(1888PressRelease)
August 07, 2007 - When was the last time you enjoyed the “fruits of your labors”?
“All too often, we are so busy working that we don't take the time to enjoy what we have already accomplished,” says “rut-busting” author Nancy Christie, e-host of the Community of Change web site (www.communityofchange.com). “We keep adding items to our ‘To Do’ list, applauding ourselves for being so productive, and then wonder why we feel over-worked, burned out and unsatisfied. To use a gardening metaphor, we are so busy ‘planting more crops’ that we don’t have the energy to pick and enjoy the harvest.”
While Christie admits that work and family obligations can sometimes be overwhelming, she points out that the risk of being too caught up in the work stage is that we can forget why we are working: to create a life that is fulfilling, satisfying and rewarding.
“When we take time to enjoy our life—recognizing what we have achieved so far and the benefits that have accrued from our labors— we are calmer, happier, more at peace,” she stresses. “And those good feelings spill over to those around us.”
Christie has a few tips to help overworked “farmers” benefit from their hard labors.
Check your planting schedule. When farmers plan their garden, they leave certain areas uncultivated to allow them “R&R” time, she says. “You need to do the same with your life, making sure you don’t overload your ‘life garden’ with too many crops (read: goals and tasks) that you deplete your energy.”
Harvest your joys. — Whether your “garden” is metaphorical (existing in the workplace or the community, for example) or literal (in your own back yard), start today to harvest your joy from it, recommends Christie. “Create a list of the joys your ‘life garden’ has given you and then make sure you take the time to acknowledge, appreciate and enjoy them all.
Share the bounty. — Joys are multiplied when shared with others, she says. “And this sharing can take many forms: make a donation to a worthy charity, send a note of appreciation to someone who helped you along the way, give the gift of your time and attention to those who waited patiently while you labored. And don’t forget to pass your gratitude up the ladder to God, your Higher Power, the Universe, or Fate — the same place where you sent all your complaints when things didn’t go as planned!”
For more information about Christie, her book and her workshops, visit the Community of Change web site (www.communityofchange.com) or contact her at 330-793-3675 or by e-mail at nancy ( @ ) communityofchange dot com dot
About Nancy Christie
A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Nancy Christie is a freelance writer, essayist and author of The Gifts of Change, available on Amazon.com and in bookstores nationwide. She is also the e-host of the Community of Change web site, and creator of the “Rut-Busting” Workshop series which she has presented throughout the country.
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