Focus On Life - Week 3 of 52 - Take Time...

This year I am taking part in a photo journal challenge set up by the lovely Sally Russick of Studio Sublime who, in addition to creating beautiful jewellery is a talented photographer. Each week Sally sends participants a word prompt and the following Saturday we all post our photo interpretations on our blogs, Flickr or Instagram.

The prompt for this week was 'take time for You' and Sally asked us to capture something that we did this week purely for ourselves be it for a few minutes or a few hours. I don't know how she's doing it but Sally seems to be picking prompts that resonate so closely with my goals that they're creating a kind of footpath through the undergrowth for me.

'Me time' goes hand in hand with last weeks subject which was my word for  the year - 'balance'. I am just terrible at making time for myself! Because I love what I do so much I have a hard time thinking of it as work and like many creative people, If an idea strikes I have to act in the moment whenever that may be. But just because I enjoy it doesn't mean it's always good for me or that I should neglect other things that I also enjoy or need to do for my own benefit.

The timing for this prompt was perfect too because yesterday was my birthday and I was already thinking I should maybe take the day off, so this sealed the deal. Earlier in the week I'd thought about going down to a nearby beach for a bracing stomp and to get some fresh air in my lungs, but overnight snowfall put paid to that. We don't do snow well in the UK and the whole place tends to grind to a halt at the first sign of it. My cat Cleo obviously wasn't impressed so I decided to follow her lead and stay put...

It's actually quite strange and quite difficult to be in the place you work in every day and do nothing work related. I had a late brunch while reading the news online, chatted a bit on Facebook and caught up with some blogs I follow. I did then go off and make some jewellery but in my defence, this comes a very poor second to component making at the moment and it is something I really enjoy doing. I also did a bit of financial paperwork which although not fun was definitely for my own benefit and was satisfying to get out of the way.

By this time it was about 3pm and time for something I'd been savouring all day...my cosy chair overlooking the garden, a favourite book and some rather tasty birthday treats...

I love books and have a house full of them but find I read very infrequently these days and if I do make the time, there is usually so much racing around in my head that I can't concentrate. But not this time...I spent a good three hours reading Jean de Florette, one of my all time favourites and it was blissful - the hot chocolate and  choux bun were pretty good too!

And of course the respite has done me a power of good as I'm now raring to go on the work front. Thanks Sally - just the incentive I needed.

Check out what everyone else did with their time here.

Lesley