The Pandynamic Period

Los Angeles, California

We flew home from Carmel the first week of November. After months of a weird sciatic flareup, I was feeling better, more able to get back to my workouts and, as happens after a break, feeling charged up to get things done. But how to do that with regular and scattered appointments plus luncheon dates with friends? My mind harkened back to the pandemic again and thought with distorted longing about the blank pages on my 2020 calendar. Was I wishing for another epidemic? Not in the least. But, I was wishing for uncharted days. And so, I created them.

I canceled my pilates, and my weekly housecleaner and scheduled nothing else for six days.  And I dug in. I did organizing, long-overdue house projects, paperwork (including dreaded filing), laundry and even ironing. I got a lot done. By the third day, I started to flag and truthfully accomplished less, but got a second wind and finished strong.

Was it worthwhile and what did I learn from the experience? First, yes it was. But six days was too much. Three or four days with a good foot under you, will do just as well. Every month or every quarter? Maybe every other month. The odd months, as December is a non-starter.

As time passes, I find myself scheduling more and more things on a standing basis. Lynnette comes to stay once a month, or at least we schedule it that way. Now that both Joel's and my body are returning to pre-injury days, we will work our way back to our Tuesday + Sunday dancing schedule. Having things to look forward to is key to a contented life.

And of course the holidays are coming and there is much to look forward to in that alone. We are invited to my friend, Connie's, house for Thanksgiving. We have been going there most years, and it is a wonderful experience to feel part of a family again. Then, we'll eat cracked crab for Christmas Eve, and roast a duck for Christmas Day. If there's enough left, duck tamales may happen for New Year's.

Then, on to the unknown in 2026, but hopefully with six Pandynamic Periods to stay productive and organized. I have always thought that there is a tipping point in life when people lose control. It usually starts with their garages. And once lost, it is never regained. I hope to avoid this by scheduling those days to dig in and insert some measure of control into the chaos of my home and life. Ok, maybe chaos is too strong of a word. Let's just say, as I often have, that it's not about getting my life together. Rather the goal is to scrape it all into one pile. But the new goal is to attack and manage the pile. Which I think can be done with regular pandynamic periods. I mean, really, who needs Marie Kondo? You just need some unscheduled time and undeficient attention. Right? Check back in with me in January to see how that's going. Fingers crossed.