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tuesday truths...being present

January 19, 2021 Arlene Giddings

as part of my
#glow2021
word for the year,
i have been trying to
be present
more of the time,
for all the little things
as well as the big.

noticing.
listening.
feeling.
absorbing.

i am trying to be conscious
of my day to day life….
of my fingers
clicking on the keyboard,
rolling the words
i want to say
around in my mouth
like candy,
sweet and sour,
soft and chewy.

i eat slower
focusing on each bite,
letting myself savor the saltiness,
the blackberries that burst with juice,
sip my tea slowly,
watching the steam curl above
the polka dot mug.

i put my phone on “focus” time…
no access to social media
helps me to fight the urge to
constantly check it
which was a hard itch not to scratch at first
but is getting easier
and makes me feel calmer.

i watch one show a night
so i have to be picky about what that will be.
then the rest of the night
is either reading, yoga, editing photos, drawing or
just listening to cowboy junkies
and leonard cohen
in the semi darkness of the remaining
christmas lights
in my living room
with a pug on one side
and a cat by my shoulder.

hot showers.
vanilla candles.
looking out the window for the sunrise,
for the sunset.
fuzzy socks.
early bedtimes with a heated blanket.
counting my breaths…
finding my focus,
listening and paying attention.

♥♥♥

In glow2021, tuesday truths Tags glow2021, glow, be present, mindfullness, calm, words
1 Comment

friday i'm in love...

January 15, 2021 Arlene Giddings

It’s hard to believe it’s already the
middle of January.

And, so far, as far as
Januarys go…
this has been a pretty good one.

I got out with the camera
on a wintery-sparkly Friday adventure
today and I’m so glad I did.

Granted I drove for
four hours
and didn’t really
go anywhere
but that’s kinda the way I like it.

It was a perfect morning.
Snow-sparkles
every where you looked…
a perfect playlist…
mild temperatures…
and nowhere to be.

No candy or diet coke though.
Still hard into the new year resolutions…
it’s early yet. :)

Things I am loving right now:

♥ that the book trading continues to grow…
I love that when someone is coming over now
we automatically talk about possible book trades
and I keep mine by the front door so people
can easily choose what they want
(at a safe 6 foot distance)

♥ being able to go out in a hoodie in January

♥ speaking of hoodies, this is my new favorite hoodie
that Santa brought me as a late surprise! :)

♥ Making time for tea…journals…music…hot showers
giggly phone calls…taking a best friend out for her birthday…
and tried a new meditation/women’s wellness session
that was so interesting. #glow2021 was a good word for the year
so far.

In friday i'm in love, glow2021 Tags friday adventure, fridays are the best days, friday i'm in love, tea, winter wonderland
4 Comments

2021 - glow

January 1, 2021 Arlene Giddings
processed_20201231_132456.jpg

I have been choosing a word
to use as my touchstone,
as my focus point,
as my compass
since 2008

Some years, it has worked really
well for me…
other years, I had forgotten what the
word even was by February.

Last year,
my word was ignite.
It was a good word…
just maybe, bad timing.
COVID slowed me down a little
in the sense that it caused
a lot of mental and emotional stress & strain
even if I wasn’t directly negatively affected
in the way that others were.

Adjustments and fear and negativity
and the new normal and vaccines
and all of that strain wears you down
even if you aren’t aware of it at the time…
I found myself more emotional, easily angered,
scared, sad, and tired…soooooo tired.

Anyway. My point is it was not the word that failed
but the circumstances. And I did have some gains
in the areas that I wanted to move forward in
so it was not a total loss.

This year,
I knew I wanted to focus on self care.
I turned 50 this year….if you follow me here
or on other social media,
you will know that I do not always make my own
health a priority. Haha.

In 2021, I want to be truly happy and secure.
I want INTRINSIC happiness, i want it to come from within.
And when I picture that, I picture myself glowing…
so that became 2021’s word.
It just immediately resonated with me.

This means my big picture goals
are going to be related to things like
less screen time (putting my phone away),
meditation, yoga (with definite goals),
healthy eating, vitamins, medical appointments…
that kind of thing.

I am also considering stepping back
creatively in a sense.
Too often, I let myself
get caught up in what
would other people like to see,
what would sell?
Or I agree to create things based on
specifics…
which has been very good for me
as far as pushing me out of my comfort zone
but I am considering
making this year about just
free-styling…
winging it…
follow my gut feelings
and interests and see where they take me.

(this is not to say that I won’t have
any items for sale this year…just that it
won’t be my main focus during the
creative process…)

I’m looking forward to the new year…
all bright and shiny and optimistic and
hope it’s full of laughter, health and happiness for everyone.
♥♥♥

In glow2021 Tags 2021, glow, resolutions, goals, life goals, thinking out loud
2 Comments
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