Hallo All-
I need a time out.
I remember when a "time out" used to be a bad thing, a punishment for bad behavior. You know what I mean: back in primary school, if a student acted out of turn, a teacher would discipline said student with a "time out" in the corner. And for a long time I never really took a time out; as quite a few people told me over the years, I was burning the candle at both, and sometimes multiple, ends. Perhaps my aversion came from this influence long ago; of course I was NEVER one those said students- I was an angel (*ding halo). Well, duuuuuhhhhh...
However, I don't think it was just this reluctance to a break that made me not take time to rest. Sometimes when I get into a work mode mindset, I obliterate all thought except getting the job done (we don't need to mention the fact that sometimes I have to because I have procrastinated too much). I forget to eat. I neglect to rest my eyes (yeah yeah...they're smaller than your round eyes so they tire faster, at least that is what I tell myself). I ignore my sore muscles. I feel I don't need sleep. I lose track of time. This can be a good thing- I mean I don't think I could have done all that driving if I did not have this weird ability to just focus. I couldn't have finished the majority of my room if I just putzed around shifting things back and forth or waiting to put things up the next day (more on my room later). But sometimes it is just nice to sit back, relax, and find oneself again.
And there is just something calming and pleasant about brewing a pot of hot water, steeping mountain green tea leaves, putting on calming music (in this case, Japanese folk songs), and closing my eyes and breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
I was able to last almost eleven minutes before I decided to start doing other things...like writing this blog, and researching tea ceremonies, and working on my artwork for the room (the only thing I am missing), and planning how to reorganize other parts of the house. Ah well, at least I had that one brief moment.
Lord knows I needed it. Especially because I had a scare earlier today. Marmot somehow got all the way up to the top ledges of the house. He must have jumped from one side of the hallway to the other and walked along the path. These ledges are pretty high up, the lowest tier being about ten feet. Now I know how parents feel when their child does something dangerous. The first thing out of my mouth was a very loud admonishment. Aiyolah...I am totally a parent! And then of course I go to try to help him down and he is just NOT having it, refusing to come to my arms. He knows he is in trouble and he tries to come down himself, but there aren't steps. I briefly now understand the whole firefighter brigade coming to get the cat down from the treetops (a la the movie Pleasantville style). Ultimately, he decided to just try to walk down the vertical side of the wall. Thank goodness he was able to scramble a bit down the side (I didn't look for claw marks yet) and half-heartedly leap towards the back of the L-shaped couch monstrosity, before slipping down the back side of the couch; he must have been channeling Figaro's (cat belonging to Allison and Stephen) numerous cat lives. He popped back up and slunk away knowing I would be disciplining him momentarily. And of course, I gave him a time out in his carrier. Poor guy, he was meowing so much, which I assume was his apology, but I gave Marmot a solid ten minutes before I decided to let him out. He has been purring and being such the angel since then. I, of course, regret yelling at him, but I was scared. Hmmmm...another glimpse into parenting...
And I just realized...the cycle of "time out" continues. Hahaha...maybe there is a reason why it is a timeless disciplinary tool. Hahahaha...did you get that? "Timeless discipli..."
Sigh...I crack myself up.
Now I want to add a tea brewing space to my meditation area of the room, which happens to be in the skills and knowledge bagua section. If only I had a tea box tray like Z had... ^^ Hahaha, I refuse to be a beggar...sometimes. (Hint hint...)
I digress. Back to tea. There is definitely an art to brewing tea and serving it. Each country seems to have developed their own little ceremonies and processes, and being the nerd I am, I would LOVE to participate in some of them. But I don't need all that fancy and intricate protocol to satisfy my simple joy of drinking tea, at least not today.
More importantly, I believe I am so relaxed because my room is pretty much completed. I did take a few before and after photos and I even amazed myself. I just have to finish planning the artwork.
Hey, maybe yalls can help me! I am looking for a single picture/artwork/print of a single mountain or a mountain range. I haven't found the one that makes me think, "YES!" and nothing has grabbed me quite yet. If you can think of a viable candidate or find something you feel is wonderful, please let me know either via comment here or a message on FB (or email). I will be ever so grateful.
Okies, I really feel my time out is done. I have a few other things on my To-Do List I don't want to put off until tomorrow.
Much love,
Rog
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