Monthly Archives: November 2024

Honor Our Veterans

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Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere who bravely bears his country’s cause.”

– Abraham Lincoln

Freedom doesn’t come free. Democracy isn’t a guaranteed right. Freedom and Liberty for all are just words unless there are people prepared to fight and die for the cause.

We owe our nation, our freedom and everything we have to the brave men and women of all branches of the American military.

If you see a veteran today, tell them thanks for what they do. If you’re reading this and you are a veteran or active duty military – thank you.

Discovery Close To Home

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Yesterday found me on a section of the Moonville Rail Trail that I hadn’t explored before. Technically, we intended to visit the haunted Moonville Tunnel and walk a few miles from there on the rail trail. Unfortunately, that area was extremely busy and we were looking for a more peaceful experience in nature. So we opted for a plan b.

Turns out that was a terrific idea!

I live in Vinton County, Ohio where a growing tourism industry has resulted in some truly good things that deserve exploring. A winery, lots of new cabins and airbnbs, a new park district and other developments have been drawing a lot of new visitors into the community.

But I think, as residents, we sometimes forget to go check out the new or different because we keep returning to the old.

This was a fun walk and it was a gorgeous day to get out and enjoy something a little different than we would normally do. It was a fantastic reminder that there’s adventure to be found near and far from home and that every day is a good one to get out and see something!

Want to visit my community? Learn more here. If you’re a resident, there’s plenty for you to explore as well!

Get Outside Today

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Welcome to Saturday. It’s going to be 64 degrees and sunny here in southern Ohio so I’m going to take full advantage and go outside. November can be a volatile month although it has been mild so far. Best take advantage of the good weather while we can before it turns cooler and rainy.

It has been so mild thus far that I still haven’t turned on my heat or switched to the flannel sheets. The lovely thing about being a hearty Ohio girl is that we don’t require heat or jackets until it at least dips well below freezing. 

The day will come soon though.

Meanwhile, this marks the start of my staycation. I intended to have a solid week of rest and hanging out to do some yard work and organizing. I intended to take some day trips and simply do as I please. I need to focus on supporting my own mental and physical health. Those plans have gone out the window and my week will mostly be comprised of obligations rather than anything I actually want to do. So much for rest and wellness. 

It’’s important to take advantage of the free time I have and strike while the iron is hot! Don’t worry – I’ll sneak in some kind of adventure in between the other stuff! 

Wherever you are, I hope you are able to get outside today. Fresh air cleanses the lungs, mind and spirit. Exercise is good for all those things too. As always, be happy and well. Nature is a wonderful place to do those things and to gain perspective on the world around you.

Finding Joy In The Everyday

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If you’re like me and have a full time job, it’s hard to get out for adventure and fun on any regular basis. Day trips are limited to the weekends and opportunities for longer trips to just a few weeks of the year.

Does that mean we can’t experience joy and even a mini adventure in the every day?

I think not.

Yesterday was a long, busy work day. I traveled about a an hour from home and spent the day at an office I rarely get to visit. The route is cross country on hilly, curvy county roads and state routes. It’s over hill and dale through deer country and through some of Ohio’s most beautiful countryside.

The colors are past peak but still vibrant right now and made a gorgeous back drop. It’s awe inspiring to see how much the landscape has changed in the last few weeks.

My destination was named for a German town called Bremen. In the early 20th century, Bremen experienced a tremendous oil boom and had all sorts of industry. Today, it’s largely a bedroom community but it always pleases me to drive past the old homes that are remnants of the wealth the oil derricks and other industry provided.

It was a joy to be there.

At lunch, I went out to grab a bite to eat and to run a couple of work errands. On the way back I turned up the tunes and opened the sunroof, basking in the glory of a gorgeous fall day.

And then I saw it.

Coming toward me was a car with a dachshund sticking up from their sunroof! That little dog’s ears flapped in the wind and I knew he was living his very best life.

What an adventure!

The point is that real life dictates that we show up and be responsible every day. That doesn’t mean you can’t find some joy and even a mini adventure in your everyday life.

Try it sometime! It really does make life more enjoyable! In other words, be as happy as a dachshund with its ears in the wind!

Yesterday

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If you dropped by yesterday, you read something brief about curating your own life.

This is a work in progress for me but I did my best despite being busy for literally the entire day. There was next to no time to just stop and think as I ran from one thing to something else all day.

Here’s what I managed:

I cuddled my house panther.

I saw the chiropractor about my ankle and was assigned some exercises to help it get stronger.

I gave the gift of life by donating blood.

I supported a small business in my own community and ordered pizza for dinner. Plus, I didn’t have to cook!

I stopped to appreciate some late bloomers in the flower beds. Those beds are mostly weeds right now so I really appreciated the pops of color.

I avoided the television and social media as the loudest voices are ones determined to divide the country rather than bring us together.

I worked on my positive attitude while other people focused on their hatred. Can you read the purple graphic above? Here’s what it says:

“Always remain positive.”

* Falls down stairs.

Wow. I got downstairs so fast!

It’s a small start toward curating the life I want. However small it may be, it’s something and maybe I can do more tomorrow.

Curating Your Own Life

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I read something recently that suggested you should be the curator of your own life and I liked this idea. It’s like curating an art collection – perfect since your life is a work of art. Cut out things that don’t matter and the things that drag you down, steal your time and distract you.

Keep doing this until you’re left with only the things that make your life better and that bring you comfort and joy.

Sometimes it’s hard to know what you want your life to look like and what it ought to be. Rather than picture that, sometimes it is easier to know what it shouldn’t be and begin stripping away the unnecessary.

There is such a thing as addition by subtraction.

Curating your own life will be harder than you think. That’s why you need to start today. Where will you begin?