I’m Tired of Living with Velcro
Velcro is amazing. I just don’t want a suit made of it. Lately, I’ve felt like I’m wearing this sweet Armani velcro, and everything I walk past just sticks to me. Here, read this article on Digg. Take care of the church web site. Plan next semester’s classes. Look for a new ipod. Buy new books. Play with the kids.
Velcro can suck. So, I’ve tried to start a new routine because what seems to be sticking to me isn’t necessarily what I would choose. I rarely get to sit and relax with my wife on the couch. I’ve either got my laptop out working on something or playing with this blog. Those things aren’t necessarily bad, but I’ve started to make that the norm. So I’m going to start leaving most of my evenings free.
That means I’m getting up a lot earlier in the mornings to do my work and blog. This morning — 5:30 am. Actually, I’m very excited about this change, even though getting up that early will be difficult when it is dark outside. Right now, the sun is coming up about that time, and it makes me feel alive.
Just a few reasons this new schedule will make my life better:
- I’ll have more time to focus on loving my wife and kids.
- I won’t feel pressure throughout the evening to “hurry up” and get to my laptop to blog.
- I’ll be forced to get in bed at a decent hour, rather than staying up later than my brain is able to write.
- I’ll have a more disciplined prayer time since I’ll be up already.
- I won’t feel guilty for blogging.
Most of my life I’ve fought being “disciplined” with the opinion that discipline is for boring people. Now I’m realizing that discipline is freedom. When I discipline myself, I establish priorities and free myself from the useless activities that attach themselves like velcro to my schedule. I’m tired of living with Velcro. I don’t want just anything sticking to me. I want to have the choice.
Hey man!
Well I don’t know if I can help you with justifying your Macbook except that I think it can be a very useful tool with which to serve humanity. By blogging especially!
I like this post though. I’m trying to learn this habit myself. I see how so much of my life comes down to discipline. I have the wife and kid is on the way but I see how I struggle each and every day to get my life moving the direction I think it should so I can impact things around me.
Anyway, one some level, I really relate to what you’ve posted today. I hope to see more from you. Great writing.
JB
Wow! Got a kid on the way! Congratulations. Parenting is the coolest thing — and the hardest thing I’ve ever done. (I type this after being interrupted to help my 3 yr old son on the potty.)
I’ve only been blogging for a little while, but I’m really enjoying it. Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll put your very helpful blog on my Blogroll.
Thanks, Jarrod. I’m still slightly new (only a year in) to my blogs. But I’m learning along the way and growing. It’s really become a passion for me and AtlantaGreenView is a work in progress that I’m getting rolling out here.
Very insightful posts here and I look forward to many happy blogging’s!
JB