First, time is the most valuable thing we own. It is believable to me how fast time seems to be moving at this stage in our lives. It seems like just a winter or two ago that Marla and I were loading up the boys in the sleds to pull them around West Lake. Then all of a sudden Graeme is turning 15 in a couple of weeks and Connor is tying his tie to go to Christmas dinner (ya, don't ask about the tie thing at least it is not a cape and fuzzy pants, been there done that). Time together with family and friends is so precious and there always seems to be something competing for this finite resource. I have realized this year that unless you are willing to make time, say no to a few things, turn off the outside noise and be present in the moment no one is going to do it for you and before you realize it those moments will be gone. It seems simply and really boils down to time in has to be greater than time out. 
Second, work is work, play is play and play is always better! Both Marla and I have had a great year at work. We both enjoy our jobs, work with people we value, have a good mix of stimulation, fun and reward and are lucky to have much more good than bad in our work days. However, with that all said work is still something you do so you can enjoy the play (even if your play often looks like work). Work comes with rules, regulations, procedures, commitments both mental and physical. Play is passion, compromise, liberating and empowering. Too often the work part of your life takes over and reduces your willingness or ability to play. Play is what feeds us and we need to nurture it, even if that play looks a lot like lying in the sun having a nap.With New Years staring me in the face I don't really believe in resolutions but I am going to try and keep these two things firmly in mind as I make my way through 2014. Graeme will be heading back to Kelowna in a few weeks, Connor is quickly approaching the end of Elementary School and we are too quickly moving through this stage of our lives so I am going to try and slow things down and make sure we enjoy it all.
2 comments:
Wow... I skipped a few months checking in on your blog and I find not 1 but 5 entries!!! Very nice to read your thoughts and updates, to see the kinder, gentler side that comes out when you write. I had a similar Mandela experience... my exploration of his struggle, of South Africa's struggle, paralleled my own development of a social conscience and a break from traditions. I got some of that sorted out just in time for his release, and thus was able to appreciate what it meant when it happened. Makes you wonder sometimes how things would turn out without the contribution (+or-) of key figures in history.
Ya, I figured since no one was reading I might as well start posting again. You know just when you think I'll zig I like to zag. Yes, I think it is the mystery, inspiration, contradiction and glimpse into human nature that people like Mandela provide that lead to be a social studies teacher.
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