Posted in 40-Day Challenge, Air, Beginnings, Change, Covid-19, Earth, Eastern Shore, Exploring, Garden, Gifts, Gratitude, Home, Life, Maryland, Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Photography, Play, Quotes, Spirit, Walking & Wandering

(Not at all) Silent Sunday

Posted on by Robin

Because you are alive, everything is possible.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Today is day one of the 40-day challenge, the one I should probably name a self-care challenge because that is what it boils down to.  I’m posting to help keep me accountable.  Feel free to join in, any time, if you like, and let me know how it’s going.

This morning my self-care looked like thirty minutes of strength training with a resistance band and light weights; yoga practice (which includes movement, breath work, mantra, and meditation); and a couple of walks outside just to enjoy some fresh air, sunshine (when it was available — thick clouds have been moving in and out), and whatever spring has on offer for today.

Be safe, be well, take care of yourself and others when/as you can.  ♥♥♥

A few of the 10,000 reasons to be happy:  1,281)  Persian speedwell (the little blue flowers pictured above) in bloom.  1,282)  Leaves and buds on the cherry trees.  I think we’ll see some blossoms soon.  1,283)  Cornbread with lemon-raspberry marmalade.  1,284)  Ginger and lemon tea.  1,285)  Going on a scavenger hunt with the Wookie and Peanut, via Marco Polo (a video app).  Today we were looking for something purple, something yellow, something wood, and something metal.

Author:

Robin is... too many things to list, but here is a start: an artist and writer; a photographer and saunterer; a daughter and sister and granddaughter; a friend, a partner, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother; a gardener, a great and imaginative cook, and the creator of wonderful sandwiches.

26 thoughts on “(Not at all) Silent Sunday”

  1. A very good quote for these times!
    Robin your knees must be good to make such a crisp clear Speedwell shot – perhaps its all that Yoga! I need more discipline to practice all the things I should but I do go walkabout when its not as cold and windy as today!

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  2. Good for you!
    Lemme see… what can I challenge myself with? Quarantina is the term for 40 days and we are living in strange times. How to turn this into something good? I fell behind on my 10K steps per day so I shall reinstate that plus add some cardio and resistance training. I shall add the increase in my water intake to 6-8 glasses of water, which has also fallen by the wayside. Just because we must all take on a shelter attitude (or whatever it is called) doesn’t mean we have to let ourselves go, right?

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    3. I’ve been getting steps in–I also walk/jog inside while listening to podcasts on my computer or while on the phone. Days where I need to talk to my sisters about my mom gives me lots of steps. Silver lining? I’m trying to increase cardio and strength though to make up for not going to the gym. But I’ve also decided it’s perfectly OK to take time to just read a novel, or to rest.

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  4. While I take walks every day and now weather permitting, put some time into working in the garden, I’d like to up my yoga days again. Our weekly class has gone online, not sure how that will work. I joined you on your last 40-day challenge, and I only missed a few days. I could up my practice to 3-5x/week, methinks. I also want to add journaling.

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    1. I think most yoga classes have gone online now, Eliza. I’ve been watching with interest as some of the yoga teachers learn how to do this online. I admire their courage.
      I started Morning Pages again, although I don’t usually write three whole pages. I write until I don’t feel I have much else to write, and then push a little beyond because that’s usually the best way to be sure I’ve emptied out all the noise in my brain (something I learned when I was forcing myself to write three pages when I first took up Morning Pages).

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  5. I’ve been self-caring for a few days on a schedule. Today was lazy person day and I ate some processed foods rather than cook (frozen crappy pizza! and Chips Ahoy!). Back to salad, etc. tomorrow. Hope the new self-care routine for you goes well.

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    1. Thank you, Tara. 🙂 I don’t know why but we failed, utterly failed, when it comes to processed foods. We even forgot to buy sugar. It has been a “be careful what you wish for” time. Although I am not Christian, I announced in January that I was giving up junk food and sugary stuff for Lent. Then this crazy time struck and there is not a Cheeto or jellybean to be found anywhere in the house. I have added junk food to my shopping list because these are crazy times. One should not be without junk food during crazy times. 😉

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  9. I like the quote and your photos to go with it. Starting on the first day of spring I decided to go for a walk each day, preferably outside. Nothing long or strenuous or quantified, more like intentionally getting out of my head and being meditative. Wonder how I’ll feel in 40 days?

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  10. I’d been trying to keep up with walking, but when I started getting congestion that seemed to worsen when I went outside, I decided I’d better stay in a while. I hope it’s just allergies, because I have no fever or cough. My self-care will be to rest for the time being, and read and meditate. Thanks for this, Robin. 🙂

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    1. You’re welcome, Cathy, and thank you. 🙂 It’s allergy season for sure here. Yellow pollen everywhere and it’s just getting started. I woke up stuffy today and have had some sinus headaches, off and on, for the past few days. I am fairly certain it’s allergies because I have itchy eyes, too. (No cough, no fever.)

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      1. It sounds like you have allergies. It sure is confusing to have these symptoms during this time. I don’t have itchy eyes or runny nose, or sinus headaches, just congestion, and a tight chest and slight difficulty breathing. I guess everyone has different symptoms to allergies? 🙂

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Comments are delightful and always appreciated. I will respond when I can (life is keeping me busy!), and/or come around to visit you at your place soon. Thank you!

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