I have a doggone good life. \u00a0I have a great profession that has blessed me in so many ways. \u00a0How many of us actually get to spend our lives doing what brings us pleasure every day? \u00a0I am one of those individuals. \u00a0Shortly after finishing my Ph.D. in 1979, my husband and I had dinner with friends who asked me what I hoped to do now that I was done. \u00a0I had taught at the University of Minnesota throughout the time I was in graduate school, and I was eager for a change. \u00a0I surprised myself when I said I want to write.<\/p>\n
Just over three years later I published my first book: EACH DAY A NEW BEGINNING, DAILY MEDITATIONS FOR WOMEN. \u00a0And I haven’t stopped writing. \u00a0I have more than two dozen books still in print and another one is at Conari now. \u00a0It’s publication date is fall, 2015. \u00a0So why am I in a quandary? \u00a0I’m in a quandary because I want to slow down, to cut back on my output. \u00a0But I seem to go full force or not at all. I should allow myself to enjoy the fruits of doing nothing, for a while at least. \u00a0But I can’t deny that even after all the books I’ve written, all the years in the rooms of recovery, and all the workshops I have offered; where I tell others to embrace just being<\/strong><\/em>, I can’t do it.<\/p>\n I am intent on the practice of the practice<\/strong> of appreciating moments of silence, of just sitting in the stillness, allowing the God of my understanding to comfort me and to help me choose the gift of being, even for a few short moments at a time. \u00a0The practice will grow, \u00a0I am certain of it. \u00a0I deserve to rest a while. \u00a0About two years ago I told a friend I planned to retire at 75. \u00a0I passed that magic number last summer but I am still feeling my work has to continue or I won’t feel worthy and fulfilled.<\/p>\n As I said, my quandary is of my own making. \u00a0I listen longingly to friends who can’t get enough of retirement. \u00a0I do believe, however, that taking every day, committing every day, to limiting myself to doing only one small thing will help me get into the habit of doing less while allowing less to feel like more. \u00a0I can’t believe this is very hard. \u00a0It simply needs my willingness to try it on for size. \u00a0I’ll keep you posted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have a doggone good life. \u00a0I have a great profession that has blessed me in so many ways. \u00a0How many of us actually get to spend our lives doing what brings us pleasure every day? \u00a0I am one of those individuals. \u00a0Shortly after finishing my Ph.D. in 1979, my husband and I had dinner […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reflections-in-the-mirror-you-and-yourself"],"yoast_head":"\n