Life after 50

While I can honestly say I am enjoying my life now more than ever, my body sometimes reminds me that I am over 50. It takes longer for the old gal to heal after an injury. My first inkling of that was when I injured tendons and ligaments in my knee when I was 49. It took literally months to get back to normal. No problems since then with that knee but it was a long time before I could use it to it's full extent. Next was strains on my right wrist. I thought I had the makings of carpel tunnel. Turns out it wasn't but I did have to wear a brace for a while. (same thing happened about 10 years ago to my left wrist) Now, as of 8 days ago when I sprained my left ankle, I have been cursing the speed in which my body heals itself and wanting to get back to my projects on the property but more importantly to get back to my workouts. I spent all summer cruising with the top down on a 60 mile an hour road then suddenly found myself in a construction zone travelling 10 miles an hour. And who knows when the construction zone will end. It totally sucks. I've lost my momentum and I don't like it.

BTW, I should expound on why I say that I am enjoying my life now more than ever. I am not working and we don't have much money to spend and I can't fix up my office the way I want BUT I have taken a more serious interest in my physiological well being than I have ever before. I have been on a rigid workout schedule and have lost 25 pounds. I have been actually finishing most things that I start. I have been making a concerted effort to control and streamline the way I eat, how much I eat, and what I eat. I have been working on writing my books, maintaining 3 blogs, finding and reading new books, learning a language, and finding interesting new talents to add to my repertoire of stuff that I know how to do. Now, all of this stuff doesn't happen quickly or overnight. It has been a long process and is an ongoing evolution of myself. I have to say that I love the direction that this is going.

MY Use for Social Networking, ie; Facebook

I was very reluctant for quite awhile to even sign up for Facebook much less start posting anything on there. I wasn't sure how to go about creating my profile, how to get friends linked up, what to do about pictures, etc. I finally gave in and created my page in September of 2009. Didn't have much else to do at the time since I was laid off and had been since the end of May. So, after spending a year or two studying how others use it, I came to the conclusion that everyone has a different purpose for wanting to share or communicate with others and I respect that. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for others on my friends list.

For example, a lot of my liberal friends feel free to post political links, articles, opinions, etc. And they should feel free to do so. And when those posts are highly inflammatory, insulting, and brutally bashing to people who believe as I do, then I should just let it go or hit the "hide" option so I don't have to read it. I have made the mistake of making comments when they do post and have thought better anymore because I just get aggravated. However, when any of my conservative friends post articles they are usually though not always, fact based and not presented in a hateful, demeaning, and bashing manner but are taken that way. So, I have elected to not get involved in ANY posting that is based in politics or religion. That way my friends can stay my friends and any friction or trouble that is caused will be between them and somebody else. Taking the high road baby!

As for what I do post, well some people say it's a lot of things and they also say that they feel like they know me through what I post. They can say that but I really do only show what I'm willing to share and what I feel comfortable sharing. There are a great many things that people DON'T know about me and frankly I would like to keep it that way. I post pictures of all the projects in and around my property, I post travel pictures, pictures of my pets, and pictures of my family. I talk about what I like, what I don't like, what I know how to do and what I don't know how to do. I comment on things that friends and family post, and for the most part just have fun with it. There are a great many things that I do take seriously but Facebook and myself are not on the list.

So whatever makes people happy, whatever use they choose to use social networking for is just that. It is their choice and I respect everyone's choice. I only ask in return that people respect mine.

Bienvenido to May

It has been awhile since I've written here. Not that I don't have the time, I'm still not working, and not that I don't spend alot of time on the computer. However, since the weather has been pretty great over the last month or so I have been outside doing some major landscaping projects so putting some thought into my blog has not been one of my priorities. I have many things in the works now. I have the beginnings of 3 books going, with many ideas floating around for more. I have also started another blog on Wordpress for strictly my opinions on television and movies. I'll probably do one for politics and another for just books. Who knows. I am diversifying my voice. This one I think I'll keep for just my day to day thoughts about all things cosmic. If you don't know what I mean by that, then perhaps you don't know me as well as you thought you did eh? Yes, my 52nd birthday has come and gone without much fanfare and I am perfectly happy with that. I am having much success with my weightloss/diet/excercise program and my mental state has become much more positive and uplifted. I think the excercise and infusion of energy has helped to boost the mental endorphins to a more positive level. We'll be painting my office next week and will be hanging the artwork on the walls that we bought last year on our cruise to Alaska. They are from an artist affectionately known as Fanch. His name is Francois Ledon but his Breton' nickname is Fanch. His art is very colorful and it's something that we never in a million years thought that we would like but there you have it, we bought French art from a French artist. Sacrebleu!

So, these are not what we bought but they are similar in color and style. There are three in the set that we bought and they will go up on the wall after we paint. Then we'll put up a few shelves and call it good for now until I get back to work. We will not purchase a day bed or any other furnishings for the office until I get a job and have a steady income. Unemployment is there but it doesn't amount to much. So, we do what we can. Anyhow, that should be enough for now. I will post again soon.

Gratitude

So the last word of the three is Gratitude. I think that people do not show enough gratitude for what they have in this world. And it isn't for just material things. I am very grateful for the material things that I have, but more importantly, I am grateful for my family and my friends without whom I would be a pretty lonely person. Each person that I have had in my life whether it be a lifelong family member, a friend for 30, 20, 10 years or even 10 months, has had some kind of an impact on me. Sometimes very obvious and sometimes very subtle. It's these relationships and the experiences with same, that help to shape a person. It's what you learn from your relationships with people and the understanding that you gain of each one that helps to shape the perspective that you take on life. In addition to formal education and what you learn in your professional life, the education that you glean from relationships is much more profound and long lasting. There are people in the world who make a choice to isolate themselves from friends and family, often to the point of becoming reclusive. That is their choice but something I could never imagine doing. I can't begin to picture what my world would have been like without the truly important and special people that have been in my life. Sometimes I lose that perspective and have to remind myself of just how important it is to know that there are people in this world who will listen, those who will support you and be your cheerleaders and coaches, those who will offer criticism, those who will love and trust you unconditionally, those who will walk beside you on your journey, those who advise you and those who will come to you when YOU are the one that THEY need to be that person for them. I am always happy to reciprocate when people ask because my philosophy is "in order to HAVE friends you must first BE one". I didn't always have that philosphy. I spent alot of years having aquaintences but keeping prospective friends at arms length. I was unwilling to make the investment and put myself out there. I am glad that part of me changed.

I am grateful for all of the opportunities that I have been granted in my life whether it be a divine gift or a reward for hard work, I will never take anything earned or given for granted.

And lastly, the fact that I am allowed the opportunity to get up every morning, that my heart is still beating, I can see, hear, smell, feel, and move is a gift that I am eternally grateful for. For in that gift, I have the opportunity each day to reach out and share MY friendship with the people that I value the most. I have the opportunity everyday to make a difference in someone's life or open the door for someone to make a difference in mine. All of that defines why I chose the word Gratitude to pervade my life during this year. And yes my friend Tom, that includes being grateful for the constructive criticism of my perceived rants.

The Meaning of the Word "Grace".

As I mentioned in the header for the month and beginning of the year, I would try to explain my choices for the words Gratitude, Grace, and Grit. We covered Grit, now it's time for Grace. To me Grace is being able to walk away from a situation, like not getting a job that you thought you were going to get, without any resentment or ill will towards the person who got the job or the potential employer. Grace is knowing that even though your friend or family member or maybe even a stranger has used words that are hateful, spiteful, and otherwise mean; there is likely an underlying reason for it that is not immediately obvious. You may not know it or see it but maybe that person just lost a loved one, or maybe a job, or maybe they witnessed or were in an accident. Keep in mind that getting that treatment from someone isn't right but understanding that there may be a very valid reason or cause for it would certainly ease the situation. Instead of reacting back to that person in a negative way, try to be understanding and not take it personal. Unless of course you know that the person is and always has been a total jerk then I would say all bets are off. The dictionary defines Grace in several ways but this is the one that most closely matches the useage that I have chosen. "disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency"

As I travel through each month of this new year, I have decided that there are many traits that I would like to adopt or pull out of my seemingly dormant self and practice in my everday life. Grace is a very important attribute to have in dealing with people throughout your life but even more importantly in the current economic sitation. I need to be more patient and more understanding. Sometimes just taking a deep breath and checking to make sure your reaction is not an emotional "knee jerk" is a good start.

The Meaning of the Word "Grit".

This is one of the words that I chose for the month of January. The dictionary shows the word to be the following: firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck. To be in my situation right now, right here; with my weight issues, self esteem issues, and jobless issues, the key to succeeding through it all and coming out on top is to have firmness of character which is to see who and what you are and can be and stick to it. It is to have an indomitable spirit which means that no matter how temporarily defeated you may feel, it is the strength of spirit that wins out over any adversity. And pluck is to have courage and resolution in the face of difficulties. That is what Grit means. And I KNOW that I possess those personality traits, hell, this is not the first time in my life that I have had to face challenges. Where is that street smart Ruth? Where is that Ruth with the awesome survival instinct? Where is the Ruth who says what the hell does CAN'T mean? Damn, I have given this alot of thought and the Ruth who is typing this blog is just a small portion of who that person was. How did I let myself get beat down so far? How did I allow the negative influences to crawl under my skin? Holy Cow. Well I think those personality traits have been hidden below the many layers of self defeating attitude. They are coming out slowly, it seems, kicking and screaming but nevertheless, are reaching the surface and Heaven help us when they do.

January 3, 2012

I'm beginning to think that I should have put the word "willpower" as the choice for the month. There are 3 loaves of banana bread in the oven and the house smells heavenly HOWEVER, banana bread is NOT on my list of acceptable foods for today or probably for at least the next couple of weeks. I must remain steadfast in my plan and let the boys have it. My eyes are on the prize and that prize is at least a size 10 pair of jeans. I remember how those felt and how they looked. After that, a size 8 is just around the corner. So, we don't need no steenking banana bread!!!

January 1, 2012

Spent the morning in a somewhat sleepy haze then finally motivated myself at about 11:00. I have a bit of a scratchy throat and a cough associated with it and a somewhat queasy stomach. No excuses though, that is the 2012 motto. When I am done updating some important digital housekeeping, I will do my 1 hour workout, then go for a walk or a bike ride. Getting some post Christmas housework done, laundry caught up, and wrapping up a few other things today. Kind of a boring yet necessary first day of the year.