I feel so stressed right now. My next novel is going more slowly than I hoped and may not be released in May like I wanted. I keep pausing to do other little things that keep popping up. Individually they don’t take much time to complete, but all together, it’s taken a lot of my writing time away from me.
I feel stressed about how little time is left between now and when we leave for the summer. My to-do list is so long and time is so short. I’m afraid I won’t get it all done. Then I’d have to wait until October to work on it again. I need two more months at home, but time waits for no one.
I’d like to finish a quilt kit that I’ve had for two years. I have everything cut out and half of the blocks sewn together. I need to finish the rest of the blocks and sew them together. I rented the long-arm machine to do the quilting in years past, but since I haven’t done it for more than 6 months, I can’t do that this time. I’d have to pay $100 for a class, then pay to rent the machine. Then I wouldn’t complete another one for 5 more months and the cycle would repeat. This time I’ll let them quilt it for me and use my gift certificates to pay for it. Besides I’m using minkie for the backing and it’s not easy to work with. It will be a snuggly quilt and very warm. I hope the quilt will fit on my king-sized bed, but I’m not sure it will. If doesn’t fit there, it will fit the bed in the motorhome. Either place, I will love it! The kits were a retirement gift from my friends at work so it’s a very special quilt to me.
I have another quilt that’s done except for the binding. For two years, it’s been in my sewing room, waiting patiently for me to finish it. Poor thing! It’s been neglected since its quilting. Another project on my to-do list. I don’t want it to be two more years before I get it finished. It’s colorful and would look great in our very neutral motorhome. More time needed.
I made a list of the books I have planned to write. I was surprised at how long of a list it was. I have rough plots worked out on most of them. It’s a matter of writing the details out. Time. More time. I wanted most of all to publish my second novel by May. I may have it written, but not edited yet. Editors take a lot of time and I have likely run out of it. All I can do is keep my nose to the grindstone and hope it works out. The right title hasn’t hit me yet and that distresses me. I can’t finish the cover or start marketing until I have a title. Ugh! I need more time.
I’ve enjoyed seeing my close friends at home. We’ve had lunches together and I love every minute of those, but they are too short. I need more time with them. I have more close friends here than I’ve had since 1997 when we left Spearfish. I miss my girl time with them every summer. I guess I need to make some summer girlfriends. I need plenty of girl time.
I doubt I’m the only one who finds time is short and deadlines are looming. Few of us can believe how old we are and we wonder where that time went. We watch our children and grandchildren grow and wonder why time is passing so fast.
A long time ago, on an Oprah show, she asked the question, “If mankind had only 6 more months to live, what would you do before the end?” Lots of people had touching answers like spend it with family or complete their bucket lists and things like that. Tears were shed as people talked about saying good-bye to those they love and the hope of seeing them in the hereafter. Near the end of the show, she asked a man what he would do. He said, “I’d go live with my in-laws and it would be the longest 6 months of my life.” I guess time is relative to what you’re doing.
Rather than complaining about running out of time, it’s up to me to use it to its greatest advantage. Quit whining and get up and do something. As David said in Psalms, “Teach me to number my days…” May your week ahead be full and satisfying.
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