Found Moments
The article below was featured in my February 12, 2024, e‑mail newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please use my contact form.
Dear Reader,
It can be jarring when your schedule suddenly shifts and there’s a big gap. Depending on what disappeared from the calendar, it could be disappointing or annoying or perhaps even a relief. My friend used to call the open space, “found moments.” Moments, hours, days that you didn’t expect to be free.
Now what? When my kids were little and surprisingly decided to take a real nap, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself. Catch up on the laundry? Do the dishes? Read a book? Watch tv? Take a nap? Sometimes I’d wander around in circles trying to decide how best to use the time—especially because I was never quite sure how much time I’d have.
I recently had a nice long gap in my day’s schedule. Long enough that I could do more than one thing. It felt luxurious. I used some of the time to finish a few chores in a leisurely fashion. I spent some time being lazy. And I went for a walk. What a luxury to feel unhurried about any of it.
This experience reminded me of how important it is to actually schedule some unstructured times. If the moments can be found serendipitously, why not create space in my calendar, so that I can count on some of those times? Just the thought of that makes me breathe deeper.
It’s surely not just me. None of us know how much time we have. And we all need some moments—moments to freely be or do, whichever we choose. I hope you find a way to uncover some calendar space just for you. As my father-in-law said, “It will do you good and help you too.”
Here’s what’s still on my calendar:
Our Tuesday midday, online Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement lesson, still Free/Pay as You Wish.
In person at the Jung Center, a Feldenkrais mini-retreat, Reaching Out will be on Saturday afternoon, March 16.
If you’d like some coaching or private Feldenkrais lessons, you can Book an Appointment, or reply to this email.
Have all the fun you can.
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