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Taking Care of Yourself

“Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first; it means me too.” L.R. Knost

Taking care of yourself should be at the top of your list but it rarely is. We pull ourselves in different directions trying to appease others and we put ourselves where we are barely visible at times. I do. “Me too” is not what I think of when I go about trying to help someone else and often, I forget myself in the process. I forget that I need nurturing too, I need taking care of, and I am important too.

“Remember to take care of yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Unknown

Take care of yourself. You can’t be much help to anyone else if all you’re doing is looking to see how you can put yourself out there being the “angel” who is there for the calling, the helping, and one who comes to everyone’s call of distress without thinking about the toll it is taking on your being. I did that three years ago when I came to the aid of a sick friend and I put myself through hell and high water to care for him only to find out that even though it was a good deed, the price you have to pay is a high one as far as your own well-being is concerned. Will I do it again? It is a definite NO!

“Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.” Jim Rohn

Taking care of your body is a must. You don’t do it to look good for others, it is a necessity to survive in a world where much is needed from you, and if you don’t take care of yourself, no one else is going to do it for you. Do whatever is necessary to put yourself first, take care of yourself first and the rest can follow.

“Take care of yourself. Go for a walk, eat your favorite food, get a haircut, cry if you need to, read a book, take a vacation, have a drink, do what you need to do. Take care of yourself, because at the end of the day you’re all you’ve got.” Unknown

As the year draws to a close, the one resolution that matters for next year is to take care of myself first. I do that religiously, but sometimes I forget when life rolls around with its demands and I forget about “me” in the process and take off to do whatever is necessary for someone else. A helping spirit is a good one but not when it is to the detriment of your own well-being. I’m going to remember that as I move forward into the new year. It is not being selfish, it is called self-preservation.

“When you start taking care of yourself you start feeling better, you start looking better and you start to attract better. It all starts with you.” Unknown

AND

“Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable and remove yourself from the unacceptable.” Jane Travis

That last one speaks to the heart of the matter. Removing yourself from the unacceptable can mean many things. Toxic people, things that drain your energy, and people who don’t give two hoots about your well-being. Put them into context, take a long hard look at what you will accept and what you won’t and go from there. Most of all, you MATTER!

Have an amazing day.

The Last Walk (Archives)

It’s the last walk for this year. The weather has kept me away for the last week or so. There has been lots of fog and add the constant fine rain or drizzle as some may call it and you’ve got weather that is neither fit for man nor beast to venture out in.

Today, there is no sun and the same thick fog is playing havoc with visibility but now we have to contend with frost as well. Looking out of the kitchen window this morning I noticed that the rooftops are dressed in white making it look spooky in the dawning light.

I’m dressed for the weather. I’ve got my Down jacket on, gloves on my hands, a scarf around my neck but decided against a hat since I just washed my hair last night and winter caps do not do justice when it comes to long hair! Vain? You can say that.

The fields are shrouded in pea soup thick fog and it is cold, much colder than it has been. However, the trees are frosted and that right there is my belated Christmas present from Mother Nature! They look like they’re straight out of a picture postcard and gorgeous doesn’t even begin to describe it!

It was quiet as I walked, my hands shoved into my jacket as I took in the view before me. Nothing was moving except for a few crows picking at the frozen ground for whatever they could find and as I passed them they let out a loud caw in unison. They are loud creatures and not to my liking but they are a part of the fields and there are plenty of them here.

The herons seem to have taken refuge from the cold and that’s sad because my heart soars whenever I see them. I have a soft spot for them or perhaps for the luck they might bring. Out of nowhere, I spot three deer in the field. Suddenly, one of them runs towards me and my breath catches in my throat because that has never happened before. Just as suddenly, it stops and watches me as I make a loud clicking noise with my tongue more out of fear than anything else. It was enough to scare it away and they turned and ran off in the opposite direction.

The rest of the walk was calm and peaceful as usual. I can hardly believe that the year is almost over. We’ve almost gone through 365 days in a blink of an eye or so it seems. They say time flies when you’re having fun but that hasn’t been the case as far as I am concerned so why is time flying like it has wings? Could it have to do with getting older? Hmm….maybe but whatever it is, the new year is waiting in the wings and good or bad, it will be here soon.

Take care fields and I’ll see you in the New Year.

Christmas Time (Archives)

It is that time of year when there seems to be a certain something in the air. It just feels kinder, softer and gentler. People seem friendlier, more in tune with life and rushing around becomes a “must do” and even though the hustle and bustle is not liked in some circles, it is part and parcel of the season.

Driving home yesterday, I noticed the Christmas tree vendor setting up his booth for the mad dash of Christmas tree buying. Not fake ones but ones that make your living room smell wonderful and out of the ordinary as the countdown begins to Christmas. I’ve always loved the scent of fresh pine accompanying my morning coffee as I go back in time to Christmases past.

However, it is not just about the good times, joyful times, the cozy times, but also about the moments I still hold dear in my heart. Memories of Christmases past where a special someone was there and he made Christmas so much better. The sale of Christmas trees brought back some memories that also brought a ache to the heart. He is gone now but those memories remain. The way he would make his way here excitedly on weekends ready to make Christmas a fantastic affair. A fresh tree was a must, he got the tree and I did the decorating. Menu planning was left up to me but there was always something special on the table, he made sure of that. Presents galore were all his doing and he loved giving. The Christmas tree vendor brought back some memories as I am sure more will come rushing in as we get closer to Christmas. He’s an “angel” now, this friend of mine, having earned his wings and I’m sure he’ll be singing with the rest of the angels welcoming the season in. Have a fantastic Christmas, “my angel.”

“But I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round…as a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.” Charles Dickens

It is a time to rejoice, to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season, to breathe a little freer and to hug a little tighter. A time to step back, to sit by the fireplace with a cup of something warm and to take in the beauty of Christmas time. Sure, memories will rush in, they will hurt at times, you will shed a few tears, but when all is said and done, it is the most beautiful time of the year.

Have an amazing day.

LOL!

I thought this was hilarious and decided to share.

Photo by atelierbyvineeth . . . on Pexels.com

A blonde, wanting to earn some money, decided to hire herself out as a handyman-type and started canvassing a wealthy neighborhood.

She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had any jobs for her to do. “Well, you can paint my porch. How much will you charge?”

The blonde said “How about 50 dollars?”

The man agreed and told her that the paint and other materials that she might need were in the garage. The man’s wife, inside the house, heard the conversation and said to her husband, “Does she realize that the porch goes all the way around the house?” The man replied, “She should, she was standing on it.”

A short time later, the blonde came to the door to collect her money.

“You’re finished already?” he asked.

“Yes,” the blonde answered, “and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats.”

Impressed, the man reached in his pocket for the $50.

“And by the way,” the blonde added, “it’s not a Porch, it’s a Ferrari.”

I’m not going to saying anything although I’m dying to!

LOL!

A very jealous husband calls his wife from the office every morning to make sure she’s at home.

“Honey, where are you?”

“At home, love.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course – where else would I be?”

“Then turn on the blender next to the phone so I’ll have proof you’re really at home.”

The wife switches on the blender and, hearing the noise, he relaxes.

“Okay, honey. See you at home tonight.”

This goes on every day: she has to prove it with the blender’s sound.

One day, the husband leaves work early, gets home, and only finds their son. Surprised, he asks:

“Where’s Mom?”

“I don’t know – she went out with the blender!”

🤣🤣🤣

What a Day!

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels.com

Sometimes you wake up and you have this perfect plan in mind. Mine was to have a nice and relaxing day today. I was going to head to town after breakfast and get the Christmas presents for the people I mentioned in my post yesterday. The day was brighter than it was yesterday but there was a wind blowing. Bundle up, I told myself.

The village where I usually go to was jam-packed with people! It was still pretty early but I guess everybody had the same thing in mind. I decided to get some money from the ATM and that was where my day took a turn for the worse. The first one said, “Card declined.” Hmm….no big deal, there was a bank around the corner so I tried there. Again, “Card declined!” It was a new card and I got the pin activated successfully or so the confirmation email said. So, I went to the supermarket and the same thing! I was PISSED! Nope, not a good start to the day but luckily I had cash with me. So I bought the box of chocolates for the mail delivery person and I got a box of dates for the people at the cafe.

It was time to have a good cup of Italian coffee so I headed to my favorite place in town. They had a skeleton crew going. Most of the regulars were gone and won’t be back till next year. I took my usual seat and the boss showed up. I gave him the box of dates and his eyes lit up. “I love sweet stuff!” I said, “Enjoy.” We talked for a while and then I left still pissed about the card. Pulling into my driveway, I noticed the neighbor lady and I realized I had forgotten the bouquet of flowers for her. It was still early so I made a mental note to get it done the next time around. She waved and smiled. We talked for a while and she told me about the health issues she was having. Normal stuff in this village. We have an aging population here. I didn’t realize it then but my day was about to get worse!

I walked in, put the shopping away and decided to call stateside about my card. I was transferred here and there, business as usual. I waited and finally a supervisor came on, I told her my problem and she said, “You need to send us some information.” I was getting PISSED again! It doesn’t happen often this pissing thing, but today it was there and ready to go off the rails! I told her you have all that information already. Nope, you’ll have to do it again.

I took out the paperwork and tried sending the information but Microsoft wasn’t having it! It decided to add more oil to the fire! I got the message that my password was wrong and they needed to verify my ID! God! Passwords and me don’t jive. There’s just too many of them and I found out just how many! After going back and forth, I decided to take a step back, figured it out, and got the mail off to where it needed to go. By now, half the day was gone. I had a quick lunch, put on my boots, jacket, and scarf and headed to the fields. I needed to destress.

Once I saw the fields before me, I felt myself deflating! It was cold, the wind was blowing and there was a horde of crows having a conference of some sort cawing up a storm. The witches were not there yet but just a matter of time I figured the way my day was going! I stayed on the graveled pathway, the rest were too muddy. Taking some deep breaths, I let it go. The stress, the anger, the pissed off mood, and whatever else that needed to go. It took minutes and I found myself relaxing. It never fails, nature always has that effect on me.

After half an hour, I headed home feeling like myself again. It was time for a nice hot cup of green tea, a slice of cheesecake, yes cheesecake, and some quiet time with my little sweetheart, Chachi, the cat.

Mental Note to Self: It will get better.

Have an amazing day.

The Quiet Glow

The streets are alight with Christmas decorations and it looks pretty. I love it when it is all lighted up, the darkness that rolls in at around 5 p.m. doesn’t seem so dark anymore and it helps to brighten up the mood. I haven’t been in the Christmas mood lately, but I’m trying and looking outside at the lights makes me want to get in the holiday mood as well.

One neighbor has a big Christmas tree out front and it looks gorgeous all lighted up and wearing its festive wear. Another has fairy lights framing a window and yet another has some kind of mural playing on a wall. I can’t make out what it is but it is festive. I’ve got a Christmas bouquet of cream-colored Poinsettias in a vase out front, lighted up with fairy lights and instead of my big Santa with the friendly smile, I have a big star with the Poinsettias. Santa will have to stay in the cellar as he is too heavy to lug up and down the stairs. Too bad because he made a fantastic showing every Christmas in years past. I am toning it down this year as I did last year. There is a really cute Santa bear hanging on the door instead of a wreath to complete the picture and to make it Christmassy.

Nothing indoors yet. I’ll get to it once I get some shopping done tomorrow. I plan on getting some Christmas presents. Mostly for the people who’ve been really nice throughout the year and who do the work that we sometimes overlook. The hard work, that is. The post delivery person is one of them. She is a middle-aged lady who seldom has a smile on her face but delivering mail in any kind of weather is not a nice job so I understand her attitude. The smile comes on when she gets a small token of appreciation before Christmas. Then there is the gardener who helps throughout the year to keep the garden in tip- top shape, so I always make sure he gets a little something. The neighbor lady across the street is next. She always watches out for me and calls when I forget to shut the garage door. She gets a Christmas bouquet of flowers. The people at the cafe are next. They’ll get a box of chocolates or cookies, I decided on stuffed dates, because the boss loves sweet stuff!

I hope doing all that will put me in a Christmas mood. Perhaps, I’ll start decorating the house later in the afternoon. I’m going to keep it simple this year. Just some of my favorite decorations to make the living room and fireplace area light up like a Christmas tree! I love lights and Christmas is the time to amp it up without going too crazy! I’m going for the quiet glow this year.

Christmas is on the way and it seems to be arriving with bells on! It is almost upon us and I haven’t done much at all. Got to get moving.

Have an amazing day.

Christmas Time

Have an amazing day.

LOL!

A man is talking to the family doctor, “Doc, I think my wife’s going deaf.”

The doctor answers, “Well, here’s something you can try on her to test her hearing. Stand some distance away from her and ask her a question. If she doesn’t answer, move a little closer and ask again. Keep repeating this until she answers. Then you’ll be able to tell just how hard of hearing she really is.”

The man goes home and tries it out.

He walks in the door and says, “Honey, what’s for dinner?”

He doesn’t hear an answer, so he moves closer to her.

“Honey, what’s for dinner?” Still no answer.

He repeats this several times until he’s standing just a few feet away from her.

Finally, she answers,

“For the eleventh time, I said we’re having MEATLOAF!”

🤣🤣🤣

LOL!

Pat goes to confession and tells the priest:

“I’ve had sex with a woman who is not my wife”

“What’s the woman’s name”, asks the priest.

“Oh, I can’t tell you that”, says Pat.

“Well I can’t give you penance if you don’t tell me who it was.”

“Was it Mrs. Gilhooly”?

“No, father, it wasn’t.”

“Was it Mrs. Murphy”?

“No, father, it wasn’t “

“Was it Mrs. Jones”?

“No, father, it wasn’t “

“Well then Pat I can’t give you penance “, says the priest.

On the way out Pat meets Seamus.

“Well, Pat, did he give you penance?” asks Seamus.

“No, he didn’t, but he gave me three good leads”, says Pat.