You might like "Four Thousand Weeks" by Oliver Burkeman. Kind of an anti-time-management polemic, written by a former "time management guru." It's pretty great.
You reminded me of a rough time during my divorce. I was seeing a therapist, which wasn't particularly pleasant, and I always promised myself a delectable lemon square at a wonderful bakery about a block from the therapist's after the session. I have nothing but good memories of lemon squares and still love them! Now that I'm retired, much of life is relaxing and pleasant, but a highlight is having a day when the weather allows me to sit on the screened porch for an hour or so, listening to the birds and counting the rabbits. On occasion there are deer, and of course the squirrels and chipmunks. My nearly 16 yr old cat loves the porch as much as I do, so we enjoy it together. Maybe someday you'll travel near I-86 and stop to enjoy my porch and a glass of ice tea - or wine!
Most Mondays include the highlight dog walk of the week. We get the dogs loaded in the car and go on an adventure. It varies but our favorites include a great loop at Maybury State Park, or hike on the Oakland University campus golf courses in the off season.
I talk to one of my sisters almost every day. We can't see each other as often as we would like because we live hundreds of miles apart, but we share everything. The good, the bad, the ugly. We'll pour a glass of wine and share our day. We laugh, we cry. We remember. We solve the problems of the world. We are there for each other no matter what. Those 15 or 20 minutes at the end of the work day makes everything easier.
The Highlight for me today was to pull weeds in the garden and to plant a few new lettuce seeds. I spent my early morning searching for Horned tomato worms, picking vine ripe tomatoes ( what was left after the worms) stroking my blueberry bushes, admiring the bees that were enjoying the basil flowers and talking to a really tiny frog ( the size of a dime). These activities help me feel grounded. They are my highlights in a day that is 12 hours long and grueling. Jumping from one crisis to another, putting out fires and stopping in the middle of the tornado to listen to someone's faith crisis. By 8pm I am wondering what on earth I got accomplished on my list. So, these quiet highlights are important in the grounding for me. I'm even planning tomorrows highlight- care tp join me for a drive to the farmers market on the lake in the convertible?
Birdwatching. At the camp in NE PA we are managing, it is a paradise of birds. This summer as the campers sat for morning watch, the bird feeder, not more than ten feet away was frequented by a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Gorgeous black and white with a rose triangle in front. Also blessed by the presence of a stunningly beautiful bluebird that flitted back and forth putting on a show for everyone.
When our Mom was in memory care, sister Nancy and I would go to to HTeaO (the iced tea store) and get a coconut flavored tea after our visits. The flavor was delicious and also somewhat bitter, like those days. I've retired coconut flavor, but I still and always love stopping for an iced tea.
In the looking ahead department, my sister was going to take me to NYC for my birthday to see Hamilton and a couple of other shows...it was 2020. Did not happen. Since COVID I've learned that it's really important for me to have something to look forward to. I think of it/them like a string of white lights reaching into the future, becoming brighter as the planned event draws near. On deck soon: a local theatre show, Pub Choir!, a sisters' visit to our 96-year-old aunt, and something called Camp Atta Girl! in November.
Great idea! Do highlights need to be planned? Not to be too cutesy, but my highlight for today was reading this and reading another one of your writings. Will save the archived ones for highlights for other days. Thanks for sharing.
Aww, thank you for that. And, you’re right, the surprise highlight can be a gift. I like to plan them to offset the hard stuff I know is already scheduled.
I always seek to leaven burdens with joy. In my weekly visits to my developmentally disabled brother-in-law that held significant challenges, we'd head to the movie theater. It really didn't matter whether it was a Marvel movie or a rom-com, just sitting in a darkened theater with the food we had snuck in was a treat that we both enjoyed. For my weekly runs, I treat myself with a visit to a luxurious fruit smoothie at the end of the self-styled 10k. In visiting a bedridden friend monthly struggling with debilitating physical and mental ailments that lived in a a city three hours from my home, I'd go out the night before and collect stories from music clubs and bars to regale him with and spur our laughter.
Oh, insomnia cookies are always a highlight, thank you for the reminder. Taking some time in a weekend to clean out a drawer or a closet gives me immense material satisfaction.
I love this idea...because I too go to bed at night and wonder "what did I produce today" and love time management but SOMETHING has to be fun. For right now, my highlight is to have dinner with my husband on TV trays and turning on the latest episode of Outlander. There's something so satisfying about coming to this part of our day and having this treat together. Your post is making me think I need to add some more highlights throughout the day.
You might like "Four Thousand Weeks" by Oliver Burkeman. Kind of an anti-time-management polemic, written by a former "time management guru." It's pretty great.
I do love that book! I agree. I’m eager to read his new book soon.
Oh, right, thanks for the reminder that there's a new one coming!
You reminded me of a rough time during my divorce. I was seeing a therapist, which wasn't particularly pleasant, and I always promised myself a delectable lemon square at a wonderful bakery about a block from the therapist's after the session. I have nothing but good memories of lemon squares and still love them! Now that I'm retired, much of life is relaxing and pleasant, but a highlight is having a day when the weather allows me to sit on the screened porch for an hour or so, listening to the birds and counting the rabbits. On occasion there are deer, and of course the squirrels and chipmunks. My nearly 16 yr old cat loves the porch as much as I do, so we enjoy it together. Maybe someday you'll travel near I-86 and stop to enjoy my porch and a glass of ice tea - or wine!
Most Mondays include the highlight dog walk of the week. We get the dogs loaded in the car and go on an adventure. It varies but our favorites include a great loop at Maybury State Park, or hike on the Oakland University campus golf courses in the off season.
This is delightful! I like the combination of routine and adventure.
A hike is a highlight for me! If I can’t get out, making a cup of tea with a piece of dark chocolate at the end of the day is lovely.
Both sound great, depending on the day!
I talk to one of my sisters almost every day. We can't see each other as often as we would like because we live hundreds of miles apart, but we share everything. The good, the bad, the ugly. We'll pour a glass of wine and share our day. We laugh, we cry. We remember. We solve the problems of the world. We are there for each other no matter what. Those 15 or 20 minutes at the end of the work day makes everything easier.
That’s such a wonderful highlight.
The Highlight for me today was to pull weeds in the garden and to plant a few new lettuce seeds. I spent my early morning searching for Horned tomato worms, picking vine ripe tomatoes ( what was left after the worms) stroking my blueberry bushes, admiring the bees that were enjoying the basil flowers and talking to a really tiny frog ( the size of a dime). These activities help me feel grounded. They are my highlights in a day that is 12 hours long and grueling. Jumping from one crisis to another, putting out fires and stopping in the middle of the tornado to listen to someone's faith crisis. By 8pm I am wondering what on earth I got accomplished on my list. So, these quiet highlights are important in the grounding for me. I'm even planning tomorrows highlight- care tp join me for a drive to the farmers market on the lake in the convertible?
That all sounds so healing and grounding. Plus, the farmers market is always a delight.
Birdwatching. At the camp in NE PA we are managing, it is a paradise of birds. This summer as the campers sat for morning watch, the bird feeder, not more than ten feet away was frequented by a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Gorgeous black and white with a rose triangle in front. Also blessed by the presence of a stunningly beautiful bluebird that flitted back and forth putting on a show for everyone.
Mmm…beautiful!
I love the ideas of paying attention and finding highlights
When our Mom was in memory care, sister Nancy and I would go to to HTeaO (the iced tea store) and get a coconut flavored tea after our visits. The flavor was delicious and also somewhat bitter, like those days. I've retired coconut flavor, but I still and always love stopping for an iced tea.
In the looking ahead department, my sister was going to take me to NYC for my birthday to see Hamilton and a couple of other shows...it was 2020. Did not happen. Since COVID I've learned that it's really important for me to have something to look forward to. I think of it/them like a string of white lights reaching into the future, becoming brighter as the planned event draws near. On deck soon: a local theatre show, Pub Choir!, a sisters' visit to our 96-year-old aunt, and something called Camp Atta Girl! in November.
I like all of that, the mixture of small treats and big adventures.
Great idea! Do highlights need to be planned? Not to be too cutesy, but my highlight for today was reading this and reading another one of your writings. Will save the archived ones for highlights for other days. Thanks for sharing.
Aww, thank you for that. And, you’re right, the surprise highlight can be a gift. I like to plan them to offset the hard stuff I know is already scheduled.
I always seek to leaven burdens with joy. In my weekly visits to my developmentally disabled brother-in-law that held significant challenges, we'd head to the movie theater. It really didn't matter whether it was a Marvel movie or a rom-com, just sitting in a darkened theater with the food we had snuck in was a treat that we both enjoyed. For my weekly runs, I treat myself with a visit to a luxurious fruit smoothie at the end of the self-styled 10k. In visiting a bedridden friend monthly struggling with debilitating physical and mental ailments that lived in a a city three hours from my home, I'd go out the night before and collect stories from music clubs and bars to regale him with and spur our laughter.
I love all of this!
Oh, insomnia cookies are always a highlight, thank you for the reminder. Taking some time in a weekend to clean out a drawer or a closet gives me immense material satisfaction.
Interesting — clearing things out gives you a boost. That’s a fun respite!
I love this idea...because I too go to bed at night and wonder "what did I produce today" and love time management but SOMETHING has to be fun. For right now, my highlight is to have dinner with my husband on TV trays and turning on the latest episode of Outlander. There's something so satisfying about coming to this part of our day and having this treat together. Your post is making me think I need to add some more highlights throughout the day.
I need to create daily highlights. Thank you
I’ll be eager to hear what works for you!