On 3 Days, 3 Weeks, 3 Months

      When the girls adopted their pets, we read about the 3 day, 3 week, and 3 month transition process. It takes 3 days for the pet to recognize you as a familiar person. They'll have their guard up, wondering who you might be and wondering where they are. The next three weeks, they're exploring their new space, figuring out the lay of the land, and wondering if you'll still be there. Article after article said by the three month mark, the pet, particularly a rescue, will have developed trust with you and your home is now their forever home too. Grand pup certainly fit that timeline, and just in time as we lost my husband just at the four month marker, and we needed him as much as he needed us. 

     The kitten just owned us all from almost day one! My daughter had a class this past Saturday and her roommate was gone for the weekend so they spent it with me. He's such a sassy little thing, but so darn sweet. He cuddled when he wasn't exploring. Pup just seems to ignore him mostly, but isn't a fan when the kitten runs. Grand pup wasn't here at the same time until Sunday afternoon- that's an evolving dynamic. 

     I had a point to bringing up the 3 day, 3 week, and 3 month time frame. I feel like a stray myself, not really sure where my life is headed. I could just keep working year after year, or stick to the timeline my husband and I had. I could retire even earlier, but I have no idea how to then spend those days. I don't know what's around the corner, in days, weeks, months, or years. Instead of overthinking, I think I'd be better off continuing to think about the future, to focusing, on short bursts. 

• What's my plan for the next 3 days? Have I showered and washed my hair? ( Seriously I need to ask myself this.) What needs to get done? Did I get any sleep and should I try to go to bed earlier? Do I need to eat healthier, get more exercise? When will I blog or journal just for myself? ( I'd like to aim to get in a 2-3 day a week posting habit) Is it a work day or a day off? (I have  to think about this as well as days blur into each other.) If work, am I maximizing what needs to get done to keep unnecessary stress at bay? If a day off, how do I make sure I don't just crash in front of mindless t.v.?
• In 3 week stretches, what's on the calendar? Have I conscientiously made plans to see friends? Have I made sure bills are paid or are in the cue to be paid? Am I taking care of the things that need more attention in the house? Daily/weekly tidy's are fine, but at least every three weeks, every space needs a deep clean, rotation wise perhaps- am I doing this? Have I scheduled a day or two over the three weeks to invest in writing, even if it goes no where but in my hard drive? 
• What do I need to plan or prepare for over the course of the next 3 months? Am I looking out for dates or events that might be sensitive triggers and set myself up to get through them with any semblance of stability? Do I have at least one get away planned, getting myself out of the house and neighborhood for more than an hour, the office not included,  even a day trip? Have I taken care of both putting money away in my sinking fund account and either paid or have scheduled to pay, those intermittent expenses that could get lost and forgotten until past due, like car insurance? Have I scheduled maintenance items for the coming three months? Have I reviewed medical, eye, dentist, etc. appointment needs? Have I assessed where my retirement portfolio sits so I can evaluate when retirement is right? I figure I don't need to give more than three months notice once I do decide.

    When it was both my husband and I planning, he had a virtual roadmap designed to get us from the present to where we wanted our future to be. I'm overwhelmed to think so far out alone. But I figure if my days can take care of the weeks, and the weeks take care of the months, slowly I'll get my own map planned. The irony is that no matter how perfect the plan might look, ultimately, I learned it's still not a given it'll work out. So the 3,3,3 idea might help me figure out how to make my life in the present a little better.