One of my best go-to survival skills, second only to a good, slightly wacky sense of humor, is the question, “What’s the worst that could happen?”
I do this particularly when an idea gives me pause, scares me a bit, or a lot. It’s a healthy change of perspective that helps me assess more rationally, rather than solely on emotion.
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I change my perspective, weighing possible paths, I then come up with what I think is the best course of action. Then I ask, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” If I can handle that worst outcome, I give myself the green light. Works for me. What is a go-to survival skill for you?
Yesterday on the way home from our errands, a white-tailed doe jumped across the road in front of our truck. She was absolutely beautiful. Amber was in the back seat – one of her favorite places, but Amber didn’t see her. This gives you an idea –
WDFW
I worked an hour and a half on side 2 of “Wonder Wart-Hog” yesterday. Right now he looks like a big green blob with a head. Hopefully, I can get that to change. :0) This is the front –
It rained while I was working on the mailbox decoration in the shop. We’re supposed to get more rain today, tomorrow, and Friday. We may need a boat! All this rain is bringing cooler temperatures, though, and for that I’m grateful. We have our doors open to get a nice breeze through the house.
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I’m tearing my hair out trying to find a replacement for our phone carrier. We changed the credit card used to make our automatic payments. We got a late notice. I called and they told me, “It takes 6 to 8 WEEKS for our system to recognize a change like that.” I’m still having trouble believing that. Anyway, I asked them to take us off the family plan and the unlimited everything we’re on. Only one of our phones is smart and we basically use our phones for emergencies and some texting. After spending almost an hour on the phone with them, they told me the plan we’re on is the cheapest they have. Since we’re seeing ads for half the price, I’m trying to research the question.
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My scales confirmed that I am past the 30-pounds-off mark now and have begun to make progress toward the next goal. :0)
As of this morning I have reached my first weight goal- to regain the 30-pounds-off mark! Can you see the balloons, streamers, confetti? Can you hear the horns? :0)
My next goal will be 5 more pounds down. This sounds doable – thanks to Maria – who suggested I break down my goals into doable chunks, rather than looking at the entirety.
Last night we went to bed about 12:30 am and the wind was gusty and there was lightning. I didn’t hear it rain, but severe weather was possible overnight into this morning.
We awoke to 60 degrees F. and bright sunshine.
I took a walk around the yard to see if there was damage. We lost a couple of leaves on my elephant ear plants and there were leaves all over the civilized part of the yard around the house and our driveway, but I didn’t find any damage yet.
I did find several things that brought my spirits up –
Shelly Hawley-Yan embroiders these beautiful animals, then makes ACEO prints so that you can collect her work.
ACEO stands for Art Card Editions and Originals which are great collectible art pieces. An affordable way to collect miniature art by your favorite artists. The one rule for ACEOs is that they must be 2.5×3. 5 inches, the size of a standard trading or baseball card. Colors may vary depending on monitor settings.
I like ACEO cards, but my jaw dropped when I saw what she was doing to create the work for them. I want to TOUCH these – very carefully – while I try not to drool. I’ve never seen anything like this before and wanted to share her exquisite work with you.
It’s a gorgeous day today. Sunshine and 72! I’m enjoying it now because we’re supposed to get severe storms from about midnight through 4am tomorrow. Hang on to your hats!
I’m heading out to our shop as soon as I finish talking with you. I’m going to try to finish side 1 of the Wonder Wart-Hog mailbox decoration. I don’t know if it will pass muster with my husband, and this is one of his favorite comic book characters. I’ll just do the best I can and then take him out to the shop later to see if I should keep going or if I should get the paint off, mark it again, and start over. Time will tell.
I’m not sure what else is on tap today. I should probably do some house cleaning –
As of this morning I’m half a pound away from regaining my 30 pounds off. Once I reach that, I’ll enter new territory. :0)
I’m feeling more confident about my food choices now. Cronometer.com is helping me SEE what I’m eating more clearly, particularly as to calories, protein, carbs, and fat. I’m determined to continue eating the REAL FOOD and STU’S CLEAN COOKIN’ frozen meals for dinners as long as my husband is happy with them. When two people are involved, eating is more complicated than it is when one person can decide to “only eat blue food.”
We tend to eat the same lunch each day (except for Lunch Bunch on Fridays), so I’m tweaking that carefully. I’m being particularly mindful about snacks – mid-afternoon and any after dinner “dessert”.
I’m pleased that, though I’ve been downstairs reading at o-dark-thirty several times in the past few weeks – the worst time to NOT eat for me – I’ve managed to not eat anything. :0)
This was especially brought home to me yesterday at Lunch Bunch.
As I looked around the table at my friends of over 20 years now, I was suddenly aware –
Our wonderful long-time waitress/friend is trying to be strong though her co-worker has retired now and she pulls the load for both of them while missing her.
the owner of the restaurant – also a long-time friend, is having to do what the retired waitress did while TRYING to find another person that he can trust
one of my friends is suffering from vertigo and had to miss Lunch Bunch a couple of weeks ago because of it. Thankfully, her daughter read up on the problem on the net and found a treatment that she could do at home to help her. She lives alone, except for a sweet little dog.
Another of my friends has a disabled son who has worked at a hospital in Ft. Smith for years. Because of the new policies of the government, the hospital is requiring vaccinations. He went in with his doctor’s letter, saying the shots would be dangerous for him. The request was denied. They then asked for a religious exemption – valid, but not as specific as his health exemption request. He was denied. He was fired. He doesn’t need to work to feed himself, but for his quality of life – his sense of self-worth as a man. The fight continues.
A third friend’s husband just had surgery to remove a skin cancer that required a graft. The surgeon got it all, thank goodness, and her husband is just ‘grumpy’ about not being able to go back to work yet.
My own life is challenging due to the changing side effects of the mini-strokes my husband has suffered.
Whether you know the people you see each day or not, the loads are carried. We need to be aware of this as we try to solve our own problems and try to deal with the many changes that are happening every day. The extra thought, trying to come up with more patience, a smile, a hug, all may make a difference as we remember all the good things around us.
Thankfully, keeping moving and doing afternoon yoga stretches are mitigating a lot of mine.
I discovered Cat Kabira and her “Gentle Yoga” DVD several years ago now. I can’t say enough about her.
One of my pet peeves now is people on TV referring to the ‘elderly,’ and then clarifying the insult, adding “people over 65.” How insulting is THAT!
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“Old age is always 15 years older than I am.” ~ (attribution disputed)
I don’t think of myself as a hostile person, but I do NOT consider myself ‘elderly,’ and will probably NEVER accept it. People also say that “you’re as old as you feel.” Though some days I feel at LEAST 108, most of the time I feel pretty good. :0)
So I will continue to do my yoga for old broads stretches, try to lose the lard, keep trying to learn new things, and enjoy my life – while trying NOT to bite someone in the leg who calls me ‘elderly.’
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