Reading used to be a hobby I indulged in with a passion. I used to have my nose in books every chance I got but it is no longer the case now. I do miss the days of traveling without leaving home, of visiting faraway lands, of kissing princes who were not “frogs” and of living a fairytale existence. I reveled in “happy ever afters” and I let the imaginary world guide my existence. I loved it all. Then I discovered writing and realized that I could do the same and my world took off running and reading was put on the backburner. I still read but when I need to have my nose in a book, it is of the cookbook variety!
Jogging was an activity I thoroughly enjoyed. I remember meeting up with a group of friends at around 5:00 a.m. as we headed off for a three-mile jog. The world was still asleep while the group of us took off pounding the pavement all the time talking and laughing about nothing in particular. The joints were working fine then and “youth” kept us going. I gave it up in my 20s because I read somewhere that it (jogging) put too much stress on the joints and could cause problems later on. I decided to err on the side of caution and took to walking instead. It has been a safer choice and serves me well.
If I could, I would love to get back to reading but somehow I can’t. I don’t know why. I do miss those days but I guess time changes things and who knows at some point I might go back to it but just not right now. Jogging is done with. I can’t see myself doing that ever again. The closest I get to jogging these days is running on the spot but that too only for a few minutes at a time!
Time changes things.
Daily writing prompt
Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?
Weakness is easy. It doesn’t take much to get us there. It could be brought about by the breakdown of a relationship or a situation in life that brings us to our knees. During these times, “weakness” will come around holding out its hands to us and more often than not we are more than willing to stay for awhile and wallow there in the darkness. Be very careful of weakness, it’s a false friend. It is inadequate, feeble, lacking in firmness and strength is not one of its attributes. Know when to let go and stand back up.
“We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Choose your lessons carefully if you don’t want darkness than don’t stand in it. There are things that happen in life that we have no control over but there are the ones that we know exactly what we are getting into. For example, the people we choose to have relationships with knowing full well that we are headed for disaster from the get go or the things we shouldn’t do and yet it beckons and we go for it ignoring the consequences or choosing to go into the lion’s den knowing full well what is awaiting us there. Choose to stand in the light.
“If you want the light to come into your life, you need to stand where it is shining.” Guy Finley
Not always easy I know. Being strong when faced with adversity is not always doable. Being strong when standing in the dark and faced with the unknown is scary. Being strong when all you want to do is throw up your hands is one of the hardest things to do. I learned my hardest lessons not when things and situations were at their best but when they were at their most difficult. The lessons we learn when we are at our most vulnerable are the ones that help us as we make our way through life and the ones that help to shore us up for the lessons to come. The ones that teach us we are not breakable but pliable and like that tree that moves and bends as the wind picks up, we too are fully capable of handling whatever life throws our way.
“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.” Bob Marley
I don’t have a sweet tooth so I stay away from candies, pastries, cookies and the like. I do like cheesecake, my one sin as I call it but I have a handle on it now so no excessive imbuing of cheesecakes either!
Living a healthy life is at the top of my agenda so instead of reaching for something sweet when stress hits, I put on my shoes and head out the door for 30 minutes of nature and that usually fixes my craving and all my woes.
If there is one thing that I’m into on those rare moments when I need something sweet, it is a special kind of chocolate with hazelnuts. It is made with no sugar, no artificial sweeteners and is low carb. However, it is expensive so I don’t reach for it often which is a good thing. Just to whet the appetite and a small piece at a time does the trick!
No fun? Well, it works for me and that “no sugar, no nothing chocolate” does taste great.
The “peacemaker” and Commander- in-Chief had this to say on Tuesday about resettling refugees outside of Gaza.
“I hope we can do something where they wouldn’t want to go back. If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed and not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza.”
Hmm….he forgot about the bombing that destroyed the infrastructure.
On Thursday, he had this to say:
“The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe and free.”
Day dreaming is nice sometimes but the 47th president needs to understand that he is not the regular Joe on the street and what he says will and might have repercussions. It did. What’s that about Chuck Schumer?!!
The man who is used to jumping the gun and putting half-baked ideas out there did not reckon on the “fury” he would create in the Arab world through his thoughtless and “crazy” remarks.
Egypt and Jordan are strongly against any forced relocation of Gazans. They won’t be taking in any Palestinian refugees and Saudi Arabia is standing firm saying, “that Palestinian statehood is nonnegotiable.”
According to another source Trump’s suggestion, “has the potential to unleash revolutions and provoke state collapse in the Middle East.” Furthermore, this plan will not bring peace to the area. It will unleash a vicious cycle of violence for Israelis and Palestinians.
The smackdown is clear. The plan has nowhere to go but back where it came from. Talking without thinking, ideas that sound good at first glance but not well thought out AND “making the deal” is what this administration is all about but they are quickly learning that what the “new Messiah” has to say doesn’t always fly!
The path ahead is unclear. It is scary. It is often filled with obstacles which we have to cross to make it up that mountain. We find ourselves on our way and then we take a tumble and we find ourselves not back to square one but somewhere in between and that is where I am now.
The weekend was filled with uncertainties and all my good intentions seemed to have flown out the window. I thought I was doing so well only to find that being on my way, moving on from the here and now is a long process. It doesn’t happen overnight and neither does it happen in a few days, a few weeks or a few months. It is an ongoing process which involves falling, picking yourself back up and having the courage to say, “Here I go again!”
“When you walk in the fire, you start becoming fireproof.” Hiral Nagada
I spent the weekend looking for excuses as to why I CAN’T do this and that is often the case with me. It is easier to look for excuses than to move on. Fear is another factor which plays into my inner being and that little voice within, the one that acts like a little kid keeps tugging and keeps saying you are not capable of making it to the other side. However, there is this other voice which refuses to give up and if given the chance, it will become a deafening roar that pushes me to my limits and lets me know that there is strength, unbeatable strength within and all I need to do is stand back up and start moving. Just remember that it will get worse before it gets better it says and that is the truth.
It takes time, it takes effort and it takes hard work to get to the top of the mountain and there will be times when I will take a fall and land where I don’t want to be, lost in my own excuses of why I can’t move on. Acknowledge but don’t get too comfortable where you are. It is a no man’s land and you want better so stand back up and look towards that open door and go through it because failure is not an option.
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” Mary Ann Radmacher
Also remember that failure is a choice, standing still is not an option and walking away from things that keep you from achieving your goals is the right thing to do no matter how painful it is. Let go of things which don’t serve you and make the commitment to keep going and you will arrive at where you need to be. My mission for this week is to keep moving, one step at a time and to keep going.
“No matter how bad things are right now.
No matter how stuck you feel,
No matter how many days you’ve spent wishing things were different,
No matter how hopeless and depressed you feel,
I promise you won’t feel this way forever.” Unknown
Here’s a story of hope. Last year, I uprooted a peony bush because it was growing too close to a fence and its growth was being stunted. I decided to move it to a smaller area where I thought it would thrive. There was a risk that it might not survive the process at all. All through winter, it looked like it had died. A week ago, I noticed that it was sprouting! Today, when I walked out the front door I noticed that new leaves were forming and it was budding and there were five buds on this tiny plant. Perhaps, it is a lesson from nature that even in the deepest darkest of times when we think all is lost, life is working its magic to show us that patience wins out and “better” is on its way.
If all else fails, remember that it is not Amazon Prime, the delivery doesn’t happen in one or two days!
I need a break from overthinking! It is a problem that I deal with everyday. No matter what happens in my life or doesn’t happen, I am in the overthinking mode! It takes hold and I bring different scenarios into the picture AND spend time working on solutions for non-existent problems!
It is a waste of time I know but at times I can’t control my mind. I call it the “monkey” because it hops around too much and runs the gamut without an okay from me! It also keeps me from the task at hand because I’m busy chasing it around! Perhaps, all or some writers have that problem. We are creative people and imagination runs wild, it does with me anyway.
I am reeling it in by concentrating on the here and now. This method works but not always because I love being in that imaginary world where the “monkey” has the upper hand. Walking helps and being out in nature definitely helps to soothe the mind and to calm it, meditation does too but it is constant work to keep it in check and it is tiring to say the least. So, I need a break from constant overthinking.
It is not kind, it is not gentle, it is not compassionate but it is far-reaching and “rule of law” does not apply here.
What we’re seeing now is nothing different from his first term where throwing “bans” like hand grenades was the norm and half-thought out ideas reigned supreme. Legality was and is nothing that he’s concerned about but coming out on top as the “most powerful man on the planet” is.
Who cares about the Constitution, checks and balances, and if it’s legal or NOT! Anything that stands in his way has got to go is his motto.
Scary? It is but the 47th President marches to a different drumbeat. He has lost sight of “government of the people by the people and for the people.” Does it ring any bells? Running, even if it means running in place, makes up his daily existence and coming up with new “bans” in the early morning hours seems to make up his presidency. Notwithstanding shock tactics, drama, theatrics and “lovefests” with dictator types and you’ve got the whole picture and not a pretty one at that.
Add Elon Musk to the whole kit and caboodle and you’ve got disaster in the making. Remember him? The Tesla CEO, Jack of all Trades and more recently lover of all things “right wing” which led to the Hitler salute that had the world sitting up and taking notice? He has toned it down, more specifically the salute of the “Sieg Heil!” variety, it’s now a watered-down version, more like the Queen’s wave with a smile to match but he’s not fooling anyone!
Where is all of this headed? Your guess is as good as mine but if you’re waiting for “kinder and gentler” to return, don’t hold your breath! It has flown the coop and if you think it’s “bad” now, I think it will only get worse.
Dictatorship in the making? What do you think?
Time to put on my shoes and go get some fresh air!
If you think about it, this moment in time is all we have. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is looming somewhere in the distance but today, more specifically, this very moment is where we exist.
“We’re so busy watching out for what’s just ahead of us that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are.” Bill Waterson
Are you in a safe place? Are you protected? Are you at peace? These are things which matter.
I overthink and it is mostly about the past and then I jump to the future. It is an erratic pattern of thoughts and I am well aware of what I’m doing but still I persist. Last night, I decided to reel in all my jumbled up thoughts because they were causing another sleepless night and then started looking at each one individually and realized that I was dabbling in things I cannot change. The past is done with and the future is unknown. I looked at the moment I was in and realized I was safe, I was warm and I had a roof over my head. I had Chachi, the cat, cuddled up next to me and the world, for the here and now, was a peaceful place. I stayed there for awhile and like a lullaby, it rocked me to sleep.
The moments count. They define our psyche and being in several places in one time does not help matters much. Having one foot in the past and one in the future is not going to do it. Stay in the here and now. What are you doing now? It matters. Trying to put the past, the future and everything else in one basket is a sure fire way to disaster. Sort it out. Make peace with the past, learn the lessons you need to learn and then close the door behind you. The future will be determined by what you do today. Give it loving care, your attention, and maybe, just maybe a brighter tomorrow is around the corner. We can only hope.
Why is being in the present moment so important?
According to powerfullyyou.org, “it can decrease the activities of your nervous system, reduce stress, and help you to feel more regulated.” Tony Robbins says, “it allows you to focus all of your energy on the task at hand.” He further adds, “where focus goes, energy flows.”
Easier said than done? I agree. My mind loves jumping around. It’s like a “monkey” which loves to climb, run, twist and do whatever is necessary to keep me from the task at hand and it often succeeds. It is going to take lots of practice before the “monkey” learns to behave! There is still hope.
I would say it is the cell phone, handy or the mobile phone depending on where you’re at. This handy little gadget came on the scene in 1973 and back then it was a brick sized affair with very few features. It was created by Martin Cooper but he didn’t know then that his creation would take the world by storm, it was just a matter of time.
Independence from the norm and the ability to call from anywhere for help or just to talk made it a must have. Later, it became a constant companion and I know it is mine. I can’t leave home without it and I am lost if I don’t have it with me. There is a certain sense of security knowing that the little streamlined version with the “I can do anything” except to jump and do hoops is sitting snugly in my bag gives me a sense of calmness in case I need to call someone if I’m stranded on the side of a road, need help or just to look something up on Google. It’s all there and at your fingertips. I can’t see myself living without it. It is also my go to when I need to look things up without resorting to cumbersome books or whatever else we used to do before this little thing showed up on the scene!
I would say it is the most important invention in my lifetime for more reasons than one and I would be lost without it!
Chachi, the cat, has been feeling down in the dumps for the last couple of days. His girlfriend, “The Girl from Ipanema” has disappeared and I think he misses her. The village “runaround” has been a no show for over a week so I decided to have a heart to heart or rather human to fur ball talk.
ME: Let’s talk Peaches. Tell me what’s wrong.
CHACHI: Peaches? Cookie Dough? Buttercup? Lovey? Mom, you’ve got to treat me like the “man” I am!
ME: I’m sorry Chachi. I’ll try better.
CHACHI: What kind of name is Chachi anyway? Einstein is a good one and Christopher Columbus even better!
Little Macho was in his element now!
ME: Alright Einstein it is. Suits you well I must say. You’re one smart little cookie!
EINSTEIN: There you go again! Cookie?!! While we’re at it, stop manhandling me! The kisses are a little too much and picking me up every chance you get is a no go either!
ME: I’m sorry. I’ll cut back on the kisses and I’ll try not to pick you up no matter how cute you look!
EINSTEIN: Now, we’re getting somewhere! I like this “talk” thing. One more thing since I’m the only cat, you need to play with me a little more.
ME: I promise I will or at least make time for you.
EINSTEIN: Another important thing. Stop bringing those creeps around! You don’t need them, you’ve got me. I don’t like that “Cheesecake” guy and I don’t like how he looks at you! The last time he was here, I zeroed in on him and I think he got the message!
ME: Anything else?
EINSTEIN: Talking was great. It went well don’t you think?
ME: Glad you think it did.
NOTE TO SELF: You need to reel this little macho in. He’s getting too big for his britches!
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