The Puttering Spirit

Laundry on the Line

hanging clean laundry on the clothesline to dry

is the epitome of puttering for me

"You've given me the puttering spirit", he said. "I think I'm going to cut the lawn."

I'm not sure if my husband realized just how much I loved those words, puttering spirit.

~~~

I often struggle with reconciling intention and planned action with intuitive action and letting things unfold.

Sometimes I'm all about goals and to-do lists, working in fast and furious bursts of energy. This gives me momentum and confidence in my ability to set a goal and do what needs to be done to meet it. Knowing I can do it is extremely empowering for me.

Other times I try something different: I putter.

I slow down, ask my Higher Power "What's next?" and I do it. This usually leads to stuff like doing the dishes, folding the laundry, weeding the garden... but it might also lead to writing a blog post, drafting a service description or filing receipts. No matter where it leads it's gentle and spacious and this too is extremely empowering - not to mention often very productive.

It's a dance I'm learning. Sometimes I push, sometimes I let the puttering spirit take over.

The puttering spirit. I love that, don't you? Thank you D.

~~~

Might you allow yourself to putter a little bit today? What would that look like? How would it feel?