I started out my new year with optimism, enthusiasm, and lots of plans… and then promptly got sick. Not my usual food reaction illness, either, but a real cold, by which I mean that four days in, I’m still coughing, still congested, still out of energy, and still wish I could just stay in bed. Blargh.
Van life is not particularly convenient when you’re sick. Like it or not, I’m going to drag myself out of bed today to find a dump station, because my black tank is overflowing. Not, fortunately, literally — there is no sewage on my floors. Basically, it’s just like having a clogged toilet in a house only instead of tackling it with a plunger, I pack up the van and go for a drive. It’s just an inconvenience, really, but not much fun when you’re sick. Well, never much fun, actually, but even less fun when sick.
My kitchen sink is also overflowing, but with dirty dishes. I haven’t been too sick to use my dishes — still eating, thanks to my awesome Dad delivering soup and OJ for me on Saturday (thank you, Dad!) — but I’ve lacked the energy to deal with the dirty ones. That’s never good, but especially not when you live in a van, because there’s no unlimited supply of hot water to soak or scrub the caked-on food off. So, yeah, today’s goal is also going to include washing dishes. Such an exciting start to the new year.
Whining over, I do have plans for 2020. Nothing as specific as a resolution, but I was listening to a meditation podcast which suggested picking three focus words. I would share a link to the podcast, but I don’t know which one it was — I’ve been listening to lots of them, because meditating more would be one of my resolutions, if I was having resolutions. 🙂
Also, though, the podcast then suggested the three words be virtues and… well, no. Just no. It’s not that I think there’s anything wrong with virtues, but talk about pressure. Plus, virtues? Chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility? I’m not going to lay claim to any great moral stature here, but I honestly don’t think I need to focus on any of these things, except maybe diligence. Well, all right, definitely diligence. Still, not going to do it.
Instead, my three words are going to be verbs: appreciate, learn, and create. My goal for 2020 is to do those things every day. The first comes easy, the second takes more work, but the third is the hardest: fortunately, I’m giving myself permission to count blog posts & interesting food as creating! And my fourth goal is to forgive myself when I miss a few days, but then to start again. So, starting again — and looking forward to a fun and fascinating 2020!
So sorry you’ve picked up a bug — I took Robert in to the dr just this a.m. they checked him out and prescribed an antibiotic and a good cough medicine. They also drew blood for a blood workup. I told the dr. that the last time he was delusional as he is now is when he had a urinary tract infection and his left kidney was dead. Not good… thankful you’re near family who can bring you soup and o.k. — both are really good for you right now. Healing hugs…
The same to you! That sounds very scary. C asked me this morning if I didn’t think it was about time that I went to a doctor, but I think I’m getting better. Just slowly.
We know our own bodies best! Do what your intuition (the wee voice inside you) tells you to do! Healing hugs!
“appreciate, learn, and create”
That’s about as good a trio as I could come up with. This year, I’m going back to my four-words: Work. Persist. Refine. Return. I like work, real work rather than something that is just a job to pay bills; I need to figure out persistence but already I’m moving onto something else; refining reminds me of revision and that’s just a good thing; and my new word is return because I always stray off of what I planned. Rather than gripe about it or punish myself, this year I’m looking to return to the practice. It’s like meditation. A thought comes along, I allow myself to be pulled by it, I notice that movement, and then I return to the breath. This although I suck at meditation.
Feel better. I hope the draining of tanks and washing of dishes was, well maybe not rejuvenating, but rewarding in their own ways. And say hey to your dad for me.
I think our fourth word is definitely the same idea, but return is a great way to phrase it — I want to turn my words into habits and the way to do that is to keep coming back to them, again and again and again. But forming a habit takes time and the only way to make it stick is to keep returning. Yeah, great word! I’m seeing my dad on Wednesday — actually, I’m seeing my brother on Wednesday, too — so I will pass along your greeting!