Nocturnal

I'm tired.  Went to a concert last night.  Got in late, like, almost 2am, and I'm no longer nocturnal.  Used to be I could stay up late without any ramifications the next day.  But now, at twenty-six and the father of a ten-month old, I'm good if I make it to 11 o'clock.  Truth of the matter is that I'm just too darned busy. And since I'm being honest, it's something I'm trying to remedy.

See, I'm constantly pressed for time.  Who isn't, though, right?  Well I say fie on that.  Fie on the world and its problems.  Fie on America and its insatiable greed.  Fie on clocks and fie on me if I don't try to do something about it.  We live in a time when seminars on "time management" exist, because our culture says that more is better, and to get more then we have to work more and commit ourselves more.  Add to that our many relationships outside of work, friends and family and school events and church gatherings, and the free time shrinks.  Add to that the taboo of refusing to do something and time disappears.

That's why Monday nights are Family Nights for my family.  We set it up a while ago that we would spend our Monday's together as a family, doing family things and enjoying one another.  The rest of the week usually varies, but somehow I always find myself over-committed.  I make plans to hang out with one friend one day and another at another time and my schedule somehow fills up and the only time I have to do things is either late at night or early in the morning.

Frankly, it's exhausting.  I'm involved in several different ministries at church, and while I love doing them, it's also physically, spiritually, and emotionally taxing.  Then if I throw in the various other situations going on in my life, I'm beat.

I don't write all this to just whine about time restrictions.  It's very likely that you, dear Readers, also have saturated schedules.  I write this just because it's something I'm working on, part of my goals for myself and my family.  This year began with goals of reducing possessions and intending to live more minimally. I think it's only fitting that I also reduce my commitments and obligations, or at least accept the freedom that I don't have to say yes to everything.

Cause it's something I struggle with.  I'm an analytical people-pleaser according to the personality test I once took, and I completely agree with that.  I hate to admit it, but I sometimes put others before Keisha and Avonlea in my efforts, and I don't realize it.  I'm working on it all, truly, and I hope you are, too.