One day this week, I woke up before dawn feeling stronger than I have in –
well, I don’t know how long. I got a
REAL workout, not once but twice the
day before--and I can feel a different energy today.
This winter in the northeast corner of Ohio has been
unpredictable. Lake Erie is only 1%
frozen this year, compared to 97% on this date last year. And that puts the snow machine in overdrive
when an arctic front drops into the area.
So it’s about 10 degrees, and we got about a foot of snow
yesterday. Beautiful, but our little
house hasn’t a garage. What it DOES have
is a knee-high drift at the end of the drive, up against an equally impassible
mount of plowed crud from the street.
Seems all the usual plow guys, who swarmed the neighborhood
last winter due to record snowfall, have gone South this year in despair,
thanks to very mild temps and very little snow.
Not a one to be seen all day. So with some fear, thanks to media warnings about “older” people’s
risks, I bundled up and shoveled. In the
morning, the deck, walk, and one side of the drive. Later, so that my hardworking hubby could park in the drive, I shoveled his side. It was even deeper and took a lot more effort. Two 45-minute sessions in one day!
My best thinking understands the importance of exercise;
I know
the benefits of cardio for heart health; most days I eat healthy proteins,
grains, veggies and fruit; and my arthritis screams back at me if I don’t MOVE. My daily habits are often a lot more sedentary than my intentions, though.
Funny how one big day of stretching my limits actually overcomes fear and produces the
motivation to do more. I’m auditioning
simple movements—either at home or in the gym—to enhance that feeling of wellness I have. Healthy habits start with repeating small
actions every day.
Creativity
is the same. I completed an online class
assignment, thinking that one small sketch wasn’t anything that special. It involved watercolor rendition of "lunch"... in this case, omelet ingredients. I had a great time doing it, and I'm generally
pleased with not only the learning that took place but also with my assessment
of a “pretty good” result. I posted the
thing on the Facebook page for the class; and within 24 hours, got over 100
“likes”.
Artists in social media are
generous in their support of each other—especially in “closed” groups like the one associated with this class. Seems our joy in creating makes us more inclined to offer positive, constructive feedback. In this way, we celebrate our successes, share our struggles, and motivate each other to take another creative leap in our work. Kind of like another fellowship I belong to. It takes one with the experience to communicate effectively with others sharing similar situations.
So, on this frigid winter morning, I look out at the dark
sky from every available window as I drink my morning coffee. Stars are winking out everywhere, from behind
scattered cotton-candy wisps of clouds blowing around off the lake. Grandmother Moon shines brightly, setting to the
West. I am so grateful for the lessons learned when
I stretch beyond my comfort zone and share in the encouragement of others.
It’s
always an “inside job” finding peace, happiness and love. Why not share the heck out of that?!