January 2021

 

Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

It’s early Sunday morning as I sit down to write this. And I do mean early. It’s only 5am (and yes, I do have my coffee). The sun isn’t up yet (so you may ask, why am I?). Well, after years and years of training myself to get up early so I can write before the day job, I find that I can no longer sleep in. Really. If I make it to 6:30, I consider that sleeping in. The other reason I’m up so early? I love this time of the morning before the world wakes up. The house is silent (just the constant hum of the computer) and even the dogs are sleeping on the futon behind me (albeit, not so quietly…they snore).

The DH and I spent a quiet New Years…except for all the fireworks going off in the neighborhood. Some of them were really loud and felt like they were coming from right in front of my house. The dogs didn’t like it at all. Nothing like having a shaking, panting 87 pound German Shepherd try to sit in your lap…unless it’s having her shaking, panting and whining 110 pound sister try to sit there at the same time (unfortunately, my lap was not big enough…it didn’t stop them from trying though and at one point, they did manage). Yes, this was my life on New Year’s Eve, trying desperately to keep the dogs calm. I even purchased something at the pet store to help toward that end…the calming chews did not help at all, as evidenced by them both crawling into my lap. We did make it through the night, but it was uncomfortable at best. Poor things. Horrible to be so scared!

Well, this being the beginning of a new year, I have set some goals for myself (not resolutions—those don’t last, but goals…those are a horse of a different color).

Goal Number 1: I will attempt to finish at least one of the manuscripts that I have started.

Goal Number 2: I will maintain the weight loss I’ve managed and attempt to lose a few more pounds (easier say than done…my scale and I have had some major disagreements).

Goal Number 3: I will continue to practice being kind. This goal is ongoing, because there is always room for improvement, but this year, I’m going to try harder to be kind to myself (which is much harder than being kind to someone else. I admit, I lose patience with myself more than I do with others).

And that’s all for me. Happy New Year! Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie