Learning Not to Rush Life

One of the greatest feelings in the world is having a conversation with someone who supports all those things you want to do but didn't think you could.

I talked to my mom yesterday for a long time, and we had one of those conversations.

My problem is my vast dreams, desires and ambitions. And my lack of time, or rather, perceived lack of time.

I want to study abroad. I want to get a dual degree. I want to volunteer. I want to have a great internship. I want to train for 2008 Olympic Trials (no seriously; I am a competitive swimmer). I want to give back to the swim team that has given so much to me. I want to visit old friends and make new ones. The list goes on.

Unfortunately, I feel like the only opportunity for all these things is now. The pressure is on to squeeze everything into my last year and a half of school, and doing all these things at once would require an extra set of hands and probably another six hours in my day.

I often feel that I am cursed with no direction in my life. It is not that I don't know what I want to do, it is that I know too many things. Where do I start?

My mom helped me realize there will be time. If not this year, then next, or the year after that.

I love the idea of a slow life, slowing down to appreciate what you are doing, not what you need to do or where you might end up. That is my challenge for the week right? Don't rush?

Well I sorted out the study abroad question, with blessings from my mom. Now the other things start to fall into place.

I can only climb one mountain at a time right?

No Room for Meandering on My Sidewalk

I can't walk behind slow people.

I have long legs, tend to walk with an assertive stride, and rarely do I meander. When I am stuck behind people who don't share my walking characteristics I get impatient and antsy, and sometimes feel claustrophobic. These feelings tend to morph into rudeness, as I break a conversation between two strolling companions just so I can get by.

Surely they heard my quickly approaching footsteps followed by shuffling of my feet, as I try to maneuver my way around them?

Why can't they just get out of my way? I have important things to do!

Water Conservation PSA

If we don't do something about water conservation this could be all us Athens-Clarke County residents in December!

Water Week Wrap Up

It is really hard to take two minute showers.

By the time you get in there, get wet, and lather up it is pretty much over. That is why I walked around most of this week either going showerless (not as bad as it sounds - I swim twice a day so my distinct chlorine smell was just more powerful than usual) or with greaseball hair because I didn't have enough time to rinse out the conditioner. I couldn't even think about shaving my legs.

So maybe it is an art that requires a bit of practice.

Another of my conservation practices was to fill a two liter pitcher with water and use just that to wash my face, hands, brush teeth, etc. I did it, but constantly had soap in my eyes. In fact, my left eye has been red all day and has a bit of a sporadic twitch, both of which I am attributing to the suds it was assaulted with daily.

Well, I may smell like chlorine, but at least my skin looks good. My goal was to finish all glasses of water and full water bottles instead of dumping the leftovers out. Yes, I was extremely hydrated, however, it took a toll on my bladder which brings me to my final water conservation challenge.

"If it's yellow, let it mellow.
If it's brown, flush it down."

The calculations of this Blog Action Day blogger seem to point out that my three or four flushes a day at home probably aren't that giant of a water loss (assuming of course my little toilet is a 1.6 gallon). But this is all about doing the little things right?

Hardest part of this one was not the smell (wasn't really that bad) or the unsightliness (lid down, not a problem), but breaking the habit of flushing! I actually would feel guilty after flushing in that groggy just-woke-up phase, but alas, once that swirl has started there is not much you can do to take it back.

I remember at an evironmental awareness day at the university last year a group was demonstrating this new toilet that used water draining from a sink on the lid of the toilet to fill the basin. I was a little freaked out by it at first but now I think it could make a dent in those water conservation practices.

Glad that the challenge is over, but everyone will have to pick up these practices soon because according to ABC's World News Atlanta area residents have approximately one year until their water runs dry.

This week's challenges are all about time management:

• Get up ten minutes earlier than normal and spend that time doing a devotional.
• Study at least one hour for something not due the next day.
• Slow down, don't feel rushed, be quick but don't hurry in doing everything.

I picked the last challenge because I live my life in a constant strain of "I have to get this done, now!" Inspired by this Newsweek article by Jeffrey Blout, the Challenge Master who picked this one said to try to realize there are more important things than getting everything done as fast as possible.

I don't know if this one will be successful. As I write this my mind fast forwards to the next thing on my list and crossing this task off as soon as possible.

OK, I'm taking a deep breath and slowing down this week.

A Tired End to a Long Day

Ahhh!! I just got soap in my eyes!!

It is very hard to wash your face clean with one hand holding a pitcher of water and one hand rubbing tablespoons of water over your face.

I am tired from being at UGA Connect, our social media conference, all day. I have blogged, twittered, flickred and networked my little heart out so this is all you will get from me tonight.

Also, my mouth is extra toothpastey. I gave up the post brush mouth swishing with water as part of my water conservation policy, but it leaves me a little too Auquafresh if you know what I mean. If you don't it is ok. I am not sure I really know either.