Priorities

It has been far too long since my last post.  Isn't it funny how we can get caught up with all the things we "HAVE" to do, and let the things we "NEED" to do go by the wayside?  I consider myself a relatively simple creature.  I don't need a lot.  Besides the basics that all humans need, I have a few necessities to feel complete and whole.  I need contact with my friends and family on a regular basis.  I need exercise for my body and brain to feel good.  I need good literature to consume.  I need my spiritual life to feel centered.  And I need to WRITE.  Writing is such a cathartic experience for me.  Whether I'm simply recounting my day or expressing a deep thought on something, it is so important to me.  So why do we abandon these things that we so desperately need to feel complete?  I know that I am 100% at my best when I am able to complete one or two of the aforementioned activities on a daily basis.  But then...life.  Oh how it gets in the way!  Since April I've been so stressed out over my job situation (more on that and my utter frustration with the education system in another post), I've been crazed packing up my condo and preparing it for renters, and then as soon as the last box was taped on my condo, I had to start packing up my classroom.  It's a wonder I was able to find my passport for this trip.  On top of that I've been dealing with neighbors who make me want to scream (perhaps I ought to post my letter to the HOA for your reading pleasure?) and consistent health concerns that I will delve into more in another post.  I know I am not alone.  Never do I want to sound like a martyr in anything I write.  I know so many of you can relate to feeling like you are balancing a million things on your plate.  It seems that everyone has their various stresses and commitments that take them away from the soul nourishing activities that we all desperately need.  The truth is, wouldn't we be better equipped to handle all those stresses and commitments if we first committed to taking care of ourselves?  The more centered and healthy I feel, the better I am able to handle anything that comes my way.  This is something we must remind ourselves over and over and over again.

The good news is I made it.  I made it through a very chaotic two and half months and here I am on day one of a very exciting journey.  For those of you who don't know, I am on a month long trip to New Orleans and Spain.  I will try to journal my experiences through this blog.  I'd love for you to follow me, but if you only catch an entry here or there, that's ok too!  It's mostly for my own fulfillment and love of the written word.  The love of capturing moments with rich language and sensory details that allow my readers to be in the moment with me. Whether we are sitting down to a dinner of the most divine grilled catfish or touring Barcelona, I hope you will enjoy the journey with me.  More to come as this is only day one.  In the mean time, let's all think about the things we need to make our souls feel complete and check just one thing off the list today!  xoxo