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Busy, Busy, Bathroom, Bees
I got it in my head this year that I am going to strive to "live life large". This is somewhat different than my prior feeble attempts to "live life large" but in a small way.
What I am doing this time is setting out to try to stay so busy and filled up with things to do that I wring out every minute of the day until I sit down for the evening (probably around 8:30 or 9:00 pm to relax a bit before bed). What is especially different though, is the notion that in the past, much (most) of what I did to fill my time was WORK. Work at or for the U. My efforts now are FOCUSED on doing good work, but minimizing work, and leaving it at work, and FOCUSING on doing things much, much, much more tangibly for the FAMILY and for MYSELF. At first read, many of you may say:
"Damn, that sounds rather selfish and/or hedonistic of the old professor, doesn't it?"
I can concur that it does indeed *sound* that way, but I truly think it is not really the case in the long run. After thinking through ideas a lot this Summer, and observing how other people live and behave, and in exploring more about what I *mean* when I say to myself I want to "live life large", I think this will really do the trick.
By focusing "full speed ahead" on doing tasks, doing *things*, even if those things will become MORE and MORE for my family and myself... I think I will feel a greater sense of accomplishment, a greater peace, and have much greater a drive, ambition and success... and this will in effect spill over into work as well. Now, do not get me wrong... I do think I am a pretty decent professor in terms of teaching, research, and service. But, I think I have the potential to be a BETTER teacher, a BETTER researcher, and a BETTER man of service, all in a MORE EFFICIENT manner in terms of time. This efficiency depends upon my level of HAPPINESS, and that is what this whole process I am working on is about. In the same vein, I need more HAPPINESS to become a BETTER husband, BETTER father, BETTER sibling, BETTER friend, and BETTER son as well.
I really think I am onto something here with this approach. I am going to leave soon and go paint a bathroom in my home, and hunt down and hopefully annihilate some bees (actually paper wasps) that are trying to nest in my soffits. Live Life Large!
So, put that in your pipe, and smoke it, as the saying goes!
PipeTobacco
7 Comments:
Concentrating your love and loyalty on family is not selfish. And sometimes the only pleasure comes from believing your actions are for a good.
(Family first came easy. Myself? Not so much. I am learning self-giving is not self-sacrificing, though.)
I got it in my head this year that I am going to strive to "live life large".
Then you should watch the movie, Living Out Loud.
And maybe you should stop thinking that your service to this planet should be about your teaching. Unless you have come up with something new to teach instead of a lot of a lot of the shit that those that sign your paychecks want you to teach.
Being a teacher doesn't make you anything special you know.
It is never selfish to think of yourself first. It is through self love that brings everything good together. It is a good plan that you have. You seem much happier already.
What in the hell is it with this better, better, better shit? Why in the hell do you think you have to be better? Maybe it's others that have to be better.
I got it in my head this year that I am going to strive to "live life large".
Then live it loud....
You're not getting out of this life alive, stomp all over it.
You know what they say "loving should start from within".
I don't see anything wrong, keeping time for your self.
I'm going to be off line for a week or so, be careful out there while I'm gone.
Heather, "loving should start from within". I love myself so much that others just don't get me, most of them anyway.
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