free day

I had my day all planned out today.  I had a 9AM appointment to take my truck to the shop to get a part replaced.  They weren't sure how long it was going to take, so I was planning to toss my bike in the back, pack up a bag of stuff to do (a book, knitting, journal, etc.).  I made plans to meet up with a friend at the farmer's market on that side of town to help corral her grandchildren (giving the parents a morning off), then plans later to meet up with another friend in the afternoon and then a movie in the evening.  I was all set to be gone from the house all day.  I had my layers, my entertainment, and had made peace with the fact that I wasn't going to get to any projects at my house that are waiting for my attention.

And then I got to the shop and they had forgotten to order the part and I needed to reschedule my appointment.  So I came home again to drop off my bike so it wouldn't be all temptingly loose in the bed of my truck and wait for my friend to call about meeting at the market.  And then when she called she told me that Dad had decided to go with her to the market, so my kid-wrangling services are no longer needed.  

So now I have a free day - hours I wasn't expecting to have - and I have no idea what to do with myself.  I have SO MANY things to do that I don't know where to start.  I could be painting, or making journals, or going for a bike ride or reading or knitting or going to the grocery store or working in the garden or making jam or or or...

And instead I'm sitting at the computer reading blogs and setting up Google Reader and watching Claudine Hellmuth demo videos on YouTube and feeling stressed about how much time I'm wasting. 

What happened to just being able to spend a few hours doing nothing that doesn't feel like a chore?  When did my life become so list-driven?

Comments

[DJ]

Amen...
Re your question: "What happened to just being able to spend a few hours doing nothing that doesn't feel like a chore? When did my life become so list-driven?"

When you can answer that, please let the rest of us know, and we can all sleep better at night...

[Kirsten Liske]

now you have ME watching Claudia;s videos on YOutube when I SHOULD be going to sleep!
:-)

[Shelley]

I just discovered your blog...and lately I'm feeling the same way. No matter what I'm doing, part of me is stressing because there's something else I SHOULD be doing instead...or there's so much to do, that I don't do any of it, and feel guilty about everything.

And then I get on the computer, read blogs, and feel like precious time is just slipping away (good Van Morrison song), and the more I dwell on that, the more stuck and anxious I feel.

Guess that was a pretty neurotic first comment...sorry 'bout that.