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

Affirmation , Realization…

I’ve been taking part in the Insight Timer’s 30 Day Affirmation Challenge. There was one particular affirmation that hit me between the eyes; “Today I will live and not simply be productive.”

I’m a to-do list sort of gal, even though I know I’m a human “being” not a human “doing”, I get caught up in the getting things done of my structured brain. I love checking all the tasks of the day off. In my defense I also schedule things like bike rides, kayaking and getting together with family and friends. However the key word is schedule. This affirmation made me reexamine my to-do list and my dependency or obsession with it. I’m going to try and be a bit more spontaneous. In fact early yesterday morning I had forgotten to pick up a few groceries. Later in the day I had an appointment, after which I stopped by a local BaJa restaurant and got take out to eat in the park. Something I haven’t done in ages. The spontaneity felt great. I was living not being productive.

So take my lead and do something that makes you feel alive that doesn’t appear on your to-do list.

Be Awesome

Gin

Baby Steps

Baby steps was the title of my journal entry this morning.

After my meditation, I sat quietly trying to take in the lesson of the meditation as well as trying to get perspective on where my life is heading. I was reminded of a lesson on perseverance I like to teach my martial art students. When a baby begins to walk, they first start with standing getting a sense of balance, then once that is mastered they start moving carefully forward. The don’t quit or get discouraged and give up never mastering the skill. We’ve all done it none of us quit.

What an amazing gift ignorance of not understanding failure, the power of wanting to be mobile superseded any brief setback.

Baby steps a practice we should revisit taking our time in mastering a task being undaunted by temporary setbacks, knowing with patience we will eventually get moving.

The secret is to keep moving forward, baby steps indeed…

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

Celebrating The Middle Way

Sunday’s I hit the road and bike path, for a weekly long run. Admittedly these past couple of years my long runs have gotten shorter. I’m running about five miles, a far cry from the eight to ten I’d do when training for half marathons. It is a good distance to clear the cobwebs of the week, gain a bit of perspective for the week ahead and to enjoy the sights and sounds of early morning along the route.

In someways this is my church. I feel close to God and the universe out on the road. I see the ever changing topography and wild life. Baby rabbits were in abundance today, along with multiple varieties of birds and waterfowl. The air was filled with the scents of brine, from the bay and the Kickemuit river, wild flowers perfumed the bike path where you could occasionally catch a whiff of breakfast from a nearby home.

I love how I feel when I get into a slogging (I’m a sloth who jogs hence slogging) rhythm. Pushing my body to do what it was built for MOVING. The exercise is a cleansing of my sins; banana muffins, pop chips, almond joy bars, sitting for two hours bingeing Grace and Frankie, or a cooking competition on TV. My mental health improves as well I feel less burdened by ruminating thoughts. With my mind/body refreshed I’m better able to prepare for the week ahead.

I’m often asked how do you stay so fit? First and foremost I make it a priority. What I put into, my mind and body equates to how I feel. Eat poorly and unhealthy feel that way, don’t move or exercise your body and like the Tin Man you’ll seize up. The best advice and you will read this again and again, is moderation. Follow the middle way! You see what happens when we over indulge, you have seen or read what can happen if we restrict our diet or over work out. When anything is out of balance our bodies will be too.

The same advice is true for fill in the blank_____________________.

Take time for self care, start small one change,

All the best,

Gin

Less is more…

Since the summer of 2019 I’ve been as busy as a one armed paper hanger! I was executrix for two estates one which was very complex. The world shut down, my business was in scary waters, my personal losses were numerous and painful and yes there was a little thing called Covid we all had to navigate.

Slowly things became more manageable. I survived probate hell. My newly adopted cat and my inherited cat (mom’s) were hissing their way through sharing me and my tiny condo. My brother and his wife moved into and bought my mother’s house. The yard sales, dumpsters and junk removal companies are all in the rearview. Lawyers, accountants and debts are paid off. We are back to teaching in person at the karate school where we weathered state inspections, disinfecting anything and everything. Not to mention social distance martial arts.

Two weeks ago we finally had the opportunity to celebrate mom and John’s life. So now What? I have plenty of responsibilities at the school, things I need to get done at home and personal goals to work toward (like getting back to writing). The best way I can describe the way I feel is I just took an off ramp from the highway of hell onto a slow country road. Things seem so slow there aren’t any huge fires (by the way there was one of those in Feb of 21) I digress. Now trying to manage a normal pace, sometimes gives me issues. I’m meditating, practicing yoga, reading, cycling and hopefully soon I will be kayaking. I pray these will help me adapt to a less insane pace.

My real hope is less will be more-having more free time to visit coffee shops, clear out my junk, read fun books, read things that make me think, write things that make us all think. Most importantly just BE.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s taken the off ramp, what are you doing or becoming?

Gin

Be Your Own Santa

Today I’m getting back to blogging and sharing an insight of the day. I previously blogged on thoughts from my runs. I want this blog to be more about being present and realizing what is going on in the day, not just the big events, but the day to day minutia -where life actually happens.

My hope is by sharing some of my stories, discoveries and aha moments, it may start you thinking , searching or maybe be inspired.

Today I… is about being present and aware of what is being said or seen, maybe even recognizing a personal foible or two.

Here is a realization I had yesterday I wasn’t going to get his blog done on the 14 year old lap top if I was going to commit to writing and doing it right I needed to spend some money and upgrade. That isn’t always easy for me I’m sometimes a little tight with spending dollars especially on myself. At. 65 years of age I worry (too much) about the cost of my growing older-sometimes to my detriment. Today I bought a MacBook Air. This way I can share and hopefully inspire without losing my mind. Yes Virginia sometimes you need to be your own Santa Clause.

Be Your Own Santa

My hope is by sharing some of my stories, discoveries and aha moments, it may start you thinking , searching or maybe be inspired.

Today I… is about being present and aware of what is being said or seen, maybe even recognizing a personal foible or two.