Posted in 2025, Goals, Healthy Living, hobbies, Home, life, Travel, Writing

More of This More of That

What do you wish you could do more every day?

By working four days a week, I’m getting glimpses of what retirement will look like.

I have a variety of hobbies that include knitting, ancestry research, writing for this and my family stories blog, puzzles, reading. All my indoor stuff but I also have a new e-gravel bike to ride and a boat that will go in the water next month. And travel!

I wish I had more retirement time every day to find a flow to work on my hobbies and outdoor activities!

Soon. I just have to be patient.

Posted in 2025, Home, life, Religion, thoughts, Writing

Our Father Who Art in Heaven

What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?

I have to work hard to brush away negative and worrying thoughts.

I’m learning to rely on faith.

Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Nights when I wake up at 3am and the first thing that pops into my mind is something about work, I roll over and I pray. It pushes out the worry and negativity and I fall back to sleep.

During the day if I start to worry, I just talk to God and thank him for the day, the weather, my home, whatever!

Posted in 2025, family, Home, life, Memories, thoughts, Writing

My Routine Has Changed

Last Tuesday, our dog Wally passed away. I wrote about it on my family stories site.

Now when I come downstairs in the morning, there are no pee pads to check (and no floor surveillance!) and no breakfast to make.

Some days he’d be waiting for me and other days, he slept for a few more hours but my routine was always the same.

I continue to say “Good Morning” and “Good Night” in the direction of his bed(s) and when I come into the house I still peek around the door to see if he’s there.

I know someday that will stop, but for now, I keep his spirit alive.

Wally in his early days 2012
Posted in 2025, life, Memories, Writing

Ever Changing

Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?

In sixth grade art class, the assignment was to draw an animal that represented us.

I chose a Chameleon. Whew, that’s deep for a 12 year old right?

I felt like I changed and adapted to the people around me. I didn’t consider it in a bad way, like I wasn’t being myself. It was more that I could be comfortable around different types of people.

Later on, I read a chameleon changes colors as camouflage to hide from predators. That resonated with me too because I do like to blend in the background and be support rather than a star.

What color will I be today?
Posted in 2025, life, Shower Thoughts, thoughts, Writing

Planned Parenthood

I recently had my annual gynecologist appointment and it got me thinking….

I used Planned Parenthood in my early 20s when I had no idea where to go for my reproductive health.

My mother was still taking me and my sisters to our pediatrician in our teens and our last visit there was when we turned 18. I remember him telling my mother, “well, this will be the last time I see them.”After that, or even maybe even before, we probably should have started going to a gynecologist but no one ever initiated it. Not us, not my mother.

There was some risk involved being sexually active with no birth control and I got tired of taking that risk. But where do I go? I was not very good with talking about things I was uncomfortable with, or something that might get shot down or questioned. (I really don’t like to be questioned – if I finally speak up about something, I’ve usually made up my mind and I’m not looking for approval!).

Maybe someone where I work suggested it, maybe I found it on my own. But I found it and they were great. I got my annual checkups and my birth control there and it was affordable. I was glad they were there for me when I needed them.

As of 2022 there are more females than males in the United States. Every month once we hit puberty, we all (generalizing) go through the same thing. But yet, roadblocks are thrown up to prevent many women from getting the basic care they need. I was glad to read that Planned Parenthood has a presence in all 50 states. I think we need it more than ever.

Posted in 2025, Goals, Healthy Living, life, Writing

The Six Week Curse

Six weeks from whenever I start a “healthy lifestyle program” it all goes to hell.

2025 is turning out to be no exception. I talked about my plans for a healthy 2025 here.

What happened? Valentines Day happened and I went to Sweet Chocolata’s here in town to buy treats for my family and employees. Of course, I had to buy something for myself and their caramel and chocolate covered pretzel sticks are to die for! That was almost a month ago and I haven’t been able to get back on track. It feels like no matter when I start, six weeks later there is some event or holiday that derails me.

My workouts, of course, continue to be going well. It’s my diet that I can’t get back on track. I start each with with determination, and then slide away.

But, as Truman Capote said, “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor”. Appropriate right?

👏🏻 January Perfect Score 👏🏻
Posted in 2025, life, thoughts, Writing

A Shopping I Will Go!

Where would you go on a shopping spree?

When I think of a “shopping spree”, my thoughts go immediately to all that I don’t need! I don’t need clothes because my size is difficult to shop for and I get discouraged. I don’t need electronic equipment because I have more than I need. My brain no longer works on a “want basis”.

Things for my home! That’s it! I would buy a nice coffee bar, the sectional sofa for the family room that my husband and I have discussed over and over again, and …… hmm, as I look around, I think it would be a quick shopping spree!

I feel content with what I have. I would prefer to take someone else on a shopping spree and let them buy what they want. It would make me happy to do that.