This month I didn’t meet my short-term writing goals of chapter revision which means I won’t reach my long-term goal of having a complete draft of my Armenian family memoir finished before my sixtieth birthday in February. I’ve written before about what is needed to do the writing: time and headspace. This month both of those were in short supply as I prepared for, had, and recovered from a cardiac ablation, a medical procedure to put, hopefully, an end to my atrial fibrillation (AFib) episodes.
What I did do this month, I did for my future self. I gave my future self a shot at a better physical outcome, and I’m moving the goal posts on the timeframe for a complete draft.
Work: After debating last month whether to push forward with my current draft or start over from the beginning with a new draft, I did neither. But I did set up my future self to be able to do either or both of those things. What time and headspace I did have for creative pursuits went into the creative nonfiction workshop that wraps up this week. The structure of the workshop kept me focused. Every Wednesday I submitted a chapter with context and questions, and by Sunday I’d read and given feedback on the other participants’ work. The workshop feedback on my work has given my future self a road map for revisions of the individual chapters and much to consider in the overall structure and story of the book.
Whether it’s health or household related, creative or work related, you can take actions now that make for better outcomes for your future self. What could you do in the present as a gift for your future self?
Wonder: Wonder why we are still changing the clocks? In 2019, the Washington State legislature passed a bill to remain year round on Daylight Savings Time. But to do so requires the approval of the federal government, which hasn’t taken action. The last two years a bipartisan group of Washington State senators put forth a bill to have the state remain on Standard Time, which doesn’t require the approval of the federal government. But the bill never made it out of committee.
I am team Standard Time. Standard Time is better for school children and doesn’t require the approval of the federal government. Arizona and Hawaii are both already on standard time. In the 1970s, the whole country stayed on daylight savings time and hated it but that fact isn’t brought up in any of the current discussions over which time to stay on. Meanwhile this weekend we’ll return to Standard Time with more light in the mornings making it easier to start our days and with safer commutes for school children and everyone else.
How will your future self feel this weekend when the clocks fall back an hour?
Windows:
Don’t be hard on yourself. You’ve accomplished a lot. I like daylight savings.
Thanks, Donna. Moveable goal posts are one way I try to be kind to myself.
Beautiful Laura. I love the consideration you took with your future self while your present self was attending to your body’s needs. My future self really likes it when I get up early, so I will give that some attention. I signed up for a Forest Bathing workshop while I was on Eastern time, and even though it will be 6am here in the PNW, it sounds delicious to go outside into the darkness (or will it be a wee bit light with the time change?). So delighted with your windows!
Thanks, Heidi. Enjoy the Forest Bathing!