Simple Joys

 I haven't written in a while.  Usually, I'm writing at least 2-3 days a week.  However, lately I've just not been "feeling it."  And I don't like that I haven't had that drive.

WHY haven't I been feeling it?  I think that has something to do with the state of the world.  Let's be honest (and I always try to be honest...probably too much so as I can write about things that probably make some/most people cringe and think, "Bfth!  TMI!  TMI!"), we are living in a time that is pretty depressing, frustrating, angering, horrifying...well you get the idea.   I don't want to be a Debbie Downer.  I want to be Bright Side Bfth.  On the other hand, I won't bury my head in the sand.  We need to be educated and informed when it comes to the world.  We can't disregards the injustices that happen on a daily basis.  When civil rights are being depleted and removed, we can't ignore it.  We need to be able to differentiate fact from fiction and call out those who lie.  We live in a world where we need to be vigilant.

With that said, our mental health is also incredibly important.  I know that I used to love to watch CBS Mornings whenever I was working from home.  ("Your world in 90 seconds" was an integral part of my day.)  I'd have the evening news on as I prepared dinner.  I've had to take a step back from that.  While it's important to be informed, when the news creates too much anxiety...it's just not healthy.  I need to be aware, but not to the point where I am so stressed that I don't sleep.  (Getting a good night's sleep has recently become an issue for me.  It's not something I'm going to ignore and I plan to mention it when I see my physician.  And in the full spirit of honesty, I never did switch over to a new physician in Pennsylvania, but stayed with the practice in NJ that I've been with seemingly forever.  Again, I've crossed over into the TMI area!)

So how do you remain sane in a world that's gone crazy?  There's no easy answer.  I can tell you that I've been praying more, but I know that's not for everyone.  I've been doing my best to be kind and compassionate; to sow love instead of hate.  And now that the days are longer and (thankfully) warmer, I've been taking adventure of the simple joys that the outdoors has to offer.

Unlike last week, I did had to return to NJ for work this week.  While the drive back was not fun (when it is ever?), with the help of my husband, we were able to accomplish a few things while we were there.  Like putting out the patio furniture.  (And putting away the snow shovel that my son had left out back.) While I prefer the backyard view in the Poconos over the one in NJ, having a yard full of greenery is always something that lifts my spirits.  As did the ability to have the windows open (and the heat off) at night.  (You might think we slept well...we didn't, but...)  Even waiting and taking the bus to Newark is nicer when the weather is warm and the skies are clear.  It may not be joyful, but it is less stressful.  I'll take that as a win.

We headed back to the Poconos on Thursday (don't ask what time because it was; for most people it wouldn't have been considered early morning, but late night) and I was thrilled that the house was warm, not because of the furnace, but because it had been naturally warmed by the sun and never gotten cold enough for the furnace to kick in.  That is more than a simple joy!  

For the past two days, I've managed to do most of my work outside.  The simple joy of a laptop.  And I've marveled in the growth and blooming that has been going on over the past week.  Trees that were brown and barren are now leafy green.  Plants of all different kinds are blossoming.  (Many of which I do not know what they are.  If any of you can identify plants by the photos in this post, let me know). 

Flowers popping up everywhere.  (Again, some of which I don't know what they are so chime in if you do.)  I'm amazed by this two tulips that open every day and then seem to "close" at night only to bloom again the next day. 

I've never seen that happen.  (Not that I've ever looked that closely.)  Is that normal? I’ve been loving it and every time I'm feeling stressed out, I try to go out and walk around and take it all in.  

The pond is "open" and the waterfall is flowing freely.  (Which wasn't cheap).  The sound of water flowing is definitely peaceful.  The calming sound only broken by the "groaning/moaning" sound coming from Large (which is what I have dubbed our large frog friend who likes to hide under the water.) 

He doesn't "ribbit" he makes this guttural sound.  (I'd be worried, but I've heard it before when I've walked by the lake in the park in NJ so I know it’s "normal."  Large has two friends, which I have dubbed Medium

and Small.  Very inventive names, I'd say.  They all like to hide among the rocks and so my husband and I take a daily walk around the pond to try and find them.  (Sometimes we do this several times.)  Again, it's a simple joy to spot one (or more) of them hiding.

Lastly, we brought back to the Poconos the whirly gig I bought shortly after my mother died.  It was a foolish expenditure that brought me joy.  It's starting to fade and there is a rip in it, but when I see it, I always smile.  It brings me joy.  And so I have planted it in the back yard in the Poconos.  It's in a spot so that I can look out the window when I am working at my desk and see it.  Whether it is spinning or not, just seeing it makes me happy.  And we all need "things" no matter what they are to make us happy.

The world may seem to be falling apart.  We can try to make it a better place.  But in order to do that, we also need to find things that bring us simple joys.  Because we all deserve, we all NEED joy.