Letting Go of Something Old to Create a Space for Something New

This is my response to this month's story_works Take a Leap challenge.

Firstly, although not technically within the timescale, my work have offered me reduced hours from the beginning of November to the end of March, which is good.  They've also agreed to me using some of my leave to reduce the hours worked for the last two weeks of October, so then come November I'll just drop one day.  Which should indeed give me some space for something new.

To begin with, I looked at social media and reduced the number I'm following on both Twitter and Instagram, because while I want to keep up to date with friends and certain useful organisations (like the county roads) and a few arts organisations, I really don't need any more negative information.  I am on Facebook, but only use it to keep track of the daughter (there are a lot of horse posts), plus Brownies and Bundles use it for messaging.  In addition I've removed a few from my Dreamwidth list, although not, I hope, anyone who comments here or with whom I have regular interaction elsewhere.  (If you think I'm ignoring you, then do shout!)  All of which is designed to free up time I can more productively spend with other people.

I did consider taking an online dance class, but that would mean dropping my daily walk (time considerations) and I much prefer the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.  Later in the year I may reconsider.

My big decision though is to cut back on the amount of writing I do.  Again that's more of a streamlining.  I shall be continuing with my favourite challenges fan_flashworks , whatif_au , story_works plus various drabble/ficlet communities but I intend to be more selective with other challenges.  Up to now, I've been challenging myself to write as widely as possible, hence signing up for a wide variety of exchanges, but from now on it will be more a case of 'Do I really want to do this?'  So there will certainly be seasonal challenges, like spook_me , yuletide  and chocolateboxcomm but my intention is otherwise to be cutting back.

Because I want to spend more time on crafts.  There's so many things I want to knit, plus I'm continuing to cross stitch and there simply aren't enough hours in the day to do everything.  I've also discovered that whereas I have to concentrate when I'm cross stitching, if I'm doing some basic knitting I can listen to podcasts/audiobooks.  Which is a decided bonus.

There's still time left this month to continue to get rid of the old - have I mentioned the pile of books I need to sort?  And it's about time for my annual 'I haven't worn this for over a year, do I really need to keep it?' but 'I may come in useful' failed purge.