My friend Studio Lolo has tagged me to list five things I do every day to keep my spirit happy and healthy. Before I begin, an admission is in order: I am not presently that happy or healthy. I am confused and searching. When I think of the gestalt of my blog, I see it as a place where inspiration, creativity, and love rise from even an occasional ash of despair. Lately though, I'm struggling and I'm sure that shows here in small and large ways.
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Still, I know I'm growing. I'm alive. My search reaches for balance and passion and acceptance, qualities I welcome even when the journey's hard.
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There. Now on to five things I do to keep my spirit engaged and vibrant (Lolo, I had to substitute words!):
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1. I start every morning with a fresh strong cup of coffee, the morning newspaper, and normally a bowl of vanilla yogurt with cut up apples (or pears) and macadamia nuts. I try to let myself linger for at least 10, sometimes 15, minutes before I start my routine of getting ready for the day.
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2. I notice what's around me. I look at the sky and feel the air and sometimes I take my camera with me and stop my walk or my car to snap a certain leaf or an abandoned building. I try to see. And hear. And feel.
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3. I look at my role in things before I blame or feel disappointment in someone else. This is a newly used muscle for me: in the past, I've been too quick to feel mistreated or look for answers in someone else's shortcomings.
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4. I am losing weight, finally. I will lose 50 pounds altogether and be able to tuck my tee shirts and blouses into my jeans. I like walking with a certain confidence and bounce, and I want that back again.
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5. I openly love. I let myself be too vulnerable sometimes, and some would say too needy, and I've cried too often in 2008, but beneath it all I try to be a loving, fun, curious and kind person. I accept responsibility and honor my obligations, even as I may push boundaries or take the scenic route. I don't invite pain in and I'm miserable at suffering, but when given the choice to care deeply, I usually do. And I'm loyal to the people I love and care about.
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Well, Lolo, you've allowed me a therapy session! What the hell: it's just kj, doing her best to show up and take part.
.Now I'd like to hear what these special people do to keep their spirits happy and healthy (if they are so willing, of course):
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Melissa
Baino
Miladysa
CS (Citizen)
Val
Lavender
.Happy New Year to a great bunch of bloggers & friends!
Interesting list. I am so sorry you are unhappy and unhealthy. Confused is a hard place to be. Sending prayers. Be well, Suki
ReplyDeleteI may tuck my shirt in one day just to confirm I still hate it. That's the one draw back of the English Riding thing-to show you have to be decked out to the nines in "proper attire" and tucked in shirt (with collar Oh GOD)....well, that's a long time in coming if at all.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking just yesterday how much I put myself through by keeping my eyes wide open and staying present-but I wouldn't change that habit for a little more peace. And in the end, I don't think it IS more peaceful to hide, not really.
suki, thanks for your well wishes. i will get there. sometimes it just takes some time and stretching.
ReplyDeletedebra kay, i can just see you decked out with that collar! a photo on your blog will be in order! i CAN"T change that habit, at least i don't think i can. i'd hide in my dresser drawer if i thought it would help, but i know it won't. better to feel than be numb. that's the truth of it for me.
Oh wow, well, this is going to be a hard one - Thanks for the tag KJ, and WELL DONE to you for coming up with 5...thats impressive!
ReplyDeleteI hope that you will find more peace, on all levels, this year. Soon the spring will come, and that always lifts the spirit, so if nothing else, hang on for the spring. Hugs!
lavender, do you know i feel a kinship with you? :)
ReplyDeleteso you are human after all :) well you sound like a very well balanced person to me! your routine sounds great and full of good things! I don't ususally respond to tags, I don't know why but I don't like talking about myself but for you i will make an effort...
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, KJ! Many wouldn't know 2 things they do for themselves to stay happy and healthy and your list is awesome. :) Thank you for tagging me ... I'm hoping to get to it tomorrow morning over tea!
ReplyDeleteOne of the many things I love about you is your honesty. You're so open and sharing, and it draws us in to your spirit. I am so sorry that you're not feeling happy or healthy - I can only send my wish that those things will resolve themselves soon. Your list makes me stop and think about the same things myself - what energizes me... I know that noticing the world for the small things always renews my faith in the rightness of the universe. Allowing yourself to love as you do is really a blessing. So many people protect themselves by keeping others at a distance. I don't think it's worth it just to avoid being hurt. Anyway... I could go on, but I'd rather see you soon. Thank you for stopping by my blog. I still can't get my e-mail to send out (is mercury retrograde???)... so I'll ask you here if you have any interest in doing the Word-Art show with me this year (it's every other year, so there wasn't one last year)? It's in March... should we do it?
ReplyDeleteAw shucks, thanks KJ, Ive noticed some common threads myself :)
ReplyDeleteI wish you health and happiness in 2009 KJ!
ReplyDeleteThis post is a great insight into KJ Babes :D
Thank you for the tag - I'll get on to it!
BTW Your book arrived this morning!!! Awesome :D
Wonderful post and list Ms. KJ.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know how I feel about your sorrows. I'll keep you in my prayers.Thank you for taking the time to do this list. I'm glad it was theraputic :) Like Val, I normally don't like tags that make me talk about myself. This one was good though and it can inspire others.
I have vanilla yogurt with walnuts and sunflowers seeds every morning. I smiled when I read that!
We'll see what this new year has in store for you as you continue to share your thoughts and feelings here. You have a huge support group. I hope you know that ;)
xo
My meme's up KJ :D
ReplyDeleteUh oh! Okay, I'll do it for you. (But probably will be late rin the week.)
ReplyDeleteHappy engaged-and-vibrant-spirit New Year!
Very honest....and here's to finding the way thru the tunnel.
ReplyDeleteKJ -- I hope you're having a lovely weekend! I've posted my answers! :)
ReplyDeletethanks so much for your lovely comment on my blog post today kj. i would have to think really hard to find 5 things, i am also in a slump right now, here's to us both crawling up and out! hugs are winging their way from me to you.xx
ReplyDeleteval, i'm too human for my own good! i wear my heart on my tattered sleve sometimes. hey, don't do this meme unless you want to. instead you can whisper five things to me over lunch. :)
ReplyDeletemelissa, as you hopefully know, your five things inspired and comforted me. :)
oh carla, you are wonderful. my answer to 'word art' is YES! YES! and i would like to see you long before that. i'll pay for lunch if you show up! :)
lavender, xo.
miladysa, here's the tightest HUG for you. i love love love the notion of you holding my book in your hands. and your five things...well, let me just say to anyone reading this: check out miladysa's blog yourself. she is a wise and loving woman.
lolo, you, my friend, are a special year end gift...
cs, and happy new year to you too. your approach to moving on is a roadmap for my weary self. :)
ReplyDeletemim, thanks for your comments. i look forward to visiting you and ms. em frequently. i'm not in a tunnel--too claustrophic: it's more like a corner of a sad little heart... :)
hugs back to you, soulbrush. the word 'slump' is a good one. it's temporary. :)
Hi kj, thanks for the tag. I'll get onto it this weekend! I'm around but PC time is at a premium since my house guest is occupying the lounge/dining room where my PC lives and I'm hopeless on a Mac Pro. I agree with so many of your 'five' (except breakfast . . .hopeless at breakfast!)
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