Tag: learning

balance

A Peaceful Stroll

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Today I took a quiet stroll.

Alone.

My stroll wasn’t preplanned rather it was spontaneous. Off I went. The air was cool and crisp. The shade of the trees added a drop in temperature to 8-10 degrees lower. Unexpected chill but maybe that alerted my senses more.

Hands in pockets watching the trees blow around me. Enjoying the scents in the air on this morning. My path wasn’t set. I was just shuffling along. Sometimes on pavement. Sometimes on gravel. I had the option of grass but didn’t drift that way.

On my stroll I thought about many things. I listened to many sounds. I viewed and observed all of what was around me. I genuinely felt thankful for where I am in life. For the good times as well as the bad times. Sometimes taking a back seat to your own life allows you to see your fortune. Not the fortune of money rather the fortune of life and living it. Experience.

I have experience. I can bend and flex and fit into any mix of people or settings. A skill I have worked on all my whole life. Experiences have helped me mature enough to know when I need to bend and flex. When to reframe the gloomy outlook. When to spark creativity.

My mind works in overdrive during the oddest times. Sometimes it’s in a sleep state. Sometimes on a random stroll. The beauty of a quiet mind yields results. I had a recent conversation with a teenage boy. He mentioned how long it takes him to fall asleep. I questioned why. He noted his mind takes time to wind down.

How I related in many ways. In life we all must find a balance for not only us but those closest to us. Kids especially have an always on mentality. Even more so than me. The younger generation is overactive online making it hard to flip the off switch. They are less likely to take the stroll alone I mentioned above. Therefore we should check in on those around us to see how we can help them recharge in non-traditional ways.

Sports or working out of sorts helps as the fatigue will wear one out.

A day at the beach can help. The sun. The sand. The limited reach of electronics. All add a level of fatigue.

An outing such as a hike, bowling, top golf, go-karting, kayaking, and so on. These little outings can provide a change of scenery. A lot of laughter. An escape from the planned days many are accustomed to. Adventures will let the mind settle and possibly add a dream state of what could be next.

Add mindfulness to your day or week. My Apple Watch tells me it’s a thing. Something to remind me to do daily, however I already know this. I am hopeful this post will spur thoughts or action in you or inspire you to influence another. 

Practice mindfulness.

Set a goal of peace for yourself.

Challenge yourself to do something different.

Riding your bike to work one day not driving may be just the variation you need. Not all can do this but if you can, try it. See how it goes. 

adventure

RV Life Episode 2

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June has arrived and the RV is ready for its next road trip, or is it? That’s really the big question. The RV has been in the shop for some minor maintenance but thanks to parts delays it just got back in time for the trip but really not fully tested. 

First stop was the gas station. A burning smell. What the heck? This is a 2022 model what could be burning? Well the air conditioner in the cab was blowing hot air and a decision was made to go air free for the first few hours while we traveled to our destination since the RV shops were not open yet. I was thinking this was risky but pressed on. I was also think and RV may be worse than a boat as far as what could go wrong.

4 hours later the air worked and the smell was no more. No explanation. Just chalked this one up to weirdness on the road. The RV held up for the 12 hour trip. 3 stops for gas and guess what diesel prices are up over $1.00 per gallon since the last trip. Guess the piggy bank funds go to gas this summer.

As we rolled into our destination, the newness set in. This RV resort was aged compared to the last trip when the resort was brand new. Also note a resort RV destination is different from a RV campground when it come to frills in the amenities area. The cement pads were bumpy and the power and sewer hookups were older. Old doesn’t mean bad, just a different experience. The first challenge was leveling the RV. The auto leveler wasn’t working due to a slope issue. Then the hydraulics failed on one leg. That means a trip to Home Depot before it closes.

I think the candle above is missing a line. New problems expected. I suppose each trip will come with challenges thus having a positive mindset and a tool box is required. A jack was purchased to balance the one side where the leg did not extend. Something that shouldn’t happen on a new RV but it did. Lesson learned to be prepared and brace for any unexpected challenge. Pack the tools. Make sure you have the internet to google fixes and so on.

Sunrise and sunset were absolutely beautiful at this waterfront site. The cranes visited the waterfront multiple times in the morning. Listening to the sounds and watching their actions were an experience in itself. Many folks took up fishing on the bay. Noting big catches of catfish. I didn’t fish but enjoyed being a spectator. There was a family of ducks nearby as well. It was cute to watch them in and out of the water. A little clan.

Had some farm fresh ice cream from a local dairy down the road as well. A sweet treat I won’t complain about even if my waist line might not be as appreciative. Great sleep. Fresh air. Many memories were made. The next voyage is around the corner. I’m sure we will limp along to that site since there is no time to put the RV in shop.

Wish me luck as I travel the states this summer. Many destinations are on the horizon. Not sure how many I’ll write about, but it’s my hopes that I will be inspired to share my travel stories with you in the weeks and months ahead.

RV destination one was Biloxi, Mississippi and RV destination two was Baltimore, Maryland. Both city and state had the irony of the same initials. Odd footnote that wasn’t planned. Just a random fact as the step stop is Hershey, Pennsylvania.

inspire

Crab Season

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It was crab season. I was in Baltimore, Maryland. It was time to soak up the experience many rave about. I had so many questions on what to order? How many to order? How to eat them? No matter the questions, I opted for the experience.

There were three of us. We opted for (12) large which would mean we each had to eat four. We failed. One of us was down at two. One was down at 2 1/2. The other pushed through for the 3 1/2. The gorging lasted 2 hours and it was hard work. Before we got started they laid out the sheet of paper on the table to let the mess begin. Then came the tray of crabs and corn that get dumped on the table. Not the dining in experience you go to on a first date!

The tools above were required. The hammer and knife combo. When used by the experienced soul they worked in unison. Despite the lesson given by the nice waitress, I failed using them as a unit. I opted for the brut of the hammer over and over. It might have even been a bit gratifying to smash away. My hands were covered in seasoning. Little slices in my fingers from the sharp shells. My drink cup and ice went down way too quick. 

You first started by flipping the crab over and peeling. Back the silhouette of a hard-shelled penis. Yes, I did just type that because the next step was to remove the private parts and the goop that lay inside that area. Off came the claws which was my favorite part.

Once I had the claws off I ate that meat. It seems easy to get to and rewarding to eat. I failed to mention that these crabs were loaded with an Old Bay-type seasoning with a little kick. Oh were my lips burning. 

After the claws I had to head back to the main body of the crab. The outer shell needed to be removed. Then it was broken in half. You had to be careful to remove the no eat parts which seemed like ribs but I don’t know the proper the term. That’s just how I was arranging the dissection on my mind as I worked my way through the task.

All in all I had a great experience. Very dirty hands. Very full belly. A great release of anger with the hammer. Some dipped the meat in butter. Others paired with other seafood. I enjoyed the ear of corn that offset the spice.  

if you are ever in Maryland during crab season, take the plunge. Give the experience a try. It has a $$$ price tag or so but if you look at it as a dining and cultural experience it’s worth the extra money.

If you never make it to Maryland in crab season at least you got a virtual experience from right on the bog. I am not new to crabs but I usually eat snow crabs which is a far different experience.

Signing off from a waterfront spot on the Bush River that intersects the Gunpowder River in Maryland. This was also a new adventure site for me to soak up some writing inspiration.

fitness and nutrition

Dirty Work

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Summer time is a time of change.

Schedules change. Daylight times change. Eating habits change and more. I try to just ride the wave and embrace it all.

This summer has also brought a change in my workouts. Street Parking launched the Summer Grind / Dirty Work series program for the summer. These workouts focus on odd objects like sandbags, heavy weighted balls, sleds, rucksacks and battle ropes. I’ve been using my sandbag pretty consistently for about a year and I love throwing that thing around. Otherwise, working with these pieces of equipment is mostly new to me. In a time where I’ve felt pretty restless (and even a little bored) with my workout routine, this has been an energizing change.

Something different, something new. Something to learn.

Rucking gets me outside more. D-ball workouts let me slam new things down. For some reason, I feel like a badass when I do sled pushes. Different muscles are sore. Different senses are awakened. Different skills used.

It’s funny how little changes can actually help me stay consistent. Something new can keep me coming back every single day, but with renewed energy. Plus, Street Parking has me chasing all the virtual badges. I’ve been a gold-star chaser since I was a little kid. Some things never change!

What’s new in your routines? Any little changes breathing life into your healthy habits? If not, what can get you inspired to move? Hiking somewhere new? A new sport or game with friends? What small changes can make a difference in your big picture?

challenges, dare to be different

Don’t Say Gay

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“I am not gay!”

…the cry came from behind the swings. Then the young man came streaking across the playground toward the tall trees. “I am NOT gay! I AM NOT GAY!” Screamed with the terror of trying to outrun the boogie man, a cloud of cooties, a wild black bear and the abominable snowman all at once.

This summer, I am teaching third grade students. They are 9 or 10 years old. This is one interaction I witnessed this week on the playground.

I started the calm walk over to talk with him and the other boys who had been taunting him.

“What is going on?” I asked them. The conversation quietly began. One sheepishly admitted to calling another one gay. The one who used the word hung his head as he fessed up.

I hear over and over again that if we talk about gay families or students in elementary school, we are exposing them to this content way too early. Here’s the thing this playground taunt reminded me: THIS SO-CALLED “MATURE CONTENT” IS ALREADY THERE. It is already in our schools.

Some of our students have same-sex parents. They have siblings who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, not to mention aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Then there are relationships they see in the media. Some of our elementary students even know they are in one of these groups, even if they don’t have the words for it yet. The vast majority of kids in our schools already know about this through observation and experience, just as they know about heterosexual relationships from a huge variety of sources.

Here’s what I know: if adult professionals in schools avoid talking about this topic at all, it is allowed to run rampant with misconceptions and ignorance. When I told these young men (really, they are boys) that being gay is not an awful thing, it’s just how some people are, their eyes popped and their jaws dropped. I could tell they had not heard that before.

I can’t allow students to run around on playgrounds and call people gay as if that is the worst thing they could be. How would a gay classmate feel, or a classmate with same sex parents?

Is it any wonder the rate of suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts is higher among LGBTQ young people if their identity is used as an insult? And adults just stand by and watch it happen?

I get it…It’s not always easy to talk about for people of many ages. One of my daughter’s friends who came out in the past couple of years saw me at a party recently. She said “Miss Beth, you forgot to wish me a Happy Pride Month!” I hugged her and wished her Happy Pride Month with a smile. I love seeing her come into her own and embrace her truth.

Then I showed her my watch face, which made her eyes light up. I have my Apple Watch set on one of the new Pride faces. It may seem little, but even small signals to young people that they are seen, accepted, and embraced for who they are matter. And I will continue to say it and show it in whatever ways I can.