Thought for the day - the inspiration of warmer weather

 We have had some beautiful, warmer weather days this week and it has been wonderful.  Of course, it will get cold again. It's still winter, after all.  But that first taste of what spring will be like is always delicious and makes me want more.  It also inspires me to start thinking about the changes I need to make and these few days of great weather have been no different.

It was a long week at work.  In some ways it was very frustrating but it made me stop and think about my job and my career.  I have some things I need to do at work as far as setting boundaries.  I have a hard time saying no to things because I want to do a good job and be looked upon as a good associate.  But I am realizing that there are going to be times when it is too much and I need to speak up about that. And it's absolutely fine to speak up about that.  In addition to my duties as a CSR, I also do all of the long term care insurance invoice submissions and correspondence for many of our residents in the care buildings. I also do little things for each of the other departments and sometimes, not always, that gets taken advantage of.  I need to not let that happen anymore because it definitely affects my frame of mind at work.  

The warmer weather also makes me want to be healthier.  I say that every year because every year it's true.  I don't normally do it, but the feeling is definitely there. The thought of getting outside and being active is very appealing and it's time I did something about that. And there will be ways to help with that in how I eat and how I get out of my chair and make myself do things.  It can be very frustrating because I know that it will make me feel better, I just always find some reason not to do it.  I'm hoping I can correct that this year.

I am thinking of referring to some of my theatre training in helping with this.  One of my professors was really big on "packing" a character.  That is, coming up with a character's back story and character traits that are not always present in the text of the play.  It usually helped make a more three dimensional character which, in turn, made it more fun to play.  And I think I need to do that in my life....sit down and look at the characteristics I want to incorporate into my life and act upon them, make them become ingrained in my day to day existence and see the improvements in myself that I wish to make.  I can do that if I just put my mind to it.

Ah, well. So much going on in my brain just because the temperature got to 65 LOL  Now, I'm hoping spring will just hurry up and get here.  I'm so ready for it!

That is all!

The Continuing Adventures of Just a Waiter - Being a Family

Each of our residents have different relationships with their families.  Some are very close.  Some keep each other at arm's length.  Some are family in name only.  Some have no family at all, to speak of.  For those residents that are close to their families, this is a very trying time for both sides.  We see residents get very emotional about not seeing their kids or only able to see them through a window.  We have families call and, even though they are very thankful for our restrictions right now to keep everyone safe, you can hear the sadness in their voices because they cannot be here physically for their relatives.  It's a hard time for everyone.  But this is where we, as a team, step in.  We are a part of their families and they are a part of ours.  Not just during this trying time, but all year round.  They just happen to need us now more than ever.  And they need to be reassured that we are there for them to comfort and help to the best of our abilities. 

The beauty of a company like Heritage Greens is that this family atmosphere is pretty much a standard that emerges from all of our associates.  It's never listed as a requirement, it just naturally evolves that way.  We become a family to our residents, to their families and to each other.  Now that our restrictions will be changing somewhat because of consistent testing and the vaccine availability, the family part of our workplace will not change.  And I love that about HG.  Now, mind you, not every associate has this mindset, but those are few and far between and one learns to not put much stock in them unless when  necessary.  Sometimes they come around, sometimes they don't.  Ah, well.

Over the last year, we have lost some residents and it's never easy.  Some were covid related, some were not.  Some were residents that no longer lived at HG, for one reason or another, but kept in touch with us. Either way, it still affects us.  We  grieve with each other over the loss and we grieve with their families.  It is that kind of love and care that we give our residents that makes us different from so many places like HG.  We are invested in our residents and in each other.  We go through everything together and that is important.  I feel that it reassures people when they move their loved ones into our facilities.  And it is important to us to be able to give them that peace of mind.  

We have endured through this pandemic as a family.  We have gained and lost associates and residents.  We have learned to adapt to new ways of doing things on an almost daily basis.  We laugh together and we cry together.  We are family.  That is all.  

A few Triad things to experience this year

 I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has been thinking of all of the things that I want to do once the pandemic calms down.  I'm not sure that it will ever be done with, but that's for another blog.  Anyway, it's like the list we all make of the things we'd do if we won the lottery.  And, in a way, being able to go back to a somewhat normal existence will be like winning the lottery and I look forward to that!

One thing that has come to light in my mind during all of this is how little I have explored the Triad.  I have lived here for 28 years and there are so many things I haven't explored and places I haven't been to.  Growing up, my parents were very good about taking Bill and I to places of history.  They comprised many of our vacations.  We went to Colonial Williamsburg and many historic homes like Mount Vernon and Monticello.  We went to Washington, DC to see our cousin "Uncle" Bernie and spent time at all of the Smithsonian Institute Museums.  They were amazing! They were such great trips and those are the kinds of places I want to explore first.  

I think this is going to be a great place for me to start....in my own backyard.

Old Salem

I haven't been to Old Salem in probably 35-40 years.  I have definitely driven by it while living here but have not been to it.  I remember going with the family when I was a child but I don't remember a whole lot about it.  I believe that currently all of the buildings and exhibits are closed, but the grounds are open.  Either way, I would love to just go and look around.  And if I have to go back later when the buildings open back up, so be it!

Farmer's Market

As long as I have lived here, I have never been to the Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market.  I have always shopped at grocery stores.  There is actually a curbside market every Saturday around the corner from me, which I also intend to explore, but I would like to start going to this one.  You can get all kinds of locally grown produce, meats, plants, baked goods, wine, etc.  Why I have not gotten myself out there before, I don't know.  It's open currently so this will definitely be on my list when the weather gets warmer!

Greensboro History Museum

Established in 1924, I have only been to the History Museum as a caterer.  And even then, it was only a delivery.  Since I call Greensboro home now, I definitely need to visit and learn up about the history of this city.  They are open now and require masks, so this may happen sooner!

International Civil Rights Museum

Going hand in hand with the History Museum is the ICRM.  The sit in at the Woolworth's lunch counter was such an important part of American history and I am thankful that it is getting the recognition it deserves through this museum.  It has always been in the back of my mind to go and see all of the exhibits, so I believe it's finally time.  I don't go down town much anymore but this will be a great incentive for me!

Reynolda House and Museum

This is another historic home that I would love to see and haven't yet.  I do love a good, old house!  And this is right up my alley.  Plus, so much amazing artwork.  Not sure when it will be open for tours again.  The website said tours were cancelled through November 2020, but there was no update.  Still, I'm sure it will be worth the wait!  After all, I've waited this long LOL

Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum

I have always been intrigued by this beautiful set of buildings along highway 70 in Sedalia, NC.  I know very little about Charlotte Brown, but would love to learn more.  The Palmer Memorial Institute was founded in 1902 and ran until around 1971.  This seems to be an historically important institution that has apparently gotten overlooked in history books (among so many other things).  According to the website, it's open still, so I must go!

So, now I have a good starting point when life starts to return to our new normal.  It's nice to have something to look forward to doing....and there will be so many things!

Passions in life

One thing that I have not focused on much in the past year are the things in my life that I am passionate about.  With everything that has been going on in this crazy year, I have let certain things lay by the wayside.  The routine of every day life in a pandemic can do that to you. But they have never left my mind, they just have not found a way into my daily life...or weekly...or monthly.  Life can do that to you sometimes.  I do not feel badly because of that, I simply have had other things that I needed to focus on.  

Now, I think that it is time for me to rekindle some of my old passions and hopefully find some new ones.  Some will be harder than others, as I am finding myself missing things like theater...both as a performer and an audience member.  Yes, there are virtual platforms for these, I just need to find them.  Cooking is definitely a passion and it is one of the few that I have been able to do during this time.  Also, letter writing is right up there, even though I didn't write as many as I'd hoped.  That will change.

I realize that it may seem selfish to do things for myself but I think that I need it in order to get to where I want to be spiritually, emotionally, physically.  I need to allow myself to enjoy those things that are important to me.  So, we shall see how this goes.  I am looking forward to it.  And now, I think it's time to go exploring.  Enjoy the day and find something you are passionate about!

Baby Elephant Walk - Mancini

 I have a good handful of Mancini albums in my record collection.  I have always enjoyed his music and this piece is one of my favorites.  It's just fun and bouncy!  Way back in the day, when I was in high school, the one time I was in the NC All State Band, we played a Mancini medley and that was the first time I recall hearing this tune.  We had great fun playing it.  Enjoy!

May Love and Laughter..

 Some words of encouragement I think we could all use from time to time!

Continuing to clean out and go through the office. Fun times!

 After a weekend mixed with relaxation and productivity, I have made some progress in being able to see more floor space in the house.  They were small steps, but I'll take each one!  I spent most of Saturday early afternoon in the office, going through piles of stuff I had created while cleaning out each nook and cranny in the room.  That is one of the downsides to taking on a project like this....chaos creates more chaos.  And I have a tendency to leave that chaos sitting there for weeks.  But, not this time.  Getting the office in better shape was something that Michael wanted to do over the weekend, so that was good motivation for me!

I still had lots of Christmas left over in the office and it was time to finally put it away.  Not so much in decoration, which there still was some, but in things I'd cleared off from other places and put in containers in the office....see that pattern?  Got to work on that LOL  All of Grandmother's angels were on top of the piano, so they got wrapped and packed away.  And I made myself take each box out to the garage and put up on a shelf so that they wouldn't just sit there for weeks on end for me to walk by in the office.  And my box of wrapping supplies and gift bags..they needed to leave the office finally as well...so they did.

I had amassed several good stacks of books.  Three stacks to be exact:  books to keep I haven't read, books I have read to keep and books I have read to get rid of.  Thankfully the books to get rid of was the largest of the three stacks.  Now, there were many good books in there but I knew, in my heart, that I would not read them again so it's time to let someone else enjoy them.  I really enjoy reading biographies of celebrities from the Golden Age of Hollywood and have many that I've bought from the used bookstore.  Even though I enjoyed them, I won't read most of them again so they had to go.  

Even though I am definitely making progress in the office area, there's still a ways to go.  I am quite intimidated by cleaning out the top of my closet in here.  I think it's a mixture of the fact that there's so much stuff shoved up there and the time it's going to take to do it.  This could possibly be an all day process of taking it all down, sorting it and putting it back...or not putting it back.  I just know that I cannot do only half of it and leave it for another time.  That would create a mess in here and defeat the purpose.  Maybe this coming weekend I will tackle it.  We shall see!

So, that's the update on my progress.  Taking it one thing at a time.  It makes me feel better once it's done so I know that I'm heading in the right direction.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Quote of the day

 

The morning snowfall - a quiet moment

 As I sit here this morning, watching the snow gently fall outside my window, I am reminded of the many wonders of nature that the Lord has given us.  During this time of mostly being home bound and isolation for many, there are still joys to behold from the gifts of earth.  My birdfeeder is crowded right now as the snow falls.  While in my head I am thinking that these birds need to find shelter from the weather, in my heart I am grateful to be able to feed them and watch them on a daily basis.  And, honestly, the same for the squirrels too.  They have to eat as well and I don't mind.

Just the simple act of taking Squirt out for a walk can hold all sorts of pleasures.  He takes so much time to stop and sniff everything.....and I mean everything....that sometimes I strive to be more like that.  Taking in the scenes around me.  I find myself looking at so many plants and trees and I am grateful that I live in a world that still has them.  We have a tree that Michael planted in the front of our house.  It's a Jane Magnolia and watching it grow over the years has been wonderful.  I marvel at it's beauty.  Finding more things like that in life has made the past year much more endurable.  

I will not go out in the snow today unless I absolutely have to.  Even though I find it so naturally beautiful, I also have no desire to leave the warmth of my house to be in it.  That was fun when I was 6 but not 46 LOL  Still, I will take a moment and thank God for letting me be here to witness it this morning.  That is all.

February

 

How is it February already?  It seems like it was just now only Christmas, then Thanksgiving so shortly before that.  My, how time does fly these days.  I'm thinking that is not necessarily a bad thing, given the strangeness of today's day to day existences.  Despite all of life's imposed limitations right now, it's still easy to get lost in what I am doing as far as work goes and not really paying attention to the passage of time.  That is both a blessing and a curse.

Now, I have to ponder what I believe I can accomplish this month....an arduous task, most definitely.  Ironically, I feel the need to continue to slow things down and hem myself in so much.  I am, and always will be, a list person.  I just function better when I write things down and can check them off as they are taken care of.  I have started to not worry so much if my list does not get finished on a daily basis.  There really is no need to stress over not finishing it because I am truly the only one who would know otherwise and I see not reason to beat myself up for that.

I will continue to work around the house, slowly purging the house.  I got off to a good start, then, typical of me, have stalled.  So now I sit in an office surrounded by different mountains of stuff.....just stuff.  I hope I can pick up and keep going as I know that will make me feel better.  If not, it will still be here next month LOL  I want to get more back into my letter writing.  I only wrote a few last month, but I was so exhausted from the Christmas cards in December that I am ok with that LOL  I would also like to get off of my butt and exercise.  It will do both my body and spirit some good.  We shall see!

Well, let's see what February has in store.  I wish you all health and happiness.  And patience so that we may all be together again soon!