Tag Archives: walk

Aiming for a Better Me

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August 10th morning coming down. Seems like summer made a sudden departure and we are left in the cool. It is grey and cool. I don’t feel an urge to pick up my heels for my morning walk. Instead, I’ll do my walking on the keyboard for awhile. I am making a conscious effort of not being a gerbil on a wheel. I’ll see if I can break some bad habits and become a better happier version of myself.

Beginnings of anything is the hardest part. I’m feeling stuck already. The thing I can/should do is to pay my house insurance. It is due on the 15th. I have a hot pink post it note to remind me. I’ve just taken time to make said payment for the insurance online. It took only minutes. That little initiative led me to change the bed linen and toss it in the laundry. While I was at it, I thought I might as well dust the bedroom. Having done all that, I felt a need to reward myself with a coffee.

On second thought a morning walk would be a better reward. A walk could loosen that stuck feeling, burn some calories and boost my mood. So that was what I did, my daily walk to the mall. While I was there I bought some B.C peaches and a bag of pluots. You may wonder, what the hell are pluots? They are a cross between a plum and an apricot. I haven’t tasted them yet. I’m hoping for delicious.

Now at the end of the day, I am waiting for my supper. I am pleased with my performance. I blanched and froze more beans, harvested some bitter melons, cucumbers, squash and 2 cherry tomatoes. I visited my father to see if he is ok. My sister had reported that he complained of a sleepless night because of his heart palpatations. I took the guy along so we can say we want to harvest the garlic planted in his garden. I do not want him to give him undue attention.

When we got there, I could see he had been out weeding in the front yard. There was clumps of dandelion strewn here and there. I could not find him in the house. When I went to the back door, I could see him standing on the step looking fine and perky. I made no big deal about it. In fact I made no mention of it. I did not ask about his night or his heart. But of course, he had to tell me. I told him I couldn’t sleep either. I reminded him his heart thing was nothing new and if it wasn’t too bad…..

I left it at that. I did not reprimand him or remind him that he said he was not going to go out ever again after he said he fell. He will do what he will do. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t hold him back. I have to be smart, not to waste my energy and lose my temper and mind. On the last drive to ER, I did wonder what would happen if I was to have a heart attack even if the guy was driving.

I’ll Worry Later, Everything Can Wait

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I’m late to the keyboard on this 5th of August. I was late getting up in the morning. The stress of this every day life has caught up to me. I’m giving up the thought of being productive. I’m giving up the idea of processing the pails and pails of beans waiting in the cooler. I’m giving up thoughts of baking a rhubarb sour cream cake or muffins. The sour cream will keep another day. Everything can just damn well wait. Tomorrow is another day.

The easiest thing to do when you are brain dead is to pick up your feet and walk. So I toddled off on my favourite route which is up the street to the mall. It is perfect because it offers a rest stop if I need at 2 bus stops with a bench. It’s good to have this street to walk on. It has been a good friend these last couple of years. Each step I take is a little easier. I can hear the traffic going by. Soon I am at the mall. I love this part of the morning.

I snack and while away the afternoon. I will worry about the weight and getting things done later. Today I need to fill myself up with comfort and ease. Today I need to sit and dawdle the day away. And now it is bedtime and I haven’t done a damn thing. No regrets and no guilt pangs. Everything has waited. Tomorrow I might worry.

The Heat Keeps On

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Early afternoon on this 17th day of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. It is already 30℃. I had wondered how I was going to navigate the morning. It was already hot by 9. I donned a wide brim hat and a long sleeved shirt to keep out the sun. I made a leisurely trek to the community garden. I harvested our first crop of snow peas there. I was amazed at how many there were. Our dedicated watering made the difference.

There’s always more work than I bargain for. It’s hard to ignore the weeds. I did a bit of hoeing before watering. Then I was done – and very sweaty. Lucky there’s baseball diamonds across the street with benches in the shade. After a short rest and drying the sweat with my shirt I started home. I didn’t get too far and came across a saskatoon berry bush/tree. Well I had to stop and pick a few before the heat stopped me. I did get maybe a handful or two. Maybe repeat early tomorrow morning.

RETRIEVING OUR SOULS

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April 3/20 for the Ultimate Blog Challenge.

I’m feeling a bit challenged now. Once you’ve known anxiety, it comes back to visit now and again. It shivers through my body. I sit with it, offering acceptance and friendship. We are well acquainted. There’s no need to be afraid. We can sip tea and chat together. We have the time. There is no frenzy, no hustle and bustle. No mad rushing off to anywhere. We are hunkered down here in this space and time. Perhaps we can learn how to retrieve our souls.

It is another bright sunny April day. Snow is still on the ground. Sheba and I walk around the neighbourhood and to the nearby park. There’s a couple of kids  in the back alley. They’re loading a toboggan in the back of a car. A young mother and her little boy walks by. We keep our distance. We come to the playground. Yellow ribbons hang from the swings. Signs posted it’s closed till further notice. All is quiet and sad under the April sun.

On our way home, we pass a few people walking, all observing social distancing. There is little conversation or greeting. There is little signs of joy.We see our neighbour unloading  groceries from her car as we neared our back alley. We waved and greeted each other. We had a loud conversation at a distance. Sheba had to join in, making it harder. My neighbour looked tired. I am sure she is. I am sure we all are. We need some soul work.

We are still in a state of emergency. We have this time and experience to rethink of what is essential, what is not and what adds quality to our lives. I’m doing the exercise of taking notes daily of how everything is affecting me during this time of the pandemic. What makes me feel good? What makes me feel bad, sad or frighten? Right now, I’m feeling a little nervous, a little sad. It’s the end of the day. I’m allowed. Maybe I will have a glass of wine.