Having Time

How do you manage your time? Do the days just flow or are they scheduled? Have you found a balance? Are you able to fulfill your purpose?

I sometimes can’t believe this is the life I live, this is the time I have. I’m fascinated by where I am and the history I’ve been born into.

I love Geography and learning about different places in the world, different time periods, the culture, the music, the current issues… Every place is unique. Whoever you are, wherever you are – you’re right there and existing right now! It’s wild… there are such contrasts and similarities in the way people are living on this Earth, the way people manage their time.

I watched a documentary yesterday about the most dangerous walks to school children have to make, this episode was from Ethiopia. Some children who are able to go to school walk across deserts for 2 hours, the hot sand blowing into their face and burning their feet. Then the children go home to their chores, managing their time in order to do homework before the sun goes down. It made me think about the local children that have to walk to school in dangerous settings, like blighted buildings or near traffic. I wonder why children have to endure this sort of strain in order to receive a school education. Children don’t know but they deserve better… they deserve a safe walk to school and to be able to play in greenspaces. Still, they’ll manage their time according to their circumstances, and they grow up fast.

I’ve been thinking about a specific little girl (but how could I not think of all their faces…) this one girl’s face really captured my heart though. She’s 7 and in her eyes she already looked like a mature woman, she wasn’t smiling. I can only imagine what she was thinking, why she didn’t smile. I can’t get her out of my mind… wanting to spend more time getting to know her story.

My mind wanders as I get ready for Weather & Climate Lab tomorrow (over Hurricanes), the coming week and semester’s end.. This morning it looked like it would storm but now the sky is clear blue. I’ve been drinking Sage, Mint, Elderberry tea (I mix these loose leaf together) and reading a book. I’ve been trying to get back to my routine of reading and praying in the early mornings. I guess I’ve just been working on managing my time.
I’ve been learning about giant ancient trees and so many other things that have been blowing my mind recently. The world is truly amazing – in all the diverse beliefs throughout time and place, everything is connected. All of it brought us right to this moment.

I like to get a better understanding of different religions – I even practiced a branch of Buddhism before but I was baptized Roman Catholic as a child in Austria and went to Christian church and sometimes a Unitarian church. But I categorize myself as an Animist, who loves God as a Father and Earth as a Mother. Even my big brain can’t grasp everything or know what exactly is true – we can choose teachers and scriptures to learn from. I value time spent feeling close to God, Yeshua, and my spirit guides in nature. For me, my spirituality makes life clearer, it helps me stay grateful, humble, and aware.

I took a break outside with my dogs for a moment and saw my first butterfly of 2021 flying in my garden! It was yellow. A little happy sign of Spring. The leaves on the big oak are finally sprouting too, so is my Elderberry. The Jane Magnolia tree in my neighborhood is also blooming beautiful fragrant pink flowers. I love every season, the only thing I dread is knowing that mosquitoes will be back soon. But I’m feeling good about the timing of everything. Just still figuring out how to manage…

Some do well with schedules and they are beneficial, but sometimes we just flow – maybe we flow right into our schedules, or we just take it one day at a time with no outline. Either way we are constantly being shaped by opportunities. Today I am just overwhelmed with wonder about all the ancient mysteries that have made my life possible at this time, and all the life around me. I’m amazed that I wasn’t born somewhere else, that I had a good childhood, that I learned how to write, and that I’m living so comfortably now.

All I want to do is give back somehow, to hopefully give a child a chance at having more or at least as much as I did – for a child to be able to enjoy nature the same way or more than I could. I remember when I was in high school I wrote a quote on my mirror with dry erase marker. It said: “Gain as much as possible to give as much as possible.” I think I made it up myself, but maybe it’s been said before by someone famous – that’s just a motto that’s stuck with me. Now I’m still realizing what I’ve even gained and am able to give back, it’s an interesting process that requires time management as well as flowing – finding the balance…

I wanted to share something I read that resonated with me this morning too, just came to mind again.
An Elder’s Meditation:
“Everyone has a song. God gives us each a song. That’s how we know who we are. Our song tells us who we are.” – Charlie Knight, Ute. I think the song represents the balance it takes in order to fully realize our purpose, then our ability to fulfill that purpose. I love this notion of music telling us who we are. Makes me want to sing right now!

I haven’t had (made) a lot of time for recording music either since I’ve been in graduate school – but I love to sing. Here’s a song I made 3 years ago that came to mind while I was writing. Thanks for listening 🙂