Tag: peaceful

awareness

The Morning Chill

2chicksandapen

Rise and shine it’s morning time.

The morning jingle may say rise and shine and but my body and mind say otherwise. There is a slight chill In the air. A crisp feeling it seems. All the covers seem so comforting. Each dog is curled up in their cozy sleep position. My surroundings scream warmth yet the air just above is just chilled air. Less inviting air in comparison. The irony of life.

It’s December. The mornings hit a little different these days. The house is quieter. The chill in the air seems to hover just a bit longer than even a year ago. Maybe the chill resonates with life and aging. Today is the weekend which allows some flexibility. As I rest under covers I decided to jot down a few notes about the experience.

Some days it’s a one foot in one foot out kind of morning. Today is full coverage. Every toe must be covered. A snuggle up day. I may even have an extra layer whether it be for warmth or straight snuggle power. A little dog paw in the distance is ever so blissful. It’s almost as though I’m watching a child rest as an infant but nowadays and a four-legged child to observe.

How life runs so fast then slows to a turtle’s pace. Sometimes this feeling appears on the weekends while other times it could just be a chilly winter weekday. A candle burning or coffee brewing would add to the ambience yet I have no desire to fetch either as the chill in the air says oh dear you just stay here.

Yes dear. I will stay right here.

Do you ever have a morning chill like this and choose to just soak it up? I do believe I consider morning chills as a self-care moment.  Little book to read. A note to take. Just a little solo reflection time in a warm and comforting setting.

The sun is beginning to glisten on the windows. The heat is running leaving a simple flowing sound of heated air pouring out of the vents. A dog sigh may slip in here and there and to me that’s their version of of the morning the chill. Their peaceful time of zen with their person. A deep sigh is a sign of a full heart to me.

The regular morning creatures are adding to the morning soundtrack. A slight crackling for the deer grazing just outside the window. A dog barking in the faint distance for a neighbor miles away. The ticking of the room clock. It’s no Trans-Siberian Orchestra but it is my little musical piece for today.

I’m saying yes dear, I’ll stay here in my room but my tummy is now adding a grumbling sound to indicate hunger. Now it’s time for my deep sigh as I head off into the day light of today.

adventure

Water Play

2chicksandapen

A random adventure in South Carolina on a sunny Sunday afternoon was set in motion. No long term planning. Just a quick 1 day getaway. The weather was perfect. The timing seemed to just fit into the schedule. The spontaneity of the day was one of the highlights of the excursion. Music cranking while having an open air concert was also so much fun both in and out of the water.

Zoom zoom. The girls took off for the day on the water. Riding topless….in a convertible for those thinking otherwise. Wind in face. Sun glistening on their skin. Sunglasses required. Hair swaying back and forth as they make the trek from one state to another. One could say the ride itself could have been the day’s climax yet it was merely a starting point.

Ultimately these Chicks had other plans. The adventure consisted of trying out hydro bikes for that day’s fitness and fun. A new-to-us thrill of sorts. Upon arrival one bike had technical issues creating the option of one kayak and one hydro bike for the afternoon. Off to the water the girls went. A day of water play with no have to’s. Just what the doctor ordered. Nothing too strenuous.

The cove was simply peaceful on this a day. A short paddle or pedal to a sandy beach area to explore or dip in the water to cool off. A band was playing at the nearby marina adding a mini concert to the water play day as an added bonus. Just some good old fun and relaxation on a Sunday. A perfect time to reset for the work week ahead.

There was plenty of time to just float. Soak up not only the sun but the cloud and sky views for miles. the gentle waves. The sun reflecting off the water. Observing the local boats trying to catch a fish or two. It brings a different kind of peace to one’s mind and soul. 

Days like these are encouraged for those who spend time in a busy fast-paced life or a life that has challenging days. A slower time of any day breeds success or productivity in other areas once a fresh outlook is achieved.

Such a simple idea. Grab a friend. Spend a day outside. Smell fresh cut lawns. Plant a garden. Take a walk. Feel the sun on your skin. Move freely. Inner peace comes from within. Sometimes you need to reset your mind, your environment, your outlook or even your surroundings to see the beauty of your life. The life you live each day to the fullest.

Pause. Reflect. Enjoy. Repeat. 

I opted outside.

I played in the water:

I’d do it again.

balance

A Peaceful Stroll

2chicksandapen

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. 

perspective

New Year, New Song

2chicksandapen

It’s back to school, which means back to work for me. Summer was gone in a flash.

Each member of our school leadership team was asked to choose a theme song for the year. We got some examples to spur our thinking.

Music is one of my love languages – not just love, it’s any emotion, really. The lyrics, the melody of a song can convey meaning I can’t seem to put into words. Playlists can transport me into different eras, remembrances, states of mind. Songs mean much.

So a theme song for the year was a big decision. I tried thinking about it and came up with some possibilities, but nothing seemed to fit. As a singer, it was all about the lyrics. I’d think of a song that had a great chorus, but then there would be some lyric about drinking or broken hearts or something else completely unrelated to school. In that case, it’s a no go.

What was the message I wanted to capture? Resilience. Flexibility. Hope. All things that speak to me in this transition time. In addition, I wanted something upbeat and catchy to keep the mood light.

And then it came to me. The theme song from the classic 70s sitcom, One Day at a Time. Upbeat, catchy, short, sweet, with all the right feelings.

Here are the lyrics:

This is it.
This is life, the one you get
So go and have a ball.

This is it.
Straight ahead and rest assured
You can’t be sure at all.

So while you’re here enjoy the view
Keep on doing what you do
So hold on tight we’ll muddle through
One day at a time.

So up on your feet.
Somewhere there’s music playing.
Don’t you worry none
We’ll just take it like it comes.

One day at a time, one day at a time.

Many of the people in that room didn’t even remember that sitcom, much less the song. So, a chance for them to learn something new.

Even in the very first week of planning, this year has already thrown us some curve balls. We’ve gone from masks are recommended to masks are required no matter who you are and if you’ve had a shot. I’ll admit my chest and shoulders slumped when I heard we were masking again, but I had already seen it coming and brought my laundered masks to work. Life goes on. It does.

We will get through it. We will have to help each other. We will have to approach each morning with a fresh perspective. We will do the best we can. If we trip and fall, it’s up on our feet and at it again. Somewhere there’s music playing…

One day at a time. One hundred and eighty five to go.

perspective

Be Still

2chicksandapen

There I was packed in the plane like a sardine in a can. 24 rows deep. 4 across each aisle. Racked and stacked you’d say. The plane is full.

No 6 feet distanced. Lots of people. Recycled air. Masks up. Here we go. Cheers to a great flight. Up up and away we go.

As I sit still I look over my shoulder and see the peaceful sky. There we are floating in the clouds with the border of the baby blue sky. I enjoyed the peacefulness of being still. The calm. The beauty. The colors.

This is such a variance from my crazy hectic days in the office. Escapes like these with picturesque scenery help me appreciate life and all the experiences one can have as long as their eyes are open.

In that moment it took away the tears of the girl by my side feeling anxious in the sky. The mask. The extra people. The sardine-like atmosphere. Watering eyes over the mask showed the pain. Shaking of the leg showed discomfort. Grasping jewelry around her neck for comfort. How were we so close yet I felt calm and she felt fear?

If I could take it away the pain and fear I would. As we move along the calmness peeks through her fear. The discomfort was temporary thank goodness. A movie is on. A snack in hand. A little water to wash away the woes.

The other neighbor is a technology guru. Clicking on the wifi. Surfing movies. Wait, I need to sneeze. Oh my not on a plane. Yup not once, twice. We giggle in the row a little. Good thing my mask was up! My neighbor didn’t flinch on her technology. Cropping and editing photos. Music in the ears. Not even phased. I’m even learning how to make cartoon images on an iPad from the neighboring seat. It’s so fun to see how others pass time.

Meanwhile, I just keep floating in the cloud. Glancing into the horizon. Thinking about tomorrow. Visualizing the fun and adventures ahead on my little trip. Time to wrap this post up.

That was a long 15 minutes if I do say so myself. This story is real. You may be the most fearless person and boom anxiety can hit. Without warning. Surround yourself with people who know you and can see your struggles so that you can be comforted when your world is closing in on you.

For now I will be still and enjoy my trip above the clouds. My special place where I am just floating in thought as I write some blogs on this very day.

Sending you a smile and wink from the sky above. Somewhere over Jackson, Mississippi. I giggled a little as I wrote that state. M-i-squiggly lines-I-squiggly lines-i-pp-i as I recall from my childhood school days.