Category Archives: taking care of yourself

December 14, 2023 · 3:19 pm

Give Yourself a Gift

Do you give yourself Christmas and birthday presents? At my house, we don’t give presents at the ‘expected’ times. We don’t get each other Christmas presents, for example. We sometimes go out to dinner for birthdays, anniversaries, etc., but not every time.

We DO get each other gifts when we come across them and think the other would like them. We go ahead and get them and give them, right in the middle of ‘nothing,’ for no special date, just because we think the item will please the other. When we find something we want for ourselves that is a reasonable price, we go ahead and buy it.

I’m going to suggest that you consider buying yourself a present this year – one that will keep giving itself every month all year long. I’m suggesting that you give yourself the gift of monthly massages.

Allure

I used to think massages were just therapeutic – or just a luxury.

I discovered them as therapeutic when I worked as a medical transcriptionist and bookkeeper for a busy general surgeons office in Fort Smith. I kept working longer and longer hours trying to keep up with the 8 surgeons dictation, bills, tax prep, etc. until I couldn’t even take my shirt off over my head at night. I was SO stiff and sore that I would ache even when I wasn’t working.

A wonderful therapist saved me from that, but then she moved away, I resigned from that job, and things just changed.

Years passed and then I found Lynn Moody. I consider her a dear friend as well as my massage therapist. I would give up a lot of things now before I gave up my monthly sessions with her. She undoes the whole month’s worth of tension, knots, sore spots and more as we catch each other up on what has happened in our lives since the last session. I now consider my monthly massage one of my necessities – my gift to myself that keeps on giving.

Please consider giving yourself the gift of feeling better, feeling more calm, help with any particular sore areas or areas you’ve abused lately, and more.

Can you say, “Ahhhhhhh?”

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November 20, 2023 · 11:40 am

Monday 11-20-2023

Facebook

We got up and left this morning – in the cooler, rainy weather we’re having – immediately after feeding animals to get lab work done for our 6 month routine doctor appointment Wednesday afternoon. We like to treat ourselves to a Dari Restaurant breakfast afterwards.

They called us back to the lab part of the clinic, but then told us, after taking some of my blood, that we weren’t due for any more lab tests. I explained that it had been six months since we last saw the doctor and that we ALWAYS got fresh lab work done so that she could see how we were doing and could make recommendations for what we should do until we saw her again. They checked the records again and said it was ‘too soon’ for our lab tests. I was too shocked to ask when we WERE due for the tests, and we left.

We went ahead and enjoyed our breakfast out, but I’m still at a loss. If we don’t have the test results for the doc, all we can tell HER is that we’re still old. All she can tell US is that we seem to still be alive, and then give us another appointment.

It seems like there is a lack of communication somewhere. With my luck, our doc will want us to get lab work some other day after Thanksgiving, and my husband will probably get ugly about having to go to the doc 3 times…

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October 20, 2023 · 10:21 am

Blowing My Head Off

Medicine Plus

Yesterday I had what I call, “The Day of the Allergy.”

I’m not allergic to anything. Really. I’ve always been really thankful that I don’t have to spend a lot of time blowing my nose and sneezing my head off, like so many other good people.

Yesterday that changed and I tried to catch up to other allergy sufferers. .

I’m not exaggerating much when I tell you I sneezed so often I simply stopped trying to do anything else but have another kleenex ready. I see on my computer screen all of a sudden that there is ‘high pollen’ today. Maybe that’s my problem, but it’s weird that it would show up NOW, when I’m older than dirt.

I certainly got my exercise with all the sneezing. It stopped long enough in the afternoon that I got my yoga practice in, but I have to admit that all I did yesterday was curse and sneeze – a somewhat ‘colorful’ combination….

Today I’m fine. Or at least I haven’t had any problems yet. I did take two allergy pills last night in desperation.

Anyway, the mystery continues. I hope that you are not suffering from this, or that you handle it with more grace than I.

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October 8, 2023 · 9:25 am

Feeling Old and Creaky

Rivercity Pilates

Yesterday I went out and did about 20 minutes of pulling up small “weed trees” beside the shop. I’m trying to get these pulled by hand because they are too much for the wire in the weed whacker. Even though I only did that one session, my back hurt so badly when I was cooking dinner I had to ask my husband to come stir the chicken I was browning.

I’m going to redouble my efforts today on my yoga. It’s taken a back seat to my yard work, and my body is apparently telling me that is a mistake. I need to make time for both. I have to learn this lesson over and over – being a bit slow-witted – learning that the stretching and relaxation is essential to my well-being. :0(

@Britton65Sam on X

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September 28, 2023 · 12:03 pm

Nice Day

123RF

I just got home from my massage and the tight, tense pretzel I was has been replaced by a happy, smiling woman. Lynn Moody performed a miracle and once again loosened or kneaded away my knots and tight muscles. I’m going to fix us some lunch and then will probably take a nice nap. :0)

Things are quiet. It’s 85 degrees, so I shut the doors and turned on our a/c for the afternoon. We’re able to either leave the doors open or keep the thermostat on the a/c up higher these days, so that’s a good thing, too.

I haven’t decided how I’ll spend the afternoon, other than my sloth-like nap. It’s nice to have a day where I don’t have any ‘have-to’s’. The ‘shoulds’ are piling up, so I’ll see if I can knock at least a couple of those out today.

I hope that you are having a really nice day, too.

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September 24, 2023 · 1:47 pm

Healing with Herbs

Healing with Herbs – Embracing the Power of Nature for a Natural Lifestyle by Norah Halstead

This is a good beginner book on growing herbs to be used in a holistic, more natural way to treat health problems and concerns. It, of course, cautions you to talk with your healthcare provider before you start adding to your synthetic, commercial options or doing any substituting, but herbal remedies are said to be safer than what you might be taking or using now.

There are good sections on growing your own herbs, storing them for use as dried herbs, essential oils, or salves, or including them in your meals for general well being. There is also a guide to more information in books and websites on the subject.

I particularly liked a section on building your own “herbal first aid kit.”

I have long thought about the idea of growing herbs on my divider in my kitchen so I can pinch off a bit to use in cooking. I’ve also been impressed by people who know which herb is good for upset stomach, or what to brew in a tea to help you sleep better. I like the idea of being able to substitute some herbs for commercial stuff I’m taking where possible.

This book is a good start on healing herbs. I will keep it for reference. I want to read more, but I’m getting less intimidated by the whole idea of fresh herbs than I used to be.

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August 3, 2023 · 3:11 pm

Vigilance

Imgflip

I wanted to warn you about a scam.

I received an email today telling me that a company would be automatically renewing my service contract with them. They named the amount. The company was someone we have done business with in the past. They said that if I wanted to renew I needed to do nothing. If I didn’t want to renew, I was to call the phone number.

Neither my husband nor I remembered having signed up for a contract, but we certainly didn’t want whatever it was renewed, so I called the number. The connection was terrible. The man seemed to be from India, but the connection was SO bad he said he would call me right back and see if the connection was better.

I decided to get online and contact Customer Service so I could make sure I wasn’t charged. I was asked several questions about the email I received, and I was told it was a scam. The agent gave me the url ftc.gov so that I could report the scam, which I did. I’ll watch our credit cards to make sure the charge didn’t go through, and if it was, I’ll contest it, even though it will probably mean changing our credit card again – something I truly hate.

This was a slick scam. The writer of the email had the logo of the company on it. He knew my email address. Even though I consider myself reasonably vigilant, I fell for this one. Be careful.

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July 27, 2023 · 9:09 am

Anticipation

Giphy

I’m leaving in just a minute to get my monthly massage. My mind and body are more than ready.

I’ll catch up to you when I get back.

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July 19, 2023 · 4:01 pm

Eye-Opening Experiment

I was listening to Fox News the other day when Sandra Smith was citing an article that said nearly half of the tap water in the U.S. was contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’ that caused cancer, according to tests by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Since I’ve been STRIVING to drink more water, and usually just fill up a glass from the tap and drop some ice from our ice maker into it, I took notice.

My husband researched whole house water filtration systems and we decided they were too expensive. There were under the sink systems, but that wouldn’t help the water that the fridge uses for making ice. Both my husband and I use a LOT of ice, particularly during this time of the year.

I remembered that we got some kind of pitcher filtration system quite awhile back and stashed it – just in case. We got it down today. It comes with a testing device, so we tried it. (It said if the filtration system tested ‘6’ it was time to change the filter.)

  • Bottled water was ‘0’
  • water filtered through this system was ‘0’
  • water directly from the tap was ‘8’
  • bottled water with ice added from the fridge was 20!

We first changed the filter on the fridge and dumped all the ice. We now have the new pitcher system filled with filter water (tested) in the fridge ready to drink. I have just ordered more filters for the system.

We bought the ZeroWater System because of the reviews we read years ago. We have confidence, after running our own tests today, that it is actually DOING something and not just something to make us FEEL like we’re doing something.

The system came with a filter and we had bought one extra. I just bought this six-pack of filters. I was really surprised by the results on the water with ice from our fridge. Truly cringe-worthy. I’ll stay stocked up on filters for our fridge, too, even though they’re expensive.

I feel a bit silly, I have to admit. We’ll probably be hit by a bus, or be hit by a comet or something, rather than getting cancer from our drinking water, but I feel better. I remember my mom ( who was dying of oral cancer) triumphantly telling me that her doctor told her that her cholesterol was ‘perfect’ – after years of battling her numbers…

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July 18, 2023 · 10:28 am

Roller Coaster

Sea World

I think I MAY have solved the problem of continuing to receive a medication for my husband at a price we can afford.

We reached the ‘donut hole’ for the first time in our medical coverage. We would need to spend another $7500 this year in order to make our way out. If we DO spend that much, paying for prescriptions won’t be the largest problem! The prescription price for this med had quadrupled!

I reached out to our supplemental coverage and they agreed they could provide one month of the medicine before we actually reach the donut hole. I reached out to AstraZenega, filled out the form for financial help, only to be told on the insurance page – almost the last page on the form – that we didn’t qualify because we had supplemental coverage.

Since our doctor says this is the only medicine that will do what my husband needs, it’s important that we get it. I was told they no longer provide written paper prescriptions. I wrote again, explained that I can found a possible source we could afford, but we needed the paper prescription. Otherwise, my husband would have to do without the medication. She answered today, saying it would be waiting for us at the front desk. She also warned us that many places will not accept paper prescriptions anymore.

I thanked her profusely. We will pick it up tomorrow and start the procedure to see if the source will accept the prescription or not. It’s always something, but at least in this case, there is hope.

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June 24, 2023 · 3:44 pm

Rabbit Pellets

Giphy

This morning was DAY ONE of eating Fiber One Cereal. We put blueberries and milk on it.

My husband and are are of the same mind – the rabbit-pellet-looking cereal has very little taste. I was very happy for the blueberries. The cereal wasn’t objectionable in any way, other than making me feel like a rabbit eating Purina Rabbit Chow.

The fact that one serving is 18 grams of fiber is really important to us. The fact that it contains NO sugar is equally important. That outweighs any other considerations, and we are super grateful.

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June 17, 2023 · 9:19 am

Digs

The only thing worse than this is having to do it with what I consider super small type fonts.

Yesterday I signed up for a 6-month membership at a site designed to help pre-diabetics (me) and diabetics (my husband is Type II) manage their condition better – better information, diet plans, exercise advice, menus, etc.

I spent several minutes trying to read a ‘free gift’ booklet as an introduction. I finally figured out a way to enlarge the font so I could read it without my glasses (and worse – a MAGNIFYING glass) to better see the diagrams. I thought about writing a nasty note, and then figured they would probably refer me to an optometrist…

My take-away from all this is happiness that I am in good enough health to LOOK for ways to improve it, and the smarts and determination to figure out how to make the information I found work for me.

I’ve now added the site to my computer, signed up, and also added the app to my phone. I ain’t dead yet. :0)

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April 19, 2023 · 9:48 am

Cookies

Forwarded by my friend Marsha

She and I are trying to encourage each other in our efforts to lose the lard and exercise.

She has lost a pound or two already recently and purchased a peddler that she can use several times a day, rain or shine, to try to build muscle and stamina. Huge kudos!

I, on the other hand, am a dismal failure. I do pretty well, and then my husband, trying to be nice, brings me a dish of ice cream with chocolate syrup. Or, failing that excuse, I decide I’m starving to death mid afternoon and have some pretzels, even after drinking a bottle of water first and waiting to try to curb my hunger. I’ve also been using my meager yard work as a substitute for my yoga practice. Bah. Humbug.

I’m trying to do one day at a time – even one morning at a time. I’ll try to get my act together VERY SOON – if not TODAY…

taolife.com

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April 12, 2023 · 9:20 am

The Ouches Have It

Cornerstone Naturopathic

My husband and I had a contest yesterday (of which we were unaware) on who could mess up their back more. I was doing more weed whacking sessions in the yard and he was doing something in our shop.

We finished up about the same time. He helped me wind up the long cord for the weed whacker and put it away. We each got a drink and rested. I was stiff and sore, but was too lazy to try to do my yoga, as I knew I should.

He explained that he was pulling on something in the shop and heard a ‘pop’ in his back. He decided that was it for the day and came in.

Pinterest

He was sorer last night, but took some Tylenol and rested on the heat pad in his chair. He is still quite sore today, but doesn’t want me to take him to the doctor. He is in his chair on the heat pad, and I just took him some Tylenol. I guess this is yet another lesson that we are no longer 30 and need to be more careful. There isn’t a ‘good’ person between the two of us today, but I’m a spring chicken compared to my poor husband. I’ll watch him like a hawk.

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April 7, 2023 · 9:09 am

Therapeutic Yoga

Tenor.com

Running out of excuses for not doing my yoga sessions lately, I did a session of careful stretches yesterday, trying to straighten out, stretch, relax into old lady poses, and generally give myself a chance to heal.

Why I need to convince myself from time to time that it really HELPS me to do this practice remains a mystery. General laziness, I guess.

I had been feeling creaky, sore, stiff, etc. from yard work, helping my husband change the tires on our truck and more, and I was basically doing the minimum movement needed.

Being dumb is not something I cultivate, so now that I’ve proven it to myself once again, I’ll try to do at least half an hour daily, no matter what else I’m doing.

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March 23, 2023 · 11:50 am

Ahhhhhhhh!

Mountain View Animal Hospital

I’m just back from my massage. I feel limp as a noodle. I’ll drink lots of water with lunch and probably take a nap after.

I told Lynn that it was hurting to lift anything with my right arm – on my inner arm just above my elbow. I don’t know what muscles are involved, but I think it’s my biceps. She zeroed in on that and found a pretty decent-sized knot that she kneaded, trying to get it to release. It was definitely a case of ‘it-feels-so-good-when-she-stops’ :0). She also recommended a cream she has found that helps her and her family. It’s called Penetrex Pain Relief Therapy – Inflammation Formula. I’ll google it and order it online as soon as I finish this.

I’m so lucky that I can get a massage once a month. It is really good for my health. I would probably be curled into a ball if it weren’t for Lynn.

If you’re in the Greenwood/Fort Smith area, her name is Lynn Moody, and her phone number for an appointment is 479-629-7601.

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March 23, 2023 · 9:26 am

Anticipation

American Kennel Club

I’m leaving to get my monthly massage this morning, and boy – am I ready!

I’ll tell Lynn, my magnificent massage therapist, about a couple of places that could use some particular attention, but she’ll find several others I wasn’t even aware of.

When I’m home again, I’ll be wonderfully loose and relaxed. I’ll drink a bunch of water, probably nap this afternoon, and my therapy will be complete.

Ahhhhhhhhhh! Lucky lady.

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January 22, 2023 · 8:54 am

Sick on Sunday 1-22-2023

Pixabay

I am feeling less than stellar today after being ill most of the night. I wish you a wonderful Sunday and will try to talk again tomorrow.

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January 19, 2023 · 11:54 am

Ahhhhhhh!

Quasarphoto-Getty Images-iStockphoto-Thinkstock Photos

I’m home from my massage. Lynn Moody, my miracle worker, really gave me a deluxe massage today, zeroing in on my arm, too. I almost came up off the table when she first started, but she really got the blood moving. She suggested I continue the muscle gel for pain and also heat. I feel MUCH better right now. I just finished drinking a bottle of water and will use the heat after lunch.

I’m so lucky to have Lynn to take care of me. Ahhhhhh!

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November 17, 2022 · 12:07 pm

Benefits of Massage

American Kennel Club

I just came home from getting my November massage. Ahhhhhh!

I really used to think it was just a luxury. A nice way to pamper yourself.

After doing medical transcription and bookkeeping in Ft. Smith for 8 years, I was a mess. I had so much tension in my shoulders, neck, and back I was unable to pull a T-shirt off over my head. I didn’t sleep well and would just push myself harder and harder to get the work load done. (I did transcription for 8 busy general surgeons plus all their bookkeeping. I finally got some help, but my tension problems remained.)

I went to a doctor who recommended massage. My insurance didn’t pay for it, but I did it anyway, desperate for some relief. After weekly massages for 8 weeks, I was finally back to ‘normal.’ The therapist saved my life.

Then, I stopped working in Ft. Smith and so lost my easy access to a gym after work, and didn’t continue the massages.

I don’t know when I was lucky enough to find Lynn, my massage therapist, but I changed my labeling of massage as a luxury and pampering (though they are both of those) and started considering them in the light of taking better care of myself – something I needed on a regular basis – a way to stay healthier.

Benefits of massage

  • Reducing stress and increasing relaxation.
  • Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension.
  • Improving circulation, energy and alertness.
  • Lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
  • Improving immune function.

This is according to the Mayo Clinic, if you needed more convincing.

Selfishly, I wish I could get one more than once a month, but I’m very, very grateful for Lynn’s wonderful care.

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November 17, 2022 · 11:39 am

27 Seconds

lifestyle.livemint.com

I’ve added trying to hold the plank pose to my daily yoga practices. Opinions vary as to my efforts thus far.

GLASS HALF EMPTY: Pathetic that I’m only able to count to 27 while holding the pose. AND I’m probably counting too fast.

GLASS HALF FULL: I started with a count of only 10 and am now able to hold it to the count of 27 before collapsing. It’s all relative.

GLASS IS REFILLABLE: I’m slowly building a bit of strength in my core. Just like everything else at my age, it’ll take awhile to get to anything reasonable. I remind myself that when I first started with yoga stretches, I was unable to –

  • Even THINK about bending over and touching my toes
  • Put my hands over my head and onto the floor while lying on my back
  • Get down on the floor and up again without the use of a crane (or some furniture)
  • Get close to doing a sit up or other abdominal exercises or poses
  • Even THINK about sitting on my knees

SO –

Today is DAY 125 of my daily yoga practice. I’m about to leave to get a glorious massage. I’m about the luckiest old lady on the planet. :0)

I hope that you are doing good things for yourself, too.

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October 25, 2022 · 4:49 pm

DAY 102

Giphy

As I look back to when I first started my old lady yoga stretches, trying to build a ‘habit,’ I see several improvements –

When I started, I –

  • Had trouble getting on the floor on the mat
  • had to wait a full minute or so for lying on my back to quit hurting
  • could not put my arms behind me over my head
  • could not bring my knees up high enough to grab them
  • could not even THINK about touching my toes
  • could not lift the front of my body up on my arms while lying on my stomach
  • had trouble balancing while on hands and knees for any stretching

Et cetera,. Et cetera, Et cetera. (Like Yul Brenner in “The King and I.”

I’m still old – even older now, but I have made a lot of progress. Each day I feel I’m a bit looser than I was the previous practice. It’s not a miracle, but it makes me feel better – more flexible, with less pain, able to balance much better. Some of my muscles are getting stronger. It has started to offset any overdoing I do in other things, bringing me back to being able to relax.

Daily yoga is not a habit – yet. I seem to be one of the harder nuts to crack about how long it takes to make something a habit. But I’m definitely seeing a difference and determined to keep going.

Time to go practice!

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October 5, 2022 · 9:39 am

DAY 82

One Green Planet

Today is DAY 82 of my efforts to make a habit of doing a daily session of yoga.

I will need to be particularly mindful in my practice today because I have pain on the right side of my back in particular today. I think I hurt myself yesterday evening trying to get the empty new trashcan in the bed of the truck by myself at the bottom of the driveway. My husband and I had a ‘discussion’ about it on the way back up the driveway. He agreed – since he doesn’t want to leave the new can at the bottom of the driveway – that he will get out and help me get the can in and out of the truck.

I discovered that the addition of another small pillow allows me to stretch the stiff part of my back safely. I actually felt better – much looser – after my practice yesterday.

My practice lasts from 30 to 45 minutes these days, depending on how I feel. Each stretch is still uncomfortable at first, but my body is beginning to actually look forward to the stretches, relaxing into the poses more quickly, as I feel so much better afterwards. :0)

The time to fully relax, taking as much time as I want, is a good time for me. I’m calm and happy when I finish.

Not a ‘habit’ yet – but therapeutic.

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September 3, 2022 · 9:59 am

DAY 50!

Tenor

My dog, Amber, doesn’t ‘yog’ with me, but she snuffles and nuzzles me each time I start my practice now, getting as close to me as possible, turning over on her back with her feet in the air, cavorting around, biting one foot, thoroughly delighting in yet another chance to be loved, make me laugh – and possibly get another cookie.

I can’t say I’ve built a ‘habit’ of daily yoga practice yet, but I’m definitely automatically making time for my practice each afternoon, choosing my yoga over other activities if I’m running short of time. If my husband is in his chair, I automatically bring him a throw as I flip the switch that starts the ceiling fan, turning it off when I finish.

Boat Pose

Yesterday I added another pose to my practice. It’s another pose that focuses on the core – or abdomen – specifically, called, “The Boat.” There are some other poses in that article that I’ll add as I go, but one new one at a time is enough for now.

I’m hoping that my daily practice will allow me to move as freely as possible, with as much flexibility and balance as I can without a lot of pain as I age. I would like to increase my stamina. Since I hope to live a lot longer, this is a really important goal for me. I want to be able to do what I’d like for as long as I can, enjoying freedom without a lot of fear of falling or breaking bones.

I’ve improved a lot on my stretching since I started my goal of daily practice 50 days ago today. I haven’t gotten any younger, but I’m able to stretch farther in each of the poses and hold the poses longer now, or do more repetitions. I’m able to do my ‘normal practice’ plus now look for a bit more to add. Good progress.

taolife.com

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August 25, 2022 · 9:03 am

Favorite Thursday

Best Accredited Colleges

Today is my favorite Thursday of the month – the Thursday I get a massage. Ahhhhhhh!

My sore muscles, stiff places, pops and crackles all wait impatiently each month for Lynn’s attention. The stars align and it’s my morning to go enjoy her healing hands.

If I won the lottery, I would probably ask her for more, but I’m very grateful for the one Thursday I feel totally relaxed each month.

Each time when she gets finished, I tell her ‘thank you,’ and ‘good night,’ hoping she could simply leave me there…

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August 10, 2022 · 10:58 am

Happy Thought

Giphy

Today will be DAY 26 in my efforts to make practicing yoga daily a HABIT/ROUTINE/REGIMEN, rather than merely something I “should’ do.

I managed to do my practices this week in spite of being under the weather. I did a somewhat abbreviated version, not doing as many repetitions as I do when I’m feeling well, but I did the whole routine and felt better for it.

I’m starting to believe that I can actually get to the point where I don’t even THINK about making time for it – I just DO it.

Jim Rohn – http://www.wow4u.com – Inspirational Words of Wisdom

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August 9, 2022 · 11:30 am

Ugh

Dogs, Cats, Pets – Dr Winnie

Feeling crappy. Take care and have a good day.

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August 8, 2022 · 10:37 am

M-M-M-Monday 8-8-2022

cesarsway.com

I’m having trouble talking clearly because my mouth is full of basketball…. :0) (I laughed out loud when I found this photo.)

Cleveland Clinic

Things are good here today, except that I developed a sore throat last evening. It hurts to swallow and ‘someone’ has been busy with sandpaper inside my throat. I have some Chloraseptic Spray and should be fine very soon.

Times of India

Meanwhile, we gathered trash this morning to add to the GROUP of bags the trash people STILL haven’t picked up. I’m pretty disgusted with our ‘service,’ having had to regather the trash down at the bottom of the driveway TWICE since the pickup was supposed to happen LAST Tuesday. Three phone calls to Customer Service and one to-the-point email have resulted in two work orders, but no action. They won’t be able to say we didn’t have the trash down in time THIS week…. 8 days and counting. HOPING the work order will result in them picking up the trash today, rather than having to have to leave it out there overnight again until ‘regular’ pickup tomorrow.

front
inside

On my Christmas project, the 8 tote bags are finished and stored until gift-giving time. I finished the Christmas cards to go with them yesterday and I’m now trying to flatten them. When I feel energetic, I’ll put things away in the art room and think about a next project.

Giphy

I’m going to take it easy today, spraying my throat, sucking on Sucrets, and being lazy. I’ll do what I can on my yoga practice this afternoon – DAY 24.

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July 28, 2022 · 2:28 pm

Miracle Worker

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I went for my monthly massage this morning. Lynn, my therapist, performed a miracle, making me feel WONDERFUL by the time she finished. Bonus – she asked me what I was doing exercise-wise. She NOTICED a difference! I’m still shocked. :0)

I came home, made lunch, and then dozed a bit in my recliner.

We’re having bacon-wrapped hamburger patties, steamed veggies (carrots, pea pods, broccoli, and celery) and cut up ripe tomatoes for dinner with fresh sliced peaches and no-added-sugar vanilla ice cream for dessert. I just finished getting the prep done for that.

I’m going to go up to my art room and play, experimenting – trying to see if the design in my head for handmade Christmas cards will work.

Day 13 on my daily yoga practice. My husband is being really supportive of my efforts. He also noticed I was exercising longer, mentioning it yesterday. I told him that I was adding a few more poses and exercises and had increased the time from 30 minutes to about 45 minutes. I’m taking my time and increasing the time I’m stretching, plus increasing the number of repetitions of some of my exercises. I feel good when I finish.

With the massage this morning and yoga this afternoon, my husband may have to cook dinner!

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July 28, 2022 · 9:14 am

Thoughts on a Thursday 7-28-2022

Helen

Isn’t this sweet? My heart just melted when I found it.

I’m leaving for a massage in about 20 minutes and I’m READY for it. I have a bunch of sore and tight places all over me, just crying out for Lynn’s expertise. Between the massage this morning and my yoga practice this afternoon, my body should be smiling.

We actually have a chance for some isolated showers today into Monday! I’m ready for THAT, too. Everything is really stressed, even with our daily watering. If we DO get some rain, don’t be surprised if you hear a big, “AHHHHHHHH!” from Arkansas.

If things work out as I plan, I’ll start making some Christmas cards this afternoon. I have an idea for what I’d like to do, but I have no idea if it will actually come together or not. I love being able to experiment in my art room.

Have a wonderful day!

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July 26, 2022 · 4:20 pm

11th Star

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I just earned my 11th sparkly star in a row for my desk calendar, doing my yoga session.

I still have to talk myself into actually doing my daily sessions, but once I’m on the mat stretching, it feels better when I stop. (By that I mean, it still is uncomfortable doing the stretching, since I’m stiff and sore, but once the session is finished, I feel looser and better than I did when I started.)

I’m making fewer excuses each day for why it wouldn’t matter if I skipped one session. I just get down on the floor and DO it.

I’m still quite motivated – like I was at school a hundred years ago – by sparkly stars. The ones I have now, that I ordered online, are even prettier than the ones I worked so hard for in school. These are silver sparkly or gold sparkly stars. Now that I have 11 in a row, I don’t want to break my record…. :0)

Even if I never actually build it into a habit, something I NEED to do, the fact that something is working to get this old lady to fold herself into a paper airplane is the important thing.

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