Every three months Emily Freeman hosts a What I’ve Learned link-up over at her place where bloggers offer a recap of the stuff — from little to life-changing — they’ve learned that season. Here’s my list for winter 2016-2017.
It’s Never Too Late to Get Political
It took me 46 years, but this election season changed something in me. Barely a month into this presidency, I can name more cabinet members in the current Administration than I could name in all the past Administrations combined since I began voting in 1988. I joined my newly formed neighborhood Citizen Action Group, I learned what local district I live in and who my senators and representatives are (yes, I admit, prior to this, I couldn’t name a single one), and I’ve even made a couple of phone calls to my government officials (As a life-long sufferer of phone phobia, this is big; I write out a script before I dial, and that helps.). I’m informed(ish) and engaged, and I can’t help but think this is good, regardless of who is in office.
It’s Never Too Late to Begin Yoga
Sure, I can barely touch my ankles, never mind my toes (or heaven forbid, the floor!), but I feel like my body thanks me every time I stretch it a bit. My husband and I signed up for a six-week Holy Yoga class at our church, and even though we pretty much died laughing at each other every class, we both admitted it was good for us. My body has been telling me I need to take better care of it for years, and I am finally beginning to listen.
I Can’t Sit for 5 Hours in a Dining Room Chair
File this one under the “My Body Ain’t What It Used to Be” category. After six weeks of physical therapy for a compressed cervical nerve in my neck, I’ve finally realized that I need to pay attention to my office furniture and my body. For the past five years my “desk” has consisted of a table I found discarded on the curb and a spindle-back dining room chair. It’s also been standard practice for me to sit for two- or three-hour stretches at my desk without getting up. The result: a visit to the orthopaedist for searing upper back pain and a pins-and-needles sensation in my left arm (I would also periodically experience the feeling of cold water being splashed onto my forearm – the first couple of times it happened, I actually looked up at the ceiling to see if there was a leak dripping down on me. Cue The Twightlight Zone theme song). For now I’ve borrowed an ergonomically correct office chair and make an effort to stand up once an hour (at least). I’ve also deemed 2017 the year I take care of my body.
Yazidi Food is Yummy
The Yazidi family we sponsored from Iraq invited us to their place for lunch and put on what can only be described as a feast of epic proportions. I’m not typically a picky eater, but one of my kids who shall remain unnamed has a sensitive gag reflex, particularly when it comes to unfamiliar foods, so I worried we’d have a culturally inappropriate incident. Thankfully all went well, and though I can’t tell you exactly what we ate, the food was delicious and the company was even better. The Yazidis are an exceedingly gracious, friendly people, and we feel so grateful and blessed to have these new friends in our life.
Trees Communicate with Each Other
A tree’s roots extend more than twice the spread of its crown, so it’s inevitable, especially in a forest, that root systems will intersect and grow into one another. This makes sense. What I didn’t know and recently learned from the book The Hidden Life of Trees is that trees send “news bulletins” to each other through their root systems by means of chemical compounds and electrical impulses that travel at the speed of a third of an inch per second (trees aren’t setting any speed records). What’s even more astonishing is that trees that grow closely together will often take care of each other, especially if they are of the same variety. They share nutrients and water, and they even synchronize their photosynthesis, equalizing differences between the strong trees and the weak trees so that all are equally succesful at processing sunlight. I love this and can’t help but think that it’s a beautiful metaphor for community.
A Manual Face Exfoliating Brush Works Just Fine
I admit, I have a pretty basic face cleansing routine: Wash with Aveeno cleanser, moisturize with Aveeno moisturizer, remove mascara with Vaseline. The End. Lately, though, I’ve noticed my skin has been suffering from the winter dulls. Enter the Sephora Cleaning Me Softly Facial Cleansing Brush. I heard about this little beauty tool on this episode of the Sorta Awesome podcast, and I have to say, I use it a couple of times a week, and it leaves my face soft and glowing. For $10, you can get the results of a more expensive exfoliating system. Works for me!
Flowers in February Save My Sanity
A couple of weeks ago we had a spate of super-warm weather here in Nebraska. For a few days I wore capris and short sleeves and was living in la-la land, pretending that winter was gone forever. A trip to Trader Joe’s one evening when my mood had plummeted with the temperatures reminded me that a cheap bouquet of store-bought tulips can do wonders for my spirits. Every week from now till spring-for-real, I’m splurging for fresh flowers.
I Have to Get Outside Every Day
Even if it’s just for a few minutes, and even if the weather is terrible. I don’t know if it’s getting “air in my snout,” as my dad likes to say, or the perspective I inevitably gain when I step away from my computer and into the bigger world, but the verdict is in: nature is critical for the health of my soul. Luckily, my Beagle-Corgi Josie-girl pretty much demands a walk everyday, so she and I both get our daily quota of air in our snouts.
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So tell me, what have you learned these last few months? And be sure to hop over to Emily’s place to read some of the other What I’ve Learned posts – they always inspire me to try something new.
I like the way you have approached this currently toxic topic of politics, with softness, kindness and a balanced, non-emotional manner. I think we all have a lot to learn and should know about how our government works, and also how to be a good neighbor, and witness for the Lord, to those from different cultures around us. We have been enriched by getting to know our El Salvadorian yard “guy” and his family. His wife is a fabulous cook and introduced us to the amazingly flavorful and surprisingly different El Salvadorian dishes. We are grateful for these friends. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thanks for sharing a little bit of your story, Jane – your friendship with the El Salvadorian family sounds rich and wonderful.
I’m duly impressed by how much you have learned, Michelle, and I loved how beautifully and gracefully you shared your thoughts with us.
As I’ve finally emerged from two months of visits to the chiropractor for a pinched nerve, which caused no end of shoulder/neck pain, and finally shaking off a long and lingering bout with the creeping crud, I can sure identify, as you did, with my body’s need to be treated with much more respect and care. That is my goal going forward in 2017!
And I’m so proud of you for getting politically involved! After all, ours is a government of and by and for the people. What would it be without us?
Blessings!
So sorry to hear you’ve been suffering with the nerve pain too, Martha – man, it’s the pits! But in the long run, it’s a good lesson for me – I can’t keep treating my body like I am in my 20s!
This is why dogs have humans–they know we need daily walks.
Love this, Michelle!
Signed,
your friend who just got back from yoga
Yoga. My new love (well, love-hate… 😉 ).
If you loved the tree book, you’d love this podcast episode of Radiolab, From Tree to Shining Tree. It’s fascinating.
http://www.radiolab.org/story/from-tree-to-shining-tree/
Oooooo, I can’t wait to check out this episode, Mary Jane – thank you. I will share it with my son the tree lover too!
Love these types of posts. I too read The Hidden Life of Trees and was fascinated by all that info. wow. God is so great.
This was so fun to read. I liked that you shared with us some of the recent things you’ve noticed and done to change yourself and your surroundings. Or things you’ve done to embrace change. We are in the midst of winter doldrums here in West Michigan, and I notice that I tend to hunker down in the winter. I get my pajamas on earlier, read more in the evenings, move at a slower pace than in the warmer, sunnier months. Perhaps this is a time of rejuvenating, hibernating, resting up? I’m not sure. Or maybe I just get lazy from lack of Vitamin D!! Whatever it is, I know it is a SEASON and will end soon as the next season begins with all of its magic and majesty just as this season began. I’m learning that the trick for me is to embrace the change and not fight against it. To lean into it and let it be what it is and not try to skirt around it or avoid it. There is a season for all things.
You are a wonderful writer. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!! Please continue to do so.
Thanks for your kind comment, Barbara. I used to hate winter. But in the last couple of years, I’ve tried to embrace, as you say, as a time of rest and rejuvenation. A time to be slower and quieter. My change in mindset has helped me this year.
I too love yoga!!
I am loving my my new jazzercize class. But really want to try yoga sometime.
I started Holy Yoga too and went to my second class last night!
It was amazing and has put me in touch with my body…i feel like I live chronically disconnected from it and am learning more about why that is.
Like Barbara (above), I also live in West Michigan! We are often gone to warmer “climes” during the winter. This year we decided to stay home. In December, when the weather was nasty, I had days when I didn’t even go outside. Starting on Jan. 1, I made a “resolution” to go outside for at least 10 minutes every day for fresh air! I take one photograph during that outside foray and save it to a digital scrapbook page (Project Life products). When I find myself bogged down with too much internet and/or computer time, this time seems to “clear my head” and helps me refocus.
My 2nd “resolution” was to get at least 15 minutes of exercise every day. What I have learned is that once I get started, I actually get in a much longer workout.. So far, I am at 100% for the year on these 2 “resolutions”!
I once had a Home Care client (in her 80’s) who ALWAYS had fresh flowers in her home. She lived in an old farmhouse and didn’t have much income. She said her mother taught her that she should always have fresh flowers in her home. And so she did! She made it a priority to always have at least one fresh bloom inside. I rarely go to the store and see fresh flowers without thinking of this dear lady.
Happy March (and Spring!) to you and your family!
Michelle loved this peek into what you’ve been learning, I can relate to a number of them especially the getting outside everyday. Iv’e linked up with Emily this month at last for the first time and was nice to see some familiar names including yours – interesting and fun to read what other are learning. I follow along with you on Intagram but haven’t visited here before so thats been a treat today.
Your post cracked me up. I do yoga and occasionally rope my husband into joining me so I told him we should find a “holy yoga” class. I also found your mention of your Iraqi friends meaningful, and thought-provoking for my own musings in that realm. Thanks for sharing:-)