I took a walk today. Needed to get away from the keyboard, the housework, Christmas preparations. This is one of the best Holidays of all. So why do I feel like I'm living in a tornado. Oh! Watch out for the flying cow! Ouch!
I had a good hour to walk around a nearby lake and the thought that kept playing through my mind was how it's the simple things that make me the happiest. Here were some of the things that gave me the warm fuzzies today:
*wind-blown waters dappled by dancing sunlight
*the one duck in the flock that had his head in the water and butt stuck up in the air. I don't care who you are. There's just something funny about an air-borne heiny.
*the sort of energy that can only be renewed by the kiss of crisp autumn air.
*The couple with their grandson, who held onto a string that was attached to a makeshift toy boat in the water. They made it out of a tinfoil roasting pan and a plastic bag for a sail.
*odd shaped and twisted trees. . . wondering how they got that way.
*a bush that looks like a gigantic bouquet of dandelions that have gone white, letting off hundreds of fluff balls that put me in mind of frost-work fairies coasting on the breeze
*sinus' that have finally cleared so that I can enjoy a good walk w/o feeling like a led-headed zombie. (No offense to zombies.)
*a winding path beneath a canopy of trees and padded with a carpet of leaves.
. . . . ahhhhhh! I may be able to survive the holidays after all.
So, how do you do it? What helps you survive the hectic tornado's of life?
13 comments:
Oh Christy, I love this post! I SO needed to read this today. I'm in the middle of the "Christmas Mess" at my house. My family thought it would be fun to decorate the tree. Then they left all the other decorations for me to put up. Boxes everywhere! I'm so organized normally, so I'm flipping out!
I need to take a walk like you did!
Either that or start running and never look back!
LOL, Rena! I can so relate! I"m hosting a party tomorrow night, and I'm scrambling to get everything together. I may need to take another walk!!!
Good luck with those boxes and decorations!
Remembering to breathe, to notice the small things in life and in noticing them to be thankful I have eyes to see, ears to hear, a nose to smell, fingers to touch, and a mouth with which to speak words of thanks, every day.
Great list - those wiggly duck butts in the air crack me up, too! I walk my dog by the river every day. That usually clears my head.
I LOVE the hectic tornadoes of life!!! I thrive on them....I always get in a slump if nothing is happening.
Hey Susan! Funny, dappled is one of my favorite words too! :0)
Bish, very true. Very true! I also thought about how happy I was that I had legs for walking. Often taken for granted!
Adrienne! :0D
Beth, you must be my polar opposite. I like things going on, but not in tornado mode. I like things nice and slow so I can stop and smell the roses. I find that I miss the "important" things when I'm too busy.
My life seems to be constant chaos but even more so this time of year! I start drinking vodka with my oj to cope... (I"M KIDDING!) Seriously, seeing such joy in my kids faces when they are helping me decorate or making snow angels makes me stop and smile. Christmas carols also help me get into a cheery, instead of frustrated mood, too.
Beautiful post, Christy. Taking a long walk is wonderful for unwinding. I have a favourite rock on top of a hill that I like to walk to. I can see for miles from there. It helps put things back into perspective.
Classical music works, too.
I saw your mention over on Cynsations today. You can add that to the list!
To survive the hectic tornado? Did anyone mention beer?
OK, for something more tame - music I love. Board games with the kids. Getting something productive done.
Lovely. The smell of wood burning. Getting a second to watch my kids play together without me.
Re: odd shaped and twisted trees. . . wondering how they got that way.
So you saw me while out for your walk? I too wonder how i became an odd shaped and twisted tree.. but here I am regardless...
I know this is going to shock you, but chocolate is how I get through the holidays and life in general...grin...
Shhh...come closer and promise not to tell anyone...when things get "ARGH!!!" I get in the car and I sing at the top of my lungs...I look foolish and sound horrible, but I feel sooo much better afterwards...grin...
I'm in the holiday stress mode too. We're leaving in a couple of days - eek! I hope to use your stress reducer and get some long walks in when we get to our destination.
Thanks for sharing what you saw on your walk!
To answer your question, chocolate seems to help, but only momentarily.
Post a Comment