Ahhhhhhh, 2020: how you’ve challenged us all.
With the usual reflection that comes at the beginning of each new year, I have really been marinating on new things that I want to try in order to bring more positivity, joy, and challenge to my life. 2020 has also reminded us all that life is short (and oh-so-fragile….) and because this has been a constant theme on all of our minds, I also decided to give up the thing(s) in life that don’t bring me that positivity, joy, or challenge.
I find it rather curious how major challenges in life is what it takes to get us to wake up and take action!
So, I hope (my dearest of readers) that this might inspire you to either take up one of my new things – or simply just inspire you to take up something that brings you all the feels. And, might I also suggest you take the initiative to give up on something that is nagging at you, making you feel icky, or simply not bringing you joy.
So – here are some new things I’m trying:
KNITTING
I have a routine each evening. It’s pouring myself a glass of wine and settling in to the couch with my Frenchie (Angus) and our newest addition, an orange tabby (Charlie).
Adorable photo to the left for your enjoyment. You’re welcome. 🐅
My hubby and son usually like to watch Super Girl or (age appropriate) Japanese animation together – so this lucky gal usually gets an hour or two of my own time each evening! I’m very appreciative of this luxury, trust me!
But, I started feeling like I was just, well, sitting there. Ya know? So I decided I should at least do something productive whilst taking in my obsession with British television. I’m also very right-brained, and truly enjoy being a creative. So, I decided to take up knitting! And guess what? It is SUPER relaxing, fulfilling, and enjoyable!
I was incredibly intimidated at first, but actually (like most things), it’s easy the more and more you slowly practice. Since I’m a South Paw, I found this AWESOME class for lefty’s like muah. I’ve been incredibly impressed with Nancy’s instruction thus far – and I am super motivated to finish my first project (a scarf!) and move on to other projects (sweaters, here I come!)….🧶🧶🧶🧶
My initial inspiration to start knitting came from all the many RV camping trips we make in our rig, Nessie. Look, as much as I love to read, at some point you get, well, bored. Or is that just me? Since I can only do manageable hiking with my hubby and son (they are avid backpackers) because of my Chronic Lyme Disease – there’s only so much reading of books, magazines, and cooking one can do while at the camp site! So – I decided that actually doing something with my hands and creating something useful (perfect future holiday gifts!) was an absolutely stellar way to utilize my time, whether at a campground or out in the middle of nowhere on BLM land!
I have been taking these classes, and so far have been most impressed with this site as well as this site to order yarn from. I have also just ordered yarn from Amazon, too!
So, I simply cannot express how much I am enjoying this new hobby of knitting!!! Here’s hoping my newest hobby will inspire YOU!
DAILY EXERCISE
Okay, this is ALWAYS a difficult one, I know! Look – I am really NOT a resolutions person. I never have been. Why, you might ask? Because I have a pretty poor track record for finishing what I start. 😂
It’s okay, I have totally come to terms with that one! What can I say: I’m a Gemini to a tee and I bore. EASILY.
As someone who has suffered from chronic auto-immune disease pain for the last 20 years or so, the type of exercise I actually can do is quite limited. I cannot walk for very long periods of time because of my plantar fasciitis, nor can I do HIIT type exercise due to herniated discs. I know, I’m a mess. I’d love to swim, but whenever I get my ears wet I am prone to chronic double ear infections – so that’s out. And I tried taking up road cycling but after a near-death experience with a semi-truck, well – let’s just say I was DONE after that occurred!
Years ago, one of my best friends, Janina, suggested I try spinning. I was like, “No WAY! I am not fit – and that looks crazy hard and intimidating!” She assured me I could do it at my own pace – and so I tried. Long story short, I immediately FELL IN LOVE with spin! I’ve been doing it on and off for years now (more off than on, I’m afraid) and I just adore the endorphins I get from rocking out to music and feelin’ like a bad a*# while sweat drips off every part of my body. But really, it’s the MUSIC. It totally keeps me going and inspires me to challenge myself. 🎵
So, if *I* can do spin – TRUST ME, so can you!
Well, since Covid has nixed any gym membership opportunities (plus, my VERY self-disciplined hubby would probably refuse my request for yet ANOTHER attempt at sticking to said membership, LOL) I decided to buy myself a spin bike for home! It hasn’t arrived yet, but I will absolutely be keeping my dear readers informed as to my thoughts and progress!
Listen, as MUCH as I long for a Peloton – I simply cannot pay that price. Cuz, well, previously mentioned track record. 🤪 So, after exhaustive research, I decided on this bike. I have to give a massive shout-out to Beth Jane from www.sippingandshopping.org !!! Check out her blog and incredible input! Beth Jane – I’m forever indebted!
I also got this mat so my hardwood floors don’t get ruined, and I will be purchasing JUST the Peloton app for $12.99/month – which is (strangely) WAY less than they charge those who actually bought a Peloton!?!? So, win-win! As Beth Jane from www.sippingandshopping.org suggested, I did also purchase:
- Gel seat cover (cuz, sore butts)
- Cadence Sensor
- Tablet/iPhone holder
- Equipment wipes
I’m super motivated to start spinning again and looking forward to trying all the classes on the Peloton app!
I also plan on continuing my daily evening walk with my dog!
We live in a quaint rural town, and it never gets old strolling through the neighborhood streets. My son usually joins us on his bike, and it is SO nice not having to worry about cars or dangerous driving! #countrylife
I am looking forward to this challenge. I need a challenge right now, with all this “at home” time! Something to give me release, something to sweat out the stress and horror of these times, and most importantly something to help me lose some weight and/or tighten up the flab! Want to join me? Look for me soon on the LIVE Peloton classes, y’all! And, I challenge you to do this for yourself – or at the very least, challenge yourself in some way….
STAYING IN THE PRESENT MORE
This is a TOUGH one for me. I admit it! I am VERY much someone who is perpetually thinking about the future: how I want to redesign our yards, improvements I want on the house, that novel I keep promising myself I’ll write, what RV vacation we’ll next take, what will life be like post Covid (okay, I am confident I’m not alone on THAT one!) , what will my next career move be? And on and on and on and on my brain goes….
So, I really want to just settle into the present more – and, ya know, actually ENJOY it! It’s been a serious test for me, since I am sort of pre-wired to be perpetually dissatisfied. 😋 But I will tell you this: I’ve been really practicing for the last few months, and you know what? It is SERIOUSLY fulfilling! I cannot understate this, readers. Just saying to myself, “you know what? If the yard isn’t done in the next 6 months – all will be fine” or, “if you did everything on the house you wanted done, then you’d be bored!” Etc, etc.
If the pandemic has taught me anything, it’s this: there actually IS something to be said for sitting back, relaxing, and waiting to knock things off that To Do List…..later.
I’d always suggest meditating (I’m a big believer in it) – but really, I think just taking the time to sit outside or next to a warm fire (I live on California’s Central Coast, so sitting outside for me this time of year is actually do-able!) and allow yourself to say “NOT today.” And be okay with that. It’s really been eye opening to me to actually SEE results in myself since practicing being more in the present. How, you ask? Well, the biggest thing I’ve noticed is I’m just less stressed out. I feel less guilt and less pressure to “do it all.” And, friends: THAT is priceless!
RV TRAVEL (and writing!)
So, our family LOVES our sweet gal, Nessie. Purchasing our RV (a Winnebago Navion) was, quite honestly, the BEST decision hubby and I ever made!
NessieTheNavion provides us with loads of family time outside of the house (especially useful during a pandemic!) and most importantly a way for us to share our mutual love of nature with our son! Can you say LESS screen time???? 👍 🙌 👌
The freedom and joy of RV camping simply cannot be understated! We advise everyone to seriously consider it – especially if you have kids! It is a great way to get your kids outside more frequently, to share more family time, and hubby and I have also found it is a great escape for romantic getaways with just the two of us as well! Who knew?
Don’t get me wrong: we actually already utilize good ole’ Nessie A LOT.
We knew if we were going to spend that amount of $$$$ on a rig, then we better darn well USE her!
We average a trip about once a month, sometimes less and sometimes more. Recently, hubby installed two Lithium batteries as well as a mobile solar unit. Hubby did heavy research on both, and we have been more than overjoyed with the quality of these lithium batteries as well as this second solar unit! We can dry camp for over two weeks and they’re still running strong! These RV upgrades have made ALL.THE.DIFFERENCE.
Why? Well, with a pandemic and all campgrounds being shut down, we are now completely self-sufficient and can safely/responsibly still social distance AND still get away and out of the house! We truly enjoy camping on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) – although I will admit our son finds this style of camping less exciting than a traditional campground, of course! But regardless of that side note – getting out during this pandemic while still doing the right and responsible thing has been a GAME CHANGER for our family!
While I will admit that there is a fair amount of work involved in getting the RV packed with clothing, supplies, and food – it is ALWAYS worth it in the long run. Even if we’re just going away for a two-nighter!
We adore finding new campgrounds, new BLM locations (a la’ the Campendium website – which I cannot recommend enough!), and learning more about the Western US as a whole. We have even enjoyed Camp Hosting (here’s lookin’ at you, Wallowa Lake State Park in Oregon!) and our son was able to learn about work ethic, being a responsible camper and nature lover, and was even awarded the MOST Junior Ranger hours in the whole state of Oregon!!! Talk about confidence-building! 👏👏👏
So, whether it’s getting out in our rig, or for you just getting out of the house safely more often, I suggest you do it! But – only do it if you are being responsible about it and wearing your 😷!
I look forward to being able to camp more “normally” in the near future (🤞🤞🤞) but for now, I’m just extremely grateful that we CAN get out of the house when needed! Traveling (safely/responsibly during these times) and getting out just to break up the routine this pandemic has forced upon all of us is super important for mental sanity!
There is little else more healing than being out in nature. Traveling and appreciating nature is something I want to do more of….
BUILDING MY FAMILY TREE
So, I’ve been interested in genealogy for a looong time. I was raised as a proud Scot, and having a maternal Grandmother who was born in Scotland and a Great Grandfather who was a VERY proud Scot 🏴 often made me ponder further-away lands as a child. It also incited my love of travel and learning about my past.
Okay, so I know one of my new things is learning to be present, but stick with me on this one! 😉
I have had a subscription to Ancestry for some time now, and I thoroughly enjoy the process of researching my own (and hubby’s!) family trees! It’s like solving a mystery – I just love it so much! Even though it’s just sitting at a computer, there is something really relaxing and satisfying about building up these trees and ensuring they are correct. I’m also REALLY doing it for my son, Lochlan.
I want him to know the ancestors who came before him, the struggles they endured, their stories, and even (when I get lucky!) their actual words! How cool is that?
I think it is really important to ‘get to know’ those who came before us, connecting with my own ancestors, discovering where in the world I come from, and the satisfaction of building my trees has been truly gratifying and rewarding….
The coolest part? It has, in a time of such isolation and unrest, connected me to SO MANY cousins and distant cousins that I never knew about! It has brought this sense of coalition and alliance: we’re building our ancestors stories by working together, learning more about each other and our relatives, and in turn learning more about ourselves. It has been utterly delightful and has provided me with SUCH a sense of connection in a very difficult and disjointed time.
The feeling of connecting not only with others, but with actual distant family members during this pandemic, has truly been a gift.
Lastly, I also see the building of my family tree as an incredibly important thing to pass along to my son. Who knows if he ever really will show an interest, but if he DOES – the information IS there. And that is super important, because he can then hand it down to HIS children, and so-on-and-so-forth! Sure, it’s a lot of work and requires a good amount of patience – but the knowledge that my research might bring insight and appreciation of the information to my future family members really is irreplaceable!
So – what am I giving up? 🤔
Everything else.
Okay, that’s a little dramatic, I admit it. But seriously, I am really zeroing-in-on the above new things and kind of letting most everything else go! This is something, admittedly, I have to constantly remind myself to do. But I really AM only focusing on the above items (as well as my blog – and of course distance learning with my son!) and maintaining an ideology that those are the things I want to excel at – and everything else can kind of just be set free….
And, FREEING IT IS!
So, the habitual worrying about everything I still have left to do to the house, the wondering which next vacation would be the best, the career move I plan on pursuing next, or just what life will be like if we ever experience “normal” again – well, these things just aren’t as important to me anymore.
Knitting with my adorable pets by my side, looking after my own health and wellness with daily exercise and mental release, reminding myself to just BE and enjoy what’s in front of me at-the-moment, focusing on family time and travel in our RV, and discovering just where and who I came from: THESE are the things I’m perfecting. These are the elements in my life that are getting all my attention right now.
And, just maybe, it took a pandemic to get me to realize that it is those aforementioned elements that have deserved all my attention and focus the entire time….
Always Here,
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