The Journal

thinking, writing

Rumi’s Words Always Resonate

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“But listen to me. For one moment quit being sad. Hear blessings dropping their blossoms around you.” ~ Rumi

Traveling the Danube recently allowed me to put problems with Mom, world events, and stress behind me. What a gift to spend time in places like Prague, Vienna, and Regensburg with good friends.

 

One thing I’m learning about living with a mom with Alzheimer’s is I can’t let it consume me. I can’t control it. And if I don’t live my own life, too, I won’t be of help to her.

Three things I’m going to do more often that I learned on the trip:

  • stop at a local coffee shop and drink espresso mid-morning
  • wear clothes that make me happy
  • laugh with friends

I also realized I can’t eat anything I want. Whoa, is it easy to get off track while traveling. Pastry, wine, bread, bourbon, wine, strudel… you get the idea. A little goes a long way for me, and I need to protect my gut.

But what a lovely adventure. I will carry it with me for a long time.

Creating

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Connecting with  small, local businesses makes my heart open. I love collaborating with others on projects, and with my press, I can help create what they’ve been imagining. This is Willow’s two-color note card, which means running it through the press twice- once with light gray and once with dark. Pairing the cards with a pale gray envelope makes a lovely presentation.

Life has been crazy with moving my mom and trying to get her settled in a new facility. Taking time on the press yesterday made my heart rate slow down and my focus return.

A printer friend once said that she’d hoped she was saving letterpress but discovered she was really saving herself.

I get that.

To Live Better, Not Necessarily Longer

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I enjoy the Blue Zones newsletter, and this recent newsletter gave advice for living longer. That’s not necessarily my goal. But I do want to live better– and these tips certainly resonate:

https://www.bluezones.com/2016/11/power-9/

Move naturally throughout the day

Have and cultivate a strong sense of purpose

Downshift every day to relieve stress

80% Rule: stop eating when you are 80 percent full

Plant Slant: Make beans, whole grains, veggies, and fruit the center of your diet

Wine @ 5: Enjoy wine and alcohol moderately with friends and/or food

Belong: Be part of a faith-based community or organization

Love Ones First: Have close friends and strong family connections

Right Tribe: Cultivate close friends and strong social networks

Photo on Best Running

Type Nerd

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I might have to make this Tattly tattoo permanent!

Last night, we met at Kickshaws Market for an evening of letter-writing– to friends, seniors, and women at @girlslovemail. It was all to celebrate National Letter Writing month and the Write_On campaign.

Even though I prefer small groups, as in one or two people, the gathering of 15 seemed intimate. I enjoyed getting to know new friends who also love paper as much as I do!

Thanks to all for a great evening!