"Know thyself." Yes, do that. Well, if you want a sweeter life, that is.
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So I'd not done an online search of our old farm's address in months and when I finally did? I discovered the owners sold it last September.
Quickly I clicked upon each 'for sale photo' and oh dear, kept repeating, "What were they thinking? Who paints the majority of their walls dark brown and dark grey?" I mean, yearly I view hundreds of local houses for sale and only in around 3 percent do those colors appear (maybe that's an exaggeration, even).
I felt sad for our poor old 1880's farmhouse, you know, going from this:
To this:
And from this:
To this:
And yes, I realize when you sell a house, you totally release it to the new family, even after pouring so much of yourself into it.
Well, anyway, perhaps the new owners immediately repainted all those walls. Yet even if they didn't, still, I'm deciding to discipline my mind to only recall how I painted each room. The light, happy colors I used as well as the cute wallpaper (which our buyers ripped down).
But back to the 'know thyself' thing. For me, I know I cannot live happily inside a dark-walled house, especially during winter. I mean, these past 12 days we've had only perhaps 3 hours of sunshine!
Fortunately that's rare for us, but oh my, that's had me doing all my winter survival hacks:
Sitting beside large windows.
Using my like-sunlight lamp to read by.
Stepping outside for a few moments (hey, it's cold out there).
Reading summery-type books.
Keeping up with my vitamin regimen, especially Vitamin D3.
Thinking happy and grateful thoughts.
And while using our new air-purifier I felt so improved that I thought, "Hey! Maybe I can eat/drink a few cow-milk products this winter. But no. After a few days my head felt all heavy and I ended up feeling like this on the inside, wandering from room to room:
I backed off, got honest with myself, left dairy alone and immediately felt better.
Know thyself. Really, know thyself.
What do you need so to live and feel well?
How much alone time do you daily require?
Which colors work best on your walls?
Which foods can you eat? Which should you avoid--and when? (I can have dairy the other 3 seasons. Yes, that sounds weird, but when spending time 'knowing thyself' you learn odd things.)
Years ago I had to release real coffee if I wanted to feel and sleep well. Now, I could've sought pills for headaches and also sleep aids, but for me? Creating hot drinks I enjoy even better was wisdom.
Then in 2022 I had to give up onions, Buffalo wings, hot sauce and my weekly kombucha. Did I sulk? Well, ok. For awhile. ツ But then I pulled up my big girl pants, went on a search for substitutes--and found tasty ones.
Valiantly push through the complainy head thoughts and seek to, instead, know thyself. That's my message, my advice, my key to a still-lovely-though-older Lifestyle which I, myself, am learning to always appreciate--and--maneuver around.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ... Joshua 1:9
“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
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After listening to many music playlists at Youtube, I believe this is my favorite of all.
Oh my. Randi Lynn Reed's latest video was worth the wait. So lovely. How to Make Ordinary Life Feel Extraordinary.
Yesterday Tom and I watched a sweet, hilarious, thought-provoking movie called Family Camp. I think we viewed it free at Prime. (We search all over the Net for movies these days since we've seen just about everything, so I lose track where they all are).
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." ... Jeremiah 29:11
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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15
3 comments:
Oh my - that latest video you linked to was absolutely breath taking. I find myself in a lot of the videos you share. I have always loved being outdoors in nature. I have collected seed pods and dried flowers and grasses for years and put them in baskets or vases to show off them off. When I moved to Idaho, I carried years worth of dried seeds and plants from Florida with me. They were more important to me than most of my other belongings. When I moved back to Florida I brought all the lovely things I had collected in Idaho. Randi Lynn Reed brings up the subject of time. I have always known that time was inexorable. When I was 15 years old I kept a diary, and on New Years eve of that year I wrote about who I was then and wondered where I would be in the distant future - 20 years from then, which is now 31 years ago. I cannot wait until eternity is the always now with no end, as it is meant to be with no death. Thank you again!!
Isn't it interesting how we change, even season to season? Things we tolerate well in spring may not be good for us at all in winter. As we get older we discover more and more about ourselves. I've recently started going to a cardio-drumming class downstairs twice a week. I'm by far the youngest there by about 25-30 YEARS! Those other friends inspire me to keep going, no matter how tired I am or if my back isn't it's best that day. Even if I'm not drumming perfectly in rhythm. Hint, none of us are exactly in time with the video! :-) My job is to try to keep myself as healthy as possible until I'm called Home to the Lord or Jesus takes me there Himself.
Thank you for the video links. I'll be checking them out during the next month in my quiet time. Did you see on my blog that I'm going to London tomorrow to babysit our granddaughter for a month? I won't be able to comment on blogs because I need to leave the laptop for Dennis for Zoom meetings. My Ipad and Iphone won't let me leave comments for some strange reason. I'll be reading though and if I can comment through FB I will.
Much love and blessings,
Betsy
My goodness, how can Randi Lynn Reed be so young and yet so wise? Beautiful video--thank you for the link, Debra.
If I'm honest, getting to know myself is taking a long time. I wonder if it's meant to be a lifelong project?
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