How often do we sit and watch the sun just rise? Or watch the sun just set?
So often life becomes busy, we finding ourselves overwhelmed, rushed through the day. Worry, anxiety, depression. Rush, rush, rush. Sleep rough, less than needed, run through the day, rush, hurry, here we go again, then late to bed, and repeat.
Do we stop for a moment and see the day as it truly is? The light of the golden morning, the clouds whisping across the sky, the tinkng of raindrops, the whispers of breeze or the howls of the wind? Or are our focus on too cold, too hot, too windy, too bright, and so on?
If we stop, if we breathe, if we wait… slow down… then can we see? It is up to you.
On Friday, I spent the day with my husband and enjoyed each other’s company.
Saturday, I found myself distracted and then surprised with an unexpected date with my husband.
Sunday, something I ate made me very sick, then that evening my youngest son broke his finger so we were in emergency for awhile.
Monday, I was looking to get back on track with chores, writing, and inking. That plan changed when I took a nasty tumble down the basement stairs. Large bruises on my left leg, thigh, and hip. Pain and couldn’t focus, just concentrated on resting and not moving.
Tuesday, pain was worse and spent the day resting and sleeping.
Today, today I feel less pain and am able to try, emphasis “try”, to get back on track. Blogging and inking here I come!
All that said, I wish to send a little encouragement to those out there with days like these. It’s okay! It’s okay to take a break, rest, relax, and heal. Everything extra can wait. Be patient with yourself, give yourself a little grace. Peace and calm is needed for healing.
Yesterday I found myself running busy from the morning coffee until falling asleep on the bed while speaking my husband at 8 o’clock-ish. The sun was shining which helped with the mood of business.
But it wasn’t all bad occupying work that took my time. No, on the contrary. I spent the day with my husband. In each others presence, we enjoyed company, coffee, a walk, conversation, lunch, then just time together, quality time. Those moments were special, precious, treasured.
What do you do with your significant other? How was your Friday?
In my self-care study, I have been journaling and the one topic I have struggled with the most is “Five Things I Love About Myself”. I am literally still working on it and started three days ago.
It is difficult to love yourself, isn’t it? Or is it just me?
I am not one to blog very well on self-love so I will simply share a few links today of some good self-love articles and tips that I thought were very wise.
“Self-Care and Self-Love Are Different, but Here’s Why You Need Both“
A friend of mine on Twitter, thoughtswithN, (https://twitter.com/justmominit), has encouraged me greatly and I have currently been going through a self-care booklet she has made.
I have been taking my time working through it and often just thinking on the topics. My current focus is the journaling topic. Addressing certain topics about myself and attempting to discern what I desire and wish. It has been difficult in some topics such as “Things I would like to change about/in my life right now” and “If I could change one relationship in my life”. Now I could just jot down each answer that comes to my mind but I have focused on self-reflection. My answers and the “why” behind them.
What a hard topic I face some days! The one I answered recently was “My biggest fear for myself.” I thought long and hard and summed it up in this sentence “I am afraid of failing everyone I know and love completely and unforgivably.” A true fear. I know we all fail sometimes, that there is forgiveness, that we learn and move on. But what about failing and not being forgiven? An difficult concept I am still trying to work through in my mind. This fear can become consuming and prevent me from seeing those who “do” forgive and “do” reconcile, prevent me from seeing that it is difficult to fail utterly and completely.
How would you deal with such a fear? I am still trying to work through it in my mind.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended to uplift and encourage but understand it may not be for everyone.
This past week my husband and I watched the movie “Fireproof”. I firmly believe it wise for any believer to watch this movie. It has made a difference in my life and my relationship with my husband has changed and grown so much just in the past week.
We are planning on beginning the “Love Dare”, a book based off the movie intended to strengthen a couples relationship. This too I encourage couples to try. Links to the movie and book are listed below.
Today I continue my descriptive story that I started yesterday. Hope you enjoy and find encouragement and peace in it.
Behold Spring!! Part 2
Springing up and riding the breeze, a group of dancing bodies, brown and green, jumping in the heat. Beneath their dance, awaken from his slumber, the quiet gardener lazily lifts his head, flickers his tongue, and slithers off.
A herd of lowing cattle moves slowly through the golden grains, their mouths almost greedily munching as they scatter the various micro creatures that buzz and flutter. The cattle, grunting and snorting, lower their heads to the river, to fill their stomachs after a day of grazing. Above them, the sky takes a darker hue as the sun nears the western horizon. Already the pale colors of evening approach.
The colors! The brilliant cerulean darkens to royal blues as the sky warms with crimson, violet, and orange. A widespread rainbow blend of wonder, covers, spreading until the blues darken to navy, darkens to darkness.
A speck of light! First a small point that hangs solemnly then brightens as the night darkens. Now, hundreds of points fill the massive dome of life. The focal point, our moon, rises from the east to fill the forest and fields with the indigo shadows of night.
But no stillness. The chorus of the day continues. As the shadowed creatures rest, the Red-tails ‘reet-reet’ joins the chirrup of crickets that blend with the continued rhythm of the river flow. Down in the waters, the hippity-hoppity olive bullfrogs join the song with their base music.
The music lasts the night, lulling the doe and he fawn to sleep where they rest in the safety of the thicket. The Robins nestle together, their warm feathered bodies covering their soft blue eggs. The cattle lay in the field, content and pleasantly full. Amid the continuous harmony, life rests.
Now the dawn! A gentle softening! Behold, the shadows begin their hasty retreat again! The hills and tress lighten with the glorious sunrise.
The pearl glistens again in the rays. The delicate design all the more shimmers. The blanket cloud lifts as the colors once more break forth as the winged chorus cries forth in utter glorious harmony, “It’s Spring!”
Today I begin a two part short descriptive story I wrote some time ago but now feel confident enough to share. My favorite time of year is Spring, which seems out of place now that we are full fledged in Fall. However, this encourages me in this deep grief I am dealing with. Sometimes looking at the silver lining, hope, and light of the future helps when one is struggling. So here is my short descriptive story for you to enjoy and hopefully take some encouragement and happiness from.
Behold Spring!! Part 1
A pearl that glistens in the dawning rays. The artful design that shimmers in the stillness. A blanket of cloud lifts as the aurora breaks forth with the winged chorus. Emerald start glimmer with beads of glittering light as the cascading lavender and rose gives way to the glorious ripple of golden morn.
Behold the morning! Behold the radiant splendor of spring! The fuchsia blossoms bloom sweeping upwards as the maple buds burst forth with the crisp newness of life. Red ferns shiver slightly as the last dew slips off the pines tingling needles. The lily and cow slip greet the great oak as he slumbers silently, the colors framing the bronze pillar.
Wake to the sunrise! The auburn fox creeps through the shadows, the light fairly glistening off his damp coat. A flash of light, a flash of res! He is gone, the reeds gently swaying where he had been.
The light softens and fills the forest; the final lingering shadows hasten from the path of light. A doe gently, silently, treads on the blanket that the morning has laid. Her tawny color still is tinted by the morning mist. Behind her, here comes, the bundle of life, almost skittish, almost carefree. His little bleats echo in the chorus of the forest.
What a chorus! From the chattering ditty of the Cardinals to the Blue Jays’ loud cawing, the Chickadees joins the melody with their bright twitters. Finches and Sparrows whistle their tunes as the Robin shrills amid the Starlings’ screams. Interwoven among the canopy, the orchestra sets forth its glorious anthem.
The sunlight has reached its fullness and now brilliant are the diamonds and prisms of light that cascade the rivulets. The trickling adds to the melody as the basic undertone and rhythm of the forest.
Ah, beyond the forest, where the broad azure touches the sweeping plain. The gently swaying grasses harmonizes with the earth’s breathing as celestial pillows, ever whitening, ever changing, traverse the sky, going where no one knows. For the day is half gone, as the midday comes. Even the sun has reached its peak, behold, how it slowly, slowly, slides westward.
When life begins to throw the crappiest things in life at you and the world seems to turn its back on you, this is when the true love of friends and family show the brightest. This love will come through the strongest and overcome the horrid darkness of error and problems in life. If allowed to prevail, this love will be stronger than anything life throws your way. Conquering the greatest problems, love will help you through life and give you purpose to persevere.
Senshi's Ramblings 