#15 Flowers!

It's mid January and I so many of the things that make me happiest are during the warmer months. I've learned that re-hashing these memories and moments are making the cold winter days go by faster!

For those of you who knew me when I was younger realize my dad had a beautiful yard full of a wide variety of flowers, bushes, shrubs and trees. He was/is a great landscaper. Mainly, when people think of my dad and flowers, they think of his iris! Gradually he has given this up as he's been aging but he's passed a little dose of it on to me. I have a smaller yard and much less patience and physical stamina but I truly love flowers and landscaping! I have been fortunate enough to have my dad teach me about the care and maintenance of so many different flowers. I doubt my retirement will consist of 8 hour days in my yard but I'm really grateful for what my dad has taught me. In 2013/2014 my dad and I planned 3 main flower beds for my yard.  I've added 1-2 flower beds each summer since then.

My daffodils have a hard time coming up but I can officially say there's about 3 months to wait for tulips!

People of any age or level of function can enjoy the beauty of flowers. Landscaping can be tricky with my physical disability but I haven't let it stop me yet!  I have to be extra careful with positioning my body and completing the physical output it takes to have a beautiful yard.  However, one of my favorite things about landscaping is getting lost in my thoughts while physically moving and having such a pretty result!  It pays off when you work to maintain the hobbies and traditions that truly make you smile!

#14 Snow Days

My job is busy and hectic when I am there. I am there much less than I would be at any other setting where I could work as an Occupational Therapist or Rehabilitation Counselor.

This week was a 4 day week for me because of snow and ice today, along with a 30 degree temperature drop all within less than 12 hours.

Extra sleep, no rushing around in the morning in the cold, more time to complete physical exercises to maintain my health, organization around my house and a great show on Netflix to binge watch. It's actually a great way to be maintaining the symptoms of my disability.

It's almost as great as summer vacation! The surprise of a snow makes up for the cold winter weather.

#13 The Beach.

Anywhere along Lake Michigan is "my beach" and my happy place. But I will not complain if I am at a beautiful beach somewhere else (and the weather is in my favor). Salt water is strange but I am not a huge swimmer anyways, so I will take it. Being on a beach with open water is soothing and calming - I can't help but be happy when I am there. I picture myself retiring to a beach town as they are my favorite places to visit when I vacation. In the meantime, I need to make as many visits to beaches as possible. The ones with bike paths are the best of course!

When I'm at the beach there is no need to take the bad stuff or the stuff that seems to be to hard with me.  I just show up and enjoy!!

https://www.facebook.com/HealYourMindOfficial/videos/1913427892235503/

#12 Yoga

I have expressed before my gratitude for yoga. I like learning about how movement, breathing and overall awareness impacts my body. It makes the "big bad thing" smaller and not such a big deal.

Since I do yoga often, I do not have to take muscle relaxers, prescriptions for physical aliments or even cold medicine. I am at risk to potentially have surgeries to have my tendons clipped for lengthening and/or excess visits to outpatient rehab clinics but because of yoga the muscles and tendons in my legs are more flexible than they've ever been.

Despite the fact that I do not look very graceful when I am doing yoga poses while in class I have learned that yoga is about being kind to my body with positive thinking as I am moving. I have learned there are several ways to adapt movements and poses so I am able to do them easier. When I attempt yoga and other physical activities it's obvious that physically I will struggle. This is when my confidence, inner strength and ability to laugh at myself shines through. Yoga has been able to allow me to let these strengths appear while I am trying new things.

#11 My girls

Piper

Zoey

I try to spare everyone on social media by not posting daily pictures of my 2 cats. But they truly are a shinning light in my life. Sometimes, I feel like they adore me more than most people! Piper, needs to be next to me or in the same room I am in and Zoey is a very confident, independent but loving, friendly creature. They always greet me at the door when I get home, sleep with me on my bed at night and snuggle with me when I watch TV. Zoey even makes my mornings bright with greetings. Piper, however is not a morning cat and continues to sleep until I mention food.

My crazy cat lady tendencies may be coming out in my post, but my girls make me so happy!

My disability or "the big bad thing" doesn't matter because all pets are non-judgmental, they love each of us for who we are. Humans could learn a lot from their pets.

The proof is in the science:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/51154/10-scientific-benefits-being-cat-owner

Bike Rides

Ever since I was 9 years old, I have been writing about how much I enjoy bike riding. The majority of the time I do it to relax and sort my thoughts. I also like to bike ride to socialize and see new things. When the weather is warm enough it is a major part of my daily life and I miss it during the colder months. It is cheap, simple and good for my health. I can't wait to see where future bike rides take me. Some of my most memorable bike rides have been during the Ability Tour in Lansing and riding across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

It took me a little bit longer than most kids, but despite "the big bad thing" I am able to enjoy this hobby!

#9 A Bright Future

I have been trying to realize that I have a bright future with great things ahead of me. I tend to write a lot to sort my thoughts. Last night I went to a vision board workshop to kick off the new year.

I found a lot of words that meant a lot to me such as "experience it all", "decisions", "summer  getaways", ect. I was attracted to pictures of beaches and found an entire article about the best beaches to go to meet men or to go to with your girlfriends. I have a few quotes in there about retirement/money because I do have a goal to stay secure and plan ahead for my future. My biggest pictures are of porches and people gathered around enjoying one another's company on a porch.

My biggest surprise was I put the word "power" on my board 3 or 4 times. Maybe 2018 will be the year of "Power" for me!

#8 Sunsets!

I have always liked pretty sunsets. Who doesn't?

On my daily bike rides I go around the block I live on 5 times which takes about 35 minutes for me. In September after work had started back up I began this bike rides as the sun was setting.  The 90 degree weather slipped away with the sun even though the warm breeze remained. Each time I would ride along the street with an open field to the west, I would see the changes in the sun as it dropped lower and lower along the horizon. I didn't have to pay for it or push a button to make this happen, it was out of my control. I was reminded the universe was bigger than me. Regardless of my attitude or the negative things in the media, the sun always sets.

For a few weeks this fall, I craved these 35 minutes. It was worth the busy days at work in the non-air conditioned buildings.

I've spent time reading and thinking about mindfulness and the importance of slowing down to appreciate the smaller things in life and the impact these things can have on my life. The beauty and simplicity of sunsets have helped me realize applying these things to my daily routine really does work!

#7 Home Sweet Home

I have a huge sense of pride that I was able to have a house built for myself in 2012. The gratitude and happiness occurs on a regular basis when I realize I have created a home for myself. The majority of it looks exactly like I want it to.  I've worked hard and put forth effort on my own to make minor improvements and maintain it. On the outside I will forever have the memories of my dad and I creating the landscaping together. It is definitely comfortable, relaxing and my safe place to fall when I need to recharge.  It is very close to being a true Siesta Hut. I would change very little and I like being here.

To me, my home represents not only comfort but my independence. Despite "the big bad thing" the time, effort and money I have put forth has paid off.

#6 Having an open mind...my crap is equal to yours

It's very natural for me to keep an open mind and have a wide variety of friendships. I am not able to travel, shop or go to a movie with the majority of my friends on a regular basis for various reasons. Most of my friends are in a different phase in their life as I am. It can seem rather inconvenient to maintain friendships like this however my friends are constantly teaching me new things and pushing me to better myself.

It makes me happy to know I have friends who can give me a different perspective on a variety of things. Some of my friends are older and share their input on previous experiences. Some friends are a lot younger than me which allows me to appreciate the fact that they are influential and honest about the ways they look up to me. Some of my friends are encouraging and good listeners while others have a strength in pushing me to try things that I would never have done before. I have a great appreciation for all of these traits.

When in a good friendship I know "the big bad thing" is only the piece of what that other person is seeing. In a good friendship the other complex layers of who I really am can be addressed and nurtured. Sometimes, when I am really lucky I will experience moments where "the big bad thing" becomes a topic that is suddenly a lesson or a gift for each of us. A true friend is someone who views my "big bad thing" equal to his/her "big bad thing."