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You are here: Home / 2022 / Archives for March 2022

Archives for March 2022

Transitions

The last four weeks or so have been about transitions. Deep winter is gone, and now we’re in almost-but-not-quite-spring.

Even though the calendar says today is the spring equinox, living in central Michigan I know darned well there could be more snow. I hope not. I am so ready for daffodils and tulips.

Bye Bye Tea and Sugar

In February my doctor told me I needed to lower my cholesterol. In an effort to do so, I’ve let go of most tea and radically minimized my sugar intake. That’s a major accomplishment and transition. Yeah me!

I have had a total of three cups of green tea over that time. I used to drink at least two hearty mugs of black tea a day, and more on the weekend.

It did take some time to get used to the new, not bouncy me, but it’s better. I’m more mellow and considerate, less likely to do things on impulse.

I was already eating oatmeal every day, walking a bit here and there, but still eating cookies. Lots of cookies. So I decided to minimize my intake of sugar.

I ate the last of the double-stuff Oreos, then bought some chocolate bars from the local co-op. After a meal, I mindfully eat a little chocolate.

Mindful Eating

There’s an exercise I learned years ago while working at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. You take one raisin. You observe the raisin. You put the raisin in your mouth, and then slowly eat the raisin so you can really, truly taste that raisin.

That’s exactly what I’ve been doing with chocolate.

I snap off a couple small hunks of the chocolate bar. I take a tiny bite of chocolate and then I savor.

The chocolate melts in my mouth. It is so utterly satisfying, I rarely desire more sweetness.

I finish the small hunks and am a very happy woman.

It is some kind of miracle, really, and a lovely transition.

Go Away Clutter

Another thing I’m slowly working on is letting go of clutter. This will take a LONG time as I have so much stuff – here, there, everywhere.

The other day I took a car load of miscellaneous stuff to the local thrift store. I’ve also gifted several things via Buy Nothing. This is an app that connects you with others in your area. You “gift” things you no longer need to someone else. You can also “ask” for things you’re in need of. You can also post a “gratitude” to say thanks.

I’ve gifted two cat towers, leftover cat litter, a fridge calendar, and more. Highly recommended.

CSA Time

Along with highly recommending Buy Nothing, I’d also suggest getting signed up for a local community supported agriculture (CSA) to support a local, organic farmer.

For around $300, the farmer grows and delivers veggies. For example, I will get a stove-top full worth of fresh veggies from June to the end of October. Between the CSA in the summer and HelloFresh in winter, I minimize the amount I spend at the grocery store. It’s less waste and less work – winning!

Find a local CSA through Local Harvest. I subscribe to Monroe Organics out of Alma, MI; they have a pickup a couple of blocks from my house on Tuesday.

Farewell Ivan

The final transition to talk about is the passing of my last cat, Ivan. On Facebook I described him as magnificent and cranky.

The 18-year-old rarely met anyone besides me he liked. At the vet’s office, his paperwork said he was evil – and he really was for them.

But for me, he was a constant companion and friend. I will miss him sleeping on my chest or right next to me, miss him sitting on my lap at night while I read. I picture Ivan romping in the warm sun with his sister kitties Jasmine, Ravine, and Nebula. No doubt there will be hissing involved.

With Ivan’s passing, I have transitioned to be completely cat free. This last week has been oddly quiet. No little patter of feet, no sounds of Ivan jumping onto the bed.

It’s also been exciting. Ivan required wet food twice a day mixed with pumpkin and Miralax. I can’t remember when I went somewhere spontaneously and spent the night – it was well before Covid.

I moved the litter boxes to the garage, rearranged some things.

I could never have rugs in the house because Ivan (or one of the other cats) would urinate on those rugs. So this week I bought two new rugs and rolled out an old one I’d been saving just for the day when I was cat free.

Your Turn

Wow! That’s a lot of transitions for me. What kind of transitions is this change from winter to spring bringing in your life?

Mission 2022 March

In 2022, I’m combining lessons from the heart with some –cough cough – goals.

But I don’t like the word goals, so it’s a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined.

So how was February?

February’s Tarot Card

I did a tarot spread for the full year and February’s card was Rescue which admonished me to ask for help from spirit and people and places and whoever whenever. It encouraged me to see reality as it is, and to trust spirit.

As I write this, it’s Sunday, March 6. It seems like February is already months away, but it’s been less than a week.

March signals the end of what I call deep winter. I can start to think about not wearing Smartwool shirts, wool sweaters or heavy fleece jackets, and Sherpa-lined sweatpants all day, every day.

If the sweatpants get retired for the season, I’ll start wearing my Norsari’s a lot more; they’re perfect for wearing over anything when it’s still chilly…or when you’re sitting around reading books or writing all day.

Daylight Savings Time is starting soon, the days will be getting longer, and the official start to spring is coming soon, too. A lot of the snow has melted, but we’re still stuck with mud and piles of grey, melting snow. More snow will come, too, as our last frost day isn’t until May.

It’s definitely not warm enough for most plants to start budding, so the world is gloomy. I think my spring allergies will be here any day now, and man, I’ve got to do some spring cleanup in the yard.

Write 250 Words A Day, 5 Days A Week

Still working on this one. Looks like I’ll need to schedule my time, and I’m incredibly resistant. My inner child wants nothing more than to do what she wants when she wants; my adult, current age self totally appreciates that philosophy, but…if you have missions, there may need to be some sacrifice. I’ll have to have a long talk with my inner child.

Revamp WordStorm Casserole Poetry Book

Still working on this one; it’s looking like this will be paused, but I haven’t made a final decision.

Post Twice A Month On This Website

Yes! I did publish two posts in February! There was the February Mission Update and You Should Read This.

DeGoogle, deApple, deMicrosoft – embrace Linux!

Why? Because Google, Apple, and Microsoft all track your every move online and that’s wrong.

In February I used my Linux machine most of the time for personal use: checking personal email, watching YouTube videos, checking social media. I used it to watch Star Trek: Discovery on Amazon Prime. And yes, I occasionally crept back over to the Windows machine for files.

Have Fun

Sigh. It was February and soooo cold. I am not a winter person at all.

  • I downloaded an app called Likewise that makes suggestions for what to read/watch/listen to next based on TV shows, movies, books, and podcasts you’ve already consumed.
  • I walked once a week with a friend. Walked, outside and everything, in the cold, cold winter. It’s fun to walk and catch up on our lives.
  • I went two two movies during the Central Michigan International Film Festival. I saw a biography of chef Anthony Bourdain called Roadrunner, and then a documentary on the resurge of vinyl records called Vinyl Nation.
  • I had a birthday and turned sixty I had a yummy dinner with my sister and a friend brought me a plant and chocolates.
  • I had a craniosacral massage, too!

Big Secret Goal #1

I worked on this a bit in February. Baby steps count as progress!

Big Secret Goal #2

This goal involves hiring pros. Still waiting to hear from them to schedule an appointment date for further discussion and planning. The document and Pinterest board should prove useful.

What I’m Reading

On GoodReads, I have a 2022 Reading Challenge goal of at least 50 books. Since the last update I’ve read:

  • The Crossing by Alex Landragin can be read two ways. At the beginning of February, I’d read The Baroness sequence. During February I read the book cover-to-cover.
  • The Husband’s secret by Liane Moriarty.
  • I’m really surprised I didn’t read more in February! Where did the month go?

How About You?

How was your February? What big dreams and projects are you working on for this year?

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