I love flitting. Of course much of this is because I love and enjoy outdoor birds so much. On a rainy day there isn’t much flitting around outside to observe, and likewise I generally cover up with a blanket, cup of tea, read, write a letter or nap. The weather, the birds all live in harmony and my free time at home looks similar. I don’t examine it. I accept it as a glorious part of being older and enjoying my life my way. It feels more healthy and I love it.♥️
I spend every morning watching the birds flitting. Even on this very rainy (atmospheric river) day, the cardinal and bluejay stopped by for a snack. There hasn't been a squirrel in sight all day. Hail to the flitters! I like your concept of harmony at home. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. You have perfectly described many of my days. I too thought I would have blocks and blocks of time once I retired. Now I just break those blocks down into manageable moments and focus within the small times as I switch between creative projects and whatever needs doing in the moment. And it works. I have always thought puttering contributed to my creative endeavors.
Exactly! I too thought retirement would provide blocks of time, but it doesn’t really. My husband and I laugh, ‘we’re busy, busy, busy’ but it’s all in bits and pieces.
Neither good or bad, it just is. This is a textbook ADD description of task completion. "Deadline looming" is the key phrase to completion with an add brain. There is zero incentive before then! Ask me how I know!?
What an interesting premise. I think your conclusion has merit. Though told we should focus, being a woman (mother, caretaker, employee, etc) results in flitting. Even for our responsibilities, not just our creative pursuits. And yes, once you pointed it out, our flitting is enough. We accomplish our goals, just not the way we have been taught, resulting in a loss of satisfaction. Maybe acknowledging and embracing flitting will help us cultivate the satisfaction. Thanks for the thought provoking post.
Most (if not all) of the books on focus have been written by men. If they are like my husband, they can only hold one thought at a time. I think we were designed to be flitters out of necessity. Thanks for your thoughts, Nancy.
You’ve just described life! Never a straight line. I think flitting is a wonderful thing, you touch so many things and in every instance, that touch might be the catalyst that makes all the difference.
I can relate. I call it "puttering", and I find it perfectly acceptable! I accomplish a lot. Not always everything I want, and yes, my art and creativity often take a back seat to the myriads of other House Manager responsibilities, but never-the-less, things get done, including some art, and I feel good about it all! All that said, of course, I do wish I had more hours in the day to spend on creativity and other personal interests!
I had to laugh because the word puttering makes me feel old and slow, whereas flitting sounds youthful and quick. I really should slow down though, it's just that there's so much I want to do each day. Excited to see you again in September.
Now I'm the one who is laughing as even when I was young, I called it "puttering", and I loved it! Puttering feels relaxing and has no age-reference or implication, to me! I also have so many things I want to do and "have to" do but I am learning (at the ripe age of almost 76) to just go with the flow. And I am looking forward to seeing you in September also. :)
Lesley, you validate me with these words! It’s like you’re watching over MY shoulder! Now I feel more normal knowing I’m not so weird! So many times I start out with a “perfect plan” as to what I will complete. Then as I see this, I jump to a new plan of great interest to me, but then for this project which requires a whole new set of tools and supplies, I’m off on a new tangent! Then I notice the sun has fallen so rapidly, and I must go feed the chickens, hay the horses, pet the dogs and hug my cat. Now all is well!
It's funny how we are so hard on ourselves. Once I realized flitting is normal, it makes life much easier. And we still get what we need to do done! Enjoy your day.
Sometimes I get lost in the garden or in the kitchen or in a book or working on crochet or embroidery and don’t find my way into the studio to work.
When I have a a deadline, I like to get that work out-of-the-way well before the deadline. I think this may be because as a teacher having so many things to submit, things to grade, meetings to attend, that I had a fear that if I didn’t do them when they arrived on my desk, I’d forget them and end up spending hours after school catching up as many of my fellow teachers did.
This may explain the reason why in order for me to allow myself time to flit about I am gradually eliminating anything with a deadline. I make the work I want to make and then find somewhere to exhibit it or it doesn’t get exhibited and that’s OK too. As I age less is more.
I feel this way too…and I often use the word flitting to describe my existence. Recently I’ve been flitting between painting (I have one in a series begun but haven’t finished), art books (one on the back burner), and collages (one on my art table as I write this.) But I spent so many years not creating that this present moment feels right for me.
Now is your time. I bet that if you saw my 2 rooms and multiple surfaces of my creative spaces, you would feel very good about your 3 projects. Keep it up! I now believe flitting is healthy.
Seems perfectly normal to me, and as you say, if you get the things you need to do, done, then that's fine in my book.
I was just thinking that I'd not achieved much myself so far today, but then after reading your post I realise I have achieved a number of things - just not what I'd planned to, not what was on my agenda! They were all things that needed done though......
I often think that I work better with a deadline looming, well maybe that should be in a more focused way, not necessarily better! I wouldn't want to work like that all the time though, flitting suits me perfectly.
It helps us to write down or reflect on all the things we do in a day. Lots of minutia, perhaps, but necessary. In the end, we feel better about ourselves, and that's what matters. Deadlines will always exist. I wish they were named goallines, though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
You're right, I made soup instead of finishing off a book, still creative, and meant I had something nourishing for lunch. I like the idea of goallines, a gentler word than deadlines.
I love flitting about my studio! I work in a creativity center that houses 9 other artists, and, as near as I can tell, we're all flitters -- men and women. In fact one of the best things about sharing space with other artists is that we can flit together. We exchange ideas, get feedback, or simply have a cup of coffee. We all have times of intense focus when a deadline is looming. But I like the leisurely, flitting pace that allows ideas to percolate.
How lovely to share space with like-minded creators. I do miss that. I've never had it actually, except when I'm teaching or taking a workshop. Such inspiring energy abounds. But I also love having my art at my fingertips and available at a moment's notice. I appreciate your input.
Relate hugely! The majority of my own flitting takes place in the garden where I wander about starting entirely different projects than the one I came outside to do, misplacing my little tools and then suddenly realizing an hour or two has passed and the original task (usually weeding) remains undone or worse, forgotten! Sometimes this can be frustrating as I am usually quite organized but on the other hand, I do find myself immersed in thought and as you observe, creative ideas can present themselves.
I've done the same thing, indoors and out. It feels good to get immersed in the moment. I like to think that the important things know when to take a step back while we are fully present in other things. Perhaps it's intuition or our bodies knowing what we need. After all, we do know that women "know things." I finally took the time to visit your Stack. It's fantastic. I need to read it all. And yes, I subscribed. Thank you for your wise words, both here and there.
This is my life. It doesn't bother me unless I forget to do something important. So I keep an on-going list with all the things I flit to on it! When the list is nearly done and things are crossed out, I just put the undone things on a new clean sheet. That makes me feel good! Flit away, dear Lesley. You aren't going to change anyway because IT WORKS FOR YOU!
I don't do lists because then I'd have to find it, so I have recycled paper cut into note size and keep a stack in every room. It's been working really well.
Oh your title surprised me! I often go from thing to thing as well, but I don’t think of it as flitting. I tried to simplify my life as much as I can. Probably my favorite kind of time is when I can get a very deep sustained focus, but so many things call on us externally to ourselves and even spacially, if I can make up a word. When it’s there before us, it asked to be done.
Your list of 17 flits is remarkable, and you also wrote about them and accomplished all of them, including the original intention. That in itself is miraculous. Clearly you are indeed a superwoman (but I already knew that!) Also-- I love your quotes. You somehow manage to collect the best ones and use them perfectly! xox
I love flitting. Of course much of this is because I love and enjoy outdoor birds so much. On a rainy day there isn’t much flitting around outside to observe, and likewise I generally cover up with a blanket, cup of tea, read, write a letter or nap. The weather, the birds all live in harmony and my free time at home looks similar. I don’t examine it. I accept it as a glorious part of being older and enjoying my life my way. It feels more healthy and I love it.♥️
I spend every morning watching the birds flitting. Even on this very rainy (atmospheric river) day, the cardinal and bluejay stopped by for a snack. There hasn't been a squirrel in sight all day. Hail to the flitters! I like your concept of harmony at home. Thanks for sharing.
So well expressed.
Thank you. You have perfectly described many of my days. I too thought I would have blocks and blocks of time once I retired. Now I just break those blocks down into manageable moments and focus within the small times as I switch between creative projects and whatever needs doing in the moment. And it works. I have always thought puttering contributed to my creative endeavors.
I really don't see how we can be creative without flitting. Our mind works faster than our hands, doesn't it? Thanks for writing!
Exactly! I too thought retirement would provide blocks of time, but it doesn’t really. My husband and I laugh, ‘we’re busy, busy, busy’ but it’s all in bits and pieces.
Neither good or bad, it just is. This is a textbook ADD description of task completion. "Deadline looming" is the key phrase to completion with an add brain. There is zero incentive before then! Ask me how I know!?
Deadline = focus; otherwise flitting is how we operate. Somehow, it all works out in the end. I find writing notes to self very important lately, lol.
Oh my goodness, YES! If I don't see it does not exist! Ha!
What an interesting premise. I think your conclusion has merit. Though told we should focus, being a woman (mother, caretaker, employee, etc) results in flitting. Even for our responsibilities, not just our creative pursuits. And yes, once you pointed it out, our flitting is enough. We accomplish our goals, just not the way we have been taught, resulting in a loss of satisfaction. Maybe acknowledging and embracing flitting will help us cultivate the satisfaction. Thanks for the thought provoking post.
Most (if not all) of the books on focus have been written by men. If they are like my husband, they can only hold one thought at a time. I think we were designed to be flitters out of necessity. Thanks for your thoughts, Nancy.
You’ve just described life! Never a straight line. I think flitting is a wonderful thing, you touch so many things and in every instance, that touch might be the catalyst that makes all the difference.
Yes! I agree. We are good at carrying a multitude (or a few) ideas/tasks/concepts within the same minute.
I can relate. I call it "puttering", and I find it perfectly acceptable! I accomplish a lot. Not always everything I want, and yes, my art and creativity often take a back seat to the myriads of other House Manager responsibilities, but never-the-less, things get done, including some art, and I feel good about it all! All that said, of course, I do wish I had more hours in the day to spend on creativity and other personal interests!
I had to laugh because the word puttering makes me feel old and slow, whereas flitting sounds youthful and quick. I really should slow down though, it's just that there's so much I want to do each day. Excited to see you again in September.
Now I'm the one who is laughing as even when I was young, I called it "puttering", and I loved it! Puttering feels relaxing and has no age-reference or implication, to me! I also have so many things I want to do and "have to" do but I am learning (at the ripe age of almost 76) to just go with the flow. And I am looking forward to seeing you in September also. :)
Lesley, you validate me with these words! It’s like you’re watching over MY shoulder! Now I feel more normal knowing I’m not so weird! So many times I start out with a “perfect plan” as to what I will complete. Then as I see this, I jump to a new plan of great interest to me, but then for this project which requires a whole new set of tools and supplies, I’m off on a new tangent! Then I notice the sun has fallen so rapidly, and I must go feed the chickens, hay the horses, pet the dogs and hug my cat. Now all is well!
I have the perfect plan for tomorrow!
It's funny how we are so hard on ourselves. Once I realized flitting is normal, it makes life much easier. And we still get what we need to do done! Enjoy your day.
Sometimes I get lost in the garden or in the kitchen or in a book or working on crochet or embroidery and don’t find my way into the studio to work.
When I have a a deadline, I like to get that work out-of-the-way well before the deadline. I think this may be because as a teacher having so many things to submit, things to grade, meetings to attend, that I had a fear that if I didn’t do them when they arrived on my desk, I’d forget them and end up spending hours after school catching up as many of my fellow teachers did.
This may explain the reason why in order for me to allow myself time to flit about I am gradually eliminating anything with a deadline. I make the work I want to make and then find somewhere to exhibit it or it doesn’t get exhibited and that’s OK too. As I age less is more.
That is how I tend to work, too. Get those deadlines out of the way!
I feel this way too…and I often use the word flitting to describe my existence. Recently I’ve been flitting between painting (I have one in a series begun but haven’t finished), art books (one on the back burner), and collages (one on my art table as I write this.) But I spent so many years not creating that this present moment feels right for me.
Now is your time. I bet that if you saw my 2 rooms and multiple surfaces of my creative spaces, you would feel very good about your 3 projects. Keep it up! I now believe flitting is healthy.
I do too, Lesley.
Seems perfectly normal to me, and as you say, if you get the things you need to do, done, then that's fine in my book.
I was just thinking that I'd not achieved much myself so far today, but then after reading your post I realise I have achieved a number of things - just not what I'd planned to, not what was on my agenda! They were all things that needed done though......
I often think that I work better with a deadline looming, well maybe that should be in a more focused way, not necessarily better! I wouldn't want to work like that all the time though, flitting suits me perfectly.
It helps us to write down or reflect on all the things we do in a day. Lots of minutia, perhaps, but necessary. In the end, we feel better about ourselves, and that's what matters. Deadlines will always exist. I wish they were named goallines, though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
You're right, I made soup instead of finishing off a book, still creative, and meant I had something nourishing for lunch. I like the idea of goallines, a gentler word than deadlines.
I love flitting about my studio! I work in a creativity center that houses 9 other artists, and, as near as I can tell, we're all flitters -- men and women. In fact one of the best things about sharing space with other artists is that we can flit together. We exchange ideas, get feedback, or simply have a cup of coffee. We all have times of intense focus when a deadline is looming. But I like the leisurely, flitting pace that allows ideas to percolate.
How lovely to share space with like-minded creators. I do miss that. I've never had it actually, except when I'm teaching or taking a workshop. Such inspiring energy abounds. But I also love having my art at my fingertips and available at a moment's notice. I appreciate your input.
Relate hugely! The majority of my own flitting takes place in the garden where I wander about starting entirely different projects than the one I came outside to do, misplacing my little tools and then suddenly realizing an hour or two has passed and the original task (usually weeding) remains undone or worse, forgotten! Sometimes this can be frustrating as I am usually quite organized but on the other hand, I do find myself immersed in thought and as you observe, creative ideas can present themselves.
For even MORE projects haha!
I've done the same thing, indoors and out. It feels good to get immersed in the moment. I like to think that the important things know when to take a step back while we are fully present in other things. Perhaps it's intuition or our bodies knowing what we need. After all, we do know that women "know things." I finally took the time to visit your Stack. It's fantastic. I need to read it all. And yes, I subscribed. Thank you for your wise words, both here and there.
Describes my life most days …so many projects and ideas…not enough hours in my day…flitting…I love it!
We need to form a club, although I'm beginning to think all women are flitters! Thanks for commenting.
You are welcome!
This is my life. It doesn't bother me unless I forget to do something important. So I keep an on-going list with all the things I flit to on it! When the list is nearly done and things are crossed out, I just put the undone things on a new clean sheet. That makes me feel good! Flit away, dear Lesley. You aren't going to change anyway because IT WORKS FOR YOU!
I don't do lists because then I'd have to find it, so I have recycled paper cut into note size and keep a stack in every room. It's been working really well.
I only keep my list/s on my computer desk where I spend the most time. But we all have what works for us and our lifestyle!
Oh your title surprised me! I often go from thing to thing as well, but I don’t think of it as flitting. I tried to simplify my life as much as I can. Probably my favorite kind of time is when I can get a very deep sustained focus, but so many things call on us externally to ourselves and even spacially, if I can make up a word. When it’s there before us, it asked to be done.
You are calm and insightful and do not strike me as a flitter. I envision you moving slowly and gracefully through life. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Lesley. You wouldn't have thought so if you had met me when I was young!
Your list of 17 flits is remarkable, and you also wrote about them and accomplished all of them, including the original intention. That in itself is miraculous. Clearly you are indeed a superwoman (but I already knew that!) Also-- I love your quotes. You somehow manage to collect the best ones and use them perfectly! xox