Five things that made me happy today – 1/31/23

While the news often features the worst of humanity, there are a billion acts of human kindness every hour of every day! Take another breath and sense this truth.

Jack Kornfield

1. It was 32 deg and purportedly snowing when I got up. I saw the snow once it got light enough to see anything. It quit before 9:00 am. Now it’s just plain cold – 40 deg – and the sun is shining sporadically.

2. We’re continuing in the Sermon on the Mount in Bible Study. We had a good discussion about what the people listening understood as “The Kingdom of God.” (This is a really old painting, but, unfortunately most people still think of Jesus and the disciples as light-skinned.)

The Sermon on the Mount Carl Bloch, 1890

3. I got most of my steps in at the Wellness Center, and picked up a tuna fish sandwich and a chocolate chip cookie for my lunch. (I PLANNED for the cookie.) While I was gone the housekeeper came and changed the sheets on the beds, cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms, and vacuumed and swept and mopped the floors.

4. I got my Intentions Review for January 2023 written.

5. Greisser Girls Gab is in a few minutes. It will be nice seeing the sisters and learning about their activities and lives. Although we’re all three in our 70s, I still feel like they are a different generation.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Intentions Review for January 2023

My Star Word for this year is REJOICING.

I’ve been struggling with setting some intentions this year. After my heart attack on December 21, 2022, I realized that I really don’t know what I want for this year, or even for the rest of my life. At age 78-and-a-half, I could have another 20 years left, or I could easily not even have another year.

I’m tired of the pandemic, I’m tired of politics, I’m tired of pushing myself to DO SOMETHING. I’m ready to just let life happen and observe for a while. I’ll keep on writing my “5 Things”, and I’ll stick with my regular groups and activities, but I’m ready to find out why I’m REJOICING. Maybe I’ll try just REJOICING about my regular, ordinary life.

Therefore, I’m leaving the same general categories that I had last year, and I’ll use them as a wish list and fill in markers for a “diary” of events and activities.

Health and Fitness

1. Recovery – I’m feeling fine after my heart attack. Next is a blood test to make sure the meds aren’t bothering me
2. Exercise – I continue to work with my personal trainer, and try to spend 55- 60 minutes a day, five to six days a week on the NuStep
3. Diet – I’m trying to be much more proactive about the kinds of things I eat.
   • The dietitian who counseled me, said the same things the dietitian said when I lost the 70 lbs back in 2014. It was good to have a reminder.
   • Carbs, carbs, carbs
   • Weight
     • I’m keeping steady on the .9 lbs per month that I was doing in 2020

Friends and Community

1. Gazebo Group – We meet regularly once a week
2. Greisser Girls Gab – This is sacrosanct time for me
3. Other Residents at Franke Tobey Jones
   • Lunch with Jett Brooks

Learning and Knowledge

1. Great Decisions
   • January – we met and got out assignments for leading the discussions
2. Creative Writing Classes – None scheduled so far

Travel and Culture

1. Visit Harriet (upstate New York) and/or Betty (Texarkana)
2. Visit Kennewick and Bill’s Family
3. Visit Chicago and Ray’s Family
4. Visit Victoria, Canada

Hobbies and Creativity

1. Reading
   • This Body of Death by Elizabeth George – finished
   • Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver – reading
2. Writing
   • I am still writing, but more sporadically. I’m noodling over a story about a 99-year-old friend who recently died
3. Blogging – 5 Things that Made Me Happy Today continues daily
4. Memoir

Spirituality

1. Bible Study – I attend regularly on Tuesday mornings – We are studying the Sermon on the Mount right now
2. Bethany Presbyterian Church – I attend via Facebook Live every Sunday
3. PCUSA Nominating Committee – No meetings scheduled

Money and Finances

1. Quit obsessing – I’m just about ready to start the 2022 Taxes
2. Keep Al informed – I try to let Al know where we stand. Next month may be a challenge