My Cats are Smarter

My Cats are Smarter

My cats are smarter than I am.  They pay attention to what they need.  They don’t do things because they “should.”  They don’t do things because they feel guilty.  They don’t do things because they imagine others expect them to do so.
 

 

 

Cats pay attention to their bodies.  They sleep when they need to sleep.  They hang around with others when they want to be near.  They take time to be alone.  They ask for affection.  They take time to look out the window, to watch the birds, to just be and they are Okay with all of that.  They eat and play and run when the mood strikes.  They make time to groom and to care for themselves.

How is it that a cat is so much wiser than I am?

Happy Valentine's Day 2013

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

On this day of losing heads and bursting hearts, remember this...

"What goes unexplored / unknown, manifests as fate." 
(To paraphrase Carl Jung.)

Part of loving yourself is knowing yourself.  Really knowing who you are requires recognizing your internal conflicts, your unexplored talents, your unhealed traumas, your negative as well as your positive life experiences; requires recognizing your own wounds and seeking healing.

The parts of you that go unexplored, that remain unknown will come up again and again as life experiences until you deal with them, bring them to light, acknowledge them and let them fly away.

Part of loving yourself is knowing yourself, all parts of yourself, the piercing beak and razor claws as well as the rosy feathers. 

Know yourself as you really are and love yourself, all of yourself.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo is copyright Carol Steel.

Choices, Yes or No

Choices are challenging.  Today I say both yes and no to my fabric recycling course.  The yes and the no each feel right.

The course is in the fourth week of six.  We explore ways to re-purpose fabric and clothing.  We share patterns, ideas and finished pieces, help each other to solve problems.  Together we reclaim sweaters, coats and kilts, turn them into useful pieces and save them from the landfill.

I make slippers from a wool sweater.  The sweater is no longer new, no longer lovely, and no longer useful.  I wash and dry it, shrink and felt the fibres into a close-woven thickness.

Following the instructions from a free online pattern (http://www.homemade-holiday-gifts.com/felted-slippers.html ) I cut the sweater into soles and tops, sew them together using a blanket stitch.  The ribbing from the bottom of the sweater becomes the cuffs at the tops of the slippers.  Though they won’t be prize-worthy at any County Fair, they make me smile.

I make a second pair.  These have crocheted bands around the ankles.  Thicker and cosier, pair #2 has additional layers of wool on the soles.  Double wool = double warmth.  I say yes to my class and to the opportunity to create something new out of something old.

The group decides to veer from the course outline, and spend the remainder of this morning, plus the two weeks that are left working on a quilt.  The finished blanket will be donated to raise funds for a school-lunch program.

I am all thumbs at quilting.  I have tried but it is not one of my skills.  I do not enjoy quilting.  

I believe in compassion and charity and have contributed my work life to causes that help others.  

I say no to this one and to the remainder of the course.  There are others for whom this quilting project is a thrill.  I leave the project to them and sigh in relief.

Saying no is not easy for me.

Doing work because I cannot say no or because I feel guilt is stupid.  I don’t need to accept every project or charity that comes to me.

If I take care of myself, I have energy for the volunteer work I can do, for the tasks and people I love…because I can switch off the “yes machine.”

Finding balance in my life means letting go, means saying, “No thanks” when the fit isn’t right.

Photos are mine.



Head Cold Whining

“The best way to take care of yourself is to care for your Self.”  This quote is from the back cover of a book I’m reading, Self-Care for Life.

I believe this. 

All month I’ve read daily suggestions about self-care and have improved my own self-care routines.  However, this seems odd and a tad useless given that I’ve had two colds during that time.

I was miserable with my first cold which lasted for two weeks.  I became better; well again for a solid week.  This new cold began Monday past and is worse than the first one. 

My eyes feel like someone inside my head is pushing on them.  My face aches from sinus pressure.  My ears and throat are sore.  Coughing, sneezing, runny everything—you get the picture.  I’m a mess!

I’m frustrated, cranky and feeling sorry for myself.  Today, this cold prevents me from attending a pot-luck party I’ve been anticipating for weeks.  Really annoying, missing friends, food and fun!

I am at a loss about how to help myself get well.  I’ve tried lots of rest, combined with over-the-counter cold and flu remedies. I’ve stayed at home this week, gone out for essentials only, plus one class I couldn’t bear to miss.  If you've read my blog entry for January 9, 2012, you’ll remember the stack of cold remedies in the first photo.  I've managed to go through all of those "cures."

Following home remedies to care for my cold, I’ve consumed hot lemon drinks, hot ginger drinks, and herbal teas and fruit juices.  I’ve sipped chicken soups, eaten heaps of fruits and vegetables and gargled with/inhaled salted warm water.

I’m sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.  I know that colds take time to run their course, but I am weary of a box of tissues as my best friend.

Any suggestions?

The photo is mine.  If you click on words printed in color, you will be taken to another website with additional information.

Self-Care, a Gift

It's been days since my last post, 11 in fact.  I've been ill with a thoroughly nasty head cold during most of that time.  Amazing to me that so much mucus can be produced inside one's head.  I've begun to wonder if I am hollow, save for snot.  Certainly, there hasn't been much brain activity during the sick time, among chills and fevers and fuzzy dreams, I have floated and slept and sneezed and blown.  Too much detail?

The last few days of December were wondrous times spent with family, some company staying here.  A party to celebrate Melanie's and Kelly's wedding with 35 close family and friends was a delight. 

Gary made a huge fragrant pot of his signature spaghetti sauce, his homemade caesar salad dressing and hand done croutons and bacon bits.  We fed everyone full to the brim, with decadent spaghetti, flavourful caesar salad, fresh garlic bread, rich Christmas sweets, and cakes (chocolate and carrot), attended with wines and holiday beverages. 

Tim gave a speech and we all welcomed Kelly to the family.  It was fun!  It was yummy!  And it was work!  It was a warm and boisterous family party.

And well worth the time and energy and love that went into it!

Over the holiday, we had times of smaller get-togethers with children living here and from away, and with much loved grandchildren: all treasured and appreciated and held now in fond memory.

I've written myself some notes.  Things to remember for next Christmas.  Ways to simplify and to relax and to spread out the work.  Will I remember?  Will I make changes?  Will I put a higher priority on self-care?  I hope so.  We'll see next holiday season if lessons have been learned.

Perhaps I will finally open the present I can give to myself,

the gift of better self-care!

All photos are mine.