The past seven months have been weird. In the spring, the pandemic forced everything to close down and all my extracurricular activities and side hustles to temporarily cease and desist. My body and mind rested and remembered the joys of peace and quiet. I made reading, baking, painting, working out, cooking, self-care and cleaning weekly…
Category: Life
Learning to survive the learning curve
I have an awful lot of hobbies and side hustles – I like to feel productive by pursuing things that bring me joy. I also have a hard time remembering that there are only 24 hours in a day and that a good portion of those are used up by my full-time job, sleeping and…
Purpose. Movement. Joy. Breath.
I needed a new yoga mat – mine was fraying from years of hot yoga use. Every time I stood up at the end of a flow, my skin and clothing were covered with flecks of purple rubber. That particular Jade yoga mat came from a discount store. It was a spur of the moment…
Baking old favorites and creating new memories
I’m an undercover, mostly casual-about-it control freak. If we are just acquaintances, you probably (*hopefully*) don’t notice my type-A tendencies. But, they’re definitely there. While my sense of style, interior decorating choices and outward personality would suggest a go with the flow approach to life, these are all façades – I’m actually usually paying close…
The times, they are a-changin’
I’m pretty sure Bob Dylan’s song “The Times They Are a-Changin’” was full of political undertones. I’m not into politics and I’m not a Dylan super-fan, but a few of the lyrics really caught my attention lately (via a modern cover by Fort Nowhere). Backstory: I spent the last two months of 2019 feeling creatively…
Expectations vs. Reality
Today is my birthday. Which is something I don’t normally share about. I’ve been told that I’m an enigma — and I like it that way. You see, if people know something about you, they may or may not use that information, to your advantage or disadvantage. If someone knows about your birthday, you might…
The insightful gift of hindsight
One year ago, I quit my job. More accurately, a year and a half ago I quit my job, but circumstances were such that I phased out very slowly. It was a blessing and a curse. Two years ago I decided I needed to move on from my job. I no longer felt that I…
Checking the motives of lifelong learning
I love learning. I’m an Enneagram 5, which if you know anything about the Enneagram, you know that means I’m a hoarder of knowledge, resources and energy. Fortunately, I’m a fairly healthy 5, so I stay relatively engaged in the world and I don’t cling to too many worldly possessions. I do, however, have piles…
Own your talents
A few years ago, I created a really cool piece of art that is installed in the local Starbucks store. It is pretty awesome to see my handiwork on display every time I grab coffee (which is rather often). However, I think that the lesson behind the art is more important than the piece itself….
Adrenaline is not my friend
I like a good adventure. I like trying new things. I like being active. I like being outdoors. I don’t like adrenaline rushes; which is why, contrary to the above statements, skiing is more of a nightmare than a fun activity. But first, a little more context. My parents took me skiing in Michigan when…
L.M. Beatty 