Bridget McNulty

Down with Multitasking!

// March 30th, 2010 // 8 Comments » // Decisions, Life (and the living of it), Time

I no longer wish to be a multitasker.
I’m handing in my resignation and throwing away my badge.
I have no desire to do twelve things at once, wrap my brain up in tangles, never finish anything and call this progress!
I’m done, thank you very much. Down with multitasking!

The other day I caught myself halfway to the table: one earring in, one shoe on, half a text message written.
And I thought, why am I doing all of this at the same time?
What happened to getting a job done well?
What’s the panic??

So I’ve made a resolution:
From now on – I will only do ONE thing at a time.
Drink a cup of tea.
Choose a pair of earrings.
Write out a shopping list.

Because I’ve realised that there is such beauty in completing something – no matter how arbitrary – in a conscious way.
Hanging the washing becomes a meditation. So does cooking. And reading. That underlying sense of panic disappears.
Life slows down for a second.

It’s one of the lessons practical philosophy encourages: when you’re doing something, JUST do it.
JUST drive. JUST eat. JUST talk.
A worthy goal, don’t you think?

Photo: Aristocrats-hat’s

One magical evening…

// March 25th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Cape Town, Inspiration

You know how, every so often, you have a magical evening? An evening that sticks with you for ages and ages?
I had one of those on Monday.
It was at the Two Oceans Aquarium, here in Cape Town, and it was in aid of water appreciation and awareness.
The name of the night? FLOW – For Love Of Water.
We watched a movie of the same name, drank all-natural chilled chocolate, and had the rare treat of a concert in front of the predator tank – and seeing a mermaid! Hanli Prinsloo, the SA Freediving Champion, dived with one breath in the shark tank, while musicians played music that seemed to flow in and out of the mood seamlessly.
As I said – one magical evening…

To find out more about FLOW, visit www.flow.org.za

Photo: Steve Benjamin

Bleeurgh.

// March 18th, 2010 // No Comments » // Diabetes

Here’s the thing about diabetes – if it’s not in your top 3 priorities, it acts out until you give it your full attention again.
Today, diabetes wasn’t in my top priorities.
I have a cold, so getting over that was top of my list.
I have a chunk of work to do, and
I have a list of admin To Do’s as long as my arm.

Diabetes? Ah, it’ll take care of itself.
Ummm… No.
Especially not when my head was so full of things I had to do that I forgot to take my insulin after my (big) lunch and now, two hours later, I’m craaazy high. And I feel dreadful.
So stupid!
Really.

So now it’s time to realign my priorities. Catch a diabetic wake-up. Start taking insulin before meals again. Stop thinking in a whirlwind.
I’ll keep you posted on my progress!

Wednesday morning: 10.33am

// March 17th, 2010 // No Comments » // Blogs

I am most definitely home.
Woke up in my nest this morning (I’m now totally nested – all my treasures in their place, a full fridge and my first baking project – stripey cookies – successfully behind me).
We don’t have internet yet, so I’m now at a local cafe using their wifi. Ordered a pot of tea and a bran muffin, and the tea arrived in a big pot, strong, with a lovely big tea cup, fresh milk and a glass of water on the side.
This is why I love being home! Everyone speaks my language (even though we have 11 official languages, we also have a common South African language around things like tea. You know, the important things in life!)

I suppose I’m feeling full of love for South Africa at the moment not only because I’ve just returned home, but because I’m in the lovely position of writing blog updates every second day for Travelstart.co.za
To celebrate the 100 days to the World Cup kick-off, they’re posting 100 reasons to visit South Africa in 2010, and I’m contributing every second day.
It’s such fun!

Check out my favourites so far, and bookmark the page for a dose of South African love every day!
http://blog.travelstart.co.za

It’s a good read, I promise!
(Although if you’re not in South Africa, it will make you want to come and visit… Don’t say I didn’t warn you!)

Life changes.

// March 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Cape Town, Decisions

I mean that as a verb and a noun.
Life changes, it’s true.
And I’m being served a plate of life changes at the moment.

Everyone keeps asking me how it feels to be home.
The short answer? Great!
The long answer? Full.

We moved into our new home on the weekend and have spent every moment since unpacking, painting, cleaning and organising.
I cannot believe how much stuff we have!
From living out of one suitcase each, we now have three rooms full of STUFF – beautiful stuff, it’s true, but I can’t quite believe it’s all mine.
The array of choice is quite overwhelming, to be honest:
I can’t remember how to wear a different outfit every day,
How to drink tea from different cups,
How to spend time in different rooms,
With different people.

So I’m very focused on the here-now: the need to unpack and nest.
I’m not too sure what comes next.

But I know I’ve missed this blog, and my new phone let’s me blog on it (amazing!) So I’ll be posting frequent short musings, from wherever life might take me.
(Metaphorically speaking, of course – physically I’m staying right here, thank goodness!)