Hello friends,
It’s been a while. A whole month! All is well here, albeit full-on. I’ve been working Saturdays, which cuts into my whole getting-out-into-nature vibe. The photos above were taken right at sunset last Friday night. This is a screech owl – so tiny (this one was about 7 inches tall) and so perfect. She was just waking up, still a little snoozy. As the minutes passed she became more active, standing on the edge of her home before flying off into the darkness. Before you start worrying about me being alone in the dark in a national park – I brought Chris along as my security detail.
Pokey moved to Boston last weekend. We will miss him, but Sam is over-the-moon to have him back, so I am happy.
Tomorrow is Winter Solstice. I’m glad. These short, dark days take a toll on me. Just knowing that each day after tomorrow will be that little bit longer does my little heart good.
My last post was about strength. Gaining strength in my body and mind. I’m proud that each day since that post I have focused on nourishing my body and strengthening my core muscles. I’ve gone to bed each night with no regrets in regards to how I took care of my body that day. I’ve become really interested in a type of movement called “animal flow” – this is the video that first piqued my interest in animal flow. In early January I will doing this 10-day beginners animal flow challenge.
I’m not sure if I’m going to do a “24 for 2024” list for the new year. I really enjoyed my “23 for 2023” list – I think I chose well, and got nearly all of them done. I’m just feeling really tired at the moment. I’m getting over a cold, working 50 hours a week, dealing with problematic dynamics in the workplace, scaffolding my child’s first few months in a new city/state/job/apartment with three phone calls a day plus multiple texts, and working on my New Zealand immigration paperwork, which has mainly involved chasing down my suddenly elusive doctors to provide proof that I’m not actively dying from cancer and/or being a danger to myself and others (as everyone taking anti-anxiety meds is likely to be, apparently). It’s all a bit much, frankly.
If I sound frazzled, I am. But at the same time, I’m feeling calm, if that’s possible. And I’m grateful for so much. For one thing, I’m grateful to live in a world that has screech owls. And actually, that one thing is enough for me tonight.
Love,
Michelle xoxo