Friday, August 11, 2023
MENTAL HEALTH BREAK
I have come to realize that I need a mental health break.
Most of my adult life has been filled with stress and I know that I need to finally take some time for myself and try to find some serenity.
When we are young it feels like life will go on forever, but as we get older we realize how quickly it has passed.
With that in mind, I am going to take some time for myself.
I need to stop and smell the roses.
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Suddenly all of the things I thought were so important just don't seem that important any longer.
My Etsy shop has been put on an extended vacation and I am cutting down on my blog posts.
I want to look at the wonderful photos on Instagram without feeling like I need to compete.
I want to play Rummikub with new friends on Thursday night and just laugh.
I want to sit in my chair and spend hours reading great books.
Most of all I want to spend more time with my precious family.
I realize that I need to
Friday, July 21, 2023
EARLY SUMMER SOUTHERN MORNING AND READING
Yesterday morning I stepped outside and was transported back to early southern mornings when I was a child.
Suddenly I was ten years old again and could feel my grandparents' home around me.
It was eighty degrees and already just a wee bit sultry.
The birds were singing and the cicadas were waking up.
I felt like nature was serenading me.
At the back of my mind, I could hear my grandmother's voice telling me to come inside where there were fresh pastries from the local bakery waiting for me.
Is it possible to carry the memory of that taste so many years later?
A few weeks ago Tessa and I were snuggled on the couch where she was reading to me.
Don't you love how roles get reversed as children grow up?
When we heard a tapping and looked over at the window next to us we saw a rather large hummingbird watching us.
It persisted for the longest time, and oh how I could feel Katy's presence letting us know she was watching us from heaven.
Reading to Cary's children was always such a special time for her.
Speaking of reading, I have been doing a lot of it lately.
Last week I read two books by Kristen Hannah: The Four Winds and Firefly Lane.
I enjoyed them so much that I now have three more of her books in my to-be-read stack.
I also read The Porcelain Moon by critically acclaimed author Janie Chang.
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS
Well, it was just one of those days, just one of those crazy days.
It was Monday and it was irritating and frustrating, to say the least.
At 7:00 am my phone pinged with a text message.
My neurologist's office said my July appointment, which was made 6 months ago, was canceled due to a change in schedule.
If I wanted to reschedule I could call their number, and probably sit on hold for 30 minutes, to make a new appointment.
I remember when they used to call you to apologize for the inconvenience and while you were on the phone they would schedule a new appointment for you.
Not letting that ruin my day I jumped (there was no actual jumping involved) in the shower and then put on my new cute skirt in a bag skirt.
I needed to open an estate bank account for Katy and now that I was finally appointed administrator for her probate I was able to do that.
I would have been able to do that, but the branch of her bank which is just around the corner from me was temporarily closed.
Now what?
I decided to drive over to my bank and see what they could do.
After I explained what had happened they said they could do it. I just needed to get the release of funds from Katy's bank. Trying not to cry I just got back in my car and left.
I seriously felt like I needed a break from all of this so I decided to drive to the shopping center and do some window shopping.
I would love for you to check out my Etsy shop where I sell vintage and antique finds along with digital downloads of beautiful antique artwork.
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Friday, June 23, 2023
HOME ACCIDENT
I am cautious about trying not to fall because of my osteoporosis, but a couple of weeks ago I found that although the most common, falls are not the only type of home accident.
Two weeks ago I had a crazy accident.
I was cleaning and dropped something on the other side of my toilet.
Instead of just leaning over to pick it up I sat down on the toilet seat lid and that is when the craziness was.
I didn't realize the seat was loose and when I leaned over it slipped, threw me off, and slammed my back ribcage into the toilet paper holder.
Five days later I was back to riding the stationary bike and feeling great.
However, when I went to get up from my chair I heard a pop, the area that I had hit completely seized up, and I was unable to move.
When realized I was not going to be able to get up I called for an ambulance.
Long story short no ribs were cracked or broken, but the ER doctor said it was a muscle or tendon injury and would take a while to heal.
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The best part was that I got to spend a couple of days at Cary's and be pampered.
Things are gradually getting back to normal but I am trying not to overdo it.
A bit hard when you live by yourself.
For now, I am ignoring the fact that I need to vacuum.
I got out yesterday, dropped off a package at UPS, and did my grocery shopping.
Home is the most common place for an accident to happen.
Here are some ways to help prevent accidents at home.
I would love for you to check out my Etsy shop where I sell vintage and antique finds along with digital downloads of beautiful antique artwork.
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
NEW TEES AND SKIRT IN A BAG
I have been frantically searching for 3/4 sleeve tee shirts for over a month.
They seem to be quite hard to find and although I had found some, they were quickly sent back.
Too tight, too thin,.....Well, you get the picture.
I was getting frustrated and tired from the whole search.
Macy's has 3/4 sleeve tee shirts that I love, but they sold out earlier this spring and I missed out on them.
Just when I was ready to throw in the towel I decided to give Macy's another look and low and behold they had new 3/4 tees.
I purchased three colors black, white, and blue and when they arrived they were perfect.
Since I purchased mine they have added a purple color.
I would love for you to check out my Etsy shop where I sell vintage and antique finds along with digital downloads of beautiful antique artwork.
This post contains affiliate links
Friday, June 9, 2023
THAT'S LIFE I GUESS
Remember when you would trade in your old car for a new one every two or three years?
Remember when they said don't repair your vehicle if it isn't worth it anymore?
Remember that new car smell?
The only new car smell I will get is one of those things you hang from your rearview mirror.
Last week my check engine light came on.
I was hoping for the best because the last time that happened it was because my gas cap was loose.
No such luck this time.
My rear catalytic converter was shot and the pipes that held it were rusted out and disintegrated when they removed them.
I took a Lyft home while I awaited the bad news.
Have a great day and don't forget to kick those tires and get your oil changed.
I would love for you to check out my Etsy shop where I sell vintage and antique finds along with digital downloads of beautiful antique artwork.
This post contains affiliate links
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
SPEAK TO YOURSELF WITH LOVE
Sometimes I find myself having a crisis of faith in myself.
I find myself berating myself for things I perceive that I have been doing wrong, and if I allow this negative talk to go on, I find confidence in myself spiraling downward.
So how should we be speaking to ourselves?
I was the hand-me-down child in my family and was spoken to in that manner into my adult life.
I allowed that to seep into my soul and it is how I learned to speak to myself.
It became my belief system, and the way I spoke to myself in the past became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
There came a time in my life when I realized that I wouldn't speak to someone I love the way I had been speaking to myself, and shouldn't I love myself first?
We all have failures and hopefully, we learn from those failures.
I have vowed to brush myself off and to treat myself more gently.
I have vowed to speak to myself the way I would speak to someone I love.
If I find myself speaking in less than a loving way I will give myself encouragement.
I will start fresh.
The wonderful thing is starting fresh is not finite. We can start over as many times as we need.
I hope you will speak with love to yourself today and every day.
Friday, May 12, 2023
OSTEOPOROSIS CARE
I went to the endocrinologist on Tuesday for my annual osteoporosis checkup.
I will be getting my Reclast infusion scheduled and in November I will have a new DEXA scan done to see if the Reclast is helping.
The goal is hopefully to see that the osteoporosis hasn't progressed or is possibly a little better.
My Vitamins
Between the pandemic and Katy's illness, I have really slacked off on my part of my osteoporosis care.
I was honest with him about it and we talked about what I need to do going forward.
My vitamin D levels have been low in the past and so along with my regular calcium with Vitamin D (which I have also been a slacker on)
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
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Have a great day and I would love for you to check out my Etsy shop where I sell vintage and antique finds along with digital downloads of beautiful antique artwork.
This post contains affiliate links.
Friday, April 28, 2023
FINDING HOPE
"The power of hope upon human exertion and happiness
There are many days, especially over this past year when I have had to dig very deep to find hope, but I know that hope is my source of strength.
The future may look frightening, but hope is like the beautiful wildflowers that grow along the edge of dark woods.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
WOMEN, SOCIAL SECURITY , AND BUDGETING
I have written on this topic before, but it is something that I once again want to revisit.
Yesterday I was working on my budget, which is as tight as it can possibly get.
Like many other senior women, I live on a fairly fixed income. Other than my social security my only other income comes from what I sell online and from ad revenue from this blog.
Neither of those sources has ever brought in a lot of extra income, but it has been enough to sustain me.
Now I am finding that those are pretty much drying up and seem to be costing me as much in fees as I am bringing in.
Budgeting has always been a balancing act, but now it seems even more so.
I remember my grandmother, who was Scottish and thrifty, talking to me about watching my pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. She said I would need them when I grew older.
She was right, but in today's world we need a lot more than those coins, and with the constantly rising cost of just living it becomes more difficult to live on a budget.
I know that I am not the only older woman in this situation.
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Have a great day and I would love for you to check out my Etsy shop where I sell vintage and antique finds along with digital downloads of beautiful antique artwork.
Friday, April 21, 2023
MEDITATION FOR WORRY
We all worry from time to time, and although not all worry is 100% bad if it leads us to figure out a solution, but it can become a real problem when we let it take over our lives.
One of the things in my worry toolbox is meditation.
Many people have the misconception that meditation is shutting down the mind. Meditation is a calming of the mind while remaining alert, and it is through this calming that we find peace of mind.
Meditation works very well for worry because it allows you to focus on the present moment rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
There are different techniques for meditating, and I think finding the one that works best for you is what is most important.
Sometimes I find that I like guided meditation, while other times I just like to sit quietly with nothing to distract me.
I use certain mantras when I meditate. The basic Om mantra is an easy and effective mantra. I used it a lot when I first began to meditate because to be honest I would forget a more complicated mantra and then I would worry that I wasn't doing it right. See how easy it is to worry.
The point is, is meditation is supposed to take the worry away. So in my opinion, if it is calming you, then how can you be doing it wrong.
If you have never tried meditation there are plenty of ways to get started. YouTube has plenty of guided meditations and music for meditation. There are also some great books on meditation.
Do you meditate? I would love to hear about your meditation practice.
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
FINDING YOUR ZEN LIFE SWEET SPOT
For those of you who may not be regular readers, my daughter Katy passed away on November 5, 2022.
Katy was my baby, my angel, and even though people may think because I smile and laugh with them that I am over my deep mourning for her loss, my grief is just as profound as it was five months ago.
Finding a sense of zen in the chaos of feelings I am experiencing is essential for my well-being and it is for all of us.
1) I have realized that one of the first things we need to do is admit our feelings.
Always putting on a brave face may help others around us, but it doesn't address how we are really feeling.
No, you don't have to share with the entire world how you are feeling, but talking about it to close loved ones, a therapist, or even writing it in a journal can help to bring peace.
The important thing is acknowledging it to yourself.
2) Rather than the more formal version of Zen, which is a form of Buddhism, my interpretation of Zen is peace and happiness. It is a feeling of tranquility.
Once we acknowledge that there is some type of upheaval in our lives, it is important to take steps to calm those turbulent waters.
There are several things we can do to bring peace to our lives.
- One of the first steps is deep breathing. This is probably one of the fastest ways to calm down.
- Music is a wonderful way to bring peace into our lives. There is no set style of music to bring tranquility. I love putting on my old records. Listening to them takes me back to my younger years when life was less complicated.
- Meditation removes us from the immediate stress we are feeling and allows us to slow down in both body and mind. Meditation can be as simple as closing our eyes for a brief time or more guided. I find that both types help to bring me peace.
- Is there a physical place from your past that has brought you peace and you can close your eyes and visualize? For me, it is the river that ran through my small town when I was a child. I can close my eyes and visualize myself sitting by that river and I immediately feel a sense of tranquility.
- I know people who practice yoga and say it centers them in a place of peace.
3) I have gone back to reading a lot more. Reading has always been comforting to me, but over the last couple of years, it was hard for me to focus.
Yesterday I went to the library to pick up a book I had on hold and while I was there I wandered around looking at books and found some old authors I hadn't read for a while.
I sat down in a chair, looked out over the woods next to the library, and read the beginning of one of the books.
There it was, Zen.
Have you found your Zen life sweet spot?
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