I’m noticing a lot of things lately that I do the hard way.  I do it that way because I’m used to it and haven’t taken time to give thought as to what I’m doing and why I’m doing it.  Sometimes a little thought time is all it takes to have a revelation that makes my whole life easier and more fun.  Like I wrote at I am kinking my own hose, I’m my own harshest taskmaster.  However, I’m always in the process of lightening up, once it’s been pointed out to me.

For years, the magazine was delivered each month to a friend’s home and we prepared the post office mailing from her garage.  Last month, it was delivered a day early, so I had them deliver it to me.  Usually I send the magazine in to the printer on a Monday, then spend the week updating the labels, coordinating drivers and doing the post office paperwork.  I’d have to have everything ready by 9am Friday when delivery would be made and a few of us would meet to spend the morning packaging the magazines up for the post office.  For years I was on this schedule, always hurrying to get my paperwork done in time to meet everyone for the mailing. I never considered doing it differently. Until the first time they delivered it to me, and I didn’t have to rush to get everything done “on time.”  I was the only one demanding the time deadline.

So this month, once again I’ve finished the magazine and should be spending today doing the labels and paperwork if I want them done by Friday 9am.  Now Friday at 9am doesn’t matter.  Unless I want it to matter.  Right now, I don’t feel like being on the computer and doing paperwork, so I’m headed outside to work in the garden.  And if I am who I say I am, then I’m just getting to practice what I preach, and I can always use more of that.  And no doubt everything will be done on time anyway, because it always is.