{White Space}
2.7.12
In a recent conversation I realized that I used to be one of those people who was always stressed, over-committed,
overworked, underpaid, always planning my schedule so tight that one event would bump right up against the next
event all day long. I was always running late, speeding and arriving in a frenzy. Even though I may have appeared calm
on the outside, inside I was so tightly wound that I often felt on the verge of snapping. Although I've always been a big supporter
of using negative space space in design (thus all the white space on my website), I never associated it with the "design" of my day.
Yet I've realized that, as I am in charge of designing or planning my day, it is important to schedule some white space in there.
I feel that I'm at a place in my life right now where I have more white space than I've ever had before and perhaps will
ever have again. I think it developed from a number of major life changes: going from several roommates to just one (husband),
going from stressful jobs surrounded by coworkers to working by myself in the silence of my home,
going from three jobs
at once to just one. Another noticeable change is that I have made it a priority to do things that I love and that keep me
balanced and happy - I often take my dog on walks in the woods (while listening to the Bible on my iphone),
I spend a lot of time reading, I do yoga most days or go for a run occasionally, I make healthy fresh meals,
and I plan lunch or coffee dates with friends to make sure I'm being intentional about relationships. I try to nurture
my mind, body, creativity, spirituality, relationships, and emotions. I've learned to say no more often
(still need some work with that one...) and plan empty space in between activities.
As a result, I've realized that, for the most part, the only times I'm stressed lately is if I'm running late,
and I hate that feeling of arriving in a frenzy of frustration at myself. I'm generally a pretty positive thinker and
don't like making choices that cause negative self-talk, like the choice of running late. So, as I'm learning to give
myself
more than enough time to get to places, I'm finding that I enter each situation with more calmness, balance,
positivity and preparedness. It is a much better place to be.
And with that long monologue, I give you some images of calm,
balance and white space. I hope that you are able to "design" more white space into your life.
