Snow Is My Friend

Snow is my friend.  After almost a week of inactivity, snow got me up, out, and moving again.  Let me
explain:

My husband recently had to undergo some minor surgery.  It was one where he had to stay the night at the hospital.  So leading up to the day of surgery, we spent time getting things ready.  We're both planners... probably to a fault.  We spent much time planning, making lists, and generally getting ourselves and our home ready.  Consequently we were both a little less physically active than usual.  No visits to the gym.  Obviously, the day of surgery was spent in the hospital.  We had to be there by 10 AM so we left the house at 9:30 AM.  I didn't get home until after 7 PM.  The next morning I was at the hospital around 8 AM to bring my husband home.  All went very well, but it threw me off my routine.  It doesn't take much to put me back into a sedentary lifestyle.

It snowed a little the other day.  My son lives across town, but called to offer to clear the snow from our driveway and sidewalks.  We told him not to bother.  We have a truck and if we needed to go out, we'd just crawl over it.  Then it snowed again.  We didn't want our son to have to come across town to shovel us out.  There will probably come a time when we'll need the help.  Fortunately, not yet.  But we sure did appreciate the offer.

My husband and our neighbor take turns helping each other out.  Which ever one is out first snow blows for the other.  I decided to "suit up" and shovel the front and back decks, the steps and the sidewalks leading up to them.  Even though it was only 9 degrees out, I wasn't cold.  It was actually invigorating.  It felt so good to be outside getting some fresh air and exercise.  If it hadn't snowed and if my husband hadn't had surgery and couldn't do it himself, I would probably STILL be sitting around being sedentary.  So... SNOW IS MY FRIEND.

Love,  Paula

I Still Love Where I Live!

This past week the whole country was in an unusual "deep freeze".  Every state in the country registered a temperature below freezing for a least a short time on the same day... even Hawaii.  It was a very unusual weather week for everyone.

Where I live, we had an official temperature of -16 degrees with a wind chill factor of -36 degrees.  Some places were warmer, some colder.  Our news broadcasts were giving suggestions on how to dress for this weather and how to stay safe.  Family and friends were calling and emailing to check on each other and make sure everyone was doing okay.

Since I was raised by the ultimate "boy scout" I try to always be prepared.  My dad's mantra was, "It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it".  So at the beginning of winter every year I pack a bag to put in the trunk of my car and keep it there until spring.  In it I pack snow pants, wool sox, hats, gloves, mittens and scarves.  Hopefully I'll never need it, but I'm ready... just in case.

In my previous blog "I Love Where I Live" dated 12/16/13, I talked about the crazy weather here and how much fun the little "surprises" from nature are.  Last Wednesday we had the -16 degree temperature.  By Friday we were in the 50s.  It was snowing on Wednesday.  It rained on Friday and Saturday.  On Sunday it was in the 40s, sunny and almost all the snow was gone.  I can't wait to see what tomorrow's weather will bring.  SURPRISE!!!

I still love where I live!

Love,  Paula

"Most Important Days"

Someone on Facebook posted a quote from Mark Twain.  It went like this; "The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why."  I couldn't believe what I was reading.  It was like he knew me.  It felt good to know I'm not the only one that thinks about these things.  Obviously I've already had the first important day... 62 plus years ago.  But I'm STILL waiting for that second important day.

Sure I'm a wife, a mother, a grandma/nana, a mother-in-law, a daughter, a daughter-in-law. a sister, a sister-in-law, an aunt, a friend and an employee.  Although those things are important, they still don't totally define me.  Sometimes I actually ask people what they perceive I'm "supposed" to be doing with my life.  Most of my friends tell me that I'm a healer.  But what does that mean exactly?  What does that look like?

As I've mentioned in previous blogs, I am a Reiki Master Teacher.  In that capacity yes, I do healing work.  But healing takes place on many levels... spiritual, mental, emotional and physical.  So I believe we ALL do healing work in some way or another all the time:  kind words, hugs, concern, love, caring, understanding, prayers, listening, just being there for someone in their time of need.  These are all healing activities and we all do these things.  So yes, I am a healer.  So are all of you.

So what are my special gifts?  What's my reason for being?  I'm STILL trying to figure that out.  Is it possible that maybe there is more than one reason we are born?  That there are more than two. "most important days" in our lives?  And that maybe our reasons change as we evolve?

I can't answer those questions for myself.  I certainly can't answer them for you.  I guess we all have to find our own answers to those questions.  We have to keep searching so we can celebrate our "most important days".  THEN we can share our gifts with the world.

Love,  Paula