Had some stirrings of spirit in the past few days.
Yesterday was glorious and sunny, but a little chilly – so the briskness woke you up, and then the sunshine uplifted you. I did a big grocery run, and on the list was mint for mint juleps this weekend (Derby Day!). Rather than pay the $5.99 for a sad packet of mint leaves from the grocery store, I wanted to buy a mint plant that could give us minty goodness for the whole summer season.
I went to an Agway I pass on the way home from the grocery store, and bought my mint plants (3 small seedlings – going to put them all in a planter and start a kitchen garden of herbs on our deck)…and while I was there, I bought a hanging basket of pansies. I kind of became smitten with pansies when doing the Easter Flowers for my church last month – I saw them starting to bloom at the greenhouse, and they just looked so colorful and dear, with their smooshed surface and bright designs.
I hung up the pansies, and set out the mint, and – there – spirit. I was content in the moment, and eagerly anticipating the future, with these plants.
Then today, it’s a drizzly cold rainy day. I’m working from home (Isaac threw up last night, so we kept him home just in case it’s a bug and not I-ate-a-whole-container-of-raisins-because-autism), and I’m wearing an oversized button-up sweater. I just heated up some beef broth leftover from making beef stew (with leftover brisket, and I tell you what, YUM) and the salty warmth and beefy flavor is just so comforting and good. I trend anemic, and I’m always amazed at how satisfying eating iron-rich foods is for me. (Not just beef/red meat, although let’s be honest, it’s the tastiest way…).
I tipped my bowl and drank the warm broth and – there – spirit. Appreciating the flavor of the sip, and feeling ready to continue with my day.
There’s hope, I’m saying. I won’t be lost forever.
I took an online quiz yesterday (because why not) and one of the questions was “who’s your top priority?”. The options were MYSELF, MY SPOUSE, FAMILY, WORK, OTHER. And I went, “huh”, because let’s be honest, my priority right now is myself. Get myself out of this funk, get myself right again, me, me, me. I think this is okay, in a put your own oxygen mask on first so you can help others kind of way. But still…not fun to select MYSELF. Dude.