I typically leave white space in my calendar. These are blocks of time and days that I do not schedule anything. I also have a target for my standard margin. Margin is how far ahead a task is completed prior to when it is due.
A shortage of margin and white space over the past few weeks created a little chaos in my life. As I was doing a bit of scrambling, I also did some thinking about what I was learning and what I wanted to change moving forward.
One of my lessons resulted from a large landscape project in my yard.
I live on a small lake and my yard is filled with mature oak trees. I fell in love with this house for the view – I feel like I am up north in Michigan. When I moved to this house there were 2 HUGE gardens. There were more gardens around the deck by the lake. I love to garden so I was excited about all the possibilities.
Fast forward 10 years and the gardens had worn me out. There were always weeds and since they are on a hill spreading mulch was challenging. My attitude was, I am a gardener, and I will tame these gardens & enjoy doing it!
Early this spring before weeds or perennials were above ground, I realized that I didn’t want to tame those gardens. I called a landscaper & asked what he would do in my backyard if money were no object. His suggestion was to remove the gardens – they were clutter. The lake and the trees made the view.
He was correct.
When this project began, I viewed it as editing something that no longer served me. Up until recently, when I removed something, I generally replaced it with something else quickly.
What I have come to understand over the past few weeks is that margin and white space is much larger than trading one thing for another. I have learned that I am creating space for possibilities in my life for new experiences.
I have created margin and white space by simplifying my landscape and now I have room for new possibilities. I don’t know what I have created space for – I do know that something is in my future – travel, relationship, business opportunity….
