Hanging on to the edge of the kitchen counter, I was trying to get the last jar of apple pie filling ready to go into the canner for processing. My legs were about ready to give way as I dragged my useless foot "Igor-style" behind me over to the stove. I placed the last jar into the steaming pot, praying I wouldn't dump scalding water all over me and the floor.
As I looked around at the sticky mess left behind, my eyes welled up with tears. Angrily, I set the timer going for my last batch of apples and crawled over to the table. Years ago, I'd have cleaned as I went and would've now being getting batch twenty ready to pop into the canner. I was only on batch one.
This harvest season has given me a harsh reality lesson. I'm not superwoman. I can't do the things I used to be able to do. And I'm working on putting myself into an early grave.
As much as it pains me to set aside some of my passions, I have to do it for my own good. I've had to do this with things in the past-my violin, when I lost the feeling in my finger tips; my hiking days, when my balance and foot issues surfaced; my fun-in-the-sun days, when heat caused me to become ill and weak.
There are scores of things I love to do that require skills, strength, or stamina I'm no longer able to give without putting myself at risk. One way is by becoming overly tired or ill. This can lead to other accidents. I become clumsy and trip. Other times, I become irrational because of fatigue. I go from ranting and raving to crying uncontrollably. Not pleasant for those around me.
Or, in cases like above, I could create an accident and dump scalding water everywhere.
As I was sitting at the table recovering, I started thinking about all the things I could be doing if I didn't "force" myself to do things-if I left things, 'undone.' The list was quite long. I wouldn't have to waste so much time recovering between jobs, and I could do 'more.' I was starting to cheer up.
How many times in our lives do we 'force' ourselves to do things we feel we've got do or we should do? Are those things truly important? Or are they things better left undone? Does your family needs you at this moment, your spouse or child, rather than the project you are working on. Maybe your friend could use a call or your neighbor a helping hand. Are there things you can take from your list you are 'forcing' yourself to do. What things are eating your time?
We live in a world that is spinning out of control-faster and faster. We don't have time to waste. There are things to do and not do. Time to be spent using our hard-earned energy (and money) doing what we enjoy and love.
So take it from me (who has learned it the hard way), leave the trivial behind and finish the good stuff!
