NST January 2022: Janus

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dc sleeping a little better, for our microwaveable polar bears, for old films on the box, for making tomorrow's work lunch yesterday and having the sense not to eat it today but make a different lunch, for dc taking me round a clothes shop and finding 3 items for their bday (on 3 for 2 as well

abundant1972

Good evening 🌓

Woke today feeling incredibly low - no motivation to do anything. Was meant to be seeing parentals but cancelled. Seeing Dad tomorrow anyway for a few appointments. Had a bath which helped diffuse my negativity, and did a bit of mindfulness 🧘🏻‍♂️ Took every scrap of willpower but I got myself out to the gym (I didn't go yesterday). I kept imagining the end goal (better physique/fitness) and thought what action will bring me nearer that goal. Anyway - gym made me feel better - like I'd achieved something... Once I got the energy going I felt up to doing other stuff... 

Went and got some shopping for Dad and decided to use today as a spend day whilst there. Was out of fresh fruit/veg and had a few pasta/chilli things to use up but no sauce/mince to go with them. My mate had also given me a link to a shopping app - so I ended up getting pringles for free, 2 x 500ml cokes for free, a 2L coke for 50p, and 50p off a big tub of Skyr and 50p off a protein yogurt. I had to pay for them, but then you take a photo of the receipt and they refund it back to your bank account. £5.19 worth of savings!!! (I'll adjust my remaining funds in my signature - but that will go up again when my cashback tracks). Came home - and batch-cooked a huge chilli into 8 meals, now in the freezer. That should be me good for the next week give or take. Just walked into the lounge and my watch buzzed to say I'd hit my steps! All in all a very productive/rewarding day. However...

It occurred to me as I was cooking - at this time of year - Winter - in times gone by when the seasons actually were seasons, and we had cold and snow... folk would have been tucked inside, having a more peaceful, restful and reflective time. They'd tell stories and share folklore, attend to mending clothes and other indoor tasks. Food was scare and every scrap would be used and made into stew. The energy was one of retreat and restoration. I hate that in these times - the seasons are all out, we work 24/7/365 and the minute Christmas/New Year are gone we are expected to go full pelt back into life. I think that's how I felt this morning - like my body's rhythm/energy was all out of sync... instead of resting and recuperating - I'm running here there and everywhere sorting this and that for parents, and worrying about getting on top of things at work and trying to set new goals and so on and so on... But it is still Winter. It made me think - SLOW DOWN. Don't be in such a rush to be somewhere and get everything done... retreat back - enjoy the dark Winter evenings as a time to withdraw from life. Tune into nature again. Spring will be here soon enough when I can turn my energy outwards again...

So - I'm going to try and ignore what the rest of the World is doing - and get back into seasonal harmony! Christmas//Yule is officially extended in my house haha!!! I'm going to make a conscious effort to sink back into Winter as nature intended. 

Today I am grateful for:
1) Finding the energy inside to do what I needed to do
2) For the insight to slow down and rest
3) For the little freebies that came my way today

Today = NSD number 6 still 😉

Have a great evening folks x

beanielou

Thrifty_Taylor said:

Stayed Friday night at mum's, so that I could take her shopping when I arrived from work, then drop her off at work Saturday morning & do my big monthly shop, so saved some diesel as I live 14 miles away. After dropping her off yesterday, I went to measure up a boat cabin to recover all the soft furnishings, only to find there was no-one near the marina gate to let me through. Walked down the pier to the harbour master's office, but didn't see anyone there either, so must've walked through every deep puddle possible on my way back up to the car. Mum made me a hot drink at her work, before taking a sip & after chatting to a customer, I came over all fizzy inside my body & had a job making myself concentrate on what mum was saying, it was very weird. Happened again in T0sco but a bit milder! No idea what it was. Anyway, drove home, hubby was out walking & all 3 DS's still in bed, asked twice if anyone would help carry all the bags inside, but fell in deaf ears! Think it took me 10 trips, as I had lots of bags with sewing jobs to be done inside too.
Had a rest & my dinner, then put it all away. Unpicked a coat zip, then after tea I put the new zip in. Binge watched a programme off the box, treated myself to a pint of Snowball & a few chocs & did some knitting.
Grateful for sitting down resting, Snowballs & chocs, a ball of wool arriving (vacuum packed, so less than 5mm thick 😲 never seen that before) so can do start the patterned part of my jumper

Hope you are ok.
Take care.

abundant1972

P.S Thanks Icc86 for the advice. I agree. I need some little treats in there. I'll factor in some treat money along the way 😉

Calling14

Thrify_Taylor sounds worrying, take it easy.

Saturday, my plan to deep clean everywhere as didn't have kids came unstuck, the cuties arrived before lunch. Had soup and used up bake your own crusty rolls which were getting nearly out of date. My new cordless vac arrived. Persuaded my dd1 to try it on my bedroom carpets. Very impressed especially as reaches under corner couch as cant move it so heavy.  Went for freezing cold walk to park, hot chocolates made on returning home. NSD 2 in the bag.

Today, needed milk and ordered a lamp for my lounge, seems dark without xmas tree lights. Gusty offering me a discount tempted me back and don't need to do any shopping all week or plan meals. Good day cleaning and repotting plants. Cold blustery walk watching kite surfers and got invite for roast dinner at dd1's.

This week will be catching up on NSD's

Grateful for
Time to myself last night, hair washed long pamper bath.
Feeling less stressed with clean sparkly house
Electric throw, no heating on and I am toasty

DrCarrie

Lots of love to you all. It's been a tough start to the year it seems. hope you are all being gentle and kind to yourself whatever is going on for you. 

I am going to go for a 4 day run of NSDs, as I am really behind. 
Still catching up on getting myself back to being more like myself, my stamina is terrible. Had a short sunny walk today.

Grateful for
- getting some batch cooking done
- nice quiet day to myself 
- afternoon nap

greent

Weekend has flown by - DS1 went back to uni yesterday - with 2 cool boxes of fridge/ freezer food, a 24 pack of t-ppaer and 4 carrier bags of cupboard foodstuff...... I spent most of the day ironing - around 4.5-5 hours! - and then another hour today. Still have 2 sets of bedding and a tablecloth to iron but I'd had enough! 😄

Roast chicken dinner today - leftovers will be used for sandwich lunches for those working from home. I'll possibly make bubble and squeakand take that into work for my lunch tomorrow/ Tues. Soft fluffy white rolls baked for lunchboxesand a gorgeous looking (of I say so myself!) wholemeal seeded loaf. 

Thankful for some ys goodies in A1d1, for DS1 taking some of the excess food back with him, for getting lots of ironing done 

Thrifty_Taylor

Thank you @beanielou & @Calling14, I've felt a lot better today.

NSD#4 

Went for a 4.5 mile walk after breakfast with hubby. Read my book whilst eating dinner, then started sewing. Did a job for a customer, then started making a bag for my friend's birthday in a couple of weeks time. She'd posted a video of how to make it on my fb timeline, so know she's going to love it. It's made from a pair of jeans, then has denim flowers on the side & lined inside with a couple of pockets. I'm using red material with white hearts for the lining. Washed up after tea, then did the ironing. Now waiting for my turn to go in the bath.

Grateful for a frosty walk, good programmes watched off the box & you lot with your supportive & inspiring words 😘

crazy_cat_lady

Glad you're feeling a bit better Thrifty.
Abudant - you sound a bit like me - trying to keep going all of the time and doing more than you can manage. I'm trying really hard to slow down a bit myself and get over the guilt of doing nothing. I've spent most of the weekend watching Air Crash Investigation and crocheting. 
I have finished a blanket that I started five years ago. Finally. It was taking so much time and effort I kept putting it away and ignoring it. My mam keeps telling me I should sell some of my crocheted blankets - reckons I could make some money from it. I am less convinced, and wouldn't really know where to start.
In further good news, dd's car started first time this morning. so I can stop worrying about that.
Batch cooking is done, packed lunches are prepared and I just need an early night and decent sleep. NSD number 6 for me.

beanielou

Thrifty~~the bag sounds fab.
I had one like that years ago & loved it.
Used it til it had holes in!