We have had an inordinate amount of snow and ice this season, and frigid temperatures go without saying. Snow piles crest at some neighbors’ roofs, mailboxes beg for help, and potholes make driving a roller coaster ride. It is the season of our discontent, to quote Shakespeare.
At the same time, while others may whine, I’ve loved every minute. Of course, I don’t have to show up for work at 9 AM, nor do I have to worry about children and their welfare. I can control my own schedule, and if the weather is inclement I cancel appointments and stay home. But what I’ve liked most is the opportunity to reflect.
I recently retired and am clear that I want to guard the hours I put into a job so that they don’t get frittered away. Instead I want to use them wisely. And being snowbound recently on more than one occasion has helped in this process.
I’ve learned that morning is the most productive musical time for me, and I want to make the most of it, snow or no snow. So I now waken and spend half an hour or so at the piano before my mind fills with other commitments. It’s most rewarding.
I also have time to work on my creative writing. Currently, I’m editing my children’s book for the umpteenth time. It might sound laborious, but it seems more like progress. I recently took a seminar on query letters to agents, and one of the recommendations was to make sure your own work was as good as you could make it before querying. I took that to heart.
And what has this to do with a snow job? It’s that the incredible amount of snow we’ve had this year – and the fact that it coincided with my retirement – means it’s provided a cocoon for me to really determine how I want to spend my time.
As the temperature thaws, wish me luck!
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