Shifts

A friend was telling me about her day at the beach, there was nothing new or noteworthy except her comment, “It was the same as it has been but it is different, like a wind shift.” I knew exactly what she was referring to, even though the calendar says there are six weeks remaining of summer. It feels different than the beginning of July, when the sun entices us outdoors to worship its warmth and promise of fun. Sunrises and sunsets are coming closer together we are experiencing less daylight and mentally preparing ourselves for the next season.

Like the seasons there are many life shifts occurring,children preparing for a new challenges that a new school year brings, young adults heading off to college to find their passion. Some of my friends are contemplating retirement, dealing with unfortunate health issues, moving, finding different paths to pursue. I’m not sure if I’m more sensitive to what’s going on around me or if it seems like there’s a great deal more shifting going on than I can recall.

I suppose there is a certain energy that has effected us, making us question. I also know this it is good to question, it’s how we learn, but we can’t make the pursuit of answers our only reason for being. We do need to experience the ebb and flow of life’s tides, otherwise how will we know when there is a shift?

Be Awesome,

Gin

What’s Next?

Do you feel like you’re running toward something or from something? – I’m not sure…

These past two years have been filled with loss for many of us. I have lost my favorite human, mentor, confidant, friend the moment my mother passed. If that wasn’t enough there was my stepfather, godmother, several cousins and three cats.

Aside for the loss of loved ones. There has been a loss of security, adventure, patience, trust, and I hate to say it spirit. I know I’m not the only one walking about like a pandemic zombi pretending to be okay and wondering if you can remember what okay is and if it was all a false sense of security.

Living in a free country being able to come and go wherever and when ever you pleased. Being able to plan with a degree of certainty what to do next. Pick a goal and go for it, the heck with negative possibilities we live in the land of happily ever after.

We’re not in 2019 anymore Toto…

I’m sharing this blog today because of a Kalhil Gibran quote I read recently; “Anxiety isn’t so much about the future, but our wanting to control it.” This quote hit me right between the eyes – Suddenly I could put a finger on all of the above losses it all comes down to not being able to control the future. YES we knew all this before, but we lied to ourselves. The pandemic lifted the curtain, removed our rose colored glasses and knocked us on our collective asses.

So what’s next? Do we continue to fake it until we make it? Try and repurpose the broken parts of our spirit? Maybe try the trendy pivoting to our next thing. All I know is I have more questions than answers. More anxiety than I had during the pandemic, because I have to figure out how not to be afraid to take chances, try a new direction, not having a plan.

Meditation has been a godsend to me, getting quiet to listen to my heart’s desires. Clearing out clutter and letting go of excess, has also been a great help. Spending time in nature on my bike, walking, running, and kayaking has brought me a sense of where I fit in the world. Living with two cats who only understand how to be in the moment has made me more aware of living this way.

I share this because I hope these words may speak to you and make you feel a little less lost. What’s next? I haven’t the faintest idea, but if I get on the wrong bus, I can always get off and find the right one…

Be Awesome,

Gin

Pictures of Past Life Times

Part of my downsizing and simplifying has been organizing photographs. There are so many lifetimes among the pictures I’ve gleaned through.

My best recollection is these photos are from 1978 and my Nursing School graduation through to the late 90’s vacations. There are so many wonderful memories and forgotten times and events that where brought back. It amazes me how many places I’ve travelled and all the wonderful people I met along the way. Family events and holidays a lest not forget the birthday celebrations for one Eliza Doolittle my fair Springer!

There were wonderful outings with my nursing friends, bowling, limo rides, pool parties, Christmas parties. My friends were young mothers and now are grandmothers-Lifetimes!

Martial art parties, promotions and ski, and rafting trips-Lifetimes…

Hot-Air Balloon festivals here in RI, New York, and New Mexico-Lifetimes…

Mountain peaks in the Alps, Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Canada, Korea, Nevada, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont-more Lifetimes.

Ocean views from here in RI, Maine, the Caribbean, Hawaii, California, Nova Scotia, South Carolina, Florida-Lifetimes

I could go on and on, but the one singular constant is I was present in one of my life forms, daughter, student, nurse, friend, sister, instructor, pet mom…Lifetimes -Mine.

Gin

Summer…

The Summer Solstice is upon us, with that longer and warmer days. Summer more than any other season fills me with reminisces, the excitement of no school, day camp on hog island, fort building, bike riding until the street lights came on at 8pm!

It was the time where we were the closest as a family. Growing up in Bristol Rhode Island the 4th of July is the height of all holidays. A parade known to be the oldest continuous celebration in the country. Along with the parade were fire works and a carnival on the town common. However the best part was family, we would all gather downtown at my paternal grandparents and walk to the parade site. My mother would be sure my brother and I were clothed in appropriate red white and blue attire. We would settle in somewhere on High street under the shade of a tree sitting on a blanket waiting for not just the parade but the street vendors with balloons, cap-guns and assorted toys on a stick.

After the parade we would head back to my grandparents where my grandfather made clam chowder, stuffies and clam cakes. There was watermelon for desert. Then there was the trip to the Tee Pees a local beach where Mt Hope Bay and the Kickemuit River met. It was may favorite part this is where my father came to life this was our favorite. He would have us stand on his hands and we’d be tossed in to the chest high water.

After the beach we would head back to my grandparents for a cook out which could include some Portuguese foods like linguica, chorizo and peppers and fava beans. Once we had our fill of another delicious meal we’d head to the town common and ride the rides at the carnival. Dad would also try his hand at winning a game or two. Then we headed for the fireworks, which were always awesome at least that’s how I remember them.

The rest of the summer would seem to linger – there were drive in movies to see. Soft served ice cream to be savored, overnight visits at my cousins. There were backyard baseball games with invisible men on first. Endless arguments and endless fun. I grew up in the best time ever! Where you could sit in the middle of the street to draw hop scotch squares. Wander the fields and woods looking for adventures. We were outdoors after breakfast and only came inside if it was time for a meal, often not even to use the bathroom! You would hear parents calling you home for dinner and everyone had the streetlight curfew.

I miss those days of endless fun and adventures. I recall my first summer as an adult ,it is when summer became just another season.

Celebrate Summer like a kid, no matter what season of life you’re in,

Gin

Change/The 20 Year Cycle

Change can be difficult even if it is for the better. We are genetically predisposed to like the status quo – it’s safer. Because we dislike or even fear change we may even avoid something that may be fun, or beneficial. With that said it is my observation at least with my life that change whether we like it or not happens every twenty something years.

This may be just the normal life cycle, maturation out in the world at 20 something. The forty somethings can bring about a sense of is this all there is? Sometimes called a midlife crisis. Mine involved leaving a career and opening a martial art studio. The sixties have brought about a different kind of change, loss of loved one’s and friends. A need to be or find more meaning or to tick off the empty boxes on the bucket list. At least that’s what it’s been for me.

I’m finding I need to reconnect with old friends, and family that we unintentionally lost close touch with. I need more than a Christmas card or a quick chat at a gathering (usually a wake or funeral).

I also want to get back to doing things I once enjoyed that I put to the side because life got too busy. More traveling, cycling, writing, photography, being out in nature, going to the theater, being involved with causes I believe in rather than just writing a check. I guess I chose the correct word for my word of the year purpose, I want to live more purposefully .

I feel a change coming on…

I wish you smooth transitions,

Gin

You know you’re getting old when…

Things I’ve noticed since I’ve turned sixty-something; My refrigerator magnets once used to display race bibs are now used to hold appointment cards. 9 to 5 is no longer a work day or a song, it’s bed time and wake up time. Award shows start becoming irrelevant, because you no longer recognize anyone except those depicted in the memoriam. The age where someone is considered old keeps moving forward. Doctors appointments have greater odds of you losing than Vegas. You start to watch what you eat not so much for the health benefits or calories, but will it dislodge dental work or give you reflux? You meet someone from your past and think to yourself wow they got old — By the way they’re thinking the same thing. You only recognize where you live by what was there twenty years ago. If you work with kids you end up knowing two or three generations of one family. You no longer complain about the geezer doing the speed limit, because it’s you. People are impressed when you participate in road races even though you’re barely in front of the support wagon and volunteers picking up the cones. A pizza you once consumed on your own has become at least two meals.

This all may see a bit daunting but it is really a privilege to go through this stage, so many haven’t had the opportunity. So walk with your head held high even if it’s on a body 2inches shorter than it once was! Embrace your age whatever it is because it is the youngest you’ll ever be again!

Smile, and be kind,

Gin