B I N G O

Below is a true story. All of the names have been changed.

My work day started as I began to listen to my boss’s recording. I took dictation and the earplugs were all set to go. I turned on the machine and heard “Joe” say, “Take a letter. B I N G O.” I took out the earplugs and quietly laughed. Joe was always very serious and professional, especially with any recordings he made. Intrigued, I listened further. I could hear his children in the background as he continued to record nonsensical information, which was not the norm. I put the dictation aside and discovered a little later that Joe was walking towards me with an empty glass. He had an entourage. He said, “Get me water from the good fountain.” I looked at the assistant seated next to me and said, “The good fountain? Is there something I need to know?” As the day unfolded, I learned that Joe was having a nervous breakdown. He was whisked away to a nearby mental facility where he stayed for three weeks. The firm I worked for in the 90s had 4 floors filled with the brightest and smartest attorneys. They were mostly white conservative males. Joe was no exception. He had always been kind and professional to the staff and his colleagues. He had an excellent reputation, and it was an honor to work for him. I talked with Joe’s wife who sounded like she was trying to keep herself together while caring for Joe. I walked around the hallway and heard one of his younger colleagues shout into the phone, “They just took Joe to the mental hospital!” I closed “Sean’s” door. I did not close it gently. Joe deserved the respect that he had always shown others. He stayed at the hospital and received the help he needed. I learned he was bipolar. The first day he came back to work, he looked a bit like a fish out of water. As the days and months went on, Joe conquered any stigmas that mental illness may have had. As the years went on, he became managing partner of the very large, very successful law firm. He could have given up, but he chose to move forward. In doing so, he helped all of us follow his lead.

“Joe” died a few years ago from cancer.

Photo by Bogdan R. Anton on Pexels.com

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Five Benefits of Yoga

If you struggle with your weight, it might not occur to you that yoga could be of help. The thought of putting on tight leggings and stretching your body might send you running the other way, but there are benefits you may not have considered. I have listed five benefits below.

1. Finding a routine of low-impact yoga stretches is not only good for your body but is also good for your mind. Waking up every morning with a goal, however small, is good for your mental health.
2. Listening to instrumental yoga music is beneficial as you meditate on becoming more healthy and taking care of yourself.
3. There is no competition in yoga. The theme of “go at your own pace” is often encouraged.
4. You will gain muscle strength and tone over time.
5. You will also gain flexibility and lose weight.

Since I have multiple sclerosis, I decided to get rid of my super thin yoga mat and found a mat on Amazon that I absolutely love. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087RBKLJ5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also have a small rock that has the letters B R E A T H E on it. A simple reminder that all I have to do during my yoga hour is to concentrate on me and breathe. I do not have to solve the world’s problems. I am not in competition with anyone in the room. I can close my eyes, stretch into the pose and just breathe.

Yoga is a good place to simply be.

Photo by Li Sun on Pexels.com

What are you running towards?

I’m a big fan of Brene Brown. I was listening to a recent podcast, and she asked the above question more than once. It helped validate my feelings. I have been running towards a healthier, happier life for a very long time. I’ve been happier than I’ve ever been the last ten years. It took work. It took a divorce which was very, very unhappy in the beginning, but that divorce led me down a path or two, many wrong turns and finally happiness. I hope my ex-husband is happier, too.

Now, for the healthier part. I will be focusing on losing weight and exercising, so if you’re running towards something, also, please subscribe to my blog and we will run together.

Amidst the Storm

It is good to be alone at times, but when you know a storm is coming, there is safety in numbers.  Especially, if those numbers are on your side, and you know the storm will be hitting them, too.

On a very blustery day, I was sitting on the front porch of my sister’s beautiful home. I was alone, I thought.  I noticed a nearby tree with very thin limbs and some small objects on them.  As I looked closer, I could see that the small objects were little birds clinging to the tree limbs for dear life!

When the winds came, the birds did not move.  Their claws dug in deeper, and they stayed together.  There was no arguing amidst the group; they were partners.  They had resolve. They did not know if the storm might destroy everything around them. There must have been some innate voice that said, “Stay with your friends.  They have your back.”

I love the beauty of tall trees, but on this particular day, I loved the beauty of the bird family sticking together even more.

Partners

Dogs and Smiles

There is a wonderful pet adoption program that I’ve been able to be a part of.  It’s called appropriately, “Love on Wheels”.

It turns out that there are some places in the northern states of the U.S. that have a shortage of pets.  In Texas, we have plenty!! Someone, I think it was Stacy, came up with the idea of saving the rescues in Texas and sending them to deserving folks in New York.

I had the pleasure of fostering two of the dogs in the early stages of the program. They are such a delight. Usually the first couple of days, the dogs seem very sad, but by the third day, they begin to perk up. By the time they make it to New York, their tails are wagging.  You can see a big smile at the 1:37 and also, the 1:54 mark of the youtube video below. That was one of my fosters, Smokey. She was the cutest dog and made me so happy in such a short amount of time.  I cried when she left, but, as you can see, she is in good hands and that makes me even happier!

I smile every time I see the new group headed to New York.  Happy tales to all of you precious puppies.