Time has been a weird thing this past week. Sleep patterns and free time are disheveled, interrupted with a mental to-do list. Productive time is unfocused and laborious. The bright spot is the fact that I haven’t had to think about the day job. Mom went into the hospital last Tuesday and everything has been centered around her and her care. I don’t mean for that to sound like an imposition, because it’s a priority I’m glad to work around. But time…time is so turned around.
It’s during events like this that I realize I’m much more routine-oriented than I think. The interesting thing about that is when I compare my life with others mine seems to be so much more free-floating. But even with so much flexibility I have I still have my routines; I hope I’ll be able to get back into them this week so time once again is measured by hours and minutes rather than by darkness and light. I want to be able to tell someone what day of the week it is, and more heroically the precise date on the calendar.
Mom is doing well and I’ll be back to work this week. She’ll still be a priority as I’ll be available to help with anything she and Dad need and will be spending some time with them when I normally wouldn’t if she hadn’t had surgery. But time will become more clear. I’ll get back to my sleeping routine, my work routine and my home keeping routine. That thought is somewhat comforting.
On the other hand, a timeless life might be a good thing if I got used to it. To eat when I’m hungry rather than at specific times of the day. To sleep when I’m tired and to wake without an alarm telling me I have to. I could cook and clean into the night if I wanted to. I could work on my crafty business with no constraints. Perhaps my life will be more like that after I retire from the day job.
But still, some routine is good. It’s grounding and provides some discipline to do the things that must be done.
At this point I can’t really say if I’d prefer a timeless life or a routine-oriented life. Maybe something in between. Don’t make me decide right now. Right now I’m just living in the moment, even though I’m not really sure what time of day or night that moment is.
Auntie B's Wax 
Sara glad to hear your Mum is healing. I have just had a week away and boy am I looking forward to a routine. No time to write or draw but fun family time was had by all. I don’t think I would function with out my lists, calendar and structure of a routine.
I’m glad you had a fun week away – I hope I get to hear about it soon! My mom is doing better every day and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Now I’m back on schedule…I think. Too many things I don’t want to do and can’t discipline myself after a week of no routine. Gak!
It’s a timeless life for me! (Dang, now I’m humming that in my head to the tune of ‘It’s a pirates life for me!’). When we go to the cabin, which is nestled in the woods, off any semblence of a real road, with no running water or electricity (unless of course we juice it up with the generator), time, at least keeping time, tends to cease. We eat when we’re hungry, go to sleep when we’re tired, and wake up when we’ve slept enough (or in my case, when nature calls). We go about our day doing whatever comes to mind, whether that be a household chore like washing up the dishes, or something fun like reading or strolling through the woods, whenever the mood strikes us. I love the freedom from the constraints of time and it’s often present partner, responsibilities. Strangely enough I find myself much more motivated and productive when I have no time constraints. However, I do enjoy the routine of packing up to go and unpacking everything, then settling it into its proper place in order to fully enjoy a few days of timeless life!
Life in the northwoods (or any woods for that matter) is a definite time-stopper. It’s true what you say about being more motivated when there are no time constraints. I’m much more productive when I don’t have little snippets of time – big blocks of time with no immediate deadlines or obligations are my favorite!
I hope you get to go back to the cabin soon!
Clock and calendar time are man-made things. Yet we are ruled by them as if they were handed down by some Universal Force. Maybe it’s good to set yourself free from the constraints of time every once in a while–but when you can do so willingly, not because your life is turned upside down.
I agree – freedom from time is much better when it’s a choice rather than the result of chaotic events. I think I’m looking forward to the freedom when I say goodbye to the day job. But I bet for a while it will feel weird and uncomfortable. Plenty of time to get used to it though!
It is strange when you give up your job. When I first retired I was lost. The worst for me was, “What are you doing with all of your free time?” Because I had to retire due to illness, I had no good answer. I just said, “I’ m in the process of becoming.” SOme would ask, “Becoming what?” I’d say, “When I figure that out, I’ll let you know.” 🙂