Back to the Basics

My life is in one of those "whirlwind phases" right now.  

My work . . . involves a constant stream of deadlines.  That is just the nature of what I do.  And, generally, everything just moves along.

But every now and then (in February and August, to be specific), those deadlines stack up in a rather frightening and overwhelming manner.  

And then . . . all hell breaks loose!

When life gets over-busy and everything feels under pressure, I need to remember to step back a little and get back to the basics.

Go to yoga.

Knit a few stitches.

Pull a few weeds.

Start the morning with coffee and some poetry.

I Go Down to the Shore

I go down to the shore in the morning
and depending on the hour the waves
are rolling in or moving out,
and I say, oh, I am miserable,
what shall --
what should I do?  And the sea says
in its lovely voice:
Excuse me, I have work to do.

---- Mary Oliver in A Thousand Mornings

And now . . . you'll have to excuse me.  I have work to do!