Oh, Friday… I am ever so glad you are here!
It has been a full week… a bit too full perhaps and next week does not look much better! But even in “not busy” weeks it is so easy to get bogged down by the Tsunami of Chaos that is barreling down on us each day. I have found it crucial to identify things saving my life right now… I thought I’d share a few of them with you!
I have been trying to get back to my old morning meditation time… not the easiest with a boisterous puppy! But he is getting older and I can handle his “bone chewing” in the silence… especially since he puts up with me sometimes reading poetry out loud to him (and whoever else is listening!) The thing I most noted in this very busy week… the mornings I missed any meditation time led to a day that was more stressful.
Has bone, will stay put!
I have even managed to do some quick watercolors and it feels good! Water brushes certainly help with the quick factor… a quick spritz of the paints to moisten them and I am off and painting. I would like to expand the time a bit and do something a bit more involved… but for right now, the fact that I have picked up a brush again is a very good thing!
Margaret Renkl’s Leaf, Cloud, Crow is a fantastic morning companion as well. Her prompts are inspiring and if you ever told me I’d become a “backyard journalist” I’d have laughed… but I am even getting better at drawing those pesky squirrels that visit my yard!
Finally, getting outside each day (multiple times each day!) is such a good thing! Snow, wind, cold, sunshine… it is all good. I just adjust my “level of bundledness” and we (Frankie and I) head out the door. He is even … slowly… getting better at walking on the leash (versus yanking me down the street!) These bursts outside are such a balm to my mental health… and I can tell you that in the past ten days, I have noted an increase in birdsong, especially two wrens that are engaged in “song wars”! They are so vociferous that even Frankie stops to listen to them!
And with that… I am going to let this Friday unfold as it will! What is saving your life right now?
See you all back here on Monday!
Glad you have found things to save you. For me? Some poetry and other good books, stitching, thinking about knitting (notice the thinking…not the action – hahaha), sunny days with blue skies (even if it still feels frigid to me). Cheers to a good weekend Kat!
I’ve also returned to meditation and so far have been motivated to do it morning and evening. Calming Hitchhiker knitting and a cup of chai are also helping. I do love Frankie listening to you read him poetry; just picturing that is making me smile!
For me it’s art, yoga, cooking and PBS’ Sunday lineup of shows. I also keep a journal about my creative practice.
Kate’s been using a harness with Kai, attaching the leash @ the chest & she said it’s really changed their walks — Kai pulls & lunges MUCH less.
I’ve definitely noticed the birds this week — they’re getting much more chatty! What’s saving my life? A new pillow, snuggles with my daughter, near-instant-gratification knitting, and rewatching The West Wing.
Today while walking I also noticed more bird song and I saw a fat robin in a tree. Maybe he/she was puffed up against the brisk wind. What’s saving my life? I cast on the Blue Wave Mitts by Thea Colman, a walk, chocolate- dark, and looking forward to a visit with our son.
I have started lighting a candle when I sit down with my journal and laptop every morning. It’s a simple little thing but it really feels like it’s saving my life right now. I wish I liked walking outside in the cold but that’s a NO GO for me! hahahaha!
Thank you! Miss you on Wednesdays. I’m going to try and blog again. Busy on Bluesky on my “Resistance Knitters “ site. Trying to fight back with truth filled journalism. But I need to find balance & peace. Just hard, I used to be a History teacher and this really hurts. So I’m listening. Trying to learn to meditate. And thank God for knitting! I’ll definitely try and knit my way to peace. Lovelyyarnescapes.blogspot.com
I miss your voice, Elise! We need community more than ever now! It is delightful to hear from you!!
Sometimes it’s the little things that pull us through. Glad your painting has been your salvation. Poetry read to the dog- brilliant. I used to do avrious exercise tapes- video tapes. When I put the towel on the floor my cocker spaniel would join in with gay abandon…it was not appreciated by me.
I remember frodo dragging me all over the place for the longest time. Oh to have that energy!! I am reading, knitting and trying not to read the news often (WIP, lol). We are all doing our best!