Reflecting on April - and Ending on a Positive Note

  Y'all know that it has been a rough start to the year around here.  And, reflecting back on  April, it started out with more of the same.

The Man of the House went to California for a work thing the week before Easter.  And the Monday after Easter, he found out that two of the people he had been working with had both tested positive for Covid after getting home.  Fortunately, he tested negative with both an at-home and a lab test. (Thank goodness for the vaccine!)

I had a flare-up of carpal tunnel inflammation, which put me in a wrist brace for over a week.  Our oven started acting up two days before Easter.  We discovered that our washing machine was leaking.  And, worst of all - someone close to us got an upsetting medical diagnosis. 

I am happy to report that things do seem to have quieted down for the last two weeks of the month.  

The Man of the House was able to order a couple of parts and with a little engineering know-how and time, he fixed both the washer and the stove in a matter of days.  So thankful that we don't have to replace two major appliances at once!

I was able to spend time with the grandkid while he was on Easter/Spring break from school.  And he got his third straight A Honor Roll award for this school year. We're so proud of him!

I have been fighting to keep my head in a positive space, despite all the crazy things that have happened so far this year.  As I've said before, most of it wasn't huge crises - but it all starts to weigh on you and after a while, you can find yourself focusing on the negative rather than the blessings in your life.  And, trust me - if you take time to really look for them, the blessings almost always outnumber the bad stuff.

Besides my daily gratitude journaling, I have also tried to take a moment once a week or so to focus on things that I like about myself.   Here are a few of the things that I have come up with:

• My blue eyes
• My curly hair
• My sense of humor 
• My love of reading
• My creativity
• My curiosity

So... to send this month on a positive note - what's something you like about yourself? Share in the comments!

Monday Musings: Body Image

 How do you feel about your body?  

I admit that I have spent far too much of my life with negative feelings about mine.  An endless litany of "that part is too big", "that part is too small", "that part is too jiggly", "that part could be better".  From my hair to my hips, from my nose to my legs.  I haven't been my body's best friend. 

As we reach a certain age, our bodies begin to change again.  I know I have felt it happening. Things are getting wrinkly.  Some things aren't as firm as they used to be.  I've put on weight, even in some areas where I never carried weight in the past.  It's easy for those old negative feelings to fill our heads. 

I have made a conscious decision to start trying to counter those self-defeating thoughts with more appreciative and affirming ones.  When I catch myself looking at my body with critical eyes, I make a point of thinking about things that I appreciate about it and can be grateful for. 

My body is unique, designed especially to house my spirit and for the purpose I was created to fulfill.

My body grew and nurtured 2 babies for 9 months each.  And continued to feed them after they were born. 

My body is adaptive and is always changing depending on the season, the environment, and the season of life that I am in. 

My body has fought off numerous viruses and bacterial infections over the years.

My body heals itself when wounded.

My body is healthy enough to do most things I want to do.

My body is always at work.  My heart is always beating. My lungs are always breathing. My hair and nails are always growing. Never taking a break. 

My body has held up despite all the things I did to it in my younger years (smoking, not getting enough sleep, etc) 

My eyes have shown me beautiful, incredible, funny, sad, and touching things every day.

My mouth can taste amazing foods for me to enjoy.

My hands can work a crochet hook and yarn to create beautiful and useful things.

What do you appreciate about your body?