In Thomas Friedman's insightful book, The World is Flat written way back in 2005 with updates in 2006 and 2007, I found these Albert Einstein words of wisdom:
"Out of clutter, find simplicity.
Out of discord, find harmony.
In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity."
and
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
Oh, so true!
Finally beginning to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel of COVID-19, I'm taking a few minutes to commend how things are for me now.
At the beginning of the now-over-a-year-old pandemic, I found it necessary to pull myself in, like so many others, to leave the gym and my almost-daily exercise - mostly on the treadmill, leave Holy Trinity in-person worship and participation in study and charitable groups, pull away from social and family activities, and cease all travel that I so-look-forward-to throughout the year. Those first weeks were life-altering and confusing. I followed the science, Dr. Fauchi became my number one health guru, further alienating me from the presidential administration of Donald Trump. Life suddenly became complicated while at the same time SLOW. My New Year's resolution for 2020 echoed that of 2019: To read as many books as I could and that resolve felt like a positive determination to do something that I thoroughly enjoy to assure positive reinforcement of my precipitous removal from life as I'd known it.
In April last year I was gifted a used treadmill by my friends, Bob and Debbie Buckles, which I immediately put into active use, in my living room, no less. I found it possible to throw on exercise clothes and jump on almost every single day, usually for at least thirty or forty minutes. Being an elderly treadmill, it had a couple of foibles, most noticed by me was the fact that it was forever and unalterably in a position of several degrees of elevation that necessitated my slowing my accustomed pace to accommodate the increased respiratory effort the elevated status required. I looked forward to returning to my Weight Watcher's goal weight of 140 pounds, lickety-split from my then-current weight of 145. [Doesn't sound like much but my experience has been that the last five pounds are the most difficult to shed]. I'd fooled around with Weight Watchers on and off for several years; my most recent success had been over a year before when I set a quite-realistic goal, with input and support from my primary care physician, and reached goal early in 2019.
Self-isolated in my lovely apartment, with faithful Lacy and my rescue kitty, I learned to thoroughly embrace my new life. I talked with relatives and friends on the phone and online, but literally days and weeks went by without so much as an in-person hug. Boy, did I read, 2020 eclipsed my record of 2019, which I'd felt was impressive for me. I have varied reading interests: fiction, non-fiction, health science and medicine, political theory and current national politics, philosophy and religion, economics and investing, world history and world affairs. As the pandemic escalated, plateaued, and escalated again, I continued to maintain my newly-formed lifestyle and found that I actually loved it.
After having passed much of my life in service to marriage, family, and career, I had guilt-free time to simply pass each day not having to impress anyone but myself. Daily showers and makeup application weren't a priority; it was fine to walk the dog without lipstick! I did continue to cook for myself and bake, sharing sweet treats with my immediate neighbors on the condition that they would critique my creations honestly so I could continue to improve my baking skills.
I don't own a television, if it's not on my computer, iPad, or iPhone, I do see it. Neighbors John and Suzanne Koogle gave me access to their Hulu account last summer, which in turn provided me with lots of TV and movie options; that, with Netflix and Amazon Prime and I am set with so many viewing options that I'll never catch up.
So, what's happening now? How is my life working? What do I need? Am I where I want to be?
Well, the treadmill worked, but with all the cooking and baking I am now faced with "pandemic weight gain," which I've recently decided I need to seriously address. For a year I've relatively faithfully maintained good eating habits during the day and then overloaded with sugar-filled treats every night as I finish off the day with dramatic TV series and The Great British Baking Show episodes before turning off the light. Sunday morning Mass is still livestream, in bed in PJs with morning coffee at bedside, followed by Fareed Zakaria's GPS. Normal daily dressing time remains a little before or around noon.
As 2020 progressed into 2021, I continued to gain weight, a little here, a little there, to top out at 155 pounds, unable to fit into about 95% of my clothes. Not venturing out into public I haven't had to worry about what to wear, but life is beginning to get back to some type of normal and I will want to again be able to wear the clothes I already own. So, about six weeks ago I resumed "going" to Weight Watchers with Zoom meetings every Saturday morning, though I can't say the results have been particularly successful up until this week. The Weight Watchers coach who leads the group on Saturdays has been helping us to develop the idea that life is a series of habits, some good and some not. Let's try to make small alterations that encourage little changes that can develop into positive healthy habits promoting and increasingly healthy life, physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually.
I'm not sure who originally said this, but I love it:
If at first you don't succeed, lower your expectations!
And, her's mine:
Baby steps, make baby changes that can become little habits that have the ability to make big improvements
With help from my Zoom Weight Watchers coach, Alicia, I've identified three things I want to change:
1) Increase the amount of water I drink everyday
2) Increase the amount of time I use the treadmill or walk outside everyday
3) Decrease the amount of sweet snacks I consume every night
She suggested that we make little efforts, not giant ones, so I've done these three things:
I've placed a water glass by the kitchen and bathroom sink; each time I stand before the sink, I drink some water, not a certain amount, just some. I don't often feel thirsty, but I want to consume more water regardless.
I get on the treadmill and walk, whether I'm "dressed" for it or not. I'd always thought I had to be in exercise clothes wearing proper footwear; now I exercise in PJs, sandals, whatever I happen to be wearing. Since I perspire I may need to change clothes after, but not before and after!
I can have something sweet whenever I want it, within reason, but after dinner, before bed, I eat only fresh vegetables and / or fruit.
As of today, I have made in onto the treadmill everyday for at least 25 minutes for 10 days in a row and this morning I weigh 148.8 pounds. I'm on my way.
In my third year of New Year's reading resolution, I have no problem; let's see how my little changes will encourage good habits for a healthier and happier physical and emotional life!
Pandiculation: the act of stretching oneself, especially on waking.
Every so often I come upon a new, to me, English vocabulary word that strikes my fancy. Pandiculation is certainly apropos after yesterday's One Poem a Day, in which I was prompted to scrutinize a bit of my childhood activities in comparison with an animal, I chose a domesticated cat. And, heaven knows, cats are masterful in their ability and success at pandiculation!
A little more on the subject of pandiculation from Eyal Lederman, Therapeutic Stretching: Toward a functional approach, 2014:"There's a shared animal and human behavior of "having a stretch" ad yawning called pandiculation. It is often a combination of elongating, shortening and stiffening of muscles throughout the body."
And, this from Leon Gilbert, "The Delights of Sneezing," in the Sidney Morning Herald, July 17, 1949: "I had hoped to deal, here, with two other minor emotional luxuries that have been hitherto hidden in obscurity. They are oscillation (yawning) and pandiculation (stretching) which may be practiced separately or together.
Pandiculation, "stretching (as when waking up), comes to us via French pandiculation, from the latin verb pandiculari "to stretch, grimace." Pandiculari is a derivative of pandere "to spread out, extend."
Pandiculation entered English in the early 17th century.
One moment please . . . while I pandiculate!
Day Three:
Prompt: Consider your best quality and choose an animal to symbolize it. Write a poem celebrating this animal within you.
Hmmm? Jostled this prompt around in my head off and on during the day; the CAT kept popping into my mind.
Here goes:
I'm inquisitive and adventurous, a little like a cat.
As a child . . .
Playing, exploring, adventuring outside
Four-leaf-clover searching
Orchard trail-blazing, traipsing, hiding
Flora and fauna investigating
Camping and stargazing
And, indoors
Saturday matinee - fascination, imagination, and Hershey bar enthrallment
Post-motion picture fantasies with grooming and costuming
Utilizing Mom's assortment of fabrics stored in Dad's military trunk
Mostly brightly patterned and colored chicken-feed sacks
Oh, the exploits I'd have.
Day four prompt: Describe an everyday object in a way that makes it sound compelling, and make it come alive in your poem.
It lies, just waiting, in a small, white tray in my bathroom drawer
Bristles at the ready, rinsed and dry after faithful duty last eve
Such an insignificant necessity for a twice-daily activity
But, oh my, how irritating and uncomfortable when absent.
That long-awaited trip out of town
Oh, I forgot to pack my toothbrush.
I'm miserable, in an all alone, private manner
Not at all valuable to others, not even noticeable
But, to me and almost all-consuming, physical, intellectual, emotional travesty