Make time for different things

Margate Harbour by Philip Dodson age 49 & 1 day
Margate Harbour by Philip Dodson age 49 & 1 day

Following on from yesterday’s post about the simple things in life mattering the most.

It is also important to make time to do different things.

Yesterday afternoon, having walked, eaten lunch, and done all the usual fun things that you do at the seaside as a family, we went back to the airbnb apartment that we were staying at, which overlooked the seafront and harbour in Margate.

We played an art game, where we each took it turns to come up with a thing that we all had to draw, then create a story behind it. Then we had to share the art and the story with the rest of the family.

Not only was this ace fun doing some drawing of challenging things, however, once we’d all relaxed, we all got into the ideas part of it too, and the story behind the drawing. We came up with some really creative stuff, which was different.

We did then played a really fun few card games of ‘cheat’, an old family favourite.

This morning, full of the enjoyment of yesterday, I sat early morning looking out the window and sketched the harbour. Not only has this re-energised my love of doing art, but it was really relaxing and just enjoyable.

For those who know me, I am always joking about colouring in, instead of working, but from now on, I plan to be making more time to do different things, including more colouring in and art.

Simple things matter

Philip Dodson Blog

I am sat here, on a window seat of our 1st floor apartment, which is home for the weekend. I am overlooking the sea and the busy seafront parade below. I am starting today’s blog and my mind has drifted and my thoughts turn to a happy place.

The world is a simple place, made up of simple pleasures.

We often do not stop to take time out to enjoy the simple things.

This weekend I am with my wife and two kids, oh and a dog called Cookie, in Margate, on the north Kent coast. We are here to celebrate my wife’s birthday, which was last Wednesday and mine, which is today.

The norm is to buy presents, yet more trinkets and stuff, that mainly we do not need, that end up being tomorrow’s eBay items, or in a skip. I guess, maybe, we are shit at buying presents!! But the point is, our houses, garages, lofts and every available space are already filled with stuff.

Instead, money is far better deployed doing activities, fun stuff and doing things together with people who you love and who matter in life.

At the end of our journeys, we are unlikely to look back on life and reminisce about the stuff we bought. But when you sit with your loved ones, you will look back with fondness on the moments, the activities, the trips or just doing fun things bought to you all.

This morning I took my dog, Cookie, for a walk along the harbour wall. She kept jumping up, as being a little dog she wanted to see over the harbour wall, as she loves the sea. So I picked her up and she was so happy to be there with me looking out to sea together.

It was a special moment, as I had all my life been scared of dogs, and said that I would never have one. Well armed with my new mindset and different outlook on life, which has changed so much for me in the last 3-4 years, I finally got a dog 4 months ago.

So Cookie will be special, as she will be the only dog I own, that will be my first dog. She might not share that feeling, but hey, I am happy.

These moments will last a lifetime.

As will the fun time we have already had as a family walking around the beautiful Old Town of Margate.

Don’t waste your money on stuff, don’t spend your life working for others, trying to accumulate more money, only to use it to buy trinkets. Use your life to spend time with the people, or dogs, that matter.