THE HUNT FOR TOOLS

It’s another new day, another blank page to be filled as I please. But I am hampered by emotions, memories and habits of the past. They are a burden and not easily cleared. Though I want to let go and move on, I’m a bit stuck on my old treadmill. I’m on a hunt for tools to help me. 

The first one that I thought of is choosing a word for the year. It was introduced to me by Susanna Conway in her Unravel Your Year workbook. It hasn’t worked well for me in the past because I don’t do anything past choosing a word. It is a bad habit of mine. I don’t do the work after making the decision. Another bad habit is when I come to a difficult part, I am unable or not willing to push pass it and I stay stuck. Changes and learning new ways of doing and being are hard. I am now trying to rectify it. My word(s) for 2023 are simplify and good housekeeping.  

Nothing stays the same, no matter how much we like them to or how hard we hang onto them. And I do the both of them, tooth and nail. What happens then is my head is overflowing with stuff as well as my desk, computers, cupboards, closets and whatever that can hold stuff. I haven’t been up to par with cleaning and maintenance. My head and computer are somewhat broken. My iMac is still updating from yesterday. I hope it works after everything is done. As for my head, I hope it clears as I clear my outer space.

I have to keep things small and simple in order to succeed. My iMac has finally finished updating. It did not correct the missing info icon on my WordPress Add New page. But it did knocked out my Pages, Numbers and Keynote. They are no longer compatible with my operating system as are their new versions on the App Store. Drat! Now I am afraid to update my MacBook in case it does the same. That’s for another day.

Meanwhile, I have done a little housekeeping. I found and deposited the 3 government cheques I have received over the last few months before they’ve expired. The fresh air and walk to the bank was good except for the time of day. It was after school and work time so there was heavy foot and car traffic. Teenagers like to walk together abreast, taking up the whole sidewalk. They do not have consideration to break apart to make room for me coming from the opposite direction. I like to give them a kick but I do not.

Enough complaining. To keep things simple, I shall end here. I’m happy to discover that my Pages, Numbers and Keynote still work in the Cloud. The miracles of technology. 

NEW AND IMPROVED

I am a creature of attachment. I hang onto the familiar. However, I can change. It takes me a little longer. Having successfully updated my Mac to High Sierra, I am now updating my MacBook Air, hoping it will improve the Photo app there. I am spending more time on my gadgets. But hopefully in the end it will save time.

But are new and improved better? I still cling to the old format of writing on WordPress. I am happy it’s still an option. I’ve tried the improved editor and it’s not copacetic with my brain. It stalls and won’t turn over. No letters or words are forthcoming. So why torture myself if it’s not better for me?

Day 7

Life and I are marching on slowly but steadily on this cold frosty morning. It’s -17 Celsius. The sun is brilliant. Sheba and I are toasty warm in the sunroom. I’m trying to be more in the real world, in real time. I’ve given thought as to what’s for dinner. The ham is out of the freezer, ready to be diced and fried with onions for the perogies. The soup from yesterday is ready to be reheated. The towels are in the washer. I’m experimenting using vinegar to boost the detergent power. Less detergent, less pollution of our water supply. Less detergent, more money in the pocket. It’s a win win.

The towels are done, looking clean and fluffy. I added 1/4 cup vinegar in the bleach dispenser and half of my usual detergent. Hope there is less soap residue left in the laundry and machine. It’s worthwhile to take the time to experiment new ideas and ways. It’s a good exercise for me to focus my impatient and fractured mind. I have to read directions, take each step and follow through. It drives me crazy, of course. But steps do quiet the frenzy in my brain. My MacBook Air has finished updating. The Photo app is much better with the High Sierra. Some improvements are real.