busy + bounce

Tuesday, August 7, 2012










































geranium / radishes / geranium / tulips in the terracotta gardens / rose hips / wild roses / red branches / strawberries / date packaging with great typography / flowering quince

Busyness serves as a kind of existential reassurance, a hedge against emptiness; obviously your life cannot possibly be silly or trivial or meaningless if you are so busy, completely booked, in demand every hour of the day.  New York Times

Busy is not a merit badge - Darn ! that's a hard thing for me to wrap my head around because I've always placed most of my self value on how productive I am or so I thought. These recent days you'd think I'd be showering my self with the love - not so and I am busy, I am productive so that's a bit disappointing. This week is one of those weeks where I feel tres busy, swamped, rushed, overwhelmed with the Busy but it's true my life does not feel at all empty or trivial. My self worth really kinda loves it.

I am certainly a bit type A, with a dash of overachiever, a sprinkle of, intense at times, exuberance, a big pinch of naivety idealism, practically zero spontaneity (I do so love a good plan) & a whole lotta perfectionism thrown into the mix. Busy & me, well we get along real good.

Here's an interesting article The Busy Trap from the New York Times on the whole idea of living Busy I found on fav artist/illustrator Lisa Congdon's blog. I keep thinking I should be trying to be not so busy, I should be looking for balance in my life - well not according to Danielle LaPorte (LOVE her !) & her gang - Me & Busy say hooray for them 'cause who am I kiddin'  - I'm lovin' the whole lot of busy & bounce

In the end, the quest for balance is bogus. Love your burdens. Love them hard. And when your loves knock you down or your weak ankles trip you up, stop worrying about balancing – ‘cuz you’re not – and bounce. Kelly Diels

7 comments:

  1. It is a RED day at 29 Black Street - beautiful photographs.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts, today and everyday; I feel the same or similar on so many.

    Kitty USA

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  2. Susan,

    You HAVE to make this date cake from the Barefoot Contessa--so, so simple:

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sticky-toffee-date-cake-recipe/index.html

    I make it in a mini bundt type muffin pan or regular muffin pans + freeze for individual servings.

    J

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  3. thanks Kitty & yes it is indeed red day - any excuse for a red day (or pink, or orange). Thanks J. sticky-toffee-date -yummmm !! I ove the minis size idea xo S + Gang

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  4. Love the philosophy and your attitude to life - very healthy and positive. Love your images too. Makes me think that life is a cherry.

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  5. Is it what you are doing that matters or how you are being that matters? Contented with a full and productive schedule or hassled with over commitment and stress. Serene in stillness or bored and listless in the lulls.

    Or as zefrank said it "And God, let me enjoy this. Life isn’t just a sequence of waiting for things to be done.”

    I'm going to read that article right now.

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  6. ... well busy bee, we see on Facebook that Inkwell has posted one of your great Cat Illustrations for Happy Cat Day! Tail wags + claps. ~moose

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