DAY 3, JANUARY 4, 2023
My life flows like a river; that, I believe. I had the privilege of reading a book by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi entitled Flow when I attended university. This book has influenced my life ever since. He talks about discovering your flow and how time flies when you move in flow. I began using myself as a trial specimen to determine if his observations were accurate. I am happy to say that they are. I watch the river within me every day, searching for my flow.
I don’t make a year’s plan because I don’t follow them. A month’s plan takes me out of my flow, and believe me when I say there are a lot of events, people, groups, and things that try to distract me. I usually write down a series of things I plan to do during the week, where I can add stuff as I will and put a line through things I have accomplished.
What does this have to do with today?
Well, I had an appointment today with the hairdresser. My hair has been screaming that it needed a hair treatment. My hairdresser is a German woman whom I met four years ago. She was going through a difficult time when I met her. We were in a group in the church study we attended. I felt her desperation and couldn’t ignore it, so I reached out to her. A year later, I chose her to be my hairdresser because I want her to discover the same peace I have and how to protect it by being true to herself.
This morning, after I entered my office, I received a text that she had to postpone the appointment because she had the flu and didn’t want to pass it on to me. I wrote back immediately, letting her know it was no problem. I didn’t mention my hair, but I wrote a prayer for her in the text message and wrote that she should drink thyme tea and peppermint tea and eat tomato soup or chicken noodle soup.
Afterward, I didn’t regret not being able to go to her. Not because she was sick but because I saw clearly that my schedule had been arranged differently than what I had planned, and as I started moving in the way that had opened, I began moving in my flow, and time began to fly.
So today, one of the two groups I have been with for ten years or more has our blogging day. I enjoy this group because they are so different from me, and almost ninety-five percent of the participants are not Romance Novelists. I learned so much by visiting their blogs and leaving comments.
I plan to visit the blogs for the Challenge, leave comments wherever I can, and send out tweets too.
Answer my emails and text messages,
Check on my last story with my editor at 4Wills,
Get in touch with my developmental editor, and
Pick up some fruits.
Until tomorrow, take care.
Shalom aleichem
Pat Garcia
Hi again, Pat. I’m just checking to see if this comment will go through. I’m not sure, but I may be having an issue getting my comments to show up on your blog. -Donna M Atwood
Hi Pat. I hear you about going along with all the changes that came along each day or week, so often they can turn out to be mini blessings in disguise! It was great to read about your prayer for your hair stylist, she’s lucky to have such a good friend in you : )
Best wishes,
Donna M Atwood
D M Atwood
https://dmatwood,com
Hi, Pat! I, too, enjoyed this day in your life. Plans change, right? That’s a part of life. How does that saying go… “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans”? Hahaha! Looking forward to your next post!
Hi Pat. Nice day you had. You took me on a step-by-step ride.
Thanks.
Hello Shirley,
Thank you. I got your comment. I have all comments in moderation until I approve them. Thank you so much for dropping by.
Shalom aleichem 🤗👧🏾✌🏾
Well, Pat, I left a lengthy reply but it isn’t showing. I think that happened before to me as well. I am reading your blog, don’t think I’m not. Lets see if this shows up…
Hello Maura Beth,
I did get your comment and the fact that you use the Franklin Planner. I used it for three years and really liked it. I stopped using it because I went to the Mac and it wasn’t possible to use it on my Mac. You gave me an idea. I must check and see if it is now Mac compatible.
I was late getting to your comment today. I’m sorry about that. Have a nice Thursday morning🤗
Shalom aleichem
Pat, I love the idea of the “flow” and have heard of that book. I’m glad you found your flow today. You are clearly a kind and caring person and we love that about you. I make lists, too, and if I don’t do something on the list, I put a little arrow next to it and it moves to the next day (I took a “Franklin Planner” class years ago through work and use one to this day.) Flow on, Pat!!
I enjoy reading your lists at the end of your daily blogs. I make lists, too, and leave them everywhere. In notebooks, on post-it-notes, on the backs of envelopes, and wherever I find a writing surface, whenever I have a pen in hand. It’s how I remind myself of things that MUST be done. Then I misplace them or forget about them and go live in that flow you’re describing. Later, as I rediscover those lost pieces of my to-do lists, I often find they’ve been accomplished in the course of simply living. Keep flowing, my friend!
Blessings!
Pat, the flow makes sense! If you ever visit Michigan, you can hook-up with Shirley’s husband to get your hair done. He takes care of Shirley and she’s never had a bad hair day. Auf wiedersehen!
I love the idea about letting life flow through you. I’ve never achieved that. Do you have any pointers for me? Time never flies but feels stagnant.
I didn’t submit my blog to the RRBC challenge, but I’m happy you often knock on my digital door anyway, Pat! 😀
I love that you are always sharing light and love with everyone you meet, Pat! I hope your hairdresser feels better soon.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
I don’t always plan what I’m going to do every day, either, Pat. It’s better to “go with the flow,” as you say. That’s the best way for me to go. Something always comes up, it seems. I’m sure your hairdresser appreciated your prayer. I like this line from an old song from the late 1960s: “Oh, children, don’t you weep if the road is long. We are all PRAYERS OF ACTION on our way to God.” I remember that on days when I don’t want to do anything and need to get the action gene working.