Blissification
Edna’s Up To Something
September 28, 2011 By 2 Comments
Edna often baffles me… but no more than I do her.
After I left her alone yesterday, the plot thickened: Edna dug out her secret weapons – The Dueling Singers – and put them to work.
Undaunted by reverse-refusing machines, Edna pressed onward.
“I never did like going backwards.”
Edna’s trusty assistant kept vigil for weather and other hindrances to her progress.
“Miss Edna,” I whined, “it isn’t working!”
“Of course not, dear,” she smiled,”you need a bigger hammer.”
Edna believes that you are never too old for purple eye shadow and that no mission is complete without some sparkles.
“It’s lovely. What is it?”
“It’s a magic book of recipes & maps — ideas for your journey.”
“But… it’s empty.”
“Well, how was I supposed to know where you’d be going?”
Plotting and Planning
September 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
To the untrained eye Edna’s plot to take over the world appeared quaint, but she’s a crafty one, that girl.
Good Ole Champ Dioge
September 9, 2011 By 1 Comment
I love this dog. He’s a good, good boy.
He’s also very, very sick. That episode back in June was a symptom of something bigger.
It may be neuro-distemper. It may be the neurological implications of a genetically sensitive collie being given Ivermectin for years.
It is likely a combination of the two.
I really have no words right now.
Lordy, I love this dog.
Gillian’s Orchid
September 6, 2011 By 2 Comments
My ten-year-old daughter earned the nickname “Diva Princess” when she was less than a year old. We often say that either one of them alone was not enough of a title to capture this kiddo’s amazing personality.
Well, the Diva Princess has had her eye on an orchid for months and months. We kind of waited to see if this interest would last. I mean, seriously, what 10 year old wants a plant?
Gillian, The Diva Princess wants a plant.
So, in honor of Self Care Day, I splurged and let her pick one out.
She took about 30 minutes to make her choice and eventually landed on this glorious white phalaenopsis. She’s got great taste, no?
(No one tell her that I’m going to enjoy it just as much as she does.)
Celebrating the Launch of Self Care Day on the 6th
September 6, 2011 By 7 Comments
The first time I recall ever hearing “Self Care” mentioned was a little over 10 years ago. I was sitting in my therapist’s office, exhausted, depressed, and hurting all over. I had just given birth to the Diva Princess, been handed two diagnoses within a month of one another — autism for Berns and lupus for me — and was worn down to the nub from giving every ounce of energy, love, and attention to the needs of a newborn, her still-a-mystery-to-me brother, and their spiraling-from-the-weight-of-it-all dad.
As I sat in pj’s office venting all that was pissing me off, weighing me down, and breaking my heart, she said something to me that might as well have been whale song.
“Gina, you are going to have to take better care of yourself. You have to sleep. You have to eat. You have to go to the doctor. Your kids need a mother who is strong and you can’t be strong if you don’t do some self care.”
Self care?
I suppose I gave her my best golden retriever head cock, because she went on to say, “Yes. Self care. It is not selfish to keep yourself alive, healthy, and happy.”
Wait. What?
Luckily pj was a font of patience and walked me through the fog of self-denial into some pretty painful self awareness and on out the other side. I did a whole lot of work in those five (five!!) years of therapy with her. But it all really started with my nails.
Two Years Later…
I didn’t say this happened quickly.
While we were in Florida at the end of my father-in-law’s life, I went with one of my favorite people on the planet — my sister-in-law, E — to wait with her while she had her nails done. While I was sitting there, I decided that, heck, I could get my nails done, too. It had been a couple of years since I had and it was always for special occasions like a wedding or prom. I suppose I rationalized that a funeral was a pretty special occasion. Regardless, I got my nails done. I felt 72% more beautiful. Sure, it’s silly, but it was true.
So, I kept getting them done. Every 2 weeks for the next 6 years I went in for my manicure — an act of pure selfishness. No one benefited from this activity but me. Just me. All me. It was revelatory. It was an act of self care and it was the beginning of my taking myself seriously.
So Now…
As a coach and friend, I’m often “giving permission” to people to take care of themselves. Sure, there are a cadre of narcissists out there who do nothing but care about themselves, but most folks are pretty giving. And a certain segment of folks were taught that anything they do for themselves is immoral and selfish. They’ll drop everything to race across town at the slightest indication that someone neeeeeeds them, but they won’t walk across the room to meet their own needs.
Well enough of that!
As Joyce Rupp would say, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” So, it’s high time you started refilling yours. And now there’s an official day to do it — the 6th of each month. Why the 6th? Because the idea came to be when we were talking about the facebook games about breast cancer, and I do my monthly self exams on the 6th (it’s Berns’ birthdate).
As I said when this thing popped into existence as a fully-formed idea, urged on by Page and CG:
I am — as the winner of the Internet (see: Bacon Klout) — declaring the 6th of every month Self Care Day.
What does that mean? It means that we’ll remind one another to take good care of ourselves on this day. You know, perform your self-check (skin & moles, breasts, etc), make your dentist appointment you’ve been putting off, get a massage, take a nap, start a class, clean the slate, laugh, polish your nails, or whatever it is you do that nurtures you.
It’s officially official, so there are no excuses big enough to put you and your health on the back burner any more. I’d love for you to share your Self Care Day activities in the comments.
I anticipate future posts about specific kinds of self care, how folks are observing the day, the Self Care Day T-shirt launch, the app, and the commemorative bracelet charm. Or maybe I’ll just be satisfied knowing that the folks I love are taking better care of themselves.
Either way, pretty please take really good care of yourself. It is not selfish to keep yourself alive, healthy, and happy.
It’s your job.
Gina’s Stuff: Nest Necklace by Anita Schmadtke
September 4, 2011 By 4 Comments
In an act of appreciation for the hands that make them, I’d like to highlight some of the things — actual physical objects — that bring me joy. I’m not sure how this will work, exactly, but I was sitting here thinking about how much I love this little necklace and I wanted to write about it. So, here goes…
With the exception of books, I am not an impulse buyer by any stretch of the imagination. I tend to be a researcher — studying models and features for weeks before making a decision. Add that to my trending toward the thrifty side, means that even if I really want something, I’m going to watch for a sale.
Case in point: my son was practically walking by the time I made a decision on which stroller to purchase and could push it himself when I finally broke down and bought one.
So, it was a pretty unusual day when I walked into Nest, spied this necklace and purchased it on the spot. It had to be mine. Correction: it already was mine. I just needed to pay for it.
I’m all about handmade items and I love pieces that are meaningful. There’s all sorts of symbolism woven into this little nest. I see birth and renewal and promises and family and love. I suppose the fact that I was in mourning when I encountered it made it all the more poignant to me.
Once I got it home, I started the research (Yes, I do all of the steps, even if they aren’t in order) on the artist and found Anita Schmadtke on Facebook. Turns out we are practically neighbors, so we met for coffee and immediately hit it off.
Anita spends hours coaxing 14 feet of sterling silver into these little nests, and her sweet energy somehow sticks to the piece in the process. When I needed a meaningful 60th birthday gift for my sister-in-law, I called Anita and asked her to make one especially for the occasion. She graciously agreed and, if possible, the custom one was even nicer than the one I’d purchased for myself.
I love this little nest and wear mine just about everywhere — it’s become a signature piece — and get kind compliments on it daily. In a world of throwaway, mass-produced everything, it’s delightful to acquire lovely items that were designed and created to be treasured. What a sweet bonus treat it is to grow to know and love the creators of those treasures.
Joy.
Self Care Day on The 6th
September 2, 2011 By 5 Comments
It doesn’t happen often, but I got upset this morning. Not in an angry way. Just in a, “Really? Are you serious? This is the best we can do?” way.
I saw a friend post “is 2 weeks and craving pickles” on facebook and, naturally, thought she might be pregnant. Except for the part where I am a pro at being pregnant and know that at the medical definition of 2 weeks pregnant you are actually just ovulating and there’s no actual baby and, therefore, no positive pregnancy test or, for heaven sakes, cravings.
So, hmmmmm…
Fast forward 15 minutes and it all becomes clear. It’s the latest “Breast Cancer Awareness Game” only it isn’t a game. It’s cruel. Added to the one about how long your feet are or the other one where you indicate where you stash your purse that are downright crude, some folks have had enough. (Like CG Ward. Warning: I love CG’s post, but she has auto-play music on her blog.)
Anywho, in keeping with my “don’t complain; improve” ethos, I got all inspired to start something positive.
I quipped on Page‘s facebook posting of CG’s blog link about starting a date-related meme for self checks. And then I thought about it. Well, why not? So, here it comes!
Drumroll…
I am — as the winner of the Internet (see: Bacon Klout) — declaring the 6th of every month Self Care Day.
What does that mean? It means that we’ll remind one another to take good care of ourselves on this day. You know, perform your self-check (moles, breasts, etc), make your dentist appointment you’ve been putting off, get a massage, take a nap, start a class, clean the slate, laugh, polish your nails, or whatever it is you do that nurtures you.
It’s officially official, so there are no excuses big enough to put you and your health on the back burner any more.
Well, now that it’s out, I’m going to have to get the graphics department all spooled up and the PR machine working overtime. We need a logo! We need a slogan!
Wait. What I really need is a refill of my coffee.
Seriously, though, please take really good care of you.
I’ll be reminding you on the 6th of forever.
The Hardest Part of Abundance
August 20, 2011 By 4 Comments
I have a confession. My name is Gina and I’m addicted to printed matter.
Yes, I have an eReader and a cell phone with a reading app and spend an inordinate amount of time reading online, but I still love to encounter words attached to actual paper. I love books — no doubt — and have amassed quite the collection over the years. I’m also very fond of well-written magazines like Bitch and O and the ones that come with my Sunday New York Times.
Yes, I’ll confess to that, too. I take the paper. The paper paper. I read the daily Times electronically, but I can’t give up my Sunday ritual of coffee and the paper. I won’t. I savor them, flipping the crisp pages and map-folding them to the size and shape that allows me to read with one hand free for that cuppa.
The trouble with books is that they are so much easier to buy than to read.
I wish I could remember where I read this quote. Well, I remember where I read it. I was in my studio. But I can’t narrow it down any further than that. And looking to see what’s on top of the pile doesn’t help because there are more piles of books and magazines than would make that practical.
Anyway, the point.
I finished reading Truth & Beauty: A Friendship last night. It was heartbreaking and wonderful and I’ll review it soon. But finishing it left me with a conundrum. What to pick up next? It isn’t like I don’t have any choices. I have too many choices.
I have at least 20 books in process. I do that — start a book and then see something shiny and then start that, too. I often pick a book back up and finish it months after dropping it for something else. So, is there something in that pile I want to revisit?
There are stacks of books that are the “and this too” group. When I get going with a favorite author or subject, I’ll be at the bookstore and see something interesting in the same vein and will grab it to read … next? … later? … ?
Then there are the new, new, new books from my most recent trip to The Bookloft, where I inevitably purchase a dozen titles. There must be something about being away from home and out of my regular routine that deceives me into believing that I have endless time to read.
There are the guilt books, too. I have a knack for being friends with folks who write and always, always, always buy a copy when they publish something. Oftentimes, I love them and read them pretty quickly, but there are a handful that I feel obligated to read that keep staring back at me from the shelf.
The final stack is from our library. I currently have 5 — five — not-small books from our glorious local library. If pressed, I’ll admit that there’s absolutely no way I’ll read all of them before they are due. Truth be told, I’ll likely only start one, get super-involved in it just as it’s time to turn it in, and then order my own copy. By the time it comes, I’ll have moved on to something else and it will end up in the “in process” pile.
So, fie on you, abundance! Choosing reading material is easy, but choosing what to read now is a mix of excitement, dread, anticipation, and overwhelm. Sigh.
Books, books everywhere and not a word to read.
I suppose I’ll head to the bookstore.
The Boy is Back!
August 19, 2011 By 11 Comments
After nearly two decades of being told to put his guitar away — “What is that? Your calling card??” — which led him to get rid of all of his equipment, mics, and stands…
And with the only remaining evidence of his amazing talent being his 40-year-old Martin and a few warped cassette tapes…
And with the help of people who have known and loved his music for years…
And with some incredible gifts of mics and cables and a preamp from friends old and new…
We are on the verge of Ned Andrew actually recording again.
It won’t be on Music Row this time — at least not for now.
But it will be his guitar, his voice, and his songs that are captured for the folks who love, love this man and his amazing music.
Stay tuned. You’re in for a treat.
Seriously.
Because, yes, that guitar is his calling card.
And if this groupie has anything to say about it, he’ll play it everywhere he goes.
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