CI, CP, and other life changing acronyms

This next month, in my bullet journal, I am going to keep a gratitude list (also called "A line a day" type) and a daily improvements journal. I may post about those later, but I am feeling the need to share some small gratitudes, especially after the few weeks/months I've had. Enjoy. afternoon thunderstorms a cool breeze a hot cup of coffee my large, labeled bottle of water my warm dogs my floofy cats my partner, who takes really good care of me, even when I don't realise I need it.  a good mystery novel my grey and white comforter which keeps me warm on the couch and is big enough to fit ALL my family under it. The Avengers (particularly Black Panther) my parents (for whom I have many BIG gratitudes) My mom's egg and sausage quiche... My mom's chicken pot pie... My mom's apple pie... My dad's coffee... my bullet journal.  my art journal. you know what... all my journals paper that marker won't bleed through on washi tape t...

I am learning how I practise self care. I had some opportunities this weekend, much to my surprise, to practise self care - which I did. As I explore the art world more, I am finding peace and calm in things that, as a child, caused me stress. I remember as a child that my art teacher did not like left handed children. She forced us to use metal scissors that gave us splinters (I was one of two left handed children in the entire school). I forced myself to learn how to use right handed scissors to avoid splinters. I can no longer cut well with my left hand. When she yelled at me for not being able to draw as well as the others, my father taught me to draw upside down. She did not like this, but I found a way to do it anyways. Afterwards, I gave up trying to paint and draw much at all. Recently, I've rediscovered it, along with mixed media artwork. I am really enjoying rediscovering things I used to like to draw and how to draw new things. I don't post them all the time, but I ...

This weekend we are taking a "trip". I say "trip" because it is a field trip with kiddos, to a 4H center. :) After my post the other day, I've spent a good time thinking. I reviewed my motivations (which I have decorated in my bullet journal, and which is the background on my phone), I watched an episode of a show I frequent when I'm feeling down, and I spent some time yesterday immersed in art. What I ultimately came to was this: Whether or not I am blaming myself and down on myself right now, I have to make a choice about this next day (and this weekend). I need to get ready and make choices that allow me to continue on my path. Today's smile message was about taking time to notice the messages I was being given. Yesterday, on my way home from work, a vulture swooped down in front of my car. He was close enough that I could see his eyes and make out the colours of his neck and head. Clearly a message. The vulture tells us to go through life mak...

Something that bothers me quite a bit (partly because it happens in so many situations) is when people accuse me of any number of things based on my age. I can think of a few situations in which it has happened recently: In a recent gathering of adults, the comment was made that medical problems occur due to age and that those who are under X age should appreciate the time they have. Then a joke was made about how awesome life is in your younger years.  In a somewhat recent social media post, the request was made to spark discussion of a favourite childhood musician. Upon sharing mine, I was informed that I was "too young" to have ever really listened to them or appreciated them. Very similar things often happen when speaking to someone in person if they feel I am "not allowed" to like or appreciate a particular aspect of popular culture.  In somewhat regular discussions I am reminded that I am one of the youngest teachers in a particular group. This can play ...

Today, I find myself reminding myself of this. For a few reasons. I am working on my drawing ability. There are some things I draw "well" but in a very particular cartoony way. I am working on more realistic drawings and widening my skill set. I am working with mixed media. I have spent a little time each day working with a variety of mixed media to work on my creative side. It is a lot of fun, but can be frustrating if I don't have the supplies I need. So, I am trying to work around it without spending a lot of money. My glasses broke, for the second time, in such a way that I can no longer glue them together. I have made an appointment with the eye doctor, but it will still take a week to get new glasses. In that time, I can still function mostly normally, but I am having trouble focusing my eyes, and reading. I am also plagued with a constant headache from the astigmatism. Patience is key here because sound sensitivity is a big thing for me when headaches are pres...

It's that time of year! You step outside and, provided you've taken your allergy meds, you take in the sweet sights and smells of new life. Today I stepped out into my garden to start the hard and rewarding work of cleaning up the Winter yard and setting up the Spring and Summer garden. My to do list is long and, with my feet, I can only get in about 30 minutes to an hour of work before I have to stop, but it is so worth it. I've gotten a lot of feedback over the years on my gardens and harvest and it amazes me how little people seem to know about maintaining your own garden in that: If you don't put in chemicals and insecticides... no one else will.  Which means... you can eat some food right off the vine/stalk. How much good composting actually  does.  And if you do it right, you don't need chemical help to grow a great garden. I love  gardening. I've loved it since I was a kid, so you can imagine when I did a tour of my house before buying it my sh...

Today I visited my neurologist (3rd of 4 in person doctors' visits in the past month). We've been working to get past this migraine cycle I've had for a while (a month or so). I'm super happy with my medications, so we aren't changing it, and the doctor doesn't want to increase the dosage as my blood pressure is fairly low (but still healthy). What we did decide to do was change the breakdown of the dosage (from 2x a day to 3), continue with B12 supplements, and take a closer look at what I am eating. I had already made some changes due to my podiatrist's recommendations: cut most/all gluten out cut most/all dairy out I had already changed how often I eat for myself as well. So, we went over the details. For the sake of this post, I'll post a typical day in my food world.  Breakfast - 1-2 eggs + 1-2 turkey sausage/bacon/sausage Morning snack  - fruit/seaweed/veggies and hummus Lunch - leftovers from the night before OR tuna fish Afternoon ...