Life feels like a labyrinth right now. So much pulling on a person. But finding my way through means there are things to do. Lately, I’ve been prioritizing my physical and mental health.
Pianoing, knitting and the other hobbies are for my mental. Stationary bike and treadmill, on meandering around the house are for the physical.
Prayers come in in my doings, in my journaling when I find myself staring into space.
I don’t know where the entrance or exit are. But taking each turn should keep the scenery changing.
Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 24th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: โtake another look.โ Use it any way youโd like. Enjoy!
When you are my age everything demands you take another look. Did I really put the keys in the fridge? What was the microwave instruction on this “easy” dinner? I pull them out of the trash many times, not just once.
Taking more than one look at different stages, decisions,ย resentments in our lives occur.ย ‘What could I have done differently or better?’
But second guessing colors the situation in today’s colors. And if you can’t remember the recipe and it’s right there on the box, and today’s business finds keys next to the butter, can we possibly second guess what happened decades ago?
We did our best then in the light of that day. That’s all we can do with today. We’re busy people with more worries than ever before. Forgive yourself so you can forgive others.
Per Linda: Our Just Jot it January prompt today is brought to us by Rohini. Thank you, Rohini! Please be sure to visit Rohiniโs blog to read their posts and say hello. And follow them while youโre there if youโre not already.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 23rd, 2026 is โaltruism.โ Use it any way youโd like. Have fun!
As perfect as altruism sounds, and I do think it is a goal we should strive for caring for others above ourselves, I believe self care is equally important. Even though it seems best to help others into their oxygen masks, we are taught to put our own on first.
Our children and families do better when we take the time to keep ourselves healthy, physically and mentally.
But maybe the trick is to love others enough to start with healthy self-love.
Ever have a day where you just stare into space? Yeah, that’s this day. I’m not fighting it. I’m old enough to know it isn’t permanent. Just time to regroup.
I rarely give autobiographies five stars. Not because I don’t like them, but because I feel weird saying that a life in writing is the best or worst. It seems like a judgment of the person and not the writing. But in this case, the science and research make this review easy to praise. James Longman’s life was tough, but this book searches for answers about his father and how that applies not only to his own life but to all of us who have had mental illness touch our lives.
Mr. Longman’s courage to attack long-held beliefs about schizophrenia, bipolar, depression and other mental illnesses and owning his own issues in the process make this a marvelous read, worth owning. I did pick up the audible version and felt the author narrated quite well. Now I am thinking about getting the paper version so I can see charts or research more easily.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 31st, 2025ย is โfini.โ Find a word that has โfiniโ in it and use that as your prompt word. Have fun!
Well, that’s easy! It is Finishing Friday! A great way to keep track of hobbies and passions. A way to see progress when, at times, it seems the end is as far as infinity. Row at a time, an inch at a time, a chord played right, or a rhythm that stays where it belongs is fun to keep track of. Many keep track of grievances or pain. I have. I probably will again and again. But I feel more fulfilled if I can see good and beautiful things done from the same place as the bird’s song. It feels right. It gives me pleasure. Not because I am looking for praise. I thank you for that, but it is more for me to feel like I am moving forward.
This felt good as it hit. Some days I do a lot of lessons. For others, I just do the one to get the points. I love languages, so it is fun for me.
The last two hats were for smaller heads. So I decided to make one a little bigger. I just finished the ribbing and started on the basket weave part. It is easier on my hands than crocheting or knitting, so while I am feeling the arthritis, I’m being gentle on the fingers.
My brother’s socks are coming along. Less than an inch to the end of the arch ribbing. Then, an inch to the beginning of the heel. I feel I am at the beginning of the end of this pair.
The middle section of the ‘smiling turtle’ diamond painting is almost done. It is a fun project. I love all the colors.
I have, in all essence, finished this book. Most of it was a review of things I’ve learned all my life, especially as a music major. But toward the end, it started meeting my needs. It has a lot of ways to improvise. I still find myself trying to play every single note rather than play, but I’m seeing ways to do it. I’ll be doing the review for this book soon. Mostly, at this point, I am in love with the last song presented. It’s called Coming Home.
So my favorite songs to play right now are Baby Elephant Walk, Just the Way You Are, God Bless the Child, and Coming Home. They drive me to the piano. I actually spent an hour there today. Remember in the summer or fall when I stated I could barely get five minutes in before pain or boredom pulled me away. Now, I have the joy of actually hearing and feeling the earworms that crawl through my head the rest of the day. My own music!
My ukulele, violin, and recorders sit sadly, waiting for my hands to feel better. I miss the learning process with them.
Working on my series: Haven.
Doodler (zendoodle.com)
Music major: voice and piano
Mom of four great adults
Reiki II practitioner
I have been on disability/retired for 10 years now from depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia.
Hi! my name is Sebastian (You can call me Seb!) ...welcome to my Blog. I'm a photographer from Worcester, Worcestershire, England. Thanks for dropping by! I hope you enjoy my work.
Books, games, music, and life โ filtered through the mind of a writer, drummer, and philosopher who thinks too deeply about all of it. If it moves something in your chest, I'm interested.
Darswords 
You must be logged in to post a comment.