My physical and emotional self are calling out for care. It’s not about more sleep but time for “resting.” My sleep is still disjointed and not through the night. Emotionally, I can relate to a prickly hedge hog. Gosh they’re kinda cute but prickly people aren’t well liked or pleasant to be around. I know this too shall pass. Healing takes time from living and working through emotionally jarring events. Also need a reprieve from the cold temps. Peace to all this day ☮️
My writing. It’s so easy to get busy and neglect it. It’s requires quiet, and focused thought about story ideas and the writing itself. Writing can be hard, it’s work, so I guess that’s why I don’t run to it. I did enter a contest though and think I have an okay chance at one of the lesser prizes. That’d pique my interest!
Oh,
that’s wonderful,
dear Christina.
I hope you take the time
to find the time
to dedicate to just sitting with it
(your writing),
and be patient . . .
I think you can do it.
Whether you win the contest or not
is irrelevant . . .
what is important
is that you put yourself out there. ♥
It’s not religious at all, although it can be. You could reword it to be something like… Where in my life am I being invited to show up more fully? Maybe think about it like what in your life could use more of your attention. Something you could sit with and ponder on, give more of your time to. There are all sorts of situations and possibilities!
Ah, a presences inventory of sorts.
I try to be present for all of it, but the reality is, that repetition and familiarity can mute my ability to be present. I am here and present for this moment.
I will attempt, as usual, to catch myself when my mind wanders. Catch myself when I’m replaying old scenarios. Catch myself when I project my anxiety into the future. And I will attempt to come back to this moment. Without judgment.
Easier said than done. 😁
I send healing thoughts your way too,
dear Drea.
I had a friend,
who at the ripe old age of 40,
decided to go to nursing school . . .
I said to her,
“goodness,
Roberta,
you’ll be 44 or 5 when you’re done.”
to which she replied,
“I’ll be 45 anyway,
so why not?”
I guess the moral of the story
is
“why wait for time to be present?
Time is going to pass
whether you are present or not.” ♥
This is an expansion to my answer from yesterday, especially the part I mentioned from a bible verse on how our sheep hear our voice. I’m called upon to maintain and even further develop relationships with my root people of family and a few close friends. I have a friend from college in Donita who I can consider on a close level.
Piano is the common thread between Donita and me. She was a performance majorer in keyboard, same as me but a year later. She’s from Montana and loves the outdoors. The ladder resignates with my family, because we go on many trips, and my parents especially, enjoy nature too. Most important of all, Donita just tells it like it is without sugar-coding or beating around the bush which is uncommon for women. Women were naturally built to make everyone comfortable and happy.
I can see people like Donita inspiring me to get out of my head, let go of agendas, and be more enthusiastic whether it’s piano or life. She, in return, great appreciates my backstage political strategies rooted in protection too. Opposites attract in all relationships whether it’s family, intimate, or friends. Wild and calm are often linked together.
Ngoc and I have talked before many times on the opposites attracting each other. Based on comments and answers before, specifically from a question a month or so ago about differences, I answered her and how we’ve grown to love each other over the years.
I can see how someone’s honesty is refreshing—it’s great when someone can be direct and genuine. But I’d be careful about tying that to gender. Women can be just as straightforward as anyone else; it really comes down to personality and communication style, not whether someone’s male, female, nonbinary or anything else. I would generalize that women are conditioned and stereotyped to make everyone comfortable and happy, but it is a patriarchal assumption to assume that is what we are naturally built for.
Drea, you’re certainly right. In my Vietnamese culture where collectivism reigns supreme like in many Asian cultures, gender roles are still normalized today. I experienced that with Paw Mu, but an honest direct straight to the point woman still feels brand new to me. Individualism creates people from all walks of life both inside and out. It’s interesting and complicated. Also, I’ve been screwed over by plenty of women I’m attracted to with natural sweet voices and long hair. The ones I was around were known to speak in ways that made me feel comfortable, happy, and understood. It turns out that they were playing both sides for personal gain. My natural instinct is to be extra careful with my words and topics when talking to them rooted in protection. I can see how my words made it seem like I was stereotyping, but I was actually speaking more in short way which I’ve learned to do of to save up energy. Even I was not used to that way of speaking years ago, because I’d get uneasy and uncomfortable when my family members would speak that way. Now that my Vietnamese is continuing to improve, I’m becoming more comfortable with that way of speaking where I can shift from short way to dotting my is and crossing my ts.
Loc, thanks for clarifying where you come from. I hear you saying that you come from a culture where people are indirect and gender roles are constrained. You’re still getting used to direct women, and have also been hurt by people you misjudged before. That’s why you speak guardedly — not to stereotype, but out of habit and self-protection. Also, as you improve your Vietnamese, you’re learning to balance between being direct and being nuanced.
For all the individualism in the US, there are still plenty of instances where, as a woman, you face a man who thinks we are not worth listening to, worth hearing, our voices are background noise; they expect to be served, they expect to be listened to but don’t care what we have to say. I think great strides have been made here, but the current atmosphere in particular is regressive. As a woman, it is exhausting. Just exhausting. And some girls in the US are still raised to be silent and serve men. So I celebrate the strides we have made, but there is still a long ways to go. May we all experience peace and the dignity of being heard.
I will continue to sort through my husband’s things and anticipate a move to a smaller abode. I also would like to consider giving my time to volunteering.
I’ve grown very comfortable in my contemplation practices.
Now, I feel the need to focus on moving my feet in prayer.
Always tying to find the right balance of contemplation and action.
It seems to ebb and flow. I suppose that’s life.
I would say all aspects of my life. Everything is relational and I have found that the only place I can truly be relational is in the present moment. As the character Colonel Potter said on a MASH episode, “If you ain’t where you’re at, you’re no where!”
Carol Ann, I love that saying. It totally makes sense. It shows how our feet isn’t in one place. Expanding upon my answer earlier, Donita reached out to me a few days ago after how she enjoyed a comedy song I made called “Follow the Golden Rule” on the old saying on how if we don’t have anything to say to not say at all. She saw the humor in how I was throwing shade at the many older adults who appear set in their ways. But anyways, she told me after all these years, she’s still living in Montana enjoying the outdoors and gives piano lessons. This tells me that she’s stable and can stay in one spot unlike many people my age group and younger who hop from place to place which makes it harder to maintain and develop any meaningful relationships.
I speak from experience,
dear John . . .
it doesn’t pay to take recovery for granted.
Bless yourself every day you are clean,
and count the grateful differences in your life
between then and now.
You are on a very brave journey
and I am on your side. ♥
The old patterns I’ve been working on healing still need attention.
Being a good friend to my one really good friend here is calling, and I set a lunch date with her tomorrow.
My studies are calling for more presence as well, and I am working on making it more of a routine rather than fitting it in when I’m not busy.
This sounds a little boring; I have some organizational projects in our home that I say I want to attend to and yet …If I would commit a completely present 20-30 minutes, today, I would be off and running and I know I would feel lightness rather than cluttering my mind with « I should ». 🩷
My lovely wife Cheryl has done this throughout our marriage. I told her after the latest movement of things that I realize now that this is good for my cognitive health. Learning new cabinets and containers with labels!
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My physical and emotional self are calling out for care. It’s not about more sleep but time for “resting.” My sleep is still disjointed and not through the night. Emotionally, I can relate to a prickly hedge hog. Gosh they’re kinda cute but prickly people aren’t well liked or pleasant to be around. I know this too shall pass. Healing takes time from living and working through emotionally jarring events. Also need a reprieve from the cold temps. Peace to all this day ☮️
schedule yourself a nice massage – some self-love
My writing. It’s so easy to get busy and neglect it. It’s requires quiet, and focused thought about story ideas and the writing itself. Writing can be hard, it’s work, so I guess that’s why I don’t run to it. I did enter a contest though and think I have an okay chance at one of the lesser prizes. That’d pique my interest!
Oh,
that’s wonderful,
dear Christina.
I hope you take the time
to find the time
to dedicate to just sitting with it
(your writing),
and be patient . . .
I think you can do it.
Whether you win the contest or not
is irrelevant . . .
what is important
is that you put yourself out there. ♥
Can someone explain this one please? What is greater presence? I’m not religious. Is that what this means?
Can someone explain this one please? What is greater presence? I’m not religious. Is that what this means?
It’s not religious at all, although it can be. You could reword it to be something like… Where in my life am I being invited to show up more fully? Maybe think about it like what in your life could use more of your attention. Something you could sit with and ponder on, give more of your time to. There are all sorts of situations and possibilities!
To me it is to live with awareness.
Ah, a presences inventory of sorts.
I try to be present for all of it, but the reality is, that repetition and familiarity can mute my ability to be present. I am here and present for this moment.
I will attempt, as usual, to catch myself when my mind wanders. Catch myself when I’m replaying old scenarios. Catch myself when I project my anxiety into the future. And I will attempt to come back to this moment. Without judgment.
Easier said than done. 😁
It is an ongoing Alleluia isn’t it, Charlie?
I can’t think of any. Life is slow as I recover from hand surgery. I’ve had the gift of time to be present.
I send healing thoughts your way too,
dear Drea.
I had a friend,
who at the ripe old age of 40,
decided to go to nursing school . . .
I said to her,
“goodness,
Roberta,
you’ll be 44 or 5 when you’re done.”
to which she replied,
“I’ll be 45 anyway,
so why not?”
I guess the moral of the story
is
“why wait for time to be present?
Time is going to pass
whether you are present or not.” ♥
Am I being too obtuse?
Not obtuse at all, I love this!
Drea, healing thoughts sent your way. My two knee implants taught me how much Healing takes time. And water and sleep helps bones heal. Do take care
Thank you Carla. Good reminder about water and sleep. It is so easy to not get enough of both.
This is an expansion to my answer from yesterday, especially the part I mentioned from a bible verse on how our sheep hear our voice. I’m called upon to maintain and even further develop relationships with my root people of family and a few close friends. I have a friend from college in Donita who I can consider on a close level.
Piano is the common thread between Donita and me. She was a performance majorer in keyboard, same as me but a year later. She’s from Montana and loves the outdoors. The ladder resignates with my family, because we go on many trips, and my parents especially, enjoy nature too. Most important of all, Donita just tells it like it is without sugar-coding or beating around the bush which is uncommon for women. Women were naturally built to make everyone comfortable and happy.
I can see people like Donita inspiring me to get out of my head, let go of agendas, and be more enthusiastic whether it’s piano or life. She, in return, great appreciates my backstage political strategies rooted in protection too. Opposites attract in all relationships whether it’s family, intimate, or friends. Wild and calm are often linked together.
Ngoc and I have talked before many times on the opposites attracting each other. Based on comments and answers before, specifically from a question a month or so ago about differences, I answered her and how we’ve grown to love each other over the years.
I can see how someone’s honesty is refreshing—it’s great when someone can be direct and genuine. But I’d be careful about tying that to gender. Women can be just as straightforward as anyone else; it really comes down to personality and communication style, not whether someone’s male, female, nonbinary or anything else. I would generalize that women are conditioned and stereotyped to make everyone comfortable and happy, but it is a patriarchal assumption to assume that is what we are naturally built for.
Amen, Drea.
Drea, you’re certainly right. In my Vietnamese culture where collectivism reigns supreme like in many Asian cultures, gender roles are still normalized today. I experienced that with Paw Mu, but an honest direct straight to the point woman still feels brand new to me. Individualism creates people from all walks of life both inside and out. It’s interesting and complicated. Also, I’ve been screwed over by plenty of women I’m attracted to with natural sweet voices and long hair. The ones I was around were known to speak in ways that made me feel comfortable, happy, and understood. It turns out that they were playing both sides for personal gain. My natural instinct is to be extra careful with my words and topics when talking to them rooted in protection. I can see how my words made it seem like I was stereotyping, but I was actually speaking more in short way which I’ve learned to do of to save up energy. Even I was not used to that way of speaking years ago, because I’d get uneasy and uncomfortable when my family members would speak that way. Now that my Vietnamese is continuing to improve, I’m becoming more comfortable with that way of speaking where I can shift from short way to dotting my is and crossing my ts.
Loc, thanks for clarifying where you come from. I hear you saying that you come from a culture where people are indirect and gender roles are constrained. You’re still getting used to direct women, and have also been hurt by people you misjudged before. That’s why you speak guardedly — not to stereotype, but out of habit and self-protection. Also, as you improve your Vietnamese, you’re learning to balance between being direct and being nuanced.
For all the individualism in the US, there are still plenty of instances where, as a woman, you face a man who thinks we are not worth listening to, worth hearing, our voices are background noise; they expect to be served, they expect to be listened to but don’t care what we have to say. I think great strides have been made here, but the current atmosphere in particular is regressive. As a woman, it is exhausting. Just exhausting. And some girls in the US are still raised to be silent and serve men. So I celebrate the strides we have made, but there is still a long ways to go. May we all experience peace and the dignity of being heard.
I will continue to sort through my husband’s things and anticipate a move to a smaller abode. I also would like to consider giving my time to volunteering.
I’ve grown very comfortable in my contemplation practices.
Now, I feel the need to focus on moving my feet in prayer.
Always tying to find the right balance of contemplation and action.
It seems to ebb and flow. I suppose that’s life.
I would say all aspects of my life. Everything is relational and I have found that the only place I can truly be relational is in the present moment. As the character Colonel Potter said on a MASH episode, “If you ain’t where you’re at, you’re no where!”
Carol Ann, I love that saying. It totally makes sense. It shows how our feet isn’t in one place. Expanding upon my answer earlier, Donita reached out to me a few days ago after how she enjoyed a comedy song I made called “Follow the Golden Rule” on the old saying on how if we don’t have anything to say to not say at all. She saw the humor in how I was throwing shade at the many older adults who appear set in their ways. But anyways, she told me after all these years, she’s still living in Montana enjoying the outdoors and gives piano lessons. This tells me that she’s stable and can stay in one spot unlike many people my age group and younger who hop from place to place which makes it harder to maintain and develop any meaningful relationships.
Addiction for me is an ongoing challenge.
I have neglected being present in my recovery recently.
❤️ It most certainly is.
I speak from experience,
dear John . . .
it doesn’t pay to take recovery for granted.
Bless yourself every day you are clean,
and count the grateful differences in your life
between then and now.
You are on a very brave journey
and I am on your side. ♥
The old patterns I’ve been working on healing still need attention.
Being a good friend to my one really good friend here is calling, and I set a lunch date with her tomorrow.
My studies are calling for more presence as well, and I am working on making it more of a routine rather than fitting it in when I’m not busy.
My cluttered mind needs a good pencil to paper dump session.
🙂
That’s a good one, Deann!
This sounds a little boring; I have some organizational projects in our home that I say I want to attend to and yet …If I would commit a completely present 20-30 minutes, today, I would be off and running and I know I would feel lightness rather than cluttering my mind with « I should ». 🩷
My lovely wife Cheryl has done this throughout our marriage. I told her after the latest movement of things that I realize now that this is good for my cognitive health. Learning new cabinets and containers with labels!
🙂
Those home organizational projects are a constant for me!
You inspire me to do the same,
dear Mary.
And I will do that . . .
20-30 minutes. ♥
Go for it, Sparrow!♥️
Maintaining my mental health, positive changes for my body, and focusing on the present.