Tag Archives: calm

Around Here

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Around here CALM is the name of the game. Scout has been really sick, a malady I’m certain is brought on by anxiety. He went back to the vet yesterday for more tests and I continue to force him to take pills twice a day. Have you ever tried to give a cat pills by yourself? It’s a life skill I seem to have mastered with my boy, at least. Sadly, when we are done, he turns to me (his tormenter) for comfort.

Otherwise, I’ve been trying hard to keep his little world calm and somewhat predictable. By extension, my world has been calmer as well. In fact, I’m home again today. I’ve been home a lot lately with time to do some cleaning and organizing, reading, and kitty cuddling.

I’ll also be listening to authors talk about their books this weekend through something called Roswell Reads Rewind. Basically Roswell, Georgia has a city wide reading project that involves bringing in major fiction authors to speak about their books and to sometimes speak about their writing process. Once a year they post all those videos of past events online for a single weekend. It’s wonderful to go at your own pace and have a front row seat to all these smart people who have given the world books truly worth reading.

Last night I listened to Lisa See talk about her “overnight success” after spending twenty years writing books. Today I’ll revisit some favorites that I watched last year including Ron Rash, Ann Patchett, and Rick Bragg.

Around here, books and reading matter. Not only does reading entertain, it broadens horizons, educates and increases empathy in a world where these things I value seem to have gone out of vogue.

That’s part of the reason it irritates me to say there’s a good chance I’m going to DNF a book today. It sounded great but it has taken the author a full third of nearly 600 pages to get to the actual story of the book and I find that I’m just not that interested.

Do I care what happens next or if the main character is ok? Not especially.

Around here, we call that a bad sign. I’ll give it fifty more pages before deciding that this may just not be the book for me.

Around here, we understand that all things are not for all people and we move on.

I do wish I could be out doing something fun today. There’s probably a car show or a museum exhibit I would like to see. October is my favorite month for activities and time in nature. I know I’m missing out by not being on the hiking trails but there’s an event happening at Lake Hope today so that wouldn’t be peaceful and the Hocking Hills parks will be as busy as Times Square by noon.

Around here, we recognize that lots of people have FOMO or the Fear Of Missing Out but we believe in JOMO.

That’s the Joy of Missing Out.

At this moment, I’m in comfy pjs, still lounging with my little cat who adores me even when I make him take medicine and leave him at the vet to be poked and prodded. It’s a beautiful fall day and I have a quick errand to run so maybe I’ll stop for a few pictures on the way. Otherwise, around here is where I will stay and be glad for the calm of a quiet day mostly at home.

Whether you’re staying in or headed out on adventure, I hope where you are is as happy as this.

Stand Still

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Stand still.

Take a deep breath.

And another.

Close your eyes and take another deep breath.

Feel your feet pressing into the ground.

Need to breathe again? Do it as much as you wish.

When you are calm and centered, you are stronger and more confident. You are better ready to face what’s ahead. And while nature has an amazing healing power, don’t think you should wait until you’re outdoors like here in the Hocking Hills State Park. Try it in your back yard or next your bed when you wake up

Ready?

Let’s go tackle the day. It’s Thursday, friends. You’ve got this.

Peaceful Fishing

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He was all alone. A man, a bucket and a line. The sky was blue but the water looked muddy. Still, he looked so peaceful on this cool January day I couldn’t resist capturing his silhouette.

The picture wasn’t so interesting in color but converting it to black and white gave it all sorts of character and interest. Some might call it lonesome but I think it’s peaceful and calming.

Metahqua Nature Preserve

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, this picture doesn’t do justice to this incredible scene in my new happy place. It’s called Metahqua Nature Preserve and it’s part of the Ross County Park District near Chillicothe, Ohio.

At more than 230 acres of hardwood, wetland and tall grass fields in the flood plain of Little Walnut Creek, it is peaceful and beautiful. A century old one room schoolhouse has been smartly converted to a quaint caretaker’s residence.

The happy place that I refer to is a pond high atop a hill. It’s surrounded by trees which, I’m told, provide a breathtaking setting in the fall. Dusk was approaching but those trees reflected into the water a scene so serene that it was almost mesmerizing. The call of frogs and various birds made it even better.

I was there with a kindred spirit, the man responsible for a sandstone patio with two benches to sit and enjoy the view. He said that if he accomplishes nothing else in his lifetime, knowing that this place exists, because he made it happen, is enough.

I felt that to my soul as I sat there absorbed in my surroundings and enjoying the beauty of that waning day. My heart rate went down and my mind was completely calm.

I was at peace.

Spending time in nature is good for your health. Getting outdoors and moving is good for your body but sometimes I think the mental health benefits are far greater. There’s nothing better than fresh air, bird song and the peace that comes from simply existing amongst beauty.

I hope to return another time and especially would love to see that fall foliage someday. Want to learn more? Visit their website to learn the Shawnee meaning of Metahqua, learn about the wildlife, find directions and more.