The Last Dance

I have come to realize that I spend far too much time on the computer. Some of it is required because I teach many university courses online. However, after much soul searching I have come to the decision that I need to spend far less time on the computer and far more time interacting with people I love. It is too easy to sit at the keyboard and waste time. I am sixty years old! I have only so much time left on Earth. I do not want my latter years to be spent playing online games or reading blogs or surfing the web. Rather, I want to give attention to the people in my life that I care about. If one of my precious grandchildren is here, I want to give him or her my undivided attention, someting wee ones sorely need. They learn everything through social interaction ... how to eat with utensils, how to use language effectively, how to interact with others on a personal level, how to problem solve, and so on. But they can't do it alone by merely observing. They NEED as much positive interaction as they can get. Besides, they do not stay little for very long. Some of my very favorite memories involve Hannah and all the fun we had doing goofy things--playing "monkey ball", whipping cream for strawberries, trying on hats and bo-bo shoes, my making up Princess Hannah stories while she lay in bed with me, and so on. Those memories are what makes life worth living. I do not want to miss out making memories with my family; no longer will I allow my computer to rob me of these opportunities. There are many better ways for me to spend my time than vegging out in front of the computer even if it serves as a tranquilizer or an escape, which it can easily do. For the past six weeks I have been going to the gym regularly and I am back cooking every day being careful to prepare healthful recipes with local ingredients. My house is now cleaner than it has been for quite a while (thanks in good part to Paul), and it spurs me on to want to be more productive. While I am tidy and fairly meticulous, I realize that keeping my house SQUEAKY CLEAN makes it a better place to live and a safe place for my grandchildren to visit. Look what has happened since I began to limit my computer use: My neighbor, Greg, and I have had many laughs over vino and good meals. Paul is such an interesting conversationalist and talking to and with him has been far superior than wasting time on the computer. I am back to reading more books ... mostly biographies and historical accounts. My father and mother can now count on receiving regular newsy letters from me. The plants in my container garden are doing well because I take the time to attend to them every single day. Yes, dear readers, life is for living, and in my opinion sitting in front of a computer, no matter how enjoyable, is not truly living. It is escaping. Our lives are over in the blink of an eye. I wonder every single day how in the world I am already sixty. SIXTY!??!?!??! If I got to be sixty so quickly it means the next years of my life will go by at an even greater warp speed.

While I have never been lazy, I have allowed some things to slide since I moved to North Carolina. I took solace in using my computer as an escape mechanism. I know that what I have recently given up in terms of computer time has had a dramatically positive impact on my life. I am convinced that taking that next step and using the computer as a tool only when necessary will be a good thing. So, this is it. It is the last dance. I am ending my blog almost one year to the date that I started it. I will now embrace life more fully and get much more accomplished. I'll have time to give to others and to pursue interests that I put on the back burner. I will go fossil hunting and will attend rock and mineral shows. I'll continue my workout program and will work hard every single day to prepare healthful meals that Paul, Greg, and I can enjoy. I will go to more lectures and more live shows. I'll visit more museums and will plan more international excursions. And I'll see if I can convince someone to take ballroom dancing lessons with me. Yes, you are never too old to rock 'n roll and I'll do more of that as well ... even if it is only in my kitchen while I am preparing dinner.

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by to visit. I hope that after reading this blog post you will think about your own life and prioritize how you spend your time so that you are getting as much as you can from the myriad of possibilities that lie before you. Most of all spend QUALITY time with those you love. Put forth the little bit of extra effort it will take to go for a walk or to smell the roses or to sit at the table together to enjoy a meal. Make your home your haven, your nest, one that is a joy to spend time in. Keep it clean and tidy. You won't believe how relaxing it is to end a hectic day by walking into an inviting home where the beds are made, the dishes are done, and the entire place looks and smells clean.

Finally, I am giving up making excuses. In addition to not wasting time, I am making a commitment to acting like a grownup at ALL TIMES (it's about time, eh?). I always have told my daughters, "Duty before pleasure" and I've been pretty good about following my own advice. But I am putting this out there publicly. I will force myself to do all the things I loathe like balancing my checkbook or denying myself one more piece of junk my house does not need. I will make wise purchases and wise decisions. I will do what SHOULD be done BEFORE what I WANT to do. I know I'll be a much happier and much more productive person.