This scanned photograph was made ages ago -- in June 1991 -- with a Pentax point and shoot with the size and heft of a brick. The scene is of a lake in the Quetico Provential Park, Ontario, Canada, where we paddled, camped and fished over several summers.
Life got in the way of my best intentions this week. One of those intentions was a post, or maybe two, to the blog. Day by day I highlighted on "the list" those items I'd accomplished. There sat "blog" under the Monday heading, increasingly by itself, decidedly un-colorful. Undone.
This morning, as I sat at the kitchen counter, sipping that delightful first cup of coffee and writing in my journal, I wondered at my willingness to let that particular item go. Why did I not write? Being on a regular schedule with the blog is something I am fairly convinced I want. A host of tasks important and not so important crowded it out, pushed their way to the front. And, I let them.
As I pondered all this I wrote "Why am I so reluctant to take the plunge? I'm not exactly leaping in with both feet here."
Thinking about plunging is what brought to mind those trips into the Quetico Provencial Park, and led me to the photograph albums. But, not to another day of procrastination, of not writing. Not this time.
We were in the wilderness on these trips. With nothing but what we could carry. With no way to get anywhere except in those canoes. We cooked over a fire and slept in tents. There being no facilities, we walked the "garden path" regularly. And, to bathe? One took the plunge -- into that clean, clear, cold water.
Because of the cold and my negative anticipation, I put it off for days on that first trip in 1991. I put it off until I couldn't stand myself another minute. With all the courage and determination I could muster, I leapt into a deep hole feet first and came up with a gasping scream. Which turned into shouts of triumph and maybe even joy. I'd done it! The hardest part was simply talking myself out of putting it off any longer. It wasn't as hard or as awful as I'd let myself imagine it would be.
Nothing but refreshing and worth it. So worth it.
"Blog" will appear early on a list this week. I shall remember Quetico and that first bath before I decide to take up another item in its place.
Now, to go back to Monday's list with the highlighter! Yay.
This morning, as I sat at the kitchen counter, sipping that delightful first cup of coffee and writing in my journal, I wondered at my willingness to let that particular item go. Why did I not write? Being on a regular schedule with the blog is something I am fairly convinced I want. A host of tasks important and not so important crowded it out, pushed their way to the front. And, I let them.
As I pondered all this I wrote "Why am I so reluctant to take the plunge? I'm not exactly leaping in with both feet here."
Thinking about plunging is what brought to mind those trips into the Quetico Provencial Park, and led me to the photograph albums. But, not to another day of procrastination, of not writing. Not this time.
We were in the wilderness on these trips. With nothing but what we could carry. With no way to get anywhere except in those canoes. We cooked over a fire and slept in tents. There being no facilities, we walked the "garden path" regularly. And, to bathe? One took the plunge -- into that clean, clear, cold water.
Because of the cold and my negative anticipation, I put it off for days on that first trip in 1991. I put it off until I couldn't stand myself another minute. With all the courage and determination I could muster, I leapt into a deep hole feet first and came up with a gasping scream. Which turned into shouts of triumph and maybe even joy. I'd done it! The hardest part was simply talking myself out of putting it off any longer. It wasn't as hard or as awful as I'd let myself imagine it would be.
Nothing but refreshing and worth it. So worth it.
"Blog" will appear early on a list this week. I shall remember Quetico and that first bath before I decide to take up another item in its place.
Now, to go back to Monday's list with the highlighter! Yay.
RSS Feed