Hi,
As I tap away on my phone, lying on the sofa with a full tum, I can hear the distant hum of the heat pump drier. No more do I worry about the clothes being shrunk nor the electricity bill in using it. It also means I don’t have to faff about running in and out as the summer showers drift through.
One night accuse me of ‘ligging about’, but hey, it’s Friday and I’ve had a day off. My batteries feel much recharged and the house is looking better than it did earlier too. Still, better ligging, than orming. The latter being sitting around ungainly, squirming, and fidgeting. I have a sneaking suspicion that some of the above might be Jones legacy gibberish. If not, certainly Midlands twang.
Ah, I see the as-yet-undiagnosed-so-maybe-you’re-just-a-twit ADHD mindset has kicked in…
Breathe…. and focus, Lynn 🙏🏻
Cheerful reasons
This week I had a visit to the beauty therapist – oh, and feel free to make the joke “The consultant looked at me and said ‘I cannot help. Have you thought of Dignatas?'” 😁 Yeah, so time to top up on dewookification, or a leg wax as regular folk may call it.
While it’s not completely pain free, I find the conversation, acceptance, and the outcome really uplifting and relaxing. I don’t feel judged while I’m there and yes, I am paying for a service, but the business owner is free to decline to serve me. I would never want to make someone feel uncomfortable.
For days afterwards, my skin feels amazing and it’s quite a while before I feel the slight prickle of returning hair.
When I get up in the morning and before I pop my slippers on, I see my painted toenails, hairless arms, and all of this helps. My body looks like it should to me and I’m not at odds with what’s inside versus the outside. Even if I am using that new dairy replacement, Middle Aged Spread 😉
Maybe for some of seems shallow or unrelatable, but for me, it’s like being pain free. No aches, no worry, no hurt; just being. Just being okay and okay it’s good enough 🩷
New to me
Despite a flurry of early sale emails, I’m not buying anything new at the mo. I think with the last three items from Roman not being a good fit, I’ve taken a step back.
Instead, I’ve looked on Vinted and bought both a skirt (Joe Browns) and some funky orange slingbacks (Clarks). An overnight treatment with the shoe stretcher helped with the latter. So, new to me, the reseller gets a few bob there way, and it’s recycling of a sort. Sounds like a win in my book.
Mindful
Usually as summer approaches, I used to feel down as more of me is on show. Long trousers and shirts would keep my body hair hidden, and there’s a positive around out of sight, out of mind. With things being denuded, I’m free of that background noise and distressing ‘interrupt request’ that jolts my mood.
Free from that means I feel I can focus more on things. As such, I’ve come back to trying to be more mindful. To enjoy the process of being, rather than worrying on the what next.
There’s a free app called Healthy Minds and I’ve been listening to a few of their lessons. I’ve found that listening to songs as I do things helps with grounding and relaxing me. To listen, rather than hear: birdsong in the woods, the sniffing of the dogs, and the crunch of old farm track’s gravel. At home, the tap of my shoes, the rustle of clothes going into the washer, or the clink of pots taken from the dishwasher.
Again, things that help and while they’re no magic wand, I’m grateful for having found things that do.
Is there anything in your life that’s helping you feel good and stay relaxed?
L x
It’s good to feel good. Glad your waxing sessions leave you with real positivity. And as for coloured toes, there’s nothing better in the morning than to see them first thing in the morning. Very affirming.
What in my life makes me feel good and relaxed? The above, obviously. But also a recent return from wet, cold, grey Britain where I was drinking Lemsip to a warmer, sunnier climate. The climate has a profound effect on me and SAD was killing me, hence my move abroad in the first place. I immediately feel good just by being in a location that suits my body better.
Have a nice relaxed weekend.
Sue x
The right weather certainly helps, yes Sue. With you on too much rain and long, dark nights not being great. That said, there’s a certain joy to be had in coming home, taking off the rain gear, drying the hounds, and getting cozy with tea and a warm blanket.
Hope you are well rested and restored after your trip to Mordor – sorry! I mean the United Kingdom of Mordor 😁
The weather seems to up and down like a yo-yo so I’m glad I took advantage of yesterday’s sun to get the washing out early. Another advantage of not being trad-male and taking on household washing duties is that I can sneak some of Susie’s stuff into the load among the y-fronts and t-shirts (though I reserve the more obvious frillies for occasions when L’s away). Like you, I’m finding my non-work Fridays helping a good way of managing work stress. (Perversely I can also get stressed when work is slack, because then I start to feel guilty that I’m not doing anything very productive. You can’t win.)
More changeable than a liar’s manifesto? 😉 Thank you, I’m here all week. Don’t forget to fight the power! ✊ 😁
Yes, doing the washing certainly makes it easier to sort one’s smalls – or bigs, in my case 😉. See also ‘road testing’ new shoes by doing the Hoovering around the house.
Good to hear your Friday’s off are helping keep stress down as well 🩷
As to the guilt of ‘not doing anything’, yes, quite aware of that one. I had a bit of an Imposter Syndrome moment this week, feeling that I wasn’t getting enough done. The truth is a lot of stuff isn’t micro tasks and quick wins; it’s a medium/long term journey.
FWIW, I’ve been trying to say to myself, that time relaxing is doing something and it’s good for me.
Oddly enough, the mindfulness app I mentioned, this episode just gone, they talk about the urge to be doing or the drive to improving… Yet, we don’t need to be busy all of the time. Indeed, downtime helps me find answers to difficult questions – be that work, creative stuff, or social things.
Yay for good downtime when you’re literally able to avoid that ‘drive to be doing’.
And yay for waxing – still something I’m planning to invest in, both time and money, when I get round to getting my executive function… uh… functioning.
Apologies. I’ve just seen your comment, Joanna.
Yes, I’m with you on the occasional need to not be doing. Some times, doing nothing is time well spent.
Good luck with the adulting and associated executive function 🙂 FWIW, better pins is really helping with my mental health.