24/03/2026
Today is a day to take my own advice, and write a "done" list not a to do list....
Do you ever feel like there are not enough hours in the day, sitting down at the laptop at 6.30 pm to start the days work after a day's work? We create our own time, it is not a finite resource, and I needed to remind myself of this today, so here is my "done list" i.e what I got done today, not what I didn't get to.... and my expectations on myself will hopefully be a little less tomorrow:
7 am feed dogs, work on video editing footage for new online course (coming soon ... ish!) drink coffee. 8 am, make feeds, feed, muck out and clean up after 7 equines, wash out and scrub waterers, refill haynets, clean breezeway, blower vac yard, wash out dirty feedbuckets and stack. Sit at laptop to prepare for 2 hour group therapy session for victim survivors of domestic violence, email 2 quotes follow up on promised extra reading for 2 clients, confirm attendance for 3 other groups this week, try to find new clients to replace those that have decided they can't make it after all. Then greet client who turned up an hour early for group, suggest coffee shop and start fly spray, put on 7 fly masks, print out handouts for group. Run said 2 hour group, holding space for lots of big feelings, grab a sandwich (for 12.45 pm breakfast!) more paperwork more emails, pay bills, order new fly bags, order supplements for horses. Spend time with one of my horses - infra red blanket on, treat skin condition on feet, massage him, hack him out, bath him and pop him back in the paddock. Teach Red the hose is not a red bellied black snake, learn to be bathed, malaseb shampoo and rinse, put him back. Clean out shleter for mini horses (again) fill waterers and fill haynets again. Hose washbay, blower vac breezeway, answer 3 more client enquiries, resend lost invoices, start grant application for seniors program, contemplate how tired I am, consider dinner but tell the family I won't be cooking tonight as I have "work to do" and here I am...
I share this not to expect any commentary (or judgement please) of any kind, purely as a reminder to self and others, that many of us expect way too much of ourselves (and also therefore of others) and sometimes it is timely to remember to set more realistic expectations, set yourself up for success and not failure, and consider all you have done and more importantly how you have showed up for others, rather than berating ourselves for not getting to that slow cooked lamb, supervising homework or walking the donkey by the dam. On that note, I am off to take my coffee out to the paddocks for a short moment - then I'll get back to the laptop! Here's to the "done" list and have a good evening all!
