Lately, I’ve begun to realize that I need to create space in my life for the things I want to do.

If I want to blog, I need to create time to think and write. If I want to feel at peace in my home, I need to create literal space in my home by clearing out the natural daily accumulations of five busy lives. If I want to do anything at all, I need to create space for it.

It’s such a simple concept except that I manage to forget it time and time again.

I particularly feel it with my thoughts. I have all these half-formed ideas and observations I want to chase down and explore thoroughly, but except for when I’m shuttling the kids, I rarely have time to truly think. And of course, now that Hapa Papa gave me a few hours to write and think, what do I do?

Of course. I check Facebook and text.

Welp, I’m gonna try something new. I’m going to write short posts – I know. WEIRD. But hear me out.

I often don’t post because all I have is a snippet of a thought that I want to explore more fully. Except I don’t have time (or haven’t made the time) and then I shunt it to the side until I do have time, but having time doesn’t mean it’s the right time. It’s kinda like making a baby. Just ‘cuz you’ve made the time to make the baby doesn’t mean you want to be making the baby. But you do because, hey. FERTILITY.

Whoa. Tangent.

Also, perhaps TMI. But we’re all friends here, right? And my brother doesn’t always read my posts so it’s okay. Not gross at all.

Anyhow, maybe if I try to trick my perfectionistic tendencies into getting over needing to have a bullet-proof post that hunts down every possible nuance and objection, I can actually write with abandon and perhaps post a little more consistently and with fewer breaks. (Although, now that I think of it, I have been pretty consistent over the years. I just am my own worst critic.)

The other thing I forget is that creating space is a continuous process. It isn’t a “one and done” type of scenario. I often think that if I just clear out my house one time, it should magically remain clean and tidy. But life isn’t static – and neither is my brain. Life is kinetic and entropic and constantly barreling downhill with the occasional brake.

All too often, I beat myself up for just being human and succumbing to life. I constantly forget that life is Sisyphean, a constant repeat of meeting our frail, human needs.

How do you remind yourself of your humanness? How do you create space in ways that harness your natural tendencies? Let me know in the comments. I would love to hear your thoughts.