Unfurrowed brow, fallow fields
Well, goodness. I’m finally feeling healthy and human again and I’ve got all limbs and digits crossed in the hopes that it lasts for more than five days. Lila bean jumps back into the germ pool on January 7th and the whole bloody thing could start all over again. But while I’ve got my head above water I’m going to start taking some things to try to build up my immune system.
The holidays are mostly past and I’m going to step away from the baked goods and get on that recumbent bike in the basement again. After I clear away all of the boxes stacked around it. But this week I’m just letting myself move very slowly, just treading water and breathing. Staying as quiet as I can. I managed to only have two days of rush during the wind-up to Christmas and while being sick sucked donkey balls, it was one of those back-handed gifts you tend to get when you’ve been overdoing it for so long that your internal barometer doesn’t work anymore. I think they call that a shit storm or something. But anyway, I enjoyed the results of keeping it light and small. Missed my family back east, but it was just more important to sit still and do nothing much for a few days. Putter in the kitchen with some cookies and butter toffee. Make some dishes to bring to friends’ for dinner. Read. Watch movies. Throw in a load of laundry. Have to rewash it two days later because I forgot to move it to the dryer. Like that. Very slow.
So New Years is right around the corner and world events are giving me the heebs. I wish I could just fake optimism, but I can’t. I have plenty for myself and my family and friends, so that’s good. It’s on that level that we get to work anyway—those of us who choose not to get involved in politics and activism on a large scale. So I’ll enjoy this fallow time and noodle around with ways I might be able to manifest in my own life, the change I’d like to see in the world.
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar."
~Helen Hayes
December 28th, 2007 at 9:28 am
So glad you are feeling better… and it does sound good. Moving slow like that.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I am also happy to hear from you. This year I have focused on drinking herbal teas every day to nourish and build strength and it seems to help. Course I don’t have the stresses you have with children in school and work away from home. I am a teensy bit older, however, and feel a need to take care of my self, or else….
I heard a woman on the radio say an interesting thing the other day. She mentioned “grassroots reframing,” and I though was so apt to describe what it is that I see. People organizing in small ways with family, friends, and neighbors.
The news is very bad and ongoing world events surely impact our lives. And yet I sense a groundswell, a healthy response of individuals taking responsibility for their small piece, here and there.
Do you know the blog http://casaubonsbook.blogspot.com/? Sharon is a good writer and addresses many of the issues that we ponder.
December 28th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Glad you are well again, Kelly, and just chilling. And, yes, let’s live our best lives. And may the Kelly humor ripple around the world! That will help things for sure!
December 29th, 2007 at 1:54 am
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December 31st, 2007 at 11:19 am
I am in so much the same space right now. Except that I think I have a little more optimism for the future state of the world, and maybe less optimism for my personal need for change.
I am letting myself get pleasantly engulfed in the planning of my garden which tends to feed my optimism for all things.
I can’t wait to hear your further thoughts on the coming year and the things you’re mulling about.
January 6th, 2008 at 10:45 am
So glad to have found you
fellow Ohioan
love the simple bibs you make
my gran makes them too
January 11th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Amy, thanks so much for your commenting! Where in Ohio?