“If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone.” ~ Maxwell Maltz.

The universe, in its infinite wisdom, has handed me, (on a silver platter!) the opportunity to have some time alone, at home, without leaving me so much as a vehicle in which to venture forth into the big, wide open expanse of the world.

Alone for three, maybe even four days.

No family to run around after. They have gone away.

It was mentioned in passing, almost as an obligation, that I may accompany them, if I so wished. They already knew my answer.

But why did they even bother asking, I wondered?

Let me consider for just a moment, which would I prefer? ~

• Four days, baking on a beach, watching a surf carnival in the searing heat, sleeping in a communal room with maybe fifty other people (make that mostly noisy children and complete strangers!) on a camping air-bed, no electricity and an outside garden hose for a shower….OR
• Time at home, alone, with my comfortable, familiar bed, and all modern conveniences?

You would be forgiven at this point if you are considering the possibility that I have absolutely no sense of adventure whatsoever. The truth of the matter is this ~

In the summertime, as people are flocking to the beach by the million, I favour the indoor life. The garden is my limit. I’m not, nor ever have been, a summertime beach-goer.

I prefer the beach during the winter!

If you are to believe the above quote from the author of the book “Psycho-Cybernetics”, Maxwell Maltz, (and I do!), I have made friends with myself.

I am not lonely, being alone, however I do have a problem.

What is one to do, when one’s list of what one would like to do when spending time in one’s own company, would cover a ten kilometre linear strip?

During this morning’s perusal of articles on the internet, I discovered an article of interest, written by a minimalist, who suggests writing a list of just the most important things you wish to accomplish.

If there are thirty things listed, halve it. Then cut it back some more, until there are just three items on the list.

Setting the task of accomplishing three tasks, one task at a time, is achievable.

The secret to achievement is to stay focussed on the task at hand. Do not become distracted by the phone, checking your emails or finding out what your friends are up to on Facebook.

I can do that. That’s the easy part.

However, how does one compact nearly twenty-six years of “want-to-do’s” into four days of alone time???

Old habits die hard and I am in danger of choosing firstly to vacuum the house and catch up on the ironing, however, I have resisted the temptation, whilst giving myself a well deserved pat on the back!

Three sub-headings seem appropriate….

Writing ~

1 – Work on a draft for all of the blog posts I have running around in my head. The words can be itemised into separate posts at a later date. Once the words are written, whilst uninterrupted, they are not left to memory, which can, at times, fail!

2 – Start up the new blog I have been toying with for a few weeks now, again drafting posts to be edited later.

Craft ~

1 – Finish the crochet project that my dear, departed Mum was working on over seventeen years ago. She would appreciate that!

2 – Finish the vivid blue scarf I began making for my daughter, two years ago. She would appreciate that!

3 – Work towards finishing some of the cross-stitch embroidery projects I have been working on for myself for, maybe, ten years. I would appreciate that!

Gardening ~

1 – Potter around the garden, removing any dratted weeds that have reared their heads during the recent weeks of rain.

2 – Prepare the ground for the new garden out the front, to run along the full length of the driveway and along the boundary between ourselves and our neighbour.

With three headings now prepared I will think no more. There is only so much one can fit into four days, even when one is alone!

(Photo credit for today goes to the unknown photographer who last summer took a photo of my surfie-son, alone on a board, face all zinced up, out in the Pacific Ocean somewhere. I have it on good authority that he was not too far from the shore!)