<a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/lovelist.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-507" title="lovelist" src="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/lovelist-538x403.jpg" alt="" width="538" height="403" /></a>

<strong>As I've watched my Love List grow these past few weeks, I've noticed some patterns.</strong> Have you noticed any patterns in your lists? (If you're wondering what this whole Love List Project is about, check out the <a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/?p=472">first</a>, <a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/?p=479">second</a>, <a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/?p=486">third</a> and <a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/?p=497">fourth</a> posts in the Friday series.)

One of the themes I've noticed is that <strong>I need more time in my life.</strong> Not surprising, eh? We all need more of that. Doing things we love takes time, which means prioritizing the things that eat up our waking hours, and being more mindful of time-sucks that are neither useful nor enjoyable.

But it's not just more time that I crave. I'm not simply thinking "I want to spend an hour knitting, so I need to find an hour in my day." <strong>It's a certain <em>kind</em> of time that I long for—time that doesn't feel hurried, hedged in, or distracted by other worries about what's next and what's not getting done.</strong> Here's how I worded it in my <a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/?p=479">September 25 post</a>:
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>When I look at the list as a whole, I definitely notice some themes. One is that I crave open-ended blocks of time and the organic experiences that flourish there. These next few weeks I’m definitely going to be thinking more about how I schedule my life, what’s necessary and what isn’t.</em></p>
I've actually made some progress with this over the past week. Lately, I've developed a habit of putting little things off, like an email I need to send, a call I need to make to my accountant, or a simple house project that bothers me every time I see it, like light bulbs that need replacing. Jason told me about the two-minute rule: If it can be done in two minutes, do it now. Don't put it on a list, or let it gather over your like a dark cloud, with all those other little things. Just do it.

I tried it out on Tuesday, and was amazed at how great it felt (and how easy it was). On Tuesday evening, my friend Lisa came over to talk and knit. <strong>Not only did I set aside a block of time to spend in a way I love, but that time felt so free and unhindered.</strong> I really felt the Love List doing its work in my life.

<strong>Now for some updates from the past week or so.</strong>
<h4>Recent blogs linked to the Love List Project:</h4>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://sarahealy.com/index.php/2009/10/15/like-minds-the-love-list-project/">A Sharing Connection</a> by Sara Healy</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.ordinarymer.com/2009/10/ordinary-mers-love-list.html">Ordinary Mer</a> by Merideth</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://mojojules.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/special-lovelist-my-gram/">The Wonderer</a> by Jules</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://bridgeout.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/joining-the-love-list/">Burning or Building Bridges in the Community</a> by Bridgeout</p>

<h4>A selection of recently tweeted #lovelist items:</h4>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4630646210" class="msgtxt en">@lizdyer: I love wide eyed, hopeful, optimistic Christianity. #lovelist</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4662022739" class="msgtxt en">@lje2me: Lunching with a friend and running out of time long before you run out of conversation. #lovelist</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@jenluit: <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4740529170" class="msgtxt en">I love rainy days, a quiet house, the promise of a Friday night. #lovelist</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4743537302" class="msgtxt en">@delightedscribb: I love it when personal fulfillment and professional development intersect.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@TrinaMb: <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4816198560" class="msgtxt en">a fine meal; we fix ~ under family tree; we ate ~ my life full; #lovelist</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4838400102" class="msgtxt en">@amandalinehan: Outside of my office are trees that are a brilliant shade of yellow-orange.  I love looking at them. #lovelist</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4861442283" class="msgtxt en">@MoJoJules: the smile I just got from one of my students seeing I'm back. *breathe in &amp; out* yes this is my heart and my love. #lovelist</span></span></p>

<h4>Additions to my own #lovelist:</h4>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4660918831" class="msgtxt en">- Feeling lucky on a cold wet day like this to work from home &amp; to have leftover chicken masala J made &amp; a dog that fits on my lap.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4740008840" class="msgtxt en">- I love doing something on my own, while sharing space w someone I enjoy.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4840283867" class="msgtxt en">- I love being able to share something I'm pondering, and then watch all kinds of wisdom &amp; thought pour in from others.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt4841618375" class="msgtxt en">- I love that my blog community isn't entirely comprised of like minds, but it does seem to gather like hearts. (corny, but true!)</span></span></p>
<em>Keep sharing what you love and how it's changing your life, here and on Twitter! Next Friday look for another guest post, this time by Lance of <a href="http://www.jungleoflife.com/">The Jungle of Life</a>.</em>