Do you ever go through a period of feeling really down, listless, foggy, and rather despairing? And then one day, it all lifts, your energy returns, and you can think clearly? Maybe you dip down again, but for that day you feel as sunny as a bright blue-sky day?
I just had that experience this week. It seems like for one week in particular every month, I still struggle with insomnia. It used to be quite ongoing but then I started taking supplements for my underactive thyroid. Anyways, one night of little sleep seems to be okay...I just function on adrenaline the next day and actually get quite a lot done. But when it starts adding up, I just go downhill really fast. But somehow, my perspective gets all out of whack and it feels like I have no energy, motivation, or focus EVER (which is pretty depressing). And it's not until the "sun comes out from behind the clouds", that I realize how unlike the real me that is.
Isn't it funny (well, not laugh-out-loud funny) that we can so quickly judge ourselves/pigeon-hold ourselves when we're not at our best (be it anxious, irritable, depressed, tired) and label ourselves, when really, our bodies are probably just saying "pay attention, something's not right...take care of me and I'll take care of you"? But instead, we often become more anxious, irritable, depressed and tired because we're down on ourselves for the way we're acting (or not acting).
I've been reading a very interesting book relating to health, that deals particularly with the energy of the body. From what I've learned, it seems that our bodies become undercharged or overcharged in certain areas when we over-do something (whether it's exercise, working, thinking or whatever). When we mix it up a little, our bodies function better.
So, taking 20 minutes in our massage chair is probably one of the best things I can do in the middle of my day. Or going for a short walk, or stopping to make a cup of tea, or spending 15 minutes playing with my kids in the middle of my work time. These days, it's so common for people to push through tiredness, or skip lunch, or be at the computer endlessly (or in stay-at-home terms, keep cleaning, keep making food, keep changing diapers, keep keeping up) without a break. But our bodies can't sustain that.
Well, speaking of bodies, I should get this body ready for bed. One of my friend's doctors said "There's no substitute for sleep". I need to get me some of that. Maybe I can have more days like today!
Wednesday
Thursday
The Great Outdoors
What to say...first of all, sorry for letting this blog go untouched for so long. Computer work seems to be the last thing on my "favorite things to do" list with everything outside coming to life. We've been working on our yard a bit and taking pleasure in seeing the kids enjoy just being out there and using their imaginations. (I am so thankful the mosquitoes aren't out yet).
We created some raised beds this year. I'm finally getting some vermiculite today, so I'm anxious to get the seed in. This is the first time I've really direct-seeded anything, so we'll see how it goes. I'm planning for a butterfly mix in one bed, some cosmos, nasturtiums and some kind of grass in another, herbs, carrots, nasturtiums and beans in one, and lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, nasturtiums and marigolds in the last one. If we have a chance to make a spot for sunflowers I will plant them. Lots of yellow, orange and green. It makes me happy!
The other thing we're working on is our narrow side yard. It's been a bad weed patch up until now. We are planning a raised bed for the kids, a platform-deck for them to play house/set up a tent etc., and a pea gravel construction zone instead of a sand box. I read some interesting articles on creating outdoor spaces for children a while back and they encourage lots of natural materials to work with and spaces they can call their own. I'll try to include pictures once we're farther underway.
We created some raised beds this year. I'm finally getting some vermiculite today, so I'm anxious to get the seed in. This is the first time I've really direct-seeded anything, so we'll see how it goes. I'm planning for a butterfly mix in one bed, some cosmos, nasturtiums and some kind of grass in another, herbs, carrots, nasturtiums and beans in one, and lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, nasturtiums and marigolds in the last one. If we have a chance to make a spot for sunflowers I will plant them. Lots of yellow, orange and green. It makes me happy!
The other thing we're working on is our narrow side yard. It's been a bad weed patch up until now. We are planning a raised bed for the kids, a platform-deck for them to play house/set up a tent etc., and a pea gravel construction zone instead of a sand box. I read some interesting articles on creating outdoor spaces for children a while back and they encourage lots of natural materials to work with and spaces they can call their own. I'll try to include pictures once we're farther underway.
Wednesday
Rainy Day Fun
With the rain today, feeling a little under the weather myself, and having just put on a big event at our studio last night to unveil the images for our project "Just As I Am", I decided to lay low today. My little guy got up early and my school boy slept in, so I spent some time on the couch this morning and decided we were skipping school today.
At 8:30, I found myself making two batches of playdough. I made it once about three years ago, but hadn't even wanted to since. It was fun to see the colours develop. Kept the kids entertained for quite a while. (And we all know how good that is!)
Here's the recipe (there are many versions apparently, some without cream of tartar):
1 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 c. cold water
1 tbsp. cooking oil
food colouring
Cook all ingredients together over medium heat. It will be lumpy and hard to stir. Stir constantly until it begins to leave sides of pot. Remove from pot, then knead a few minutes. Store in an airtight container.
And here are some thoughts on rain from Sarah Ban Breathnach's "Romancing the Ordinary".
"Rain restores serenity to our daily endeavors because it slows us down, or it should. It's been my observation that when it rains, no one--from the dog to the boss--really expects much to happen or get done. This means we get to indulge in activities that would otherwise make us feel guilty--dawdling,idle conversation with coworkers, naps. "My, isn't the weather dreadful," we mutter as our frazzled bodies and restless spirits downshift with a sigh of relief.
Rediscovering the splendors of rain through your senses is a wonderful way to make an attitude adjustment. Watching a storm from a couch,window seat, or bed, especially as it grows dark, can be thrilling...cracking the window so that you can hear rain's melody--patters on a windowpane, drips through leaves, drizzle down drainpipes--is so soothing...breathe in the fragrance of rain before you shut the door behind you....A spring rain smells fresh and earthy; the fragrance of a summer shower is spicy, like incense....Rainy days are powerful personal prompts sent to remind us that in our desire to accomplish so much each day, we cherish ordinary time-outs too little. "
Then she also talks about developing a Rainy Day Cupboard, the "saving grace of Victorian mothers".
In these treasure troves of inspiration were neat, clearly marked boxes of arts and crafts supplies, games and novelties that were enjoyed only on rainy days.This idea is great for small children (I would need to work on the neat, clearly marked part), but she also suggests it for us, the women/mothers. She insists you don't have to be crafty. Go beyond the norm, and walk through a crafts shop and find something that catches your interest: beads, leather, pottery, stained glass, ribbon, paper, framing, carpentry...there are lots of kits out there, even. She also has mixing bowls with all the non-perishable ingredients to make yummy treats. (pp. 106-110)
Fascinating.
Well, I should close off here. Maybe get out of these sweats and into the shower.
It's amazing. The whole time I've been typing here, my kids have been busy in the basement, discovering old toys in a box, and creating rooms out of some big boxes. They have not asked for the TV once! Maybe when we start the day with creativity, it catches on for the rest of the day...
Enjoy the rain!
P.S. This post is meant to inspire new ideas, not guilt...I know I've been in a rut...we all have them. I struggle with depression. I struggle with being overwhelmed. But this week, I started using my creativity for new things...and it's been refreshing (and yes, suppers got pushed back and bedtimes suffered, but I feel it was worth it...at least for this time). Okay, I'm done now!
Spilt Smoothie
"Don't cry over spilt milk" (or in this case, smoothie). Oh, I almost did yesterday. I was so tired and feeling drained. I ended up making this smoothie quite thick, so instead of pouring, it suddenly all came out and "splat", it went everywhere. It took me a few minutes, but I was able to joke with my kids about it (instead of cry).
Mom-Friendly and Earth-Friendly
Just a little advertisement for an amazing business:
Easy Eco Baby is proud to be a part of Earth Day celebrations throughout Manitoba this year. Kick off Earth Week by attending our next Mom 2 Mom event at Babies in Bloom.
WHEN: Friday April 17th, 2009 Time: 10am to 12pm
WHERE: Babies in Bloom, Corydon Village Mall, 6 - 1700 Corydon Avenue, Phone #: 415-2756
Bring the kids, stay and play. Enjoy tasty snacks, check out our displays and enter to win earth friendly prizes! Space is limited so please RSVP to info@easyecobaby.com by April 15th, 2009.
Easy Eco Baby is proud to be a part of Earth Day celebrations throughout Manitoba this year. Kick off Earth Week by attending our next Mom 2 Mom event at Babies in Bloom.
WHEN: Friday April 17th, 2009 Time: 10am to 12pm
WHERE: Babies in Bloom, Corydon Village Mall, 6 - 1700 Corydon Avenue, Phone #: 415-2756
Bring the kids, stay and play. Enjoy tasty snacks, check out our displays and enter to win earth friendly prizes! Space is limited so please RSVP to info@easyecobaby.com by April 15th, 2009.
Waiting
You've probably been waiting for us to update this blog. We're all waiting for spring to arrive (or stay). If you've been driving in this weather, you've probably done your share of waiting in traffic. And if you're like several in our family, you're waiting for a persistent cough to clear up.
Waiting. Most of us aren't that crazy about waiting. Or good at it. My kids are notoriously impatient. I think they come by it honestly. Where am I going with this? I'm not even sure. That's what I like about the creative process. You never know where it might lead. It's like a great novel or an exciting adventure.
My friend is doing a lot of waiting these days. She broke her ankle in three places. Now she waits for it to heal. And waits for others to do things for her, when normally she is the one making things happen (and a lot of things happen at once, I might add).
I have experienced the waiting that comes with pregnancy three times. With the first came lots of reflection and anticipation...and a little trepidation. The second and third went by much faster, with less time to savour the experience.
With our business, we've done a lot of waiting...waiting for the breakthrough...where everything we've done starts to come together in synergy and our business takes off. Well, I think the waiting is over. It feels a little surreal at times, to see our dream becoming a reality, but I think it's slowly sinking in. It's been a long time coming.
I think the waiting has enlarged us (like being pregnant). I think it has expanded our capacity for hope. I think it has increased our ability to trust. I think it has opened up our hearts to be more grateful. I hope so.
Rodney and I often find it difficult to find the balance between "doing the stuff"and trusting. Sometimes it comes down to receiving the wisdom to do the "right stuff at the right time" and sometimes it is simply receiving a gift we could never have orchestrated ourselves. Those gifts "out of the blue" remind us of the vastness of God, so that we don't over-inflate (or over-work) our limited selves.
What are you waiting for? Have you been feeling desperate? Have you nearly given up hope? Do you wonder if you are foolish to believe it will happen? Are you afraid of disappointment? The one who created us waits for us to turn to him. He knows our hearts. He knows what we need. He is fully capable of meeting those needs. Our part is to wait...in expectation (and with a bit more "stillness" than my children!)
Well, I think I got to where I needed to go. I hope the path was scenic enough.
...I'm waiting to hear from you!
Waiting. Most of us aren't that crazy about waiting. Or good at it. My kids are notoriously impatient. I think they come by it honestly. Where am I going with this? I'm not even sure. That's what I like about the creative process. You never know where it might lead. It's like a great novel or an exciting adventure.
My friend is doing a lot of waiting these days. She broke her ankle in three places. Now she waits for it to heal. And waits for others to do things for her, when normally she is the one making things happen (and a lot of things happen at once, I might add).
I have experienced the waiting that comes with pregnancy three times. With the first came lots of reflection and anticipation...and a little trepidation. The second and third went by much faster, with less time to savour the experience.
With our business, we've done a lot of waiting...waiting for the breakthrough...where everything we've done starts to come together in synergy and our business takes off. Well, I think the waiting is over. It feels a little surreal at times, to see our dream becoming a reality, but I think it's slowly sinking in. It's been a long time coming.
I think the waiting has enlarged us (like being pregnant). I think it has expanded our capacity for hope. I think it has increased our ability to trust. I think it has opened up our hearts to be more grateful. I hope so.
Rodney and I often find it difficult to find the balance between "doing the stuff"and trusting. Sometimes it comes down to receiving the wisdom to do the "right stuff at the right time" and sometimes it is simply receiving a gift we could never have orchestrated ourselves. Those gifts "out of the blue" remind us of the vastness of God, so that we don't over-inflate (or over-work) our limited selves.
What are you waiting for? Have you been feeling desperate? Have you nearly given up hope? Do you wonder if you are foolish to believe it will happen? Are you afraid of disappointment? The one who created us waits for us to turn to him. He knows our hearts. He knows what we need. He is fully capable of meeting those needs. Our part is to wait...in expectation (and with a bit more "stillness" than my children!)
Well, I think I got to where I needed to go. I hope the path was scenic enough.
...I'm waiting to hear from you!
The Kind of Day it's Been
Oops! It's 10:27 p.m. and I'm trying to cram in a post before bed. It's been a long week so far with my husband busy preparing for and presenting a seminar-type talk at the Winnipeg South camera club. I'm looking forward to a night off from putting the kids to bed.
But tonight was good. Maybe not stellar as far as early bedtimes go, but fairly enjoyable. Supper was ready at 5:30 (yay for crockpots). Managed to scrounge up enough energy to get the kids to help with cleaning up the disastrous-looking kitchen floor. Kids got pajamas on fairly painlessly. After making night snack, I took off for a little "me" time and played piano. My eldest joined me and we sang a duet! Red a fun story from the library...twice! (Minerva Louise and the Red Truck or something). Very cute. Tickled and chased my youngest (I love his laugh!) rather than fighting over who would take his diaper off, his clothes off, etc. Managed to curb the kids' desires to be distracted without too much nagging or time-wasting. Talk/Tuck In time got a little long, but not too bad. Two-year-old went to sleep easily and quickly! He's been fighting sleep so much. He was rubbing his ears last night, so I asked him if they hurt. We started putting in Similasan Homeopathic Ear Drops and he's been sleeping better. Yay! (google to learn more). Just been puttering around on the computer mostly now...my sister sent me flowers on Facebook!
Hope my hubby comes home soon! Anyone been reading any good books lately?
But tonight was good. Maybe not stellar as far as early bedtimes go, but fairly enjoyable. Supper was ready at 5:30 (yay for crockpots). Managed to scrounge up enough energy to get the kids to help with cleaning up the disastrous-looking kitchen floor. Kids got pajamas on fairly painlessly. After making night snack, I took off for a little "me" time and played piano. My eldest joined me and we sang a duet! Red a fun story from the library...twice! (Minerva Louise and the Red Truck or something). Very cute. Tickled and chased my youngest (I love his laugh!) rather than fighting over who would take his diaper off, his clothes off, etc. Managed to curb the kids' desires to be distracted without too much nagging or time-wasting. Talk/Tuck In time got a little long, but not too bad. Two-year-old went to sleep easily and quickly! He's been fighting sleep so much. He was rubbing his ears last night, so I asked him if they hurt. We started putting in Similasan Homeopathic Ear Drops and he's been sleeping better. Yay! (google to learn more). Just been puttering around on the computer mostly now...my sister sent me flowers on Facebook!
Hope my hubby comes home soon! Anyone been reading any good books lately?
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