Category Archives: Moving Forward
Conquer the Pool… Continues
I am beginning my fourth week in the pool. I can officially say that I can do the freestyle stroke. It ain’t pretty and I am still unable to do fifty yards without stopping but I can finally say that I can do it. Perfecting will take some time but I now know that I can conquer this stroke. Dare I dream about others? We’ll see. I’ll keep you informed.
A Flexible Agenda
I’m a creature of habit and don’t do well with sudden change. When I met my husband and realized that being extremely punctual wasn’t important to him I thought, Hmm this is going to be a real problem. Early on in our relationship he suggested that when we got where we were going would be the right time. What heretic nonsense. It didn’t take long for me to see that he was right. So after that lesson, I began to explore the idea that sometimes stuff happens and we have to go with the flow as they say or we end up unhappy and worse.
The inability to be flexible for someone like me can cause all sorts of problem. Loosen up and make some plan B’s in case plan A doesn’t work out. I promise you it won’t lead to your death.
I was planning to go to the pool this morning. By the time I was ready to leave storms of near biblical proportion (2012!!!!!!!) were bearing down on my corner of New Jersey and after much gnashing of teeth I decided to skip the pool. Okay so what now. Generally I would spend an hour wondering if I made the right decision and lamenting the loss of my workout. Instead I changed my clothes and went to CURVES and did my hour workout. Guess what I felt good and if the weather permits, I’ll be at the pool tomorrow! Life goes on.
This is the after Zumba face!
Picture says it all. I am always glad when class begin and ends!
After Zumba. Yeah!
My Muse is Missing
I have struggled lately to find words to put in my blogs. This is unusual for me because generally I have a lot to say. I have placed personal pressure on myself to keep a schedule with my second blog and I am bowing under the self-imposed schedule. I think this week I am just going to go with the flow and see what happens. Perhaps that will allow me to write more in this one too. We’ll see.
I Walked Fourteen Blocks in 16 Degree Weather
Sounds dramatic doesn’t it? Well it’s true and I did it today to get to Vogue Knitting Live at the New York Hilton. I cannot swear that I’d have taken that cold walk for many other reasons. It is amazing what we’ll do for something that we love. I was in heaven today yarn and people who love to use it. It doesn’t get any better than that. If you are not passionate about anything, keep looking. It is so worth it and a passionate pursuit may change your life.
Happy Sunday!
I’m Going to Live like a Doozer in 2012
Fraggle Rock was one of my favorite kids shows ever. Can’t say that my son shared my love for the show but I never missed it. My favorite characters were the Doozers. These little guys spent all of their time mining, designing and building various structures. They use radish dust to create these structures which it turns out was the Fraggles favorite food.
So what’s my point? If you ever watched this show you know that in the middle of construction the Fraggles would just walk up and break a piece of Doozer construction off and eat it. The Doozers would stop for a moment and then just return to their task. Rebuilding what had been eaten. Wow! That’s the lesson. When somebody rains on your parade, just keep working. Take a breath and pick up where you left off. I won’t be daunted this year. I may have to restart a few times but so what. Good enough for the Doozers, good enough for me.
Happy, Merry And All That Good Stuff
It’s Christmas today to all who celebrate it. A quiet day at my house. Started out the day in church which was good for me. Waiting for the grands to come this evening so that we can watch them open gifts. We (Mother & Husband) don’t exchange. The gift thing is for the kids. The sentiment is for everyone. The reason for the season isn’t about spending money that you don’t have or could use in a better way.
A man dressed in a Santa suit is giving out envelopes with a $100.00 bill in it. Inside the envelope is a note that says pay it forward. Someone else is paying off toy lay aways at KMart for families, no questions asked.
That’s the spirit. So Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and to all a good night.
Acceptance is Part of the Battle
So what have I learned at 60? To accept things. When I was in high school I could get up 4o minutes before I had to leave the house and do all the necessary things, get dressed and slide out of the door. At 60 I need an hour to an hour and a half to do the same things.
The body changes over time. Not all the changes are fun but most are inevitable. You can be upset but it won’t change anything.
I hate being called Miss Karen and other than the classroom where I think there needs to be a boundary, I just want to be called Karen, that’s my name. Okay so I hate that I look old enough to be called Miss Karen or anything else that serves as an age place marker.
I don’t like hearing my knees pop but I’m glad I can still walk on them.
It annoys me that people don’t believe that my hair isn’t dyed because I’m not gray. It’s in the genes for Pete’s sake.
But I have come to accept these things and truly I am happy every day when I get up. I look on each day with anticipation and though nothing earth shattering happens most days, that’s okay too.
Best of all I have accepted my journey as the one I am supposed to be on and good, bad or indifferent, I’ll keep moving forward as long as I can. Happy Friday!!
Happy Holidays – Be Thankful
Today begins the winter holiday season in the United States of America. If you ask ten people what Thanksgiving Day means you may get ten different answers. In 2011 for sure it is a day to reflect on what we have and be thankful for it all. Today, some did not get a special dinner and struggled to find shelter. The rest of us no matter how diminished our circumstances have plenty to be thankful for. Perhaps we can take the time to find a way to pay it forward and help those less fortunate. I make it my business to give a few dollars to the folks that I pass on the streets of New York on my walk to school. I put my clothing in the bins or drop them at a shelters so that someone else can use them. It ‘s not much but it’s what I can do now. Some times just a kind word can make a difference.
Between now and the New Year whatever your religion or tradition is take a little time to be thankful for people who are important in your lives. Remember to give a little to someone else no matter how small and oh yeah pray for me because thirty days of Christmas music on the radio is more than I can take.
Don’t Look Under the Bed and Other Advice I Ignore
I grew up a scary kid who loved the Twilight Zone and horror movies and then couldn’t sleep. My Dad built shelves for all of my dolls and they were right next to my bed. Under the bottom shelf was a dark space that (those of you who are old enough to remember the Twilight Zone episode) of course was the entrance to outer space. So very early on I learned to make sure that none of my limbs were out of the bed and preferably covered by at least a sheet. Also NEVER LOOK UNDER THE BED!!! Here I am at sixty, and I still have to sleep with at least a sheet. But I forgot the part about not looking under the bed.
So what do I mean? Sometimes as adults we aren’t satisfied until we find something wrong. We try to find something wrong our spouse has done, are suspect of our co-worker for no clear reason, are convinced that our kids are drug using, gun carrying bank robbers and that our boss has it in for us. In other words we are always looking under the bed. Now I am not suggesting that we should bury our heads in the sand but I wonder if some of us aren’t satisfied until we have proven that something must be wrong. The reason that we feel this way could have lots of causes and I am not analyzing anyone including myself. I am suggesting however that if you are constantly looking under the bed, let it go. Be observant but not overly suspicious. Look for the good in situations first. If there is a down side it will be revealed without your interference.
Give your self and the world a break. You may find that what ever is under the bed needs to stay there. If it floats out deal with it.
First Steps the Hardest 