Awakening and Doing

I have spent more and more time doing and less and less time watching over the past few months. Those who are used to having an instantaneous answer to an Email are probably stunned at the silence. Entire days go by where I am not on the computer until the few moments before bed (I still need just one last check of the email). Instead I'm outside riding with Vicky on her tandem or planting bush beans or walking around the yard with Diane talking about future projects or sitting in the peach tree island pulling up all the little maple trees that sprouted in my failed attempt at homemade mulch.

Part of my inspiration is my neighbor. He also works on computers most of the day, as I do, but the moment he is home, he is outside. I asked him about it once and he said that he stares at a monitor all day and that is the last thing he wants to do at home. Over the years I have been amazed watching his family live life outside. Both kids, both parents and whoever is with them are busy playing and working outside in all be the most inhospitable weather. Their home is magnet for neighborhood kids and adults to stop by for a visit because they are simply accessible. I deeply respect that lifestyle and have slowly been adopting aspects of it.

The other part of the change is choice. I have purposefully changed my interests. When my primary outdoor activity was sailing, something that rarely occurred more than once a month, all other outdoor activities were simply not sailing. As mentioned in earlier posts, I've decided to develop my interests in those things closer to home. Family activities, yard work, fixing the countless broken things in my home. The things that interest me are must a few steps out the front door. Although the change in my lifestyle has taken years, I've noticed a tipping point the past few months. Each spring the draw of the outdoors is strong, but this year it has dramatically increased. I've stopped watching life outside, and have moved outside to live it myself. It is like waking up from a long drowsy sleep.