Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Learning from Mistakes

This is a subject change from the past couple of posts.

I've made a mistake. Not my first mistake, but I certainly hope I will learn and not do this again.

Being a creative person I'm sure some of you will relate to this.
I always have a gillion ideas going through my mind at once. You know, craft ideas you want to do? Often I will get an idea for something I want to do, and then go on a frenzy in accomplishing it. (present example is the Victorian stockings I made a week ago.) This has gotten worse since I opened my store in May, and have a place to put these creations.

Well, I did it again, and now I am paying the price, suffering the consequences, reaping what I've sown.
I got on a frenzy doing those stockings . I spent days at the sewing machine at the cost of other things I should have been doing. I'm not just talking about the house work, grocery shopping, or other everyday things, although those did suffer. I'm talking about other commitments and responsibilities that should have come first. Like orders from other people, and my own grand children's Christmas ornaments. (I make them an ornament every year.)
On top of that, I set off the herniated discs in my neck. Now I am having constant discomfort and numbness that was part of the problem this last summer, and a bit of fear that the extreme pain I had then will come back. This is all keeping me from doing the things I should have been doing to start with, the gifts for my grandchildren, taking care of my home, and taking care of the things at the store. All this because I could not control my creative urges and I let the "tyranny of the urgent" excitement control me.

So I hope this time I have learned something, and hope not to make this mistake again.
It is not worth the price I'm paying now in pain, pressure, and guilt.
And those stockings, as beautiful as they are, were certainly not more important than keeping my commitments, and creating ornaments from my heart for my grand children.

5 comments:

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Well shoot.. I'm hoping this doesn't double post.. I just wrote a long post and it disappeared...hope I can remember all that I wrote...lol I'm sorry you're in such pain..I know what you mean about getting on a roll with our creative side and forgetting the every day hum-drum every day chores.. Those chores we look at on a daily basis and do them without thinking until the side of our brain takes over and we start creating..and at the end of the day we're further behind and the guilt takes over. I can be so guilty of those same traits and stay up until the wee hours trying to catch up..and like you end up suffering..not to the extent you are by any sense of the word..I pray your pain goes away soon and you get the grandchildrens' gifts done..I hope you don't loose the fa-la-la-la feeling for the season.. Sure wish I could come and help... I'll be sending prayers and lots of hugs your way..hugs ~lynne~

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

I know it's easy to say. But, My mom always taught us. First things first. I try to remember this. It does help. I am sorry about your neck. I hope you feel better really soon!!
Hugs, Terrie

ksarra said...

Your post today has made me remember to put things in their proper order too. Thanks for the reminder. I'm going to call my Momma now!!!

Anonymous said...

I DO HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER DEAR.YEP,WE TRULY LIVE AND LEARN DON'T WE.I HOPE...HAHA...ANN

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Hi Barb, it's good to hear you're up and about and feeling "some" better. Don't over do it girlfriend.. I know you're under the gun to put the finishing touches on those special gifts. I go to the city to pick up my grandson for the w/k so you know I'll be busy with him..lol..They are calling for some slick roads so pray girl they are wrong..I'm glad the store was busy today. I too, have a gift shop and makes the day go faster if a person is busy huh? Take care of yourself this evening..hugs and hugs
~lynne~