So, Last day of April. For some reason, my years always naturally separate into thirds. I can’t think of a year in terms of quarters or halves, for some reason. It’s the first third, then the summer third, then the autumn-and-holidays third. Not sure if that makes sense in anyone’s head but mine. If you cut it into quarters, then June gets separated from July and August, and clearly that can’t be right. Obviously.
Anyway, May Day is tomorrow, and coincidentally I’m thinking about my own rescue. I’ve been doing really well with my 2008 goal list— I’m right on target to have it all squared away by the end of the year. But for all the success, there’s little sense of accomplishment, or fulfillment. The only completed goal I think I’ll feel remotely positive about soon is having bought an air conditioner, but seeing as summer seems to have postponed itself, I haven’t had the chance to test that theory yet.
So tomorrow, to mark the middle third of the year, I think I’m going to do some tree-huggy new-agey stuff and maybe start a detox or something. I keep having these not-serious-but-annoying health issues, most of which I think have to do with my eating habits and my stress level. I already use meditation and yoga as part of my daily routine, but I think it’s time to stir both those up a little, maybe kick them up a notch, and do something about my food intake. More vegetables wouldn’t hurt. Less junk wouldn’t hurt, either. I’m not necessarily talking about drastic changes, because I’m realistic like that, but I would like to start feeling better and being healthier. Summer third is a good time to do that, I think.
Anybody else got any special plans for summer? Four months is a long time, we could make some significant progress on a few things. What do you say?
April 30th, 2008 at 20:24 pm
Thirds? Pif. Too long.
I divide my year into *eight*, starting from the spring equinox. So May 5th will start my second “octant”, and archeoastronomy.com will give you the other seven dates should you be interested.
The only thing I know for sure will be happening in the summer will be a holiday in Helsinki (and that won’t be till August) but I am busily thinking about what else I could do…
April 30th, 2008 at 20:37 pm
@Zaphod: mmm, yes, I have quite a few Pagan friends, so I’m familiar with the octant system, as it were… I don’t find that six weeks (ish) is long enough for me to get a decent-sized project started and completed. Smaller projects, absolutely. I’m with you there. But in that case I just use the separate months within my thirds, if you see what I mean.
Helsinki will be great - I love Finland.
Well, enjoy your second octant, whatever projects you decide on.
April 30th, 2008 at 22:57 pm
Y’know, I’ve never thought of it in thirds, but I think you’re right. I’ve certainly never been happy with quarters, much less eighths, despite the ‘official’ pagan calendar - much too short to turn around in. Slightly frightening to think the year’s 1/3 done already though. How did that happen? I just blinked or something.
May 1st, 2008 at 05:55 am
Call me crazy but I split my year in twelfes (12) jus tto make it easy.
I have a plan for you,
Eat natural food, think of something your grateful for every morning when you wake up, and get into the sunlight.
May 1st, 2008 at 06:24 am
@Sara: I’m still mourning Christmas. Heh.
May 1st, 2008 at 06:24 am
@Matt: excellent plan on all counts. Sunlight in particular is something I never get enough of.
May 2nd, 2008 at 01:54 am
I plan on going back to school. I’m not getting any younger and I cannot be doing mechanical work all my life. Time to get that degree I have been avoiding. If work will allow, I will start to take classes again. Watch out world! Common sense is on the attack!
Not to mention I am going to work on quitting something I enjoy which is not healthy. But that will take baby steps. Ciggarettes are hard to give up, specially for a mechanic. Goes with the rugged image.
May 2nd, 2008 at 08:09 am
@Matt: wow on both those goals. Amen to the baby steps. I used to be a cold turkey kind of girl, but in recent years I’m finding moderation in all things (including quitting) is best for me.
May 2nd, 2008 at 22:21 pm
@Melissa: Being a quitter is soo out of my way of life. I have never quit anything, but I guess I have to learn how to now.
May 2nd, 2008 at 22:36 pm
@Matt: a friend of mine quit smoking a few years ago, and she had this self-help CD that never used the word “quit” for that very reason. It kept saying, “let’s start down the path of your new life as a non-smoker.” It also encouraged that when you’re offered a cigarette, instead of saying “no thanks, I quit,” you should say, “no thanks, I’m a non-smoker.” The idea is to get into the mindset not that you’ve left something worthwhile behind, but instead that you’re gaining something worthwhile. Makes sense if you can absorb that way of thinking.
May 3rd, 2008 at 06:12 am
@ Melissa: I’ll try to adjust my thinking. It is not that I smoke all the time. I really smoke at work. I never smoke at home or when I am on vacation (holiday for you European types. I think I average a little under a half a pack of day. What I may do at first is see exactly how many I smoke during a week, broken down in days. Then start cutting back there. Limiting the amounts daily on a weekly basis. Then only have on me what I have allowed to partake of. then when I am out, I am out. Set rules of “No bumming” I think that may work for me. I am a pretty literal, logical sort. Must be my German/Dutch genes.