New Growth

This is my favorite time of year. And this is my favorite year. I just realized that is so.

I've been so busy. There's something about being busy that makes a person get even more busy. And the frame of the day expands to hold it all.

Well, that's not exactly what I mean. It's the opposite of being closed off, where one activity can expand to fill the entire day. But busy I have been:

• Took my young friend (the one that I'm mentoring -- I'll call her Shara since the benefits flow both ways) to two restaurants for dinner, helping her to get comfortable with more formal restaurants, menus and the like, than fast food restaurants so that she's prepared for job interviews


• In the process of getting to know Shara, I've also expanded my sense of self-forgiveness by highlighting all the mistakes I've made in my life from the perspective of how it's ok, not just ok, it's that learning from mistakes is actually what life is all about


• Refrained from making an issue of a conversation I overheard at work which I thought meant disaster for me only to learn later that the conversation was not actually about me


• Recommended (rather than asked for -- a distinction that's making all the difference) a new project for myself (designing the wellness component of our new medical benefit plan) which will stimulate my thinking and also support my personal wellness goals


• Surprised myself by getting initial loan approval (testament to my 18-month focus on not purchasing stuff) to refinance my house which, of course, means I must refresh the house really quickly for the appraisal (is it really possible to paint the exterior, get new carpeting and a new roof in a week??? ok, rhetorical question)


• Explored new ways of nurturing my spirit by spending a few hours at Spirtuality and Practice learning small steps to take, including #1 sleep and #2 take a day off each week to relax and enjoy an ordinary day


• Requested three books from the library that were listed on that Web site, including one (On Women Turning 70 by Cathleen Rountree) of interviews with 16 women who are living life fearlessly -- since I'll turn 60 in a couple months, am thinking it can't hurt to jump to the head of the class -- and they're ready to pick up already


• Skipped Weight Watchers for two weeks (I guess losing 4 lbs in one week was scary) but finding upon my return that instead of gaining I'd lost another 1/2 lb


• Planted five pots of flowers (white, pink, and red caladiums with purple petunias) for the entries to my house


• Had a good conversation with my exGuy, current GuyFriend, carving out a different place for him in my heart


• Made plans with my best girlfriend in town to see another friend's paintings that are showing this afternoon at an art fair


• Agreed to go to NYC on business Monday because it's good for me to be present at that meeting not because I have any clothes for such a trip (yaaaay Shopping!)


• Paused just now to proofread and wonder at how I am energized rather than exhausted but there you have it, my new truth: if you feel tired but haven't been, you know, doing much of anything? Get busy.

I must run but will leave you with my favorite blessing:

May the evening find you at peace with your day.

Day trippin'

I love me a little day trip now and then.

So after my Saturday weigh-in at Weight Watchers, where I found that I lost 4 lbs. last week, I decided to celebrate by taking my big sister on a little day trip down to the Blue Owl Restaurant in Kimmswick, Missouri. Just take a look at the pies! Ok, so not the wisest of all choices but it was a relaxing drive and, if my estimation is correct, I'll have worked off all the calories in a year or two! The lunch was seriously delicious.



Then my sister suggested we stop at the Sisters of Mercy retreat center to take a walk. It was amazing. (That's their photo, not mine.) About 70 acres of fields and trees with paths. We didn't walk around the whole thing but walked for a couple of hours. Sat on benches now and then. Was lovely, quiet, and peaceful.

I told her about a book I've been reading, The Art of Possibility, and how it suggests that you can recreate a relationship, if you wish, by recognizing that you created the original one so you can create another one, one that works better for both. I probably wouldn't have told her that if we'd gone shopping after lunch. Something about walking through the fields reminded me of home and made me think that we can remember our old selves but still choose to be different than before.

Was a really nice day. And, without planning to do so, I met several of my goals for the week all at once. Walking, meditating, expressing an emotion outside my comfort zone, and spending time with a friend.

A good day. I hope you've had a good one, too.