• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Purposeful Learning

Purposefully living for Jesus, one day at a time.

  • Blog Home
  • Books
    • Book Lists
  • Families
    • Relationships
    • Siblings
  • Life
    • Christian Living
    • Thinking
    • Midweek Mix-Up
  • Tools
    • Homeschooling Tools
    • Productivity
    • Recipes
    • Writing Tools
  • Writing
    • Teaching Writing

“I Get To!” (Life Update)

March 15, 2018 // Esther Filbrun Leave a Comment

One thing that’s become clearer and clearer to me over this past week is the fact that I need to work on developing better daily and weekly rhythms. No longer am I working three-hour days; when I work, I’m doing nine-hour days! That makes a significant difference in the amount of time I have in a given week—not to mention the fact that after I get home from an 8-5 day, I don’t have a whole lot of extra energy left to do much else (yes, mothers, you are allowed to laugh).

My weeks are definitely going by a little faster than I was used to, but I’m loving it, too. 🙂 And I definitely don’t have any grounds to complain!

In the three days per week left to me to do things, I’ve been working at a myriad of jobs. Last night, I finally sat down and took five minutes to write out all the things that I really need or want to get done in the next month:

River Rocks

  1. Finish my aunt and uncle’s wedding video (I got the files for this 2 1/2 years ago…it’s about time I finish it, methinks!)
  2. Sand, stain, and varnish my new (old) wardrobe (this has been in progress since soon after we moved here—my sister and I need it for our room, and preferably the sooner the better!)
  3. Catch up on book reviews (I’ve finished quite a few books lately…and am set to do more soon)
  4. Get the category sorting function on my new website figured out (this has been waiting for several months now)

Most of these jobs are ones that will take several days apiece to do—and that’s not counting the ones I need to complete on a weekly basis (like bread making) or roughly once a month (like uploading new book reviews to the website).

But wow. I look at that list and think, “how many people out there have time to even think about jobs like this?”

Two or three weeks ago, I came across an interesting point about the Indians that lived in the Pacific Northwest: “Because food and wood [were] easy to gather, the Northwest Indians [had] much leisure time. Their lives [were] full of playacting, dancing, and singing.” (From A History of Us, Book 1 by Joy Hakim.)

I have to wonder, statistically speaking, how many people these days do not have time for things like this—or “relaxation” as we know it at all!—simply because it’s a daily fight for survival. It’s a struggle to even find a little food to feed their family.

None of those jobs listed above would be on my to-do list if I lived in a country where food was scarce. If anything, they would be a someday/maybe dream. That fact makes me feel very thankful. My food almost always appears, ready to eat (thank you, Mom!).

I live in plenty. So even if I struggle with a very first-world problem of figuring out prioritization and how to get the most out of my days, I know that I am blessed. Of course, there are the negative aspects of having too much plenty, but that’s a completely separate topic!

For now, I’m choosing to focus on the fact that I get to do these things, when for many people it’s an impossible dream. That it’s a privilege. Remembering that cuts down on the overwhelm factor quite a bit.

But, seriously—getting overwhelmed over something as trivial as what I should do with my days?

Okay. I’ll stop. But thanks for sparking the thought, Mr. History Book.

Let’s discuss: What are you working on right now? What are you thankful for today?

You might also be interested in . . .

Filed Under: Life, Thinking Tagged With: Thankful, Thoughts

About Esther Filbrun

I am a young woman in New Zealand. I enjoy writing, cooking, sewing, reading, editing, and, most of all, praising my heavenly Father.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Esther’s picture

Hi! I’m Esther, lover of the Lord Jesus Christ and brainstormer behind helping families find good books (read more about that here). My goal is to live a purposeful, fulfilling life—whether that is in what I read, write, cook, design, or do with my wonderful siblings. My life is full and often messy. But God is good. Welcome to the adventure!

Find Me Online

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Google

Recent Posts

  • Second Day of Our Family Trip
  • First Day of Our Family Trip
  • Tuis! …and a Bellbird
  • Faithful in All Seasons
  • Home Again—Temporarily!

Recent Comments

  • Esther Filbrun on Tuis! …and a Bellbird
  • Esther Filbrun on Jayne’s Endeavour Blog Tour: Special Recipe Post and Giveaway!
  • B-R on Tuis! …and a Bellbird
  • Esther Filbrun on Jayne’s Endeavour Blog Tour: Special Recipe Post and Giveaway!
  • Lauren Compton on Jayne’s Endeavour Blog Tour: Special Recipe Post and Giveaway!

Archives

2020 Reading Challenge

2020 Reading Challenge
Esther has read 0 books toward her goal of 50 books.
hide
0 of 50 (0%)
view books

Subscribe

Join 37 others and stay updated by subscribing to the blog!

Your data is protected. I hate spam as much as you!

Copyright © 2021 · Twenty Seven Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in