Day Two: Snow

Today was a snow day for my roommate, Codie, and I. I went to bed last night knowing that I was probably not going to work today, which I was completely okay with. This being the second week of the semester, I am still getting my bearing, and I am trying so hard to be a better student this semester! That means attempting to do all of my reading and getting a head start on papers and assignments. 

I got up at my usual 7am this morning. I might have slept in a bit, but I (1) like to stay on a schedule and (2) needed to move my car to the other side of the road. I pulled jeans and boots on and bundled up to head outside, shovel in hand. I knew it was going to be quite a job, particularly when I saw the snow-covered road that had not been plowed yet. I don't know why I even attempted to try after seeing the road, but being the law-abiding citizen that I am, I wanted to follow the parking rules (even in half a foot plus of heavy snow). It looked like I was going to get somewhere until I hit the heavy snow in the middle of the road that had piled up on either side of crisscrossing tire tracks. 

Out of seemingly nowhere came a young man who did not look prepared to be digging out cars. He offered to give me a push and I accepted. I knew our efforts were futile, but he really wanted to help. We tried for a bit, but ended up pushing my car back into the spot from which I had just dug it free. Oh well, I'll be parked on the wrong side of the road today. Looking around me, that didn't seem like it was going to be an issue. The man who helped me to push my car hardly waited for me to thank him, but I shouted a thanks after him as he jogged down the street to help a couple to dig their car out of the banks. What a guy. I was impressed, and his willingness to help inspired me to give my gift for the day. 

Since I already had my shovel out with me, I decided to clear the front steps and walk of our apartment house. While digging out my car I had seen Pat, our property manager, pull into the yard so I knew he was here to get going on the snow-blowing and shoveling. Not only does he have to care for our house, but also the house next door as well as some other properties in the city. The least I could do was clear our walk and make his job a little easier. Inspired by some of Cami's gifts and other stories on the 29 Gifts website, I wanted this gift to be anonymous. So, I shoveled as quickly as I could and finished before Pat emerged from the parking lot behind the house. I hope my gift made his day and little easier and reminded him how much his hard work is appreciated by his tenants (or at least this tenant)!

What makes you slow down?

Today the Northeast was hit by yet another snow storm! My family in CT got over two feet of snow, while up here in Albany we got at least a foot, maybe a little bit more. I was supposed to work this morning (I have been cleaning houses while I'm in graduate school), but the roads were still covered in snow when I got up and I didn't want to risk it. Luckily, I have a job with some flexibility, and I can go tomorrow morning instead.

Lately, I've been struggling with the idea of just being at rest. I am constantly doing something! Part of that is being busy with school, the holidays, work, internship, etc. But the other part of it is feeling like if I don't have something in my schedule, that time has to be filled. I am notorious for over-scheduling myself to the point where I sometime later realize, "I can't possibly do all of that in one day!" and need to cancel something.

So today, I was happy to wake up, call in and say I couldn't make it, and actually have a free morning. I made oatmeal for breakfast, caught the news (which I never watch), and snoozed on the couch until about 10. I then got a call from my friend Michele who asked me to walk up the street to get lunch. When do I have time to grab lunch with a friend? Never! I loved that it was spur of the moment (and I had time to say "yes") and that we got to walk through the snow to get there. The rest of my day was spent reading and catching up with some friends and my mom. True to form, this evening I cleaned  under by bed and straightened up my room (I couldn't have a completely unproductive day!).

So my question to you is: What makes you slow down? I realized today that I don't want a foot of snow to be what slows me down. I need to start saying "no" to myself (and sometimes to others) when it is time to slow down. I'm reading a great book, which I will post on soon, called 29 Gifts, and one of the gifts that the author talked about was a gift she gave to herself: time to relax, rejuvenate and refocus. Without guilt! That's the key, and something I would like to work on. The other key is that this time not be just to lay on the couch and watch TV, but to really spend the time focusing on yourself and your needs...a good meal, an extra hour in bed, prayer, meditation, a walk...

Instead of snow being the excuse, make it a personal decision to take a break from all that you do and slow down.