI. Your ’ship in port’ quote is one I’m giving to my husband as we contemplate stepping out of our comfort zone and making a huge lifestyle change ourselves much like the one you and Cameron took. Love reading your blog and all your adventures.
Ed
Jul 5th, 2010
I pop in to check on your blogs here, via Stumble. I’ve followed your blogs since you both first moved out, and it’s amazing to see the progress you’ve made with your house! Central Canada, and the middle of the city, the most I manage are a few tomato plants and cucumbers. :-) I know the saying at the end of your list well. It does inspire a lot of thought when we hesitate to do, or try new things in life.
Take care, hope your summer continues to be a great one!
Ed
Naomi
Jul 7th, 2010
This is great. You are great. xo.
warren
Jul 9th, 2010
I have a dog I will give you…in fact, I will give you a real American dollar if you’ll take her!
Otherwise, sounds like a full life…some good, some bad…all yours
Kim
Jul 9th, 2010
Hi Laura-Jane!
I’m sitting at the Higher Ground cafe using their free computer, lol.
Love your list! It’s always great hearing what you’re up to in your life.
Are you posting pics of the new glamorous you?
My dad was just here for 3 weeks, too – great tp see him, sad to see him go …
You can come weed my garden if you want …
How did Cameron find the time to leave PEI? :)
And just think – more summer yet to enjoy!
RandomInternetGuy
Jul 12th, 2010
Over the last 30 days, I have read through your entire blog. It all started with some Google search. I do not even remember what I was looking for but strangely, I have found what I needed.
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.
P
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Jul 15th, 2010
RandowmInternetGuy, so what are you going to do about it?????? Come back and tell us.
RandomInternetGuy
Jul 15th, 2010
L-J,
About 10 years ago (I am a bit older than you), my wife and I left successful careers, went back to school, moved across the country (from BC to QC) and started a new life. Sounds familiar? For the last 6 months, I have been feeling like I have gone as far as I should in this current cycle. Everything tells me that it is time for a dramatic change but I guess I have become a bit lazy or maybe too comfortable …
Reading your blog has been like a good kick in the pants.
As you grow older, you weave an increasingly complex web around yourself. I now own a business (with employees), too much real estate, … All that stuff ends up making dramatic changes more logistically difficult. It does not change the fact that I need to make it happen ….
I do not know why I am telling you all of this but writing it feels right.
Cheers,
P
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Jul 16th, 2010
Sounds like after much adventure and big change you’re feeling stuck. Can you write out the steps to becoming unstuck and then evaluate what you’ve written to see whether it’s doable/realistic/worth it? I wonder whether your wife feels the same way and is up for a change too?
I’ve written about this before, but this comes to mind:
Author Po Bronson’s contention in terms of what we should do with our lives:
“Most of us don’t get epiphanies. We only get a whisper–a faint urge. That’s it. That’s the call. It’s up to you to do the work of discovery, to connect it to an answer.”
As for why you’re writing, I find writing things out makes them seem real. Doesn’t matter where you write it, on the internet or in a notebook or what have you. For people like us the actual act of committing pen to paper or finger to key brings our swirling thoughts into the real world–an important step for moving forward.
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Jul 16th, 2010
Oh dear, things are getting squished!
Johanna
Jul 14th, 2010
Lovely post. Thank you for introducing me to Sally Seltmann, I like that style of music.
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Jul 15th, 2010
My pleasure, Johanna. I very much enjoy her right now. Music is such a personal thing so I don’t talk about it much, but Sally Seltmann isn’t very popular but I think she should be thus I mention her.