Neighbor's Mailbox Decor I've been reading a lot this past month or so. The luxury of being able to just sit and read - novels and periodicals, educational content and junk food for the mind - is making me feel a bit pressured. I should be doing my own writing. In truth, I should be doing a lot of things, those things that I've been adding for over a decade to my when-I-have-time list. Clearly time wasn't ever the issue.
It's not that I've totally wasted the hours of stay-in-place living. On my daily walks I take photos of things that make me smile, like a neighbor's mailbox decor. (I know I'll do something with those photos. Someday.) I've upped practicing my yoga moves to six days a week, thanks to online opportunities, and invested more time into Scripture studies. The Gman is getting home-cooked meals - literally cooked in our home - and the dog hair gets vacuumed up a bit more frequently. I've done video chatting instead of texting, hosted a couple of social distancing porch parties via Zoom, and participated in an online paper arts class in an effort to light some dormant creative sparks.
It's not that I've totally wasted the hours of stay-in-place living. On my daily walks I take photos of things that make me smile, like a neighbor's mailbox decor. (I know I'll do something with those photos. Someday.) I've upped practicing my yoga moves to six days a week, thanks to online opportunities, and invested more time into Scripture studies. The Gman is getting home-cooked meals - literally cooked in our home - and the dog hair gets vacuumed up a bit more frequently. I've done video chatting instead of texting, hosted a couple of social distancing porch parties via Zoom, and participated in an online paper arts class in an effort to light some dormant creative sparks.
Gracie Modeling Her Collar I do try to make a plan for each day, but it often derails. Our Corgi Gracie has been to the vet three times in recent weeks, plowing through her canine college savings in order to treat eye issues and have surgery on one of her paws. She hates her collar - "cone of shame" in the pet world - but passively accepts medicines and the protective plastic boot I fashioned out of snack baggies and tape for her potty outings. (Perhaps I'm not giving myself enough credit for creativity.) These little rituals associated with her recuperation add a new dimension to our regular furkid routines.
Kitchen View And, as if our world isn't wonky enough, we are having our modular home re-sided (apparently contractors have extra time right now.) The ripping off of old siding along with the sawing and pounding that goes with prepping the walls for their new covering is teeth-gnashing, nerve-wracking background music which can't be escaped by driving to the local library, shopping plaza, or
Bedroom View coffee shop. Our walls are bare so the vibrations don't damage stuff hanging on them, and our windows are all covered with the vapor shield that hasn't yet been trimmed to fit. It's like living in an opaque plastic box.
Still, I can't help but admire those who are harnessing the energy of this enforced slowdown to move themselves - and us - to the next level. Shel Harrington, the Relationship Advocate moved beyond of her comfort level to do her first Facebook live broadcast. Topic? Moving beyond one's comfort level. Joshua Becker at Becoming Minimalist is offering a discounted course to help people utilize this time to pare down to what's important. (Minimalism is a concept I'm seriously attracted to these days.) RobinLK Studios is offering creative paper arts gatherings - previously done at locally owned coffee shops - through Zoom.
Still, I can't help but admire those who are harnessing the energy of this enforced slowdown to move themselves - and us - to the next level. Shel Harrington, the Relationship Advocate moved beyond of her comfort level to do her first Facebook live broadcast. Topic? Moving beyond one's comfort level. Joshua Becker at Becoming Minimalist is offering a discounted course to help people utilize this time to pare down to what's important. (Minimalism is a concept I'm seriously attracted to these days.) RobinLK Studios is offering creative paper arts gatherings - previously done at locally owned coffee shops - through Zoom.
Birthday Parade Destination Then there's those who just find ways to bring out the enjoyment of everyday living. After our neighborhood pool was closed, some 60 and 70-somethings put on swimsuits and rigged up a garden hose to the lamppost in a front yard, fashioning a sprinkler of sorts they could run through to beat the Florida heat. This morning I spotted a vibrantly colored birthday greeting in a neighbor's yard. A few hours later, I heard lots of horn-beeping and ran outside (because my windows are all covered!) to see the lengthy birthday parade of honking vehicles filled with people waving balloons and signs. Delightful!
Maybe I need to rethink those things I've been wanting to do "when I have time." Maybe what I really want to do when I have time is read and notice things around the neighborhood that make me smile and look at friends' faces when I talk to them from a social distance. And maybe - occasionally - write.
Maybe I need to rethink those things I've been wanting to do "when I have time." Maybe what I really want to do when I have time is read and notice things around the neighborhood that make me smile and look at friends' faces when I talk to them from a social distance. And maybe - occasionally - write.