“Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist but in the ability to start over.” This quote, from one of today’s emails, totally resonated with me…fortunately, on the one hand ‘cause I “can” start over – still- not to get too macabre/maudlin but the quote: “Ask not for whom the bell tolls …” does come to mind or my favorite biblical passage from Ecclesiastes : “There is a season…”.
A Twos- Day …
Best laid plans …
Just 9 days are left in this February month of the Leap Year…looking at my calendar, plotted out at the end of January, my intentions and adrenaline and expectations, erroneously high …”this month I WILL:
- A, B, C… X, Y, Z…
- 1…2…3…
- Yes, No, Maybe …”
I debated, revisited, tried this, that, rescheduled … This month I will ( I didn’t) and other plans (dreams?) popped up on my agenda, lists and calendar … some done, most transferred to the next day, week, to “someday maybe”lists unless that particular day was the absolute last day ever to DO THAT THING! And April 15 is still nearly two months away and even that date is flexible, even if “at ruinous costs”…
I tried different calendars and ways to make lists… and I’m reminded of the old saying: “best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley…”
Fortunately I use pencil…and I have any number of calendars, list- making tools, both analog and digital formats. Perhaps therein lies the problem. Less is More? Hmmm…
Since January 15, we’ve had not one but two “significant” (easily described when winterS come and go with nary a flake seen) snow events. The first, January 15 and several days that week included seeing a fox in the back yard! Yep! A fox!
The second, not quite a month later, another measurable “snow fall”. There are still remnants on the deck and other areas where the sun doesn’t shine … but no further sightings of “the fox”.
Instead, this past week my view has been enhanced by the bloomin’ of this :
Happy Holidays! And here’s to “Best Laid Plans”, Snow, Foxes, Christmas Cactus, and more February happiness surprises.
Cheers~
Morning Glory Studio 
Ah yes, these words could be applied to life around here too. Working on holding everything with a very loose grip! Love that plant photo.
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Your cactus is gorgeous! and here’s to making plans in pencil … or writing them in ink and then happily scratching through (which is my preferred approach – since it allows me to see what’s evolved).
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I wrote a long comment and lost it all…
I use Twos for flashes of brilliance/mundane reminders!
I use Outlook calendar if tasks get procrastinated.
I use my journal for a deeper dive if that become ‘tolerations’!
Your cactus is gorgeous; mine is unhappy and only made two blooms last month!
Here’s to the best laid plans! 😉
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I can’t imagine creating a list in anything but pencil! After 5 years or so of using the same planner, I impulsively purchased a new one this year after already having purchased the “old” one for 2024. It could have been a waste of money, but the new one seems to fit me far better than the old one, so I just wrote the expense off in favor of having something that keeps me on track. I like that it’s easy to customize to meet my needs (desires?). Hope all is well with you!
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A fox! How lucky you were to spot it! The most exotic thing I’ve ever spotted in my backyard is a groundhog.
Anytime I make a list these days, I do so expecting that it will change or have to be put off for another day. Something always comes up!
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A fox against the winter snow or even just a winter landscape is so beautiful. We have one that goes through now and again. The cactus is very pretty. Flowers in winter are a good thing. I hope all is well.
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So much to consider here! I just got back from a trip, and after 9 days away I’m perfectly comfortable with *not* ‘catching up’ but instead….’slipping back in to the now.’
Sounds to me like you wisely hold those calendars loosely. Here’s to the fleeting fox and blooms in February!
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