Space + Time
If there’s anything we Americans want more of, it’s space and time. We want bigger homes, more land, high ceilings, more bedrooms, more time, longer weekends, more freedom… I have told myself for years that I was a slave to space and time, these two universal substances I had no control over. They were my boundaries, my obstacles, my setbacks.
Last week, when I missed posting, I got a big dose of one of the universe’s lessons: space and time are the same thing, and what we experience of them is what we’ve created.
Since moving to Roanoke, I’ve been desperately trying to create a morning routine — and failing miserably. Meditation, exercise, pre-10am shower times…they’ve all disappeared. Instead, I’ve been sleeping until 7am (late if you consider I used to get up at 4:40am) and then working almost from the moment I wake up until I go to sleep. I’ve been feeling stressed and irritable and depressed.
I’ve been doing it to myself.
I let space and time control me. I felt subject to its limitations, bound by them.
So this week, I’ve decided to reclaim my power and to create space and time in my life — for the things I love to do, for the people I love, for time just to breathe and be. I already feel happier and more free.
Have you ever let space and time control you? How did you break those chains? (Extra advice welcome!)
Space and time. I’ve found the older I get, the more I like the idea of a smaller living space. I like the coziness, the warmth. I don’t think I’ll design a big house when I get the chance to; it will be sized just right lol.
But the time thing; this I struggle with too. Whenever I add something new into my life, like yoga recently, it throws me off. I have to get back to writing and finding balance with everything. But it takes time to find that balance. I think it’s okay to accept that things take time. Sometimes it is going to control you for a while and I think those are the instances when something needs to be changed/learned. So don’t feel rushed. It will all fall into place in time :)
I’ll be honest: the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw your title was tomorrow’s fiftieth anniversary episode of Doctor Who…
But then I read your post and I get it so completely. This week has tumbled and fumbled by for me, and I can see where I needed more space and time. Finding it in the balance of loving those people (and pets!) who fill your life and share your space–that’s the challenge. And I haven’t figured out how to do it since this whole nutty semester began in August. I’ve loved it; don’t get me wrong, but I haven’t figured out how to carve space since summer passed into fall.
I tend to find myself wanting less space, and more time. Which makes no sense! But I have to agree with Katie above…I thought of Dr. Who when I saw the title, too! :)
So true! Space and time is always something that controls us, or at least that how it is for me. Since I’ve started working for myself I’ve tried making a schedule and “working hours” but for some reason it just stressed me more because I had to keep track of these things.
I’ve started learning that sometimes you just need to let go of schedules. Lately I’ve been taking things one day at a time. Some mornings, when I’m feeling creative and inspired, I get to work right away. Other mornings I run errands instead or maybe just start the day off by reading a few chapters of a novel. I still make sure to meet deadlines (because that’s what pays my bills) but I do my best to do what feels right for me at that moment.