It was +5C yesterday and I treated myself to the full Aran effect for my long afternoon walk with the wonderdog, Ansa. I had to take a pic. I made it all myself over the years. A headless selfie wouldn't have done it justice at all.
My morning meditation had it:
"We only spent 5% of our lives doing what we love to do best."
It stopped me in my tracks.
Imagine! Only 5%!
Some of the 95% is maintenance, I imagine: roof, food, clothing, medical, etc.
Another chunk would be addiction: booze, food, TV, interwebz.
What do I love to do best?
Write. Read. Knit. Have friends and family in. Take photographs, play the piano. Write and direct plays. Visit friends and family.
I'm caught again by the weather today and had to cancel all town appointments including medical, lunch and dinner with friends, groceries and hair chop.
It is -10C with windchill and freezing rain now to be followed later on by 10CM of snow, followed my more rain. My larder is looking light but I have pre-prepped meals in the freezer.
And I'm writing. Even if it's the blog. I'm writing. Increasing that 5% even a wee bit.
I don't know where the 5% comes from but I don't believe it. Personally I probably spend close to 50% of my time doing what I enjoy. Of course I only have a part-time job, which helps. The figure for Jenny is probably even more than 50% as one of her favourite things is sleeping.
ReplyDeleteNick:
ReplyDeleteYou never said what you enjoy doing in that 50%. I imagine sleep, etc. would be considered functional.
I do believe the 5% is about fulfilling artistic passion, exploration, fresh pursuits etc.
XO
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I think I've spent less than .01% of my time doing what I love best, but then I loved that time spent so much that even memories of it bring me joy, which affects the percentage I think.
ReplyDelete-37C here this morning, 9C in the house where I am sitting, heating system going full out. Mist the Kitty, our resident royalty, is out of sorts. The weather has my attention! By February the night lows here will reach above -20C, so we can relax a little on toting firewood!
Men spend more of their time doing what they like than women do,I would say.
ReplyDeleteHah we have a blizzard over here on the mainland :) I just came in from a walk with my own wonder dog, and I now realize that she is at her Hapi-est in a blizzard. Snow on the ground is ho-hum to her, but when it is -12 and blowing hard zero visibility ( a neighbour formerly of northern Ontario says "Blowing dead bears") she's prancing and dancing like a fool. Now she's moping because I won't come out to play.
ReplyDelete5% is probably in the ballpark for me too. Must work on that ;)
Oh yes, and LUV the Aran! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteWell, let me see, there's music, reading (books and newspapers), walking, movies, art exhibitions, travelling, drinking coffee, good food, blogging, Facebooking, kissing and cuddling. Loads of things!
ReplyDeleteMaggie:
ReplyDeleteI found the day particularly wretched too, had a nap this afternoon. I must relax more around weather cancelled plans, much as I am attached to them!!
I did write some more so that's another chunk added to the 5%.
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Hattie:
ReplyDeleteI so agree, but sports watching? H'm. Many of my guyfriends spend a lot of time sitting in armchairs, slurping bevvies and then posting rah-rahs on FB about their teams.
That would not be part of the 5% bliss in my book but they would disagree.
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Annie:
ReplyDeleteOh I would love Hapi and Ansa to meet, Ansa's husky blood soars when snow hits!
Rough old weather, yeah? Oh me nerves as we say here and I really, really felt it today.
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And thanks Annie, some of my 5% on display :)
ReplyDeleteXO
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You're a lucky man Nick!! Hats off.
ReplyDeleteXO
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On my weekends I spend way more than 5% of my time doing what I love best. Maybe less true on work days.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous sweater, cap and scarf, by the way.
ReplyDeleteRight there with you...
ReplyDeleteNeed to do more of what I like :)
So cold
faucets are dripping
hope nothing freezes
be glad
when Spring arrives.
SAW:
ReplyDeleteYes on days I choose to just do what captures my interest I can spend 100% of my time immersed and thanks for compliment :)
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OWJ:
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, don't recall my being this fed up with winter ever before!
It seems to go on and on and on. wind rattling everything as I write and blown all the snow away.
XO
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You could increase that 5% by lots more. The weather is all the excuse I’d need.
ReplyDeleteReading and writing all day - just think. Bliss
Interesting information. I think a lot of though, as we age, increase that 5% to 10-15% of doing what we enjoy --- simply because it's so detrimental to slog away at more uninteresting, exhausting or frustrating things. At least, I'm trying very hard!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful knits. Thank you for your comments over at my place. I will enjoy reading through your stories and insights here ~
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