WINTER REFRESHMENT December 2020

Today I walked into the garden and thought, wow something is different. It’s winter! The trees are bare, showing off a dark, charcoal sketch of their limbs. Their naked forms twist and bow in the wind. I simply adore December. We want so much to bring light into the darkness. I know it’s not everyone’s favorite season, nor is it mine. Still I appreciate the change, coziness and beauty it brings. My daily walks are easier in the brisk air. At noon the sun is so low, it appears like sunset, only in the south.  I don’t remember noticing that so acutely before, but then these are unusual times and we notice many thing anew through our 2020 lens.

I was recently asked to write about “Joy” for the marvelous PWNO Women’s group I have been in for decades.  Here are some tidbits followed by some late Autumn photos.

I thought I was skating along until recently I had a few bouts of hard physical pain that clouded my disposition and found me miserable. I was even super grouchy to my husband who I rarely let loose on. Negativity breeds negativity. I worked my way out and have recaptured my mostly grateful attitude. Whew! After a poignant Holly Near Song whose theme was ‘it could have been me, but instead it was you’ I found myself singing her profound and caring lyrics all day. Things can always be worse and sadly they are for many. Thus I recovered my composure and returned to knowing the essential things are intact. I  could happily return to my yoga of appreciating the everyday miracles.  The right song can pull me back to joy. Rediscovering the amazing Linda Ronstadt was a recent acute reminder.  She now has Parkinsons (excellent film biography 2019). What an icon she is. What a fall she has both weathered and transformed.

 These days I look forward to food shopping outings like a kid going to the county fair. The cornupcopia of our produce, global imports and innovative health products here in the Northwest excite and peak my culinary curiosity.  So many do not share in our wealth. Decades ago I took our Russian exchange guest to Capella’s, an early natural supermarket, before there were Whole Foods. He was beside himself gazing upon all the food choices at our disposal.  Even in a pandemic, we have so much richness. 

And then my favorite comparison, which always gets a chuckle; being grateful for indoor plumbing.  Just imagine if we didn’t have that luxury/necessity like generations of old.  And washing machines and fresh water!! Despite the setbacks, we got it easy! 

May we continue to be grateful for the blessings in our lives and face the challenges with equanimity and courageous hearts.