Pond Ponderings

Around this time last year, we decided to put in a swim pond.  Think fish pond, but for humans (though there are also fish, but little ones who won’t bite my butt or anything).  We had a corner of our yard that was a constant mud pit, a delight for the dogs until they realised playing in it=a hose-down and extra hours outside ‘cold and alone’…they’re a bit dramatic.  We’d begun considering putting a plunge pool in, as we’re on the Gold Coast and all the cool kids have one.  However, what to me looked like a big concrete or steel cube apparently cost $30,000+, and that was the basic one without any sort of pump, heater, etc.  Epp.  I suggested to Rob we could probably just get a second-hand water tank and cut the top off or something, and starting to send some Marketplace listings of options.  He was about to head overseas again for his yearly three months in Europe chasing summer while the dogs and I were left ‘cold and alone’ (see where they get it from…) in the Aus winter.  Whether it was the terror of another one of my ‘Hey babe look what I did while you were away!’ home DIY projects, or pure luck, he found something called swim ponds.  These magical backyard dreams were naturally filtering, chemical-free alternatives to pools, and even okay for dogs to swim in!   Keep talking Rob…

Lo and behold, one of the companies was currently doing one with our house builder, and based locally!  After managing to get an appointment with them, and learning our space would be a bit tricky to access for equipment but workable, we were sold.  It also helped they could do it pretty much straight away, just before we were heading overseas (ok I wasn’t going to be all alone the whole three months, I got to go the first few weeks with Rob).  A few weeks and less than half the price of a plunge pool later, we had a swim pond, complete with its own waterfall!  It’s also two metres deep in the middle, meaning the volleyball lads love it and the dog is entertained for hours when his frisbee sinks to the bottom. 

So, here I currently sit, pondering by the pond and warming back up in the sun as seems in winter this magical oasis is basically a giant ice-bath.  It’s Sunday, which usually means yard work and tinkering around the house, with today no exception.  However, after about seven hours of chorin’, I figure it’s rest time.  That’s a bit of a new concept for me, as someone who regularly feels like I need to be doing something to make the most of the day.  However, in recent months I’ve realised down time is sometimes the best thing I could be doing.  I read a quote the other week about how doing lots of things isn’t the same as doing the right things, but if you’re constantly staying busy you don’t allow yourself the time and space to reflect on what those right things are.  So, you just end up doing ‘stuff’ constantly but still never feeling like you’ve actually made progress towards your goals, if you even know what they are, or really done anything at all.  Yup, getting deep down here by our deep pond.  This doesn’t just go for work, though that’s probably where it may be most obvious to notice.  It’s also our finances, social life and relationships, health, and probably every other facet of life.  For example, I’m a health professional, and constantly I see clients who ‘have tried everything’ but still can’t lose weight, or feel stronger, or have more energy.  Often, it’s because they are doing so many things, but not the ‘right’ things.  They move from one approach or workout routine to the next to the next in short succession, without allowing the downtime or just time in general to see results. 

Personally, I was like that in relationships, especially friendships.  I constantly felt like I needed to be meeting new people, and moving to new places or trying new activities, and therefore changing my friends along with it.  When I finally slowed down though, I realised there were only a few people I felt I could call for a lift to the airport at an ungodly hour (the true test of friendship).  My busyness was leaving me lonely and disconnected.  While I still like to meet new people and experience new things, now I also recognise the importance of deeper friendships, and simply being with these folks, possibly not even doing a thing. 

Well, the sun has now moved behind a tree and coldness is demanding I get back to doing (the right thing though=inside and warm shower!).  However, if you’ve made it this far, give yourself a little space every day to stop, breath out slowly, and take a break from ‘doing’.  Then, make sure when you start back up, what you’re doing has a relevant purpose for you.  Good luck!