Southern Ohio was smacked with a bad storm last night. Rain came down in torrents and thunder shook the walls. We aren’t out of the woods yet. It’s calm and quiet this morning but a tornado watch is in effect till 11 am.
There’s flooding throughout the county and trees down, making the morning commute challenging if not impossible for many.
But if you go in my backyard, you’ll find that the storm that literally uprooted mighty trees had little impact on delicate flowers.
These lilies still stand. These lilies that I didn’t even plant, that showed up one day and grew without my permission, continue to stand without a petal out of place.
These little flowers came from starts given to me by a neighbor. The rain did beat some of them down but I suspect, with a little support, they will stand again.
Nature is an incredible thing, isn’t it? From its healing powers to its beauty and ability to withstand and adapt to whatever is necessary, nature is amazing.
These flowers are a good allegory for us today. Like these lilies, there are some people who can weather any storm. They come out on the other side with not even a hair out of place.
And some people will get knocked down but you don’t need to worry about them. They’ll get up again, especially if they have a little help. They’re resilient and will be fine.
Whatever storm you have to weather, remember if the flowers can do it, so can you.
If you have today off, I hope you will find time to do something fun or at least outside your routine.
Walk around your yard and look for bees and flowers. Take a drive and go find some ice cream and yard sales. Head to the library and flip through magazines or see if there are any car shows or events happening nearby. Is there a local small business you’ve been meaning to check out? They would love to see you!
Go see what the world holds even if it is just in your own back yard. It will do you good.
I took today off work. The rhythm of my year is different than most people’s and this week saw the completion of a cycle that allows me to let go of some stress.
I realized this week that I’ve been holding myself together with caffeine and worry and I’m not sure I remember what it’s like to not feel that way. This is a commentary on me rather than my job or volunteer work because this is just how I handle life. And how I handle things mostly involves abusing my own nervous system.
Today I revisit what feels like a fruitless effort to calm the inflammation in my body and find a better way of living.
Scout, the kind little soul that he is, recognized my exhaustion and stayed close last night. He didn’t wake me when he was hungry this morning and napped next to me while I awoke on my own terms – no alarm and no stress dream jolting me awake. He usually is up before the alarm, banging the bell on his collar against his food dish in case I didn’t know his bowl is empty. He kindly let me sleep this morning and awakening to soft sunlight streaming through the curtains was gentle. He had his head on the pillow next to me and was snoring.
Was it 7 a.m.? Was it noon? I had no idea and didn’t really care.
When your life is dictated by schedules and alarms to keep you on track, it feels like privilege to not know the time of day and to do as you please. Most days I set alarms to keep me on track or to remind me to just stand and move. What a joy to put down your phone and walk away without worry.
So I fed Scout and fluffed the pillows before lying down again. Scout came back after his breakfast and we laid beneath the ceiling fan while I read.
This book has been slow going and I have struggled to get through it this week. The writing is beautiful. The antagonist, a snake handling false prophet who uses his pulpit to warp minds and get his way, hit way too close to home given the state of the world. “A Land More Kind Than Home” by Wiley Cash is southern gothic literature at its best but it was still a rough ride.
Despite that, I was glad to luxuriate in my soft sheets beneath the fan and let the author paint a picture for me. This author hosts a podcast about North Carolina literature that I enjoy. He’s a good host but a great writer who makes you feel like you’re standing right next to his characters in every scene.
It was close to lunch when I turned the last page so I fixed myself a plate and a tall glass of ice water and took a different book to the back porch. It has been hot and humid here this week but that humidity finally broke and the outdoors are pleasant again. There was even a nice breeze and more birds in my yard than I could begin to count.
They were beautifully vocal while I sat quietly, thankful for their song.
I’m writing to you from the porch. The birds are still singing and there’s a slight breeze. The smell of honeysuckle permeates the air. Honeysuckle is invasive and an all around pain to have around but I almost don’t mind when it smells this good.
I have a nice sitting area out here with vintage motel style chairs and an old carpenter’s tool chest for a coffee table. There’s a hammock as well as some junk in the corner that I need to deal with someday. There’s also the table where I sit now. It’s a perfect spot for outdoor meals and for cold drinks on hot days but I rarely have time to dwell here.
The rest of the day stretches out before me. My current state isn’t so pretty: still in pajamas with messy hair and bare feet. I’m tempted to go walk in the grass like this but memories of stepping on a bee when I was about five are keeping me on the porch at the moment.
Wouldn’t soft grass between toes feel good right now?
There’s work to be done here. Projects and cleaning call my name but I will likely ignore them today. They’ve waited this long. Maybe I’ll do something later but at this moment I think I’ll just concentrate on being human.
Humans weren’t designed to work all the time, to rely on caffeine for survival, and to jump at every ping, ding, buzz and ring of the devices that have a hold on our society.
To NOT stay busy all day, standing till I can hard walk or, even worse, sitting till I can hardly stand, is positively un-American.
Why must we always be busy anyway?
To choose un-busy and to resist the allure of tvs and devices is a form of gentle resistance.
What would happen if I spent this entire day reading and listening to birds while sipping cold water? What would happen if I took a nap or an extra long shower in the middle of the day?
What would happen if I just sat in the quiet with nothing but my own thoughts and the gentle rhythm of my breathing for company? My chiropractor tells me I hold my breath. Maybe I need to practice breathing.
What if breathing and rest, movement and quiet, bird song and ideas and good food and cold water are all I really need to soothe my angry body?
Today I have a chance to find out and I’ll try not to blow it. Tomorrow I have a fun day planned and have been looking forward to it. For now, though, maybe I’ll go stand in the grass and see if that helps any. Unless I step on another bee, it probably can’t hurt.
We were sitting at a traffic light in Bedford, Pa when I glanced over to see these door handles. In case you can’t see well, that’s because I snapped the photo from the car as we started to move again.
Each one is shaped like a peacock and I found them utterly charming.
The world would be more tolerable if we all tried to add just a touch of whimsy to whatever we are doing.
Upgrading the door handles from basic builder grade to a splash of flamboyance made all the difference to brighten this building and grab attention.
How about that?
Why choose boring when you can have whimsy? Let’s give it a whirl and see how much more engaging and fun the world can be with a few different choices!
Does food have to look pretty to taste good or be good for you? No, but I do think it helps and is one of life’s great small joys.
I’m having brunch this morning because not setting an alarm led to a very late wake up call from Scout. He was patient until his food bowl was empty and then, clearly, enough was enough.
Some of the smallest joys can be found right where you sit.
Just in this picture are freshly washed berries so fragrant they make their presence known from across the room. The pretty floral plates were a Christmas gift from my parents and the table cloth is the one I used for Easter but liked so well I washed it and put it back in the table after our meal. The glasses were an online purchase because they looked vintage and vintage touches are always a good idea if you ask me. The way even a cloudy sky casts light onto this table is a small joy too.
This is a holiday so I’m home, puttering and enjoying the quiet of my home. I hope to finish reading the book that’s pictured – maybe before I even leave this seat. This set of essays was written by a vintage living, kind hearted woman who took social media by storm for the quiet but purposeful life she lives. Her name is Diane Shiffer and I highly recommend that you find a copy or at least look for her on social media.
This book is a boost of enthusiasm and grace that most of us need. My copy is filled with post-it notes and is sure to be one I revisit time and again. It’s called “The Smallest of Joys: How to create your own magic, let your best be enough and find contentment exactly as you are.”
She’s a breath of fresh air in this fake, ultra processed, disposable world.
Where are you sitting, friend? What are the small joys you can see from where you are at this moment? I bet there are more than you think if you take stock!
This sign was on a Pepsi machine in a medical office corridor last week. I had to giggle and feel empathy for the author.
Can you read it?
To whom it may concern, Could you please refill with DIET PEPSI- PLEASE? Thank you!
Personally, I prefer Diet Coke but completely understand the desperation one feels when your delightfully fizzy drink of choice isn’t available.
Here’s hoping someone noticed and took heed. On a related note, we call it pop here in southern Ohio. Do you call it pop or soda or do you prefer the southern tradition of calling it all Coke?
