Oh My Goodness…what a month it has been!
How are you all doing? I have been working with Kym of Stepping Away From The Edge on a once a month fitness blog post since January, but needless to say, it's been a bit harder staying focused this month for sure!
I know myself in addition to worrying about family members, I have had to find that comfort zone in keeping myself occupied at home after working in the 9-5 world for the last 5 years.
Before going back to work when my dye pots were busy, I would print out orders the night before and plan my day. It always included a healthy breakfast and a planned 2-3 mile walk before I got down to work in my studio.
While I haven't been very good about strength training this month, I have been good about getting outside and walking, in between the little snow storms that have become a regular occurrence this March. Nothing too much, but just enough to be a bit of a hinderance.
On one particularly gloomy day, I headed out feeling very overwhelmed by everything I was feeling. Sadness for our children, worry for my grown children still in the workforce and concern for my parents.
Here is where the work I have been doing in self care kicked in.
One day when I went out for a walk, I saw a school bus stopping and was confused, but when I saw they were delivering school lunches, it made my heart smile.
The next day a little boy was waiting with his mom when the bus came and he had a big thank you sign. I thanked the bus driver and started to cry as I was walking and I immediately realized that I was allowing panic and sadness to settle in, so I asked myself a few questions that I have learned will help us find the root of our discomfort, such as…
"why are you crying?"
"because the children must be scared and confused"
"but he had a smile on his face"
"just me adding thoughts…just thoughts, not facts."
and with that I was able to quickly put it away and enjoy my walk and be happy that we live in such a caring small community. In the past I probably would have cried for a good 15 minutes.
As I walked along I saw signs of life that reminded me that we will get through this. I saw new buds on the trees, squirrels running up and down the trees and the cows being put back out to their pastures.
These last 2 weeks I have felt almost paralyzed because like many others, I was laid off, so I was allowing the anxiety and panic of what was to come sneak in.
Yesterday however, I sat myself down and created a schedule that included working out in my shop again, getting some physical activity, taking care of self care including eating that healthy breakfast again and preparing a healthy dinner with my husband and remembering that we will get through this, but we need to stay in today and not worry about tomorrow or think about yesterday.
Normally I start off with a quote from my favorite little book, 365 Days of Tao, but today I am going to end with one instead.
Dormant bulb, skin of tea-stained parchment,
Reaches into the water with pubic tendrils–
It is the roots that make tall green shoots possible.
Deng Ming~Dao
The Woolen Rabbit 
This was a beautiful post, Kim. Thanks for sharing it!
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I first learned about 365 Days of Tao from your blog several years ago. I bought it and read it regularly and have given copies of it to others. Thank you for that! And thank you for this post.
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Thank you Kim for sharing this post. I think it speaks for all of us. I guess the worst part for me is total aloneness. Like you I tried to stay positive and let my creative self take over. Hope everyone in your family remain safe. 💜
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Okay, well now you’ve made me cry. LOL. But in a totally good way. I’m so proud of you for working on all of these things that make you a better version of yourself. XOXO
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Thank-you for this Kim! We do have a lot of positive…one of mine right now is that chirp skein I got from you…it’s going to be a beautiful pair of birthday socks for a friend!
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Nature holds so much promise and we need to be attuned to hearing what she has to say. Fortunately, we can be out in the most beautiful season of the year and watch as the earth comes awake and spills forth its love. xox
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