By DINA ARÉVALO
Port Isabel-South Padre Press
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
It seems like only yesterday I was waking up with echoes of Auld Lang Syne twinkling in my ears while the warm scent of pine and cinnamon filled the air, but, looking down at my desk calendar I see that it’s already May.
The year is almost halfway gone, and though I distinctly remember days that felt like they dragged on for ages, or weeks where my to-do list seemed insurmountably long, taken on the whole, this year has gone by in a blur. The cliché is that time flies when you’re having fun, but, it also flies when you’re busy. Luckily, here at the PRESS and Parade, “busy” and “fun” tend to be synonymous.
That desk calendar of mine, which is currently buried under a heap of back issues, notes and an ancient, but well-worn copy of the AP Stylebook, is filled with notes of things I need to remember over the next few weeks. There are meeting times scribbled in purple ink, story ideas jotted down in pencil and important dates circled in red or highlighted in bright colors. It looks a bit chaotic, but there’s a system — a method to the madness — where all of those things make sense and serve a purpose.
I look down at that calendar and can see at a glance there’s still much work to be done. I have notebooks filled with lists, too: mental notes made tangible amongst the pages of chicken scratch from various interviews. I refer to both the calendar and notebooks often.
Sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done, and sometimes, realistically, there aren’t. But even through the stressful moments, when the time crunch can feel like a pressing weight, I’m thankful for the challenge. It feels good to be busy, and it’s rewarding to work hard on something with a great group of people, however, even the busiest schedules deserve a respite. I’m one of the worst people when it comes to taking my own advice, though.
While just earlier this week I was speaking with an equally busy friend and encouraging him to take a break — even if all that meant was taking a morning off — I laughed at myself, recalling that I had felt a bit stir crazy with the free time I had this past weekend. For the first time in weeks, I didn’t have anywhere to be and I was at a loss for how to occupy my time. Strange how quickly “busy” becomes the status quo, isn’t it?
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has felt a little bewildered during the quiet moments. So, if you’re anything like me: relax. It’s ok. Time is flying by and our to-do lists never seem to end, but taking the time to enjoy the quiet moments is important, too. We’re lucky the Laguna Madre region affords us plenty of opportunities to do just that. One such opportunity is the upcoming 1st Annual Port Isabel Bay Classic bay fishing tournament which will take place May 8 – 9. What’s more relaxing than spending a day fishing?
So get out there, feel the sunshine on your face, and enjoy the day. Slow time down for a moment. The to-do list can wait. And as always, don’t forget to visit us online at www.portisabelsouthpadre.com.
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