Pickle

 #1 and #2 - Radio Heartland where I heard two songs I really enjoyed today from unfamiliar artists - 

Rustin Kelly's Black Magic and The Bros Landreth's Firecracker

#3 - One of my home visiting families wants to switch from 2 thirty minute visits a week to a one hour visit a week.  If we do that Wed it works in my schedule, but then I have this hour long gap in my schedule that isn't enough time to do anything with.  Luckily my Monday family agreed to make there visit a little later so they all can line up.

#4 - I walked over to play pickleball, because I live somewhere so close that this is the easiest way to get there even when it's cold, and I stopped to wait for my friend outside and stood there in the cold and looked at the moon.

#5 - Our pickleball skills are rusty as it's been almost a couple years since we played together, so we only won our last game.  The man who we beat said we were fun to lose to.  He said some people's energy is more fun than others, and we were still fun even when they lost :).

Oprah's 110th book selection

is both the most meaningful/important book I know of, and also the only book Oprah has selected for a repeat reading.

New Year 2025

 #1 - Because of the holidays etc, my soccer team has only had 1 game since before Thanksgiving.  That game we lost 9 to 1.  Today didn't seem like it could be worse but apparently (I completely lost count but I looked it up) we lost 11 to 1.  

What gratitudes can I find here?  No one got hurt, we got exercise, my team maybe gets discouraged but no one starts blaming anyone else, our goalie was out sick (so didn't have to play 2 games in a row getting pummeled)...

#2 - This I can't explain - I had a wonderful afternoon with 2 friends that I get together with each year around the New Year.  Somehow I felt sad knowing I didn't have my partner to come home and tell about this today. I'm not sure why.  However when I did get home, I soon descended into a content and quiet space as I read a book (recommended by my nephew) and ate dinner.

#3 - I typed up some poems that I found in a 2019 journal when I was looking for something else.  "These are pretty good," I thought.

#4 - My friends and I did some reflective writing today.  One of them has almost finished her journal.  I guessed how long she has had it, "2014?" I asked.

"2008" was her reply. 

So finishing a journal is a really big deal!

#5 - The salad my friend brought for our lunch, it had veggies, apples, pears, cashews and a delicious dressing.  I love salads and in the winter months, often don't make them for myself so they are especially appreciated.

Go Maria!

 I just saw Maria (Gentle Whispering ASMR) was featured on CBS Sunday morning 12-8-24. Go Maria!  Dr. Craig Richard, Professor of Physiology says that only 20% of people are wired to experience ASMR.  That is roughly the percentage of the population that is highly sensitive.  I wonder if there is a correlation?

It would be a beautiful balance I think.  Say as a highly sensitive person - bright lights, and loud noises are agitating - however what if the exact opposite could also be true and that soothing lights and noises could be especially pleasurable?

I love this possibility!

Walk, Talk, Write, Listen

 #1 - Asking to meet for a walk instead of at a coffee shop, so after a shoulder shrug conversation I could say, "At least this motivated me to take a walk outside."  And on top of that along a creek I had not walked before.

#2 - I have minimal plans this next week, well until today none socially.  However now I have a Zoom phone call with 2 friends on Monday and another friend has agreed to meet on Zoom on NY day and do some writing prompts together.

#3 - That writing prompt friend said she received my holiday letter in the mail and she had a specific and appreciative response.  She loved the line "provide habitat for wonder." I didn't recall writing that so it made me reread my writing with new eyes.

#4 -  Latte ASMR has a new video.  Latte and Gentle Whispering ASMR were part of what got me thru the past couple years.  I could lay down with headphones and feel enveloped and held.  On Youtube it says

Join membership and support me ❤    / @latteasmr  

  I definitely want to give back to her, but when I click on it nothing seems to happen and I can't figure out how to support her.  Now that I'm writing it here, I hope to put the intention out to look at this with a friend sometime who can help me figure it out.

#5 - I made Swedish pancakes for dinner. I had some cream for a different recipe and decided to make some whipped cream to top them.  I kind of have a mixed reaction, it tasted good, however it isn't food that makes me really feel good afterwards.  Oh well, it was something my grandma used to make when we visited and so it made me think of her.

Slow Motion

 #1-#2 - My car briefly made an awful sound when I started it Monday.  Since my dad died, I do not have someone in my life that knows about cars.  I had the thought for a while that I should find someone so when I do have an issue, I'm not adding searching to the stress.

Thankfully a couple months ago I did just that.  I brought the car in, without any issues, to a place my brother tried and had a good experience with for an overall check.

So Monday I didn't debate long.  I called that same place and made an appointment.  The issue did not reappear and the result of bringing it in was that it was probably a piston misfiring, but nothing to address for now.  They didn't charge me anything. I'm so grateful to have known where to turn instead of just "hoping" it was nothing, but carrying around fear beneath.

Having access like this is immense wealth. 

#3 - The car place is near my brother's so I met my nephew after school.  As I waited for him, he approached acting like (to my eyes a peacock), to his later explanation an ostrich, and kept up the acting for a few minutes before saying, "Hi Tammy."

#4 - Quote from that same nephew, "We read your holiday card yesterday and it sounded just like your identity explained."

#5 - My niece and nephew singing, "Meows" to the tune of some song they knew together. 

Posner and Swimming

#1 - Rich Rolls second podcast interview with Mike Posner (see artist song on previous post).  I listened to the first hour yesterday and today I listened to minutes 50-60 a second time.  Also in the second hour there was a 10 minute section I listened to again, it was worth really letting it sink in. It reminds me of how we show up in the world is a reflection of what the people around us bring out.

For example, I have noticed how important when I'm writing a letter the recipient is to the content.  What emerges from me often needs the energy in some way from whom the letter is addressed to.

#2 - In the conversation a few times Mike said, "I had to" or "I have to," and then he would add, "I didn't have to, I wanted to."  That is a reframing I often make myself.

#3 - A good friend of mine's son recently decided to join the high school swim team.  This same friend had been a bit sad that they don't do as much together anymore as he is a teenager.  But she was on the swim team in high school and now they've been practicing together.  When she told me he had his first meet I responded, "Maybe I'll come."

I wasn't sure why I had the impulse, however it was nearby, if I've been to a swim meet I don't recall it, and I love supporting people trying new things.

#4 - At the meet I asked my friend, "Did you ever swim the longest race?" (500 meter)

 "Yes, do you remember Micah?" (We went to the same high school.)

"Yes," I vaguely remembered him.

"He walked up and down the pool cheering me on the whole time I swam that. I still remember that."

It is over 25 years later and my friend remembers a teenage boy who took 6 minutes of his life to cheer her on during hard race.

You just never know how small acts of showing up can matter.

#5 - Right Now by Mary Bue