tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post4823736968500611101..comments2024-03-29T15:58:41.446+10:00Comments on down to earth: Learn to say "no"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-49996139046345915542019-11-29T14:00:23.114+10:002019-11-29T14:00:23.114+10:00Saying no to the things you want to do is the very...Saying no to the things you want to do is the very hardest thing for me. I am interested in many things, and love what I gain and can offer back to each of them so it is almost impossible to choose one to give up. I still work 2 days a week so that makes it easier but I somehow find I function better and feel more alive when I am "stretched" and enjoy a great sense of satisfaction of somehow fitting everything in. Still as I get older I think this will be harder and so I am giving serious thought to looking at the "meaningfulness " of the things I want to give my time to as well and the fact that I enjoy them. Besides , I have made a decision to focus on health and that is moving up to number one on the activity list. I am hoping that setting criteria like this will help me make the best use of time and resources. My biggest fear is to look back and have regrets - leaving things undone, or left till there is insufficient time and money or health. So maybe some mindful planning is also in order. Love you blogposts Rhonda - always thought provoking and so refreshingly "real" when so much else online isn't.ThanksAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03219655830757557430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-76235934825122708432018-06-28T08:29:00.845+10:002018-06-28T08:29:00.845+10:00Drop the busy mantle, yes! I really enjoyed this p...Drop the busy mantle, yes! I really enjoyed this post - it was a great reminder that BEING is where it's at. <br /><br />As a side note, I like your updated blog format. It allowed me to find this post easily!Erinhttps://riotousspring.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-21437382928028772132014-04-26T21:47:31.945+10:002014-04-26T21:47:31.945+10:00Love this post. Things are always easy to apprecia...Love this post. Things are always easy to appreciate if we just take time to LOOK AT and FEEL our surroundings. Your cat is beautiful by the way, he has such a long nose. haha<br />http://reneehartsthis.blogspot.com.au/<br />Renee x<br />A cruelty free blog.Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15284668989252447866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-65968260747812352092014-04-26T16:35:50.602+10:002014-04-26T16:35:50.602+10:00Hello Lorraine. I think the hinterland of the Suns...Hello Lorraine. I think the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast is the best place in the country to live a simple life. The climate is good for growing all year if you want to. There is ample rainfall - 1500mm a year and plenty of sunshine for solar panels. You're close to the beach if you want to fish and there are many artisan food producers and farmers markets here..rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-38588151773925854932014-04-26T14:41:27.828+10:002014-04-26T14:41:27.828+10:00Such an important post. Life is just too short not...Such an important post. Life is just too short not to say No. I should know being a nurse and sadly caring for people dying too early in life! I work agency and at the moment not getting much work but at the same time enjoying the break. We are moving from our rented place in Mooloolaba back to our own home on the Gold Coast which we are trying to sell. I really want to buy a sustainable block in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast and then enjoy being busy. Your garden looks beautiful Rhonda it is good that both you and your husband have similar interests. I look forward reading your posts. lorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17642544753822483351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-34742685351814165392014-04-26T08:19:40.388+10:002014-04-26T08:19:40.388+10:00Everything looks so green and inviting!
Blessings...Everything looks so green and inviting!<br /><br />Blessings~A Joyful Chaoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13647481484192797931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-78592526881240518072014-04-25T17:22:54.534+10:002014-04-25T17:22:54.534+10:00I am too busy at the moment and feeling overwhelme...I am too busy at the moment and feeling overwhelmed. Some bad planning on my part ended up with too many days out and not enough down time. Today I am planning on being at home, I need to recharge and get some rest. Thank you for this timely reminder.......sustainablemumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04099701194160334671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-25915651766646204422014-04-24T07:57:43.776+10:002014-04-24T07:57:43.776+10:00I love reading your blog posts Rhonda! I just lov...I love reading your blog posts Rhonda! I just love reading about home grown produce too. I am so happy to know this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-87723808457085866922014-04-24T02:57:55.087+10:002014-04-24T02:57:55.087+10:00Thank you so much for this thoughtful post Rhonda,...Thank you so much for this thoughtful post Rhonda, and for the link to the Guardian article.<br /><br />I only work 4 days a week, and I love my job, but at the minute it's going through a phase with a lot of travel, and recently when friends as how I am, or what I've been doing, I'm finding work travel and tiredness are dominating my replies... Much as I love the work, I don't love the travel, and I don't like how it's making me think of my life right now! <br /><br />During this busy time I'm going to make a conscious effort to take care of myself and focus on other things too, so that when I'm asked how I am, I have something to talk about other than work... <br /><br />I love being at home too - all the more so now I'm out of it so often. My weekends are so valuable. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-29586825560019416682014-04-23T23:33:46.184+10:002014-04-23T23:33:46.184+10:00I like staying at home too! After years of work th...I like staying at home too! After years of work that required early morning starts, catching trains, making meetings, often getting home late at night several times a week, staying home feels like a great luxury...even after six years of retirement. I only shop when I've identified a need that I can't meet from what I already have. I meet friends a couple of times a month and we visit thrift shops, cafes, museums and anything vaguely historical. I go to a craft group once a week and to a knitting group twice a month, and that's it! The rest of the time I putter around the house, read a lot, do genealogy and occasionally garden (I really envy you your weather - I have to get out when the rain stops!). I don't do nearly all the things you do, Rhonda, but I have started making homemade laundry soap!Shelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10239488936038510294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-59644712831002595782014-04-23T20:59:26.671+10:002014-04-23T20:59:26.671+10:00I'm gradually getting to understand mindfulnes...I'm gradually getting to understand mindfulness as well. We live in such a beautiful place here that it is good to take time to appreciate it, and not feel guilty for avoiding the hard work which we need to do. I read somewhere that we should be called human "doings" rather than human beings, and that really rang true with me. We have to be on the go the whole time, it seems, and we miss so much until we consciously slow down.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07332731223601172953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-78384947503024826842014-04-23T09:23:49.623+10:002014-04-23T09:23:49.623+10:00What an absolutely beautiful post...and one I am t...What an absolutely beautiful post...and one I am trying to learn to live by. It's hard--I was recently tempted into a (temporary) new position at work--but at the same time, I am also insisting on making time for relaxing at home and sharing time with the home and family that I value above all else!eeochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06779964240236804405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-84056754876696924052014-04-23T07:01:31.161+10:002014-04-23T07:01:31.161+10:00Important words, that I think many of us forget th...Important words, that I think many of us forget these days. <br />Enjoy your beautiful garden Rhonda.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-55909426652519557782014-04-23T06:43:40.929+10:002014-04-23T06:43:40.929+10:00I found saying 'No' for the first time was...I found saying 'No' for the first time was very hard to do but I also realised there are no 'No Police' and no-one will berate you for saying No.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02758926343154376267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-55310271545542165222014-04-23T03:34:07.548+10:002014-04-23T03:34:07.548+10:00Beautifully put, Rhonda. Just the reminder I neede...Beautifully put, Rhonda. Just the reminder I needed to spend some time today on my front porch ,in my rocking chair, listening to birdsong. Thank you! Jeannette in So. California.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00134651306100903419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-25810647523981426002014-04-23T01:03:37.133+10:002014-04-23T01:03:37.133+10:00Yes, when I purchased Down to Earth I also purchas...Yes, when I purchased Down to Earth I also purchased The Simple Life. I am really enjoying Down to Earth! I am only on page 45 but it is great!Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659675759066363838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54148505461561492972014-04-23T00:43:52.783+10:002014-04-23T00:43:52.783+10:00The problem I have (and am contending with at the ...The problem I have (and am contending with at the moment) is the reaction by other people when I say no. I have been gradually letting go of responsibilities that I do not need or enjoy. This time last year I took on the presidency of a local group because nobody else would and I didn't want to see it fold before it had even got off the ground. I had thought I had made it quite clear that it was a one year only responsibility. It seems I was misunderstood. Consequently other people have become upset and angry and I have to take a deep breath and repeat the word no.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-53645909634439984882014-04-22T21:58:28.304+10:002014-04-22T21:58:28.304+10:00I think I must be one of the Lucky People, as I...I think I must be one of the Lucky People, as I've never had a problem saying NO if I don't feel comfortable about doing something. 15 years ago I was very involved with community organisations as well as working 5 days a week. I was out two or three nights a week attending meetings. Busy yes, but I absolutely loved every minute of it. When I decided I'd had enough of a particular activity, I would bow out gracefully, making sure there was someone who could follow in my footsteps and not let the group down.<br />These days retirement finds us both busy in different ways, but the best thing about it is that we do things in the time frame that we want to - not because we are expected to, or paid to. On a nice day, hubby and I will sit in our back yard all afternoon, watching the chooks roaming around the yard, or watching the antics of the finches and canaries in our aviaries. Never mind that there might be washing, ironing or cleaning to be done - we enjoy these moments of leisure when we feel like it.Gina E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07532527261977368083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-63209096462741218152014-04-22T17:42:28.867+10:002014-04-22T17:42:28.867+10:00Mindfulness helps me. I'm a pleaser as well, a...Mindfulness helps me. I'm a pleaser as well, and also feel guilty if I'm not "doing", or at least thinking about "doing". But that is the way to stress and anxiety. So I try (not always successfully) to spend some time each day to just be in the moment, and not thinking about what has happened, or needs to be done (or not). <br /><br />I sit and say to myself "what can I see? what can I hear? what can I feel?". Sometimes my mind wanders into planning mode as a result, as in "I see a wasp. I was supposed to do something about getting rid of them. I wonder can I do it organically or will I have to use some horrible chemical?" Oops! Back to the present. "I see a wasp. I see a beautiful plant. I hear the buzz of bees. How difficult would it be to set up my own beehive?" Oops. Back to the present.<br /><br />Mindfulness. Calm.Just Joyfulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02404359368224055713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-31044559064435538182014-04-22T17:25:44.671+10:002014-04-22T17:25:44.671+10:00We are just learning that lesson! DH and I are goi...We are just learning that lesson! DH and I are going to say more often as we find less and less time for ourselves xAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06597069824333007603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-9364755778198584142014-04-22T15:42:05.158+10:002014-04-22T15:42:05.158+10:00Thanks Rhonda I found your post very thoughtful. ...Thanks Rhonda I found your post very thoughtful. I also enjoyed the parts about the garden living in Brisbane (after 7 years in New Zealand) we are trying hard to learn what to plant when so your comments here and in other posts are really helpful.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09995232993233274022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-22802135539842005062014-04-22T13:53:47.609+10:002014-04-22T13:53:47.609+10:00My just turned 18 year old son is going for his pr...My just turned 18 year old son is going for his probationary licence this afternoon. During our learner driving sessions over the last 2 years, I have frequently told him, "take your time, we are in no hurry". This was meant as a means of reassuring him that as a learner he can drive at a speed that suits him, but it has also been for him to understand, that taking a little longer will not harm the outcome of the day's schedule.<br />Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00914511496366837218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7560639364978327152014-04-22T10:40:46.888+10:002014-04-22T10:40:46.888+10:00This resonated with me so much this morning . When...This resonated with me so much this morning . When I was a teacher I used to be almost relieved when I caught the flu because I could finally sit down and do nothing....now I am home I find that 'busyness' feeling hasn't quite left me yet and I find more things to do to keep me busy. <br />I don't think anyone that is old would say that they wished that they had got more done...they would probably remember days spent in the sunshine just 'being' ....not 'doing'. Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09958193502828236814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-23484048375450851252014-04-22T10:26:41.483+10:002014-04-22T10:26:41.483+10:00Yes the Western cultural ideal of being busy is on...Yes the Western cultural ideal of being busy is one most artists have had to grapple with as time taken to think, contemplate, and be inspired is derided as 'having one's head in the clouds' etc. when it is in fact meaningful and beneficial. I spent the weekend at my parents' property and I didn't want to leave! I could have happily stayed in front of the fire and pottering in the garden and kitchen forever. I wish my husband could slow down and say 'no' a little more. He works in one of those businesses where you're not considered to be pulling your weight if you're not doing unpaid overtime. This long weekend was the first time I've seen him stay away from his work computer/phone in such a long time and you could see the positive effect it had on him! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-23533336218604222382014-04-22T09:42:46.369+10:002014-04-22T09:42:46.369+10:00Rhonda,
Your reminder to say "no" and s...Rhonda,<br /><br />Your reminder to say "no" and slow down comes as part of a conspiracy in the Universe to make me change my life. I say this because I was scheduled to teach summer term, but really didn't want to do it. So.... the Universe sent me a certain book (a-hem, "Down to Earth") and then made sure I stopped to listen when a very large log fell, crushing a finger joint. Can you say cast and stitches for six weeks? I can type with one hand and can't drive because all our cars are manuals!<br /><br />So, today I went for a lovely walk, read a little, spent time with the goaties, and sat on the porch to watch the phoebes put on an air show Just For Me. Thanks for sharing your encouragement and insights! <br /><br />Warmly, <br /><br />Martha (aka "leftie")mattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06749881104429358524noreply@blogger.com