This morning I went and jumped into the neighborhood pool. I had been meaning to do it for a while. Swimming diagonally, I even managed to get a little exercise.
The pool in the neighborhood, the White Oak River, Bogue Sound and the ocean behind it are all part of the reasons that we are spending time on the Carolina coast.
Yet as is often the case, work has gotten in the way of some of my initial goals. Trying to be successful in real estate when buyers are few and far between has been a challenge that has by times consumed me.
Still I have not let it suck the life out of me like the technology world. In February 2006 when my wife broke her ankle, I was trying to please everyone including a new boss. I came close to overloading my circuits.
I promised myself that no matter what job I ended up doing, I would try not to do that again, and I haven't.
Walks on the beach have become a regular occurrence. Bike rides were standard fare when the weather was cooler. I have found a yard that is more cooperative and requires very little mowing. Today is June 4, and I might mow it for the third time this year this week.
I can remember weeks in Roanoke when I mowed twice in a week.
Yesterday, I read part of an article, "Breaking Free of Suburbia's Stranglehold," in the Washington Post. The article asks the following question.
Is there a way, a slower way, to eke out more meaning in one's daily life?
I have always heard that you make time for what is important. I have been trying to find that slower way for a long time.
One of the lessons of the corporate world is that corporations and businesses absolutely do not care how hard you work. The harder you work the better it is for the company.
Given the chance they will suck the life out of you. On top of that there are bosses whom you cannot please no matter how hard you work.
I also read an article that people only work a day or so a week. They spend the rest of their time fooling around. Well I don't believe that, but actually what that article says does not matter to me.
I will keep trying to do a good job, because like many of my generation, that is the way we do things.
Still I will continue to make time for writing, photography, biking, swimming, hiking, church, fishing, boating and other activities that are important to me.
Family and friends are at the top of my list these days. Work is important but a means to an end, not an end in and of itself.
I think I have my priorities right these days.
I am particularly happy that I have no vice presidents to care about these days.
Recently I even found time to enter the first chapter of my book, "From Mayberry to Nova Scotia and back," in a local writers contest. I managed to come away with first prize for non-fiction. I made time to do the writing because it was important to me.
Maybe I can check to see if I can get a network connection over at the pool. They might be the best of both worlds.
I can still remember the wonder of going swimming when I was a child growing up in Lewisville, NC. We would board the old activity bus at the school and off to Tanglewood we would go for a magical day of swimming lessons, playing in the pools, hot dogs at the snack stand, and putt-putt after we reached the point of exhaustion.
I almost feel like one of the those kids again, and I haven't had to get out and help push start the activity bus. It is good to be in the water again.
Having the pool where I can walk to it is something right out of a dream.
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