Perceptions of time and money

I know that today has had no more time in it, that our lives are a continuum until they end, but the hour change shows just how enslaved I am to the way it is marked in minutes. As always, I have got good value out of my "extra" hour, using it multiple times and employing it again right now to justify an early night. I find the way I feel about the entire weekend is impacted, luxuriating in what is actually a fictitious addition, as no more time is actually created, its just how we label it.
In a vaguely similar vein, I have also noticed this weekend how my attitude to my green waste removal has altered now that I pay directly for it. When I paid for it out of my council tax, I didn't give much attention as to whether I filled the green bin or not. Then a separate paying system was introduced and as money was tight I did without for 12 months. This year I paid an annual subscription and have changed my behaviour so that every fortnight I make sure there's plenty in it. I wonder how long before the novelty wears off along with the insistence of value for money and I go back to sporadic use ?
Our minds are fascinating!

Top 3

A wise friend once recommended finishing each day by thinking of 3 things for which I'm grateful. It really was a fabulous suggestion and one I'd encourage you to consider. Given my location at the day's end, mine invariably include a warm bed and soft dog. This latter choice is often cunningly used by my offspring to further their case for whatever they are trying to shift my reluctance from. Today it was a couple of guinea pigs to keep the recently bereaved one company. As I expressed my doubts about my willingness to continue to care for them long after my daughter will have fled the nest, I was reminded how I wasn't keen on getting a dog but look how much I love him now. Hmmm.

Since each night I tend to choose the same 2 of 3, I am going to challenge myself to find other moments in the day to pause and notice 3 things I'm grateful for. I know it will improve my existence in the process. Already I try and use it as an instant head shift when I feel inadequate, or under the weather, or got at. Lots of us privileged folk carry such a sense of entitlement it's easy to automatically feel aggrieved instead of immense gratitude, when actually there is so much to appreciate.

(My third tonight was the honeyed cashew nuts in the amazing Chinese dish for tea. I have 40 years of catching up to do, having only recently discovered the delights of Chinese food following a dodgy couple of experiences as a youngster leading me to believe I didn't like Chinese food).

What, right now, are your 3?

Forgiveness

I've come across a quote from Hana Malik that I really like.

"Forgiveness is
taking the knife out of your own back
and not using it on anyone else
no matter how
they hurt you"

I'm sure I will have blogged before on interrupting the cycle of hurt. The anti bullying work we used to do with the young people in schools was based on the principle of stopping hurt and violence in its tracks rather than perpetuating it. We all have choices when we get hurt, to retaliate, or to take out that hurt elsewhere (being grumpy with the kids), or working really hard to own the hurt and be the place where it ends.

I think the latter choice requires most effort :-)  Firstly we have to notice how we're feeling so we don't unintentionally pass it on. Then we have to deal with the bleeding, metaphorically speaking. Acknowledging the pain, maybe have someone adept to help us stem the loss if it's in a hard to reach place, be gentle with ourselves around the  wound. Then consciously respond in a way we wish.  What might a loving response look like? Is letting it go and no response the best way forwards?

There's still much for me to learn here, I'm sure I will continue to receive opportunities to practice ;)

One or two degrees

I'm trying to remember what had me caring about climate change back before many had even heard of it. My geography teachers were inspirational, and my grandparents gave me an ace theological resource I wish I could now locate.

I'm proud that 30 years ago I was asking shopkeepers why they automatically gave a carrier bag and was writing projects on renewable energies. Yet here we are and it's not enough. We all need to be doing more, right now. Some of the steps we're encouraged to consider, like eating less meat, I've long since undertaken. So my next step is to choose less dairy. Someone suggested that now I earn more, I don't have to only shop in charity shops for clothes, yet buying second hand is another important environmental principle for me, so I'll continue with that.

I've noticed that having more money and less time can increase my carbon footprint. When low on energy and spare minutes, it's tempting to jump in the car instead of walk. I've not managed to get to my local farm shop as often so have been buying bread in plastic wrappers when I could have got my bread fresh from there. So far I have managed to continue making soup on a Sunday for my lunches, so that is saving some plastic cartons. But I'm still buying way too many plastic enrobed items.

I want to be intentional in my increased spending rather than use my new disposable income on convenience that costs the planet. Maybe I can save so that my next second hand car could be an electric one? Perhaps I could save up for more solar panels?

And what will it take for more of us to take our responsibility seriously? (*despairs at Trump's response. Again. *)