VST lived by this idiom. Goals ran our lives, living life’s minutes to the fullest. Time is the one thing that, when wasted, can’t be replaced. Some days, watching the minutes pass can be a healthy thing to do. Other days, it’d be nice to stop the clock. Being mindful of the choice made is key.
When he first came home from his night classes at University to share this thought with me, I was confused.
“Archery? Really? Between work and irrigation? I don’t think I’m any good with the compound bow.”
Hugging me, he explained his interpretation of the meaning. Through the years, it became one of the phrases that kept us on track. Our arrow was always aimed and set on the bullseye, even when the target jumped this way or that.
Life was full of schedules and lists. It had to be. Five kids coming and going like the tides. A household. Two professional jobs. Farming 40 acres at night and on weekends. A Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate, and Teaching Credential earned during our “free” time. The care and feeding of two elderly parents. There wasn’t time to drop the arrows and play a round of golf. We were dancing as fast as two people could. Thank goodness we accomplished much in our years together, with his dance ending long before it should’ve.
Now, in retirement, schedules and lists have a different purpose. They propel me forward, even if it is inches a day. In my daily Agenda, completed goals stand as a written record on which to reflect when I think I can’t possibly finish one thing. There are plenty of those days around here. My minimum is three accomplishments per day, with nothing too big or too small. I make the rules. But, three is the magic number for me.
I’ve found if I finish three, then I can probably get six done. When six are done, why not shoot for ten. Life at Winterpast rolls along, arrow by arrow. I’ve always interpreted the idiom in that way, until this morning. Looking up the phrase, I wanted to be sure I wrote it correctly in the title. I use the internet often to check correct word meanings and useage.
Stumbling across another interpretation of the advice, it was again obvious islanders have the healthiest outlook on life. Somewhere in the past, I lived on Molokai. I just know it.
“If you don’t aim at nothing you will not miss at something, so you don’t get frustrated by failure.” 10 Kimo’s Hawaiian Life Rules to Live By — Philipe Borges
Philipe goes on to explain that if you can relax and do things for the joy of them, eventually things will get done when you least expect it. I should try this on Sundays. However, for the Mainland girl in me, this approach wouldn’t quite place my arrow in the bullseye. Somewhere there exists a balanced approach. Perhaps a miss can be the bullseye you hadn’t envisioned yet. Hmmmm.
The one place my scheduling doesn’t apply is in my garden. Each day, I leave one hour to play outside. It might be 20 minutes here or 40 minutes there, but at the end of the day, Winterpast takes at least an hour a day to stay looking her best. With $10 a day for water, and constant grooming, my hidden desert oasis brings me joy. I never consider it too much work or a grind. Gardening is, in itself, the reward.
Writing is the place in which heavy scheduling is needed. September 24th and the release of “Widow”, my first book, hangs over my head. Each day, as deadlines approach, more of my attention is focused on writing, editing, proofing, and correcting. There are places in which you need a Bulls-Eye. The first book in a trilogy is definitely one of those.
Arrows are simple and clean. Just a lethal tip, a strong shaft, and delicate fins. With the strength of focus, a single pull and well executed release, you can plant your arrow where you choose, or just enjoy its flight. It’s up to you.
Enjoy something fun today. Life is short.