currently grateful

Recently a friend who knew I needed some positivity challenged me to come up with a list of 5 things I'm thankful for every day. It takes some out-of-the-box thinking to come up with 5 different things every day and I've had to skip a few days when inspiration was especially low. But I firmly believe in practicing gratitude and noticing the little things. Here's what I'm most grateful for this month.

A flexible work schedule

My work load recently got much lighter due to losing a complicated client (it really was no loss!) and I am not feeling up to taking on more right now. My manager has been incredibly understanding and supportive and I am so blessed in that! I've been going to the office 1 - 2 days a week but otherwise working from home entirely on my own schedule. I haven't put in full-time hours for several weeks now, and I'm so thankful for the extra time at home, which I've filled with...

Nature therapy

May and June in Pennsylvania is as close to perfection as you can get this side of heaven, in my opinion. There are hardly words to describe the satisfaction I get from working outside - mulching, fertilizing, pruning, planting, creating rock borders - all while listening to a book and soaking in the sunshine. Growing up, I remember Dad often saying something like "I love hard work!" so I guess I got it from my daddy. 😍 I can't think of anything I'd rather do. Walking or biking outside is a close second, though, and I've been blessed to be able to go on a long walk almost every day too. Nature: #1 therapy.

Seasonal tastes

Deep red strawberries, plump blueberries, crunchy cucumbers, sweet Georgia peaches. The intense flavor surprises me every time I take the first bite. The same fruits and vegetables out of season cannot compare. 

On a more indulgent side, something about the warm temperatures makes ice cream taste even more delicious in summer. I've already had some fabulous dips of double chocolate, salted caramel, and raspberry cheescake and plan to enjoy more!

And always, there's 

Books

The best book I've read so far is Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. 

Here's my goodreads review. 

"The audiobook is 5 stars, no question. I might not be rating it this highly if I'd read the print version, but Anxious People is the most delightful book I've listened to all year. After I finished it, I borrowed the Kindle version and highlighted as I listened again. It really is that great! The narrator voices the characters perfectly. Also, the writing is brilliant. Full of profound observations and truths about life, but highly comical."

 

Ever since I read Becoming Mrs. Lewis and Once Upon A Wardrobe I've wanted to read more C.S. Lewis. Here's what I've read so far. I can recommend all of them.

The Screwtape Letters

The Weight of Glory

The Great Divorce (read twice, very thought-provoking)

The Four Loves

The Space Trilogy (science fiction): Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength

Now I'm on a bit of a classics binge. It started with Middlemarch by George Eliot, which I always assumed was dry and dull but turned out to be interesting. Then I decided to re-read all of Jane Austen's books. I've finished Sense and Sensibility and am currently listening to Pride and Prejudice. Here's a review I wrote that could really apply to them all.

"Ahhhh I find Jane Austen to be somehow comforting. You can always be assured you will find flawed characters, a villain, and female airheads in the story. In between there's delightful, proper conversation and much scheming and hysterics by the ladies. It will end with a wedding (or two). Always entertaining!"

giving them a space

Her thoughts are circling in her head, demanding attention even though it is past the hour for early risers to be slumbering. A certain thought she gave utterance to has started a train that reaches back over fifteen years. There are hard questions without answers, and ghosts of buried dreams rise up to mock her. 

Feeling the need to provide financial aid to her household and satisfy the wants of setting up her own home, she took a few cleaning jobs. For quite a few years she continued, adding more and roping in her husband to help clean offices after hours. It wasn't something she really enjoyed doing, but it provided for some nice extras. Finally her husband grew tired of the side job, and who could blame him for that? She was ready to put her cleaning days behind her too. So she hung up her mop and moved on to the next thing.

One day she asked her neighbor if they needed help in their greenhouse. That was the beginning of her four year stint working closely with nature. She reveled in the sunshine and smell of growing things. It was hard work, but she built muscle. If only she wouldn't have to take care of customers, she would be perfectly happy. It was lovely having a seasonal job that allowed for months off over the winter to sew and work on other projects. But gradually she felt the need to do something more fulfilling with her life. It had become evident she would not follow the path of her friends and raise a family. She began considering careers that seemed meaningful, and decided to take nurse's aid training and see where that led her. When she left the greenhouse job behind, she vowed never to work in retail again. People were too demanding and hard to please.

Going to a community college for nurse aid training and spending a week doing hands-on practice at a nursing home was a frightening but thrilling experience. She received high praise for her efforts and passed the state exam with flying colors. She wasn't exactly sure if this was something she wanted to do, but figured she'd apply for jobs and see how it all worked out. She was offered a position but decided to put it on hold for a couple months while re-doing and settling in to the first house she and her husband bought. One day while working together with her mom, she casually said, "I could teach school" and something clicked like never before. It enthused her much more than the thought of caring for old people. Soon she found herself signing a contract to teach 7th & 8th grade. 

She knew it would be life-changing; and indeed, in the first few weeks of school she felt like she'd lost her identity. But she quickly grew into her new identity, and adapted to a much fuller schedule and an even fuller heart. There were difficult times, but overall she loved being a teacher. By her third year, the high level of responsibility and various stresses became too much and she decided to take a break. It only took a few weeks of summer vacation and she began to question that decision. Teaching was the most demanding and most rewarding job she'd ever had. Somehow she knew nothing else would reach that level.

The medical field had always interested her, so she started doing some studying. After some time, she was hired as a unit secretary in a local hospital. Working there was enlightening in many ways. After observing everything nurses put up with, she decided that wouldn't be for her. Eventually her job as a secretary became somewhat boring and she was ready for a new challenge. The hospital pharmacy hired people without any type of degree or certification, although you were expected to become certified within a year. She decided to try it, and this opened up a whole new world. It challenged and scared her, but after six months she became a certified pharmacy technician and felt comfortable with her job. Eventually she found her niche compounding IV medications. She learned to stay calm and focused under pressure, and found she was really good at her job. She bonded with (most) of her coworkers and overall enjoyed what she was doing. There were some slight irritations with management and inconsistent working hours that eventually became bigger issues and she decided to try a different environment.

Her next leap was to a much bigger hospital with better pay and more consistent hours. Within a day or two of starting at this new job, she had a sinking feeling she would not enjoy working there. But she was determined to stick it out for at least six months, because past experience convinced her it takes time to find your place at a new job and first impressions can change. Most of the things she valued at her old hospital were nonexistent at the new one. Yet the issues that made her leave her old job were improved at this new place. It was a tumultuous seven months, but in the end she knew her decision to leave was the right one. She still liked her job of compounding IV medications, but work drama and a bad environment drove her away.

A door was opened to work for a Christian company with a flexible schedule and the opportunity to work from home. In many ways it was a dream come true. But after working with drugs that can make a difference to someone's life, business matters seemed of very little importance. She didn't dislike her work, but it also didn't spark joy. Some days she felt like she was back in retail, trying to please a customer. In the grand scheme of things, she just couldn't care all that much about getting numbers put into the correct accounts. Yet she knew her job was what she once considered "ideal" and by this time in her life, she knew every job she tried would have parts she didn't like. One beautiful spring day after she had been glued to her computer screen for hours, she stepped outside and thought, "This day is too wonderful to be cooped up inside. How nice it would be to work in a greenhouse and have a simple job close to nature." She had come full circle.

Now she lies in bed, hearing voices in her head. 

"You'll never be satisfied, no matter where you work. You just need to settle down and LEARN TO BE CONTENT." 

"But why should I settle for something that's less than what I desire? There ARE people out there who have a job they love."

"Do you even believe that's possible anymore? You're nearing forty and likely half of your life is over. Plus, remember how that felt when you had a job you loved? It ALSO came with a high level of responsibility and plenty of stress."

"Maybe I should just go back to my first hospital job. I got paid vacation and didn't have to catch up on all my work when I got back. Over a year later, I still miss my coworkers. And I do sorely miss making IV's."

"WHY would you do that?? You have a much more flexible schedule and you work from home. If you don't feel like getting up before 5 am, there's absolutely no reason why you have to. You're crazy!"

"Just look at those people who have worked at the same job for 10, 15, 20 years. They're so much farther ahead than you'll ever be. They seem happy enough doing the same thing year after year."

"I know people talk behind their hands about those who skip from job to job. But why should I care? I want to experience life, not just live. It's totally fine if I switch jobs frequently."

"You're mentally unstable and need to find the meaning of CONTENTMENT. In fact, it's a spiritual problem and you need to find something."

She gives the thoughts and voices their space, then lets them go. 

to be a child again

Hours outside, scraped knees, learning how to ride a bike. 

Listening to dad read Charlotte's Web before I could read for myself. Is that where my love of good books began? 

Saving pennies to buy a trampoline. Picking potato bugs and dunking them in gas contained in a metal coffee tin. Walking out the driveway (it seemed so long) to be picked up for school. Exploring the corn fields and barnyard and sheds of the farmhouse property where most of my memories lie. 

Social evenings where the adults had staff meeting or quartet singing, playing outside in the dark with childhood friends.

In my mind I can still see 3 of my siblings as newborn babies. By the time the youngest came along I was old enough to be her part time mom. 

Time seemed infinite back then. Summers felt as long as an entire year does now. As a child, I wanted to speed up time. All too soon, I reached an age where I long to freeze time and realize how precious childhood was.

I catch glimpses of myself at that age when I'm with my nieces and nephews. I don't want them to grow up and become adults with responsibilities and heartaches. I want my parents to be here forever for me to lean on.

If heaven is a place where dreams finally do come true, my dream is this: to be a child again.

Outer Banks weekend

What a lovely Easter weekend we had in Beaufort, North Carolina! 

My whole family stayed at a beautiful house (see listing here) which turned out to be even better than the pictures!

Located along the intracoastal waterway, we had our own private beach area where the children had a blast playing in the sand and swimming. Called "Adams Creek" this bit of water and sand was just the right distance from the house - not too close that we had to worry about the younger children. Friday was a glorious sunny day and I spent most of the day sitting along the water, soaking in the beauty and relaxing.

I honestly think this is as close as you'll get to Heaven on earth. Surrounded by those who are dearest, in a gorgeous setting, on a perfect sunny day. There's nothing better! 

Saturday we took the ferry to Cape Lookout with a large group of uncles, aunts, and cousins. Our group filled the entire boat! On the way out we saw dolphins, and in the distance, wild horses. 

After landing at Cape Lookout, we were shuttled in ATV's several miles down the beach to an area known for lots of seashells. Our group of 43 had rented 2 ATV's, which held 6 people each, so some of us decided to start walking.

I wish I would've measured how far we ended up walking but it must have been getting close to 2 miles. Walking barefoot in the sand was so invigorating we declined all offers of a ride until near the end. The map below shows our route from Harkers Island by ferry to Cape Lookout. The area where we went shelling is at the point of the island - see arrow.

The water was shallow for a long way and some of our group waded out, others walked along the shore, and eventually everyone made their way to the snacks. 😊 It was incredible how many shells come in with every wave! Although most of them are broken, between all of us we ended up with some nice conch shells and a sand dollar. It had been cloudy all day, and began looking stormy after awhile so the process of getting everyone back to the ferry landing started. We were among the last to leave, and started walking back while waiting for our ride. The sand was soft, making walking harder, there were children with us, and rain was starting to fall. The surf was getting wilder as the wind picked up, and everyone on the beach left. There's absolutely no place to shelter out there, so it was definitely an experience! Thankfully most of the ladies and children made it back before the heavy rain started. We waited it out under a pavilion and by the time our ferry came the sun was shining again!

Easter Sunday we drove 1.5 hours to attend church and have lunch with uncles, aunts, and cousins. It was tiring but worthwhile to worship together and eat a delicious ham dinner with family we don't often see!

We got back to our Beaufort house in time to spend a last few minutes by the water. I wanted to stay there and not have to face the piles of laundry and work catch-up back home. But as my dad says, "All good things must come to an end so more good things can begin"!

spring joys

I don't have a vision for this post, but was itching to write again, so we'll see what comes of it!

Lo, the winter is past...

Today was a genuinely warm day with all the lovely spring sounds of birds chirping, spring peepers, and even the neighbor's lawn mower. We're on the verge of spring showing it's colors, but right now you have to do a little searching to find a splash here and there. After all, our last snowfall was a mere 2 weeks ago! On my walk today I saw crocuses and lenten rose blooming. I walked around my perennial garden at the edge of the woods and found some more lovely lenten roses (also known as hellebore).

I almost had to laugh at my daffodils pushing up through dead leaves and winter's detritus, with compost still stuck to their tips. It reminded me of someone who is woken abruptly sitting straight up with a startled look and disheveled hair. The daffodils seemed surprised too, as if to say, "What? It's spring?!?"

Sweet, simple things

Life can quickly become routine and joyless, but it's the little things that bring happiness. I want to acknowledge and more thoroughly appreciate those things! I need a special word to describe small joys such as a coworker bringing me a strawberry banana smoothie because she knew I was dealing with a complex bookkeeping job. Or my sister making a special trip to bring me the most delicious bubble tea on a Thursday afternoon. Looking up as I'm walking out of Sam's Club and unexpectedly seeing the faces of my dear parents, and to top it off, running into my brother and his beautiful family on my way out to the car! These little blessings can quickly ease the drudgery of a day of work, fighting traffic, and picking up groceries. 

Between the pages of a book

I don't think I've mentioned our last few book club choices after this post in December. The next book after Wonder was I Will Always Write Back which was enjoyed by all. 

This month we're reading Once Upon a Wardrobe which inspired me to also read Becoming Mrs. Lewis. I'm intrigued with these peeks into the life of C.S. Lewis.

Now I want to read more of C.S. Lewis's books, and I've begun The Screwtape Letters which I'd read a long time ago but am finding well worth re-reading. 

I have to mention another book I'm currently reading. I've found No Cure for Being Human profoundly moving and I'm pretty sure I'll be rating it 5 stars because of the way it's made me feel. I think one of the biggest reasons I've found it so impressive is because I'm listening to the author read it and her character and spirit shine through so clearly. 

And now I'll conclude with this most lovely, hopeful verse.

For lo, the winter is past, 

the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth;

The time of the singing of birds has come.

Song of Solomon 2:11-12

winter comfort

Winter is the time for comfort.

Tonight I found myself longing for a familiar, comfortable book to read. I'd like to make a practice of reading the same book every season but haven't figured them all out yet. Summer is for The Blue Castle. What sounds appealing to me right now is The Hobbit and/or the The Lord of the Rings series. I really have a hankering to read them again.

Of course, setting puzzle is another comforting winter routine. I just finished Local Bookstore.

Other small comforts

For warmth:

- Flannel sheets

- Down blanket

- Heated mattress pad

- Auto start for a warm car

For the senses:

- Scented candles (my favorite Leaves candle is almost used up) 😔

- Winter Candy Apple lotion 

For dry skin:

- Aquaphor

- Rosehip Seed Oil Facial Moisturizer from Natural Glow Shoppe

And finally, comfort food! The ultimate comfort food for me is anything Mom makes.❤ Nothing can beat it. I also find satisfaction in making soup during the colder months. This week it was Beef Stew, and I've also made Chicken Wild Rice Soup, Chipotle Chicken Soup, and Cheeseburger Soup this winter. 

What routines or foods bring comfort to you during winter? I'd love to hear!

sunshine to share

Can we just take a moment to appreciate what a lovely winter day this was in spite of Punxsutawney Phil's gloomy prediction?

I took a walk in the bright noon sunshine and was restored. Winter sunlight is a precious thing. In the afternoon it sends warming rays through my windows and I find myself looking for a spot to soak in its glow.

If we experienced sunshine every day, we'd soon forget how special it really is. Warm sunbeams on my face and fresh air in my lungs gave me a dose of happiness today that I wanted to share.

And that's all.

2022 - the first 20 days

Let's just say I'm hoping the first 20 days of 2022 aren't setting the tone for the rest of the year! Life has a way of messing with your plans and expectations, doesn't it? I decide to make "health" my word of the year, and haven't been healthy physically ever since! Over Christmas I picked up a virus and had hardly shaken it when I felt something else coming on, which rapidly progressed into all the common covid symptoms. I tested positive and was really wiped out for a few days. January is the busiest time of year for bookkeepers at Gehman Accounting and we're expected to put in overtime. I haven't managed to work any extra yet! Two weeks after the covid symptoms began, I've developed a horrible cough that interrupts my sleep. Lack of sleep and uncontrollable coughing can very quickly put you in a fragile mental and physical state. I haven't lived up to any of my expectations for myself the last few weeks, but there's no point in fighting it!

Lately I've seen several blog posts uplifting rest. It's helped me accept this is a time to listen to my body, look for ways to relax, and not worry about exercising. If I don't feel up to washing my hair and getting dressed some days, that's totally fine. If I can only see my way through a 40 hour work week, it's not the end of the world. If I don't step outside my house for days at a time, just enjoy the coziness inside and be thankful I don't have to go anywhere. If I don't exercise for a whole month, enjoy the rest and look forward to the time I can start again.

After finally getting a few hours of uninterrupted sleep last night, things are looking much brighter. My head feels different in a way that's hard to describe... lighter? empty? clear? It's all of that. I'd forgotten what it feels like to have a clear head.

I'm incredibly thankful for a job that allows me to work from home. I've only been in the office 1 day out of the last 10 business days. How did I get so lucky?? It's not such an exciting or important job, but usually I get engrossed in what I'm doing and hours go by without much notice. The opportunity to work from home for a company that cares about their employees makes up for almost everything that isn't so desirable.

I'm looking forward to better days ahead!

a New Year state of mind

It's Christmas Eve, but my head is in a New Year state of mind! For the last few weeks, I've been thinking of my goals for next year. The negative part of me wants to think resolutions are too hard and I never accomplish them anyway. But if I can drown out those voices, I remember that I love making resolutions! Making being the key word - I'm not that great at doing - BUT!! I have seen progress, and that's worth something! So I'm excited to continue. 

Beginnings inspire me. Mornings, a new year, a new job... I like the feeling of starting fresh and leaving past mistakes behind. Another way I receive inspiration is hearing what other people's goals are for the new year. So please share!

Last year I wrote here about my 21 for 21 list. I think I started doing this in 2020, but wasn't very successful. 2021 was better, yet I was feeling hesitant to make a 22 for 22 list. It seemed daunting - 22 resolutions is a LOT! Plus, I didn't have many ideas. In my search for new inspiration, I listened to a few of Gretchen Rubin's (the originator of this idea) podcasts on resolutions, and got some great ideas plus more courage! In the episode (listen here) where she reviews her 21 for 21 list, I was surprised at how many items she did not accomplish! Here are a few key takeaways.

• Crossing items off the list is not actually highest priority. 

• Some things that weren't accomplished in 2021 can be added to the 22 for 22 list.

• If something worked really well, that can be added to the list again.

This definitely pushed me in the right direction and I was able to start my list. Currently I'm up to 16, and searching for more ideas. This is why I'd love to hear from others what their resolutions are! 

Starting my list also helped me decide on my Word of the Year (WOTY). Here again, I was feeling uninspired and thinking of not doing one. There's something about seeing your goals written down that gives clarity. (Maybe being wide awake at 2 am for 2 nights in a row also has something to do with getting clarity ??) I realized a lot of items on my list had the same theme, and from there it was easy to find a word that summed it up.

My WOTY for 2022 is... health. 

This word reflects my desire for a more fulfilling spiritual life and better mental and physical health. I have to admit I have not been spiritually and mentally healthy for too long. I know having a WOTY is not going to change that, but I hope it will be a reminder to change my thought pattern or pick up the Messenger or get my exercise in. I want to put this word in places where I'll often see it,  but haven't figured out exactly how to do that yet. If you do a WOTY, how do you keep it front and center for a whole year? Now taking ideas!

Since I'm so persistently asking that you share your ideas with me, it's only fair I give you a peak at my 22 for 22 list! It still needs tweaking, but here's a few I have so far.

- Buy new freezer

- Get a will

- Remember family birthdays

- Weigh every day

- Spending freeze the first week of every month. (This has to do with the budgeting program we're doing. I still need to write about that!)

- Exercise 4 days a week, but strive for 5

- Stop mindless scrolling

- Have company once a month

Some of the items on this list scare me because I don't know how I'll accomplish them. I need to think of a few more easy or fun goals to balance out the hard ones.

Onward to new beginnings!

November Book Club + Top 5 Books of 2021

November's book club title Benjamin and Jon was a simple, heartwarming tale about a lonely old man and needy young boy. School-age children would enjoy this book as well.

Now we've come full circle, with everyone picking a book and the year almost over. I wasn't sure if we'd decide to continue, but it seemed we all wanted to! We agreed to pick up again in January, and I was able to choose our next book without much internal debating. Which brings me to the next part of this post - my top 5 books of 2021!

Thanks to Goodreads wonderful feature "My Year in Books" I have a list of titles I've read so far. Although I've read more this year than ever, I never felt like I found the one that completely captivated me. I found myself reading a lot of mediocre, average books which never quite reached that level. I also reread more of my favorites this year than ever before, and found they still met my expectations! However, I didn't want to include any rereads in my top 5 books for 2021. I was also hoping this list would not include any books I've mentioned in my blog this year, but it wouldn't be a true top 5 list then!

Top 5 Books of 2021

*To see a description of each book, click on the blue hyperlinked book name. 

The book I chose for our next book club is Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

My review: I did not expect to be so moved by this book. It's written in a way that you can feel what August goes through. There's awful, cruel people; but also wonderful, kind people in his life. And kindness wins.

The Happiness Project

I think I've written enough about this one already. See here and here. 

A life-changing book for me!

The Chronicles of Narnia

Thanks to a book club discussion, I decided it was high time to read the series. I had no idea what I was missing out on! If I had to choose which was my favorite, it would be a tie between The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and The Last Battle. I'll definitely be reading the series again!

The Rose Code

I'm a fan of Kate Quinn's historical fiction novels The Alice Network and The Huntress, and when I saw she had a new book, I expected it to be good too! 

My review: Another smashing historical fiction novel by Kate Quinn! I was sucked in to the story and even felt a bit of envy towards the characters - their work breaking codes sounds like the perfect job. 

The fact that the code breaking and other parts of the story actually happened, is fascinating! I also loved how the wedding of Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth was woven into the story.

The audiobook narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, does a marvelous job and made the story even more captivating.

Peanut Butter and Dragon Wings

Another one I've already reviewed here.  

I'm still going to mention the rereads that were every bit as marvelous (and even better!) than the books listed above.

Rereads that didn't fail me:

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

The Blue Castle - L.M. Montgomery 

The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd

The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah

Exercise - what worked for me!

As I mentioned in my last post, I feel like my whole mindset towards exercise has changed this year. I always knew it was good for mental and physical well-being, but somehow I could never stick with it permanently.

 Walking has been my main form of exercise (until recently - more on that later) and even though I enjoyed getting outside and never regretted my walks, I wasn't consistent. When I was making my 21 for 2021 list, I knew I wanted to include some type of exercise challenge. I've used the Map My Walk app for several years, which saves my workouts and lets me review how I did each year. In my mind, I thought I'd surely walked around 500 miles. To clarify, I'm talking about miles covered while walking for exercise, not daily living. When I checked my stats, I discovered I'd walked only 311 miles in 2020, and 321 miles in 2019. That's how I came up with a goal of walking 500 miles - I was pretty sure I could do it with a little more effort. When I saw one of my friends ran 1,500 miles in 2020, it gave me even more motivation to find the key to unlock such dedication for myself!

I can't go any further without mentioning a book that has been highly influential to me and is maybe the whole reason for my change in habit. I've mentioned it before, so you might know what's coming next. 😉 I read The Happiness Project in the first days of January 2021, and it came at exactly the right time to influence my whole year.

Before I go any further I want to emphasize that I'm only sharing what worked for me, and someone else might not have the same results. The Happiness Project is not everyone's cup of tea, and that's totally fine. Somehow it connected with me, though. Gretchen shares her own experience with discovering how to exercise more, and I found her research on exercise, habit forming, and other topics very compelling. I trialed some of her practical advice and found it works! She elaborates more on making and breaking habits in Better Than Before, another book that helped me think differently. 

To get started on my goal of walking 500 miles, I decided to ask someone to do it with me. We both use the Map My Walk app, and can keep track of each other's progress. I'm not a competitive person, but in this case it provided motivation to stay on track. When I was ahead, I wanted to stay ahead, so if that meant walking a little farther, I'd do it! This competition didn't last more than a few months, but it was long enough for me to start seeing benefits, which gave me continued motivation. Once I started experiencing the physical and mental benefits of improved mood and more strength, I didn't want to stop! 

With my work schedule at LVHN, I was usually able to go on a walk after work. When I decided to change jobs, I knew it wouldn't be possible anymore with a different schedule and fewer daylight hours as we headed towards winter. By then, exercise was high on my priority list. I started researching different options and soon realized I'd have to find something to do indoors. I've always hated exercising inside, and especially loathed a treadmill. It seems so boring, staying in one place and not seeing any scenery. There's no way I could stick with something I hated doing. I've been hearing a lot about the Peloton bike, and the concept of trainer-led workouts to hold your attention piqued my interest. After a lot of research, we decided to invest in a NordicTrack s22i (see details here). 

There were several reasons we decided on this bike over a Peloton, and I'm not going into that part of it. Overall, I'm extremely happy with it! I haven't gotten bored and I look forward to my workouts. It was a considerable investment, but it's already proven to be worth it.

One of the things Gretchen Rubin talks about is the strategy of the clean slate. The idea is that any type of transition can wipe the slate of old habits and be the start of a new habit. Transitions can be things like a new baby, a new school, a new manager, a new job, or even a new car. She says, "Start the way you want to continue". So if you buy a new car and decide from day one you're not going to eat in the car, that can be the beginning of forming a habit of not eating in the car. I used this strategy when I started working at Gehman Accounting. I decided to exercise before work every day. From day one, I got up and biked for an hour before work. I've missed a few days, but I've always regretted it when I started out the day feeling sluggish as a consequence. Now I'm in that routine, it's simply a part of my day, just like driving to work.

To sum it up, here's what worked for me.

1. My mindset changed as a result of reading The Happiness Project and Better Than Before.

2. Exercise became top priority once I truly realized how it affected my physical and mental well-being. (Not just knowing this in my head.)

3. I formed a new habit by linking it to a transitional period in my life.

Also, it's important to rest. I usually don't exercise more than 5 days a week, and my workouts are far from hard-core. Sleep needs to be high on the priority list too. In order to get up before 5, I go to bed before 9. 

Please know I don't claim to have it all figured out! There's many other areas of my life I wish I could get a grip on. I'm still learning, but happy for progress.

21 for 2021 - how it went!

Maybe you'll remember the post (link here) I wrote in January about planning and making goals for a new year. I've been thinking about reporting how it went, and wanted to write about it before life got any busier with the upcoming holidays.

Of course, things did not go as planned - when do they ever?? - but I still made progress and have positive things to report. I don't think I ever put my full "21 for 2021" list on this blog because some things are a little personal, but here's an overview. 

First, the good things! I included some items on my list that I knew with 99% certainty I'd do, so I wouldn't completely fail the project. Here are the ones I can check off as fully completed. 

✅ Read through the Bible 

Started Nov '20, finished Nov '21

✅ Start a book club 

This has been a special highlight of my year!

✅ Walk 500 miles minimum 

Technically, I'm at 497.9 as of today, but the year isn't over and I know I'll reach 500!

✅ Save $, pay off debt, and keep up with budget

Early in the year, we did a budgeting program and I've been amazed at how well it's worked! Even though we didn't follow it 100% of the time, here's our success story. To date, we've paid an extra $15,600 on outstanding debt! We've also greatly curbed our spending on groceries, household items, & Amazon purchases.

✅ Keep clutter out

This is kind of routine for me. But I think I did a pretty good job this year with eliminating unnecessary furniture/larger items. 

✅ Floss at least 5x/week

Well, I didn't document it, but fairly certain this happened!

✅ Bike the Walkway Over the Hudson

 

Walkway Over the Hudson - Poughkeepsie, NY

The next few items I was maybe 50% successful at accomplishing.

- Send a letter/card to 1 grandparent per month - schedule it.

- Use planner consistently. Meal plan and grocery shop at least 1 week in advance.

- Make a practice of fully prepping for work the night before.

It started out well! I made a schedule for sending letters and put it in my planner. Meal planning and grocery shopping in advance was marvelous. But gradually I stopped using my planner regularly and all the things I so diligently scheduled were pushed to the back burner. It takes effort and time to sit down and plan things out, and I guess it wasn't high priority. Prepping for work the night before happened most of the year until I started a new job and didn't have to leave at zero dark thirty every morning. Now I'm much more relaxed about getting ready since I don't have to punch in at a certain time. Still, it would help me get out the door sooner if I took this up again.

Now, a few things that didn't work out so well. 

- Make devotional/meditation time a priority. Schedule it.

- Drink more water.

- Learn how to limit phone time.

What can I say? I don't feel the need to make explanations or excuses because I know it simply wasn't important enough to me. 

Overall, I'm happy with what I've accomplished this year. What I'm most grateful for is that I finally caught on to how important exercise is and that it must become a habit. It's become highly important and necessary for my well-being, and honestly, it's become a hobby! I've considered writing about how this happened, but it seems I write so much about myself and it feels kind of boastful. 

Our successful budgeting program is another highlight and I might share more on that someday! 

 

a fine fall morning

While I've never thought of myself as a morning person, lately I feel the most inspired and optimistic on my way to work. The 45 minute drive gives time to contemplate and soak in my surroundings, and the fall colors lately have been phenomenal! 

Several times I've been inspired to write, but by the time I'm home from work, my enthusiasm is gone. The long, dark evenings affect me mentally, and all I want to do is go to bed. But this is not supposed to be a melancholic ramble! This morning was exceptionally brilliant, and I think it deserves to be remembered!  The season's first hard frost arrived overnight, and witnessing the sky brightening on a frosty autumn world has to be one of the loveliest scenes to be found.

A picture just can't do it justice. How would you capture the sun shining through golden trees at the perfect angle, hitting the frost-bitten cornstalk stubble? Or the way steam rises off a creek, hanging low over the water on a cold morning? Words fall short, as well. 

Although Fall will probably never be my favorite season, I can certainly appreciate it's beauty! All the dazzling colors help balance out the sadness, and the sadness itself has beauty. I think that's why I love this L.M. Montgomery quote. 

October book club

 

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle 

Barbara Kingsolver

nonfiction

☆☆☆

This was a rather out-of-the-ordinary yet refreshing pick for book club and generated plenty of discussion! For one year, Barbara and her family ate only food they raised or bought locally. There are many thought-provoking details given about the American food supply chain and the way we're accustomed to eating. I will probably remember some of those details and possibly make small changes because of this book! I've always liked the idea of buying locally and supporting small businesses, but haven't always gone out of my way to do it. 

I loved how this book exactly fit the character of the person who picked it. 😊 I would've had a hard time with this one if it wasn't for the audiobook, though. Still, I'm happy to broaden my reading horizons! 

Our next book was a favorite from Sheila's childhood. Benjamin and Jon looks like an easy, delightful read.

We've had our book club for almost a year, and now everyone has had a chance to pick a book. We don't have a definite plan moving forward, although there was some discussion of keeping on with children's literature. I've heard so many adults (myself included!) say they love children's books and I think it would be fun to discuss books like The Phantom Tollbooth, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Wonder, to name a few!

And now, I'm off to spend the rest of this dark, rainy evening with a good book!