What's Wrong with a Little Routine?

By nature some people are more comfortable with routine than others. I realize that many people shudder at the thought of the mundane of daily routines. But some of us literally THRIVE on routine. It's not our fault. It's in our DNA. That's why we can do things like accounting and other seemingly boring jobs. Yes, I get bored. Both with life and with work when there is NO break in the routine. But sometimes I JUST NEED A LITTLE ROUTINE!!!!!

I know all the expressions and beckoning of those other people. I've heard it all my life from my mama, my sister, my brother, my husband, my coworkers, my friends and my therapist. (I was actually in therapy at one point.)

Expect the unexpected. Be prepared for anything and everything. (Thanks, Mama and the Boys Scouts of America!) You need to be more flexible. Go with the flow. Be a willow tree. (That's my sister's favorite.) Learn to let go of things. Let's just play it by ear. (I can hear my husband say that like a broken record.) Accept the things you cannot change. (The oh so irritating serenity prayer.) Don't worry; be happy. (Crazy islanders!) Serenity now! (Frank Costanza) We plan; God laughs. (That one is on my kitchen wall.)

It feels like the unexpected is ALWAYS happening; and I never have time to restock my preparedness kit; and I already flexed myself into a knot; and the flow is coming at me like white water; and my willow tree got hit by lightening; and I cannot loosen my grip on that last little bit of sanity; and my ears are tone deaf; and I don't know that something cannot be changed unless I try, right?

Why does everyone think that it's the rigid person who should change. If the others are so flexible, why can't THEY adapt to MY ROUTINES?

Daffodils!

I am sooo ready to stick a daffodil under my nose and sniff deeply! It's one of my most favorite fragrances. And daffodils are such a sure sign of spring.

The ground is still wet from the melting snow and there still are some stubborn bits of snow lingering in parking lots, but spring is near.

You can smell that earthy smell of spring. The birds are flocking and singing and flying and nesting. The tree buds are plumping up. And there is just a general feeling in the air that spring is going to spring very soon.

I think we all have a little seasonal affect disorder that looms during the winter months. It magnifies the impact of spring's approach for everyone. People come out of their houses more and walk their dogs longer. Neighbors are more likely to exchange a nod or wave and a smile.

I can't help it. Spring makes me feel young again because it takes me back to the carefree days of youth and the joy of watching the daffodils and honeysuckle bloom.

Life is good today!

Rain is Way Better Than Snow!

It's a rainy day and is supposed to be rainy all weekend. That's okay with me, though, as long as it's not snow! Like the snow, rain is most fun when observing from inside. I have noticed, however, that I don't mind being out in the rain as much as I used to. I used to ALWAYS keep an umbrella in my car because you just never know when it might rain. I wouldn't want to be unprepared. But I gave up umbrellas a few years ago. Somehow, learning to camp in the rain with children takes away the fear of getting soaked. Turns out I am not made of sugar and will not be ruined by the rain. It really doesn't hurt to stand in the rain. Sometimes it's even fun. I really don't mind walking in the rain as I go from my car to wherever. I don't run and cover my head with my purse or whatever. I just walk at a brisk pace and smile the whole time, knowing that I really do dry out and so do my clothes.

Driving in the rain is still no fun, but that's another story.

Phew! That was a close one!

Driving in to work today, I suddenly noticed that the cars ahead of me went from speed limit to crawling about 50 yards ahead. So, naturally, I put my brakes on. Not too hard. My purse did not go flying or anything, but I had a serious reduction in speed. Automatic reflex when I brake suddenly is to check my rearview mirror. My heart jumped and my stomach flipped when I saw a big old truck speeding toward me! I was simultaneously aware of 2 cars in the right hand lane, one just a car length back and one barely a car length ahead. No way was this truck gonna fit in that space! Instinctively, as I checked my rearview mirror, I lifted my foot off the brake to get ready for another quick tap. At the last millisecond, the truck swerved into the right hand lane and whipped around me. I still don't know how he missed me and the two cars in the right lane, but I couldn't breathe for like a minute. Thank you, God, for your grace!

Yay Me!!!

This year I have been working on eating healthy. Sounds good, right? But I have had a really bad relationship with food for practically my whole life. It's a love affair gone bad sort of thing.

Anyway, I have been researching cookbooks and online recipes and nutrition sites. I've been experimenting with recipes and planning my daily meals and snacks and recording everything I eat. All the while I have had in mind to develop my own diet plan. (or healthy lifestyle plan, since "diet" is no longer in my vocabulary.) I am, also, creating my own healthy recipes to go along with my new healthy eating program.

Well, today I had a big breakthrough! I have developed an actual meal plan! Now I can use this plan to guide me through the tedious, wretched task of planning my meals. Instead of making it up as I go along, I have actual guidelines and meal suggestions to help me make that horrid decision of what to eat today.

Now I have to follow and document and track my weight to see how it actually works, and tweak as needed.

I'm really psyched! Oh, and so far I have lost 12 pounds!

Spring is Coming!

We have had some warm days lately and the snow is melting! The roads have shoulders again. (Well, most of them) The ugly gray snow piles are shrinking, too! But I am concerned that March has arrived with such mildness. Does that mean the lion of winter is going to raise its snowy head again before March can go out like a lamb?