November 9--I Gotta Be Me 🎵🎵🎵

The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.  --Anna Quindlen

    There it is again... perfectionism. I think we can pretty much agree that "perfect" doesn't exist, yet our society is still insanely encouraging this concept. At the least, this is keeping our kids from being kids, and at the worst, killing them when they take their own lives because they don't "measure up." Perfectionism and its Siamese-twin judgmentalism are widespread, insidious and destructive addictions. 

    Why not delight in the unique specimen of humanity that you are?!?! What is wrong with you? Too short, tall, fat, thin, pale, dark-skinned, smart, stupid, lazy, hyper, disorganized, anal-retentive, ugly, beautiful?!?!! Clearly I could go on and on. Welcome to the human race! We all have some reason to get down on ourselves. Stop it! 

    Every part of every one of us enjoys appreciation much more than criticism.

        Leta

November 8--What Does Yours Say?

Our faces become our biographies.  --Cynthia Ozick

    Can you look at your face in the mirror and smile? It's a worthwhile practice. If we can't see the Light within ourselves, how could we see it in others?

    Being well into my sixties, I have wrinkles in my face. Lots of life experience went into making those! I have brown eyes which I love. My skin is healthy--I don't use a lot of "product" on it because "clean" feels best. Gravity is taking its toll, but my smile still works, and I like to use it a lot. 

    Joyful appreciation of my face leads to joyful appreciation of life.

        Leta

Then and...

Now

November 7--Be SomeONE

How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something, but to be someone.  --Coco Chanel

    I'm having thoughts of ...

• comfortable in my own skin
• progress, not perfection
• nothing to prove
• live and let live

    A person comfortable in his/her own skin could be in the lowliest of positions, ruler of a country, or anywhere in between. Being true to oneself is a much more rewarding career than any occupational role. Note that we are always with ourselves. Jobs come and go. I was a store clerk, a legal secretary, a computer geek, a finance manager and a tax preparer. None of those defined me, even though the jobs were generally fun and satisfying at the time. 

    "Progress, not perfection" is a common 12-step program saying. Progress/growth/expansion is the natural process of life, while perfection does not exist (despite endless, absurd striving for such). I think a lot of perfection-seeking is a cover-up with "something" when one is not comfortable with the "someone" he/she is. Perfectionism leads to judgmentalism, not a characteristic to be cultivated by a serene "someone."

    In a world constantly demanding bigger, better, and more, taking a stance of "nothing to prove" is quite bold. Having nothing to prove is an internal stance of self-approval that does require accomplishing something to be fully aware of one's worth. 

    A "someone" who is practicing the first three naturally operates in "live and let live" mode. If I'm happy with myself, I don't need you to be different to make me happy. "How many cares one loses" when one stays out of other folks' business. 

    Good with where I'm at,

        Leta

Barney explores the neighbor's 
driftwood lawn display.

November 6--"No Joy in Mudville"

The only real elegance is in the mind; if you've got that, the rest comes. 
--Diana Vreeland

    This is my annual post pouting about the end of baseball season. Alas, I was cheering for the Phillies, whose offense took a premature vacation, and they lost the World Series last night to the Cheaters, I mean, the Astros. March 30, 2023 is Opening Day, only about five LLLOOONNNGGG months away. 

    My elegant mind will have to be entertained by basketball, grandson fun, the occasional trip, and chilly winter walks with Barney. Maybe another worthy puzzle will challenge my winter months. 

    Looking forward to "PlayBall!!!",

        Leta

November 5--What Is A Day Worth?

There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day. 
--Alexander Woollcott

    Well, I agree with that, but then I run into the self-agonizing debate of "Am I enjoying this day enough?" and "How should I be enjoying it more?" That debate alone can ruin a day's enjoyment!

    Yesterday felt pretty unimportant. I'm recovering from Covid, feeling better, but still quarantined. Most chores were done, there was no good sports on TV, I was bored, and naptime did not produce any rest. Yet I caught up on my bookkeeping, started a good book, gave Barney some belly rubs, and had a wonderful video chat with my grandson and son. It was an important day.

    Let us value this day,

        Leta

November 4--Precious Time

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.  --Carl Sandburg

    Now that I'm in my sixties, I am acutely aware that when I am watching the timer on the microwave go down, those are seconds of my life ticking away. That's a little distressing. 

    I had a first in my life early this morning. I fainted. I had gone to the bathroom and was headed back to bed. I was a little woozy but I thought I could make it to the bed. Next thing I know, I wake up on the floor. My first thought, after discerning that I was on the floor, was "Why the hell am I sleeping on the floor?!?!" So I hopped up and got in bed. Then I realized I had fainted, and that my angels did a helluva job keeping me from greater injury. My left shoulder and knee are bruised, minor compared to what could have been. Is this Covid-related? Who knows!?! I'd prefer never to repeat it. It's completely freaky to have fallen and have no recollection of it whatsoever. 

    I'm feeling better, so hopefully the worst of this Covid illness is past. 

        Leta

November 3--The Heart Goes Everywhere

Integrate what you believe in every single area of your life. Take your heart to work and ask the most and best of everybody else too.  --Meryl Streep

    That "head cold" I mentioned in yesterday's post has tested as Covid. I notified everyone I was around--so far, so good. I believe very strongly in my body's ability to heal, so hopefully this will pass in a few days. The tiredness is astounding. It felt like a great effort last night just to lie in bed and watch TV!

    I love Ms. Streep's quote. It seems so often that our society is in dumbing-down mode, operating on mediocre, instead of encouraging the best from all. We'd all do well with the reminder to "take your heart" everywhere. 

    I am home from my big back-east trip--just over 2,800 miles driving and a huge amount of fun. I'm grateful for safe travels and happy to be home, where my sweet husband is taking great care of me. 

        Leta

The place in PA where my dad taught me to swim.