August 9, 2013 Taking time off

I’ve been struggling at the keyboard lately, feeling a bit off. A friend of mine observed that I appear to be a little jaded lately, as though I’ve become tired or even a little bored with writing. She is wise and I suspect she has pegged me just right.

I haven’t really done much this summer for myself. I suppose more than anything else it’s because I’ve been finishing up with these medical appointments I’ve had all year long. The good news is that I saw the doctor last Wednesday for my semiannual visit. He says my kidneys are good, my health is fine, my blood pressure is under control, and that all systems are go!

Lately I’ve thought about traveling somewhere. But when I go anywhere at all, it is usually up to Montana to see my relatives. But this time it feels different. As much as I enjoy seeing them, a long trip to a climate equally hot as it is here sounds less than ideal. Then I received some insight from an old girlfriend of mine who lives North of Seattle who probably was not even aware she was enlightening me.

She emailed me to say she was taking a week off from work to take the family on some nice little day trips. She had several ideas in mind around the Seattle area as well as down toward Portland for some sight-seeing that would take her no more than 1-3 hours away from home. Her ideas sounded like they would certainly take her mind off the current stresses in her life.

That’s when it occurred to me that perhaps I should do the same. In fact it might be beneficial if I stepped away from the creative process for a little while and enjoyed myself! I enjoy getting out and about and seeing the scenery Idaho has to offer and taking pictures to send to mother.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to take some time off. This might be a challenge for me because I enjoy writing so much. This means I will have to stifle the urge to sit down and work on a project I might feel needs to be accomplished. It will also be a challenge because it is so easy to talk myself out of traveling somewhere (gas prices, traffic, etc.) and choose instead to stay home and do nothing.

Today was a good example. I gassed up the vehicle and then drove to a couple of nearby lakes just to take pictures and see how rapidly the farmers are drawing the water levels down. There were boats and water skiers on the lake and I actually enjoyed myself, even though I was only gone a few hours.

(There are boats in the water at Spring Shores… but not for much longer.)

So I’m going to do my best to take a break from writing or posting stories for the next several days. I have a few places in mind that would make fun little day trips that are not far from home. Besides, getting out and enjoying the scenery, especially anything that has to do with water, might spark a creative thought or two.

If you are feeling anything like I am, I encourage you to give it a try as well. Take the family and go for a little drive somewhere, even if it is a local park or some nearby location you have always thought about traveling to see but keep putting off. Get away from the routine and find a way to enjoy some time together. After all, life is precious and it never hurts to get out and recharge our batteries and create some wonderful summer memories.

The season is slipping away and fall will be here before you know it. So I hope you all enjoy the rest of your summer. Take care of yourselves and thanks for stopping by…