Interestingly enough, many men and women have distinct reactions to being "unattached" on this particular day of the year. Many have loved and lost, be it through physical death or death of a relationship. Both carry varying degrees of sorrow and/or anger. Deep down, there is a wistful lament for what was, for what cannot be, and for the pain of the moment.
This year, I am finding myself rather numb. I have the opportunity to inform my heart of many things.
This year, I am deciding that whether or not I am despised and rejected, unappreciated or ignored, I will not permit the decisions, past and present, of other men to dictate how I am going to approach this Friday, and more importantly, how I am going to feel in the days leading up to it, and particularly on the day of.
This year, on Valentine's Day, I am going to work for my client. Then I am going to see if I can cheer up a lonely, elderly widow, or spend time reading to the elderly in assisted living. I try to think about being alone at the end of my days, and I think I would love it if someone took an interest in me on this particular holiday, whether I am cognizant of their presence, or remember them after they have left.
Focusing on others is an antidote to self-pity, and it does wonders for the soul.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Chilly cheeks
Today, I realized that my cheeks are really, really cold! Time to put the hood up over my head. I am looking out at the snows and though there were some flurries today, there is some sun shining through the trees, illuminating the stellar trunks of the stalwart trees. I find comfort in the fact that only the smaller branches are catching a bit of the wind and swaying ever so slightly. Those trees are going nowhere. They have stood erect for decades and have weathered all of the years' previous storms.
A few weeks ago, I made and froze a bean and wild rice soup, chock full of lovely veges like kale. There is something very satisfying about consuming food that is heartily packed with nutrition. I feel hale just from eating it! Not to mention, it warms my soul.
Today, I am glad for inner warmth. Especially since my cheeks are so cold! (Did I mention this already?) I have lost twelve pounds in the last six weeks. Not an alarming rate of weight loss, but somehow, there is still enough fat to keep me warmer. (Yes. The cheeks are still fat! I have no idea if I will ever slim my face.) So I am glad for warm soup. I am glad for comfort of friends. I am grateful for the opportunity to have and use electricity to tap out these musings. I am ever so thankful that although a very bad flu waylaid me for ten days, I still have breath, albeit with some annoying coughs, but I live another day to do good in this world.
Herein is contentment. My life has purpose. If I can bless others around me, if I can work heartily, be productive and encourage others around me, it has been a good day.
Thankful for good days.
A few weeks ago, I made and froze a bean and wild rice soup, chock full of lovely veges like kale. There is something very satisfying about consuming food that is heartily packed with nutrition. I feel hale just from eating it! Not to mention, it warms my soul.
Today, I am glad for inner warmth. Especially since my cheeks are so cold! (Did I mention this already?) I have lost twelve pounds in the last six weeks. Not an alarming rate of weight loss, but somehow, there is still enough fat to keep me warmer. (Yes. The cheeks are still fat! I have no idea if I will ever slim my face.) So I am glad for warm soup. I am glad for comfort of friends. I am grateful for the opportunity to have and use electricity to tap out these musings. I am ever so thankful that although a very bad flu waylaid me for ten days, I still have breath, albeit with some annoying coughs, but I live another day to do good in this world.
Herein is contentment. My life has purpose. If I can bless others around me, if I can work heartily, be productive and encourage others around me, it has been a good day.
Thankful for good days.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Inaugural Post
Today the forecast is calling for about 7 inches of snow. Federal government is closed. Area schools are closed. I keep looking out the window, but the snowflakes have yet to descend upon us.
I remember moving to the top of a mountain just outside Salt Lake City. It was November, and the forecast called for 6-8 inches of snow. I looked at the school's website to see what their snow policy was and could not locate it. I rang the school and asked about snow days. "Ma'am?" "Snow days. I would like to know the school's policy for snow days." "Ma'am? Snow days?" "Like when the school is closed due to snows." "Ma'am, I have worked at this elementary school for over 22 years, and we have never closed the school for snow." Welcome to the West! The school bus stop was 3.5 miles down the mountain. The buses were not able to navigate to the top. I thought we were fine with an all-wheel drive vehicle. We were not. We purchased a taxi-cab yellow Jeep, which served us well.
Yes, I was here for Snowmaggedon, the Snowpocalypse. I realized that the reason this area becomes paralyzed is that there is just nowhere to put the snows! If it does not get warm enough for the packed snows to melt, the plows have nowhere else to put the newly cleared snows. There is also a large number of our population that lives here now, but are transplanted from more tropical climates, meaning, no experience driving in icy conditions.
Today, thanks to this laptop and a so-far stable internet connection, I can work from home. I can still be productive, with the fire blazing in the wood stove. It is a great thing to not have to waste time commuting, and to devote my concentrated efforts in being purely productive. Snow days? An opportunity to be thankful for turtlenecks, hoodies, and electricity.
I remember moving to the top of a mountain just outside Salt Lake City. It was November, and the forecast called for 6-8 inches of snow. I looked at the school's website to see what their snow policy was and could not locate it. I rang the school and asked about snow days. "Ma'am?" "Snow days. I would like to know the school's policy for snow days." "Ma'am? Snow days?" "Like when the school is closed due to snows." "Ma'am, I have worked at this elementary school for over 22 years, and we have never closed the school for snow." Welcome to the West! The school bus stop was 3.5 miles down the mountain. The buses were not able to navigate to the top. I thought we were fine with an all-wheel drive vehicle. We were not. We purchased a taxi-cab yellow Jeep, which served us well.
Yes, I was here for Snowmaggedon, the Snowpocalypse. I realized that the reason this area becomes paralyzed is that there is just nowhere to put the snows! If it does not get warm enough for the packed snows to melt, the plows have nowhere else to put the newly cleared snows. There is also a large number of our population that lives here now, but are transplanted from more tropical climates, meaning, no experience driving in icy conditions.
Today, thanks to this laptop and a so-far stable internet connection, I can work from home. I can still be productive, with the fire blazing in the wood stove. It is a great thing to not have to waste time commuting, and to devote my concentrated efforts in being purely productive. Snow days? An opportunity to be thankful for turtlenecks, hoodies, and electricity.
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