Attention and energy

I frequently use the videos of Keith Hughes in my classes. His HipHughesHistory offerings are extensive and give to the point summaries that help my students.  Each video ends with his quote, "where attention goes, energy flows" and is a reminder that we should keep our focus.

I'm struggling to find my focus.  My attention is drawn in many directions and my energy is waning.

• My FIL has stage 4 Parkinson's. 
• My MIL has stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
• she moved in with us a few weeks ago
• she has weekly dr/chemo visits
• she makes little effort to do for herself, even when feeling better and can
• Their house has to be renovated and sold.
• My cousin, raised as a brother, suddenly died last week and the loss is devastating.

Life is overwhelming. I know that going to the gym will help. Time.  I know that blogging would help clear my head and refocus.  Time.  How do you take care of yourself?  How do you find time to do all that needs to be done personally and professionally?  There are only so many hours in the day.  

That dense fog of life

I feel like my week needs a fog advisory.  While I am thankful to be recovering from a sinus infection the fog of medication and fluid in the ears is really disrupting my days.  It doesn't help that the squirrels I teach are way to squirrely.

Positive progress has been made this week.  I have been to the gym everyday!  This is a major celebration.  Life is better when there is exercise involved. We feel better. We cope better.  It has to happen.  The only way that I can do it regularly is to go directly from work. It is a crap time to go, but it works.  If I go home first it is way too easy to get side-tracked or just give up and take a nap.

My motivation for better shape:

If we have any hope of paddling Dauphin Island bay I have to get in better shape.  So almost four months to get my body to tolerate the outdoor activities I love.

Time flies when you're having fun...

Or something like that.

I started this blog with good intentions, but life...you know how it goes. Honestly, I didn't have anything to say. I'm not sure that I have anything to say now. Maybe a few rant and raves about the state of education, behavior of students, personal hygiene issues of middle schoolers, or the anxiety of my dog which results in sleep deprivation.

Life is hectic at times, but I am happy. Well, happy with most things. The craziness of life has disrupted our healthy living.  Gone are the days of rush to the gym after work. I would like to say we are so busy and use that as our excuse. Honestly though, with two in college, two in high school and driving themselves, and one in middle school we have  more time now than we had a year or two ago.
If I blame anything I blame myself and the extreme lack of motivation that comes from teaching middle school. We start school at 9 and get out of school at 4. I am NOT a morning person, not by any stretch of the imagination.  Getting out at 4, there are days that I am here until 5:30 or 6.  Yes, we have a planning period. It is taken up with meetings and meetings to talk about the meeting we are going to have. This is the most meeting centered group of my professional career. There is NO time for anything else! By the end of the day I don't want to do anything else and certainly do not want to set foot in a gym. Something is going to have to give. I have a Groupon for Burn Boot Camp so I will either have to go or waste that money.  Hating to waste money I look forward to that month of unlimited health conscious torture.

What does the future hold?  Time will tell.