I’m hard at work on the October issue of Bread ‘n Molasses so I may be scarce over the next couple of days. Or maybe I’ll start doing 2am rants! That could be exciting. The new issue of BnM should be live by close of business on Friday.

I believe Lois is going to write Chapter 5 of our novel collaboration. Just let me know if you’re not able to do it, Lois. Andrea will write Chapter 6 next week. But it’s never too late to get in on the project, if anyone else is interested in joining up, just send me an email and let me know.

The MANGO group got in touch with me yesterday to see about setting up a blog for them to use for the Miramichi Walking Challenge. It’s going to be a place where people can give or receive support, find walking buddies, stay motivated, discuss obstacles, share photos, celebrate their progress, and so on.

So, I’m working on helping them out with that. I actually set up the bare bones of the blog all by myself, comment feature and everything! (Andrea, how proud are you of me?!) I’ll let everyone know where it is and how to participate as soon as all the details are worked out.

Stacy and I are doing a terrible job of sticking to our walking . . . Absolutely terrible! So, maybe by being involved more in that project on an administrative level it will help to motivate us to leave the office earlier every day so we can enjoy the trails at the French Fort Cove. Or I would even settle for a half hour or 45 minutes on the treadmill at home, why can’t I even make time for that?

It’s all about making time, isn’t it? As if anyone can actually make more time in a day. I read a little blurb by a Toronto firefighter the other day somewhere on the web. (I suspect it may have been the online personals ads, which I’m not ashamed to admit I occasionally peruse just in case the guy with ‘Mr. Right for Kellie Underhill’ tattooed on his forehead decides to come out of hiding and own up to his responsibilities by posting a photograph.)

Anyway, this Toronto firefighter said he lived every day literally as if it was his last because he was very conscious that it could very well be. He takes time every single day to do the things that matter to him. It just blew me away! Who does that, really?!

I mean it seems really simple in concept, easy to do even. There’s only so much time in a day, who wouldn’t want to spend at least some part of it doing the things that matter to them most? It’s a no-brainer.

Now, here I am — single, no kids, besides my dog no responsibility to anyone in the world other than myself — the most important things to me are maintaining a healthy lifestyle so I can live comfortably with arthritis, studying all the great literature in the world, and creating some great literature of my own. Basically, that’s it! It’s pretty simple stuff.

I’ve made some strides in healthy lifestyle aspect, I quit smoking a year and a half ago. And I do have sporadic bouts of good eating and lots of exercise, which is more than what I was doing five years ago, but I haven’t successfully added it to my life consistently, every day.

I read about a half hour most nights before I go to sleep. I’d like to read more often, but hey as long as I’m reading I consider that part of my life looked after.

The absolutely insane thing is that I write nothing! Never. Well, I mean I write here. I write email. I write articles for BnM. But a few years ago I was consistently writing short stories and working on a novel. That writing seems to have disappeared and I haven’t been able to get it back.

I don’t’ have time.

I need to make more time.

I’ll add it to my routine next week when I’m not quite as busy and I have more time.

That’s what I say. I’m sure other people do this about things they care about too. I’m sure the Toronto firefighter is in the minority and the majority of people are like me. Right?

I never think maybe there won’t be a next week. I go to bed every night with a list of things I need to do tomorrow. I never think maybe there won’t be any tomorrow.

So, I’ve decided, starting right now and running for exactly one week, there is no tomorrow. The timing couldn’t be any worse — I’m still feeling sick; I’m on BnM deadline; we’re doing major site upgrades beginning tomorrow etc. etc. But why should I continue to put off things I really honestly care about? There might not be another day.

What about you? Do you take time for the things you value and enjoy in life?

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