Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Thursday, February 25, 2010

A Challenge

I have a bit of a challenge for you.

I get sick of the way we go about our lives, and when we see friends and acquaintances, we say "How's it going?" or "What have you been up to?", but then have the tendency to give vague, trite answers that keep people at arms-length, and don't really reveal anything about what's really going on.

Q1)"How's it going?"
"Not bad, not bad. A bit tired. Glad it's Friday".

Q2)"What have you been up to?"
"Not much, just working away. Works fairly busy, but nothing much out of the ordinary is happening".

BOOOOOORRRRRIIIINNNNGGGG!

So, I'm going to answer these two questions for you now, in a more truthful, open way, and I'd love you to do the same in the comments bit. That's my challenge. Come on, we can do it.

Q1) I'm going okay. I'm a bit frustrated with myself lately, as I haven't been working as hard as I should, and I keep wiling away my time on unimportant things to put off thinking about the harder things in life (relationships,my speech, my walk with God,being a strong pro-active husband and father). I have let these things slide a bit, as I have been wrapped up in my own little hobbies-safer, less threatening things to think about.

Q2) A lot of my spare time and thoughts have been wrapped up in some creative projects I'm working on in my own time. I am really excited about these, and want to continue these things, but I realise now it's important for me to take them out of the 'sacred place' that I've put them in. I can't set them up as competition to God, or they will just be no more than idols, rather than the good and right, working out of the talents He has given me.

Family life is going well, though is pretty tiring. It's quite hard to find that second wind at the end of the work day to switch on to being a present, loving and selfless husband/father. There isn't much time on weekdays to put into my kids, and so that time needs to be focused and purposeful on my part. I find this really difficult, as the tendency is to just want some time out to veg in front of the tele. For me, a big juggling act is trying to be a good father/husband, as well as trying to fit in outlets for the creative energy I have, to stop me feeling frustrated.

Well, that's me, as of 25/2/10. What about you? How are you going, and what have you been up to?

6 comments:

Pedro said...

Benno. That IS very challenging as I am happy to share this information with you but not the rest of the interwebs...

That could be the reason people don't elaborate on answers...maybe.

Its just idle banter...a simple greeting that conveys a little more interest than 'g'day'.

Wehen I ask YOU over a coffee or some such thing, I am actually interested to hear the complete answer to the question..
So feel free to drop ya guts bro.

On the flipside, if you don't really want to know what someone is up to.....Don't ask.

Just a thought.

Ben McLaughlin said...

Yeah, I agree with you. I guess I'm referring more to this kind of convo in real life rather than online, where it's fair enough if people don't want to go into gory details. Still, I think we could all dare to be a little more revealing and honest from time to time.

I also agtree with the sentiment of if you don't want to know, don't ask.

Beth said...

To be honest i don't think that you're along in your challenge of trying to balance a happy home life with work....i think it's a challenge for many people.

as for myself....i think things are going good....my semester at school is quite challenging, i'm trying to balance eight classes with more homework than i had anticipated and trying very hard to please my teachers in what they expect. i sometimes find myself wondering if it would be easier to just be working, but i know that being back in school is the best thing i could have done....just don't know if it was wise to go for three degrees at the same time. and am also trying to balance in a new relationship.

what have i been up to?? honestly, just school and some volunteer work. i re-arranged my apartment last weekend which really made me happy, but just try and find the balance each day to get the things done i need to get done. am also trying to fit work outs into my schedule...which is just as important as the schoolwork...just never seems to be enough time.

Ben McLaughlin said...

Thanks Beth, good to hear what you're up to. So what exactly are you studying, and how long will you be doing that for?

Yeah, it always seems to be a bit of a balancing act, doesn't it. i think it really helps to write out plans, what you want to get done, and then try and slot them into your day. I've been doing this a bit more successfully this year, I think.

Anyway, thanks for sharing, and all the best with your studies and the new relationship:)

Beth said...

As i said, i'm going for three degrees in a two year time frame. They are Medical Transcription, Medical Office Specialist, and Medical Billing Specialist.

One of the things i had to do was put everything....schedule, class dates and times, work due....into a calendar, it was too difficult trying to keep track of all of it otherwise. i was worried about missing assignments.

Simone R. said...

Q1) I'm going okay. Bit depressed about stuff last weekend. And lonely. But better now. Ups and downs add texture to life so I wouldn't be without them, but the lows aren't fun - unless I choose to wallow in an ever-so-sorry-for-myself kind of way - which might be fun short term but not so helpful...

Q2) I've been working and reading and writing and thinking. I'm pretty excited about our latest song. Just a few days old. Not a good chorus tune yet but the verses are working better than anything we've written for ages. Nice buzz from that. No doubt when the buzz passes I'll take a dive. But its all part of the ride.

Thanks for asking.