Simplification or How I’m Learning to Say No

As many of you know, I became ill towards the end of August and it has continued for several weeks. Although I’ve been to the doctor twice and had bloodwork done, nothing pointed to a specific cause. In short, the life I’d been leading or really, the pace, had made me sick.

Over the past few weeks I’ve had to force myself to listen to my body and rest when I needed to – 6 weeks later and I can finally get through a workday without napping once or twice. It’s been a maddening process for me. I’ve always been the go-go-go girl, not to mention the go-to-go-to girl. I never said no. A year or more ago I promised my family, and myself to some small extent, that I’d not take on too many volunteer and other commitments. It didn’t work out so well.

So, here I sit a year later and a lot wiser (I hope). I still have a lot of commitments, but I’ve not only said No to many requests, I’ve even given up some things to which I had already committed. I’m trying very hard to take the time I need to Be Here, Now.

During one of my daily walks with Ty, I realized that I need to simplify some aspects of my life. I really enjoy the whole social media thing – and it’s replaced the old Usenet and online forums in which I had invested (unwisely?) so much time. Twitter is my outlet for new media, new conversations and finding like-minded individuals. I have realized that I like Facebook better as a way to keep in touch with people I really know – as in real life or over years (sometimes decades) of online friendship. To that end, I’m going to start trimming off my Facebook friends list. Don’t take it personally –  I’m sure that someday, if we meet in person and connect, I’ll want to ‘friend’ you again. But the way my life has turned, I can’t keep up with your Etsy posts or your Farmville or Mafia Wars (or whatever the meme of the moment is). I’m content to play Scrabble and Bejeweled Blitz and see the pics of my friends’ new children and grandchildren, to check in on my niece and nephews or share a beady goody with the old crowd from RCB.

I need to learn what is important – because if I don’t, I’ll realize too late what should have been important. Don’t let that happen to you, OK?