Day 12
It is a rainy day here in the foothills. I did not sleep well last night so I was tired when the alarm went off at 7:00 am. Since retiring I rarely set an alarm, but on Tuesdays I have a 9:00 am class. I get up, have a cup of coffee and a small breakfast, chat with my daughter for a few minutes as she drives to work, and then get dressed and out the door.
Rainy Day Blahs
I love my lapidary class so I am always anxious to get up and go. This morning, though, I actually contemplated going back to bed. I was tired and not in the right frame of mind to do the meticulous work required. Of course, I talked myself out of skipping class as I knew I would.
The doors were not open when I arrived, so I walked around the grounds of the school for a bit. I had a chance to pet a dog someone was walking and snap a couple of pictures of the flowers growing outside the entrance. That’s where the pleasantries ended.
I spent the first hour and a half working on a lovely stone. It was difficult to shape and very messy. The water was like a red clay bath. I was almost finished cutting the girdle and refining the shape of the stone when I heard a slight ‘crunch’ sound. I knew immediately the stone snapped.
At that point there was nothing to do but move on. I made the decision to cut the stone into a different shape and put it aside. I have learned when I get frustrated with a particular piece, it’s best to move on and work on something new. I had a piece of blue lace agate that would make two nice sized cabochons so I turned my attention to it.
Usually on Tuesday afternoon I like to post a pic on Instagram of the pieces I finished in class. Well, there will be no Instagram pics today. Everything is still in progress. Next week is my last class so I have three pieces in progress to focus on.
We think we can always do everything on our plates in a given day even if we are not hitting on all cylinders. I learned today that is not the case. Maybe taking the day to rest from a rather sleepless night would have been a better choice. I ended up frustrated and stressed.
Lessons Learned
I think I should listen to the advice I give so freely to others. Rest. Take it easy. Give yourself a break. Take a moment. All great advice if I would simply listen to my own counsel. My mom always used to say, “Listen to your gut”. Today I should have listened.
My daughter told me about an audio book she was listening to. She was so excited about it, I decided to buy a copy and put it aside for a day — well — a day like today. Girl, Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis was (and may still be) #1 on the New York Times best sellers list. If I had listened to my gut, I could have stayed home, enjoyed a cup of tea and read a good book while the rain soothed my soul. Next time I think I’ll listen.
“Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.”
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