There's a current movement among Christian bloggers... writing out the list "What's saving my life right now." It's based on a question posed in a wonderful little book, a memoir called "Leaving Church". Whether it's a list of four things or a list of ten, it's a question certainly worth revisiting throughout the year; maybe even weekly in these cold and gray days of winter."Saving my life" can be interchanged with making me feel alive, so my list is more about what's keeping me feeling alive right now, keeping me engaged, making me happy, giving me a purpose.
For now, the question could even be, "What's getting you through the gray, cold and often stormy winter of 2018?" My answers will change seasonally.
Now I'm not a Christian, (I'm actually Jewish), but I REALLY like this concept and was inspired by all the posts I've read. So here's what's saving MY life right now!
Orange Juice
It's not just for breakfast. I can't seem to get enough orange juice this winter! Driving around, I'll have a bottle of Tropicana instead of a bottle of water (although I like the brand Simply Orange the best.) The fresh squeezed OJ from the Bristol Amish Market is so delicious that on the days they're open, I'll sometimes go get two a day.
Bokeh
I GOT A NEW CAMERA AND I FINALLY HAVE BOKEH!
- Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light".
-Bokeh is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens.
- Bokeh occurs in the parts of the scene that lie outside the depth of field.
- Bokeh is often most visible around background highlights, such as light sources, but bokeh is not limited to highlights; it's the blur that occurs in all out-of-focus regions of the image.
House Plants
I've never been one much for indoor plants, but our ever-growing houseplants are definitely getting me through the winter. They are thriving, and I recently added some air plants to my collection!
Fergie
It has been really cold. We had some weeks back in January where the high temperature was only nine or ten degrees, and that's too cold even for Fergie to stay outside for long, so Richard and I have set time aside to play indoors with her each night. Her favorite game is "Fergie in the Middle", our variation of "Monkey in the Middle"! She is such a well behaved, loyal dog and she stayed right by my side when I had what seemed like the flu earlier in the season. As long as she's with me, and I'm with her, we can get through the doldrums of winter.
Crazy Eights
One of my New Year's resolutions was to do more puzzles, attempt more brain games, and play more cards. I have to say, so far so good! Crazy Eights is by far my favorite card game, as it's a combination of both luck and skill. I've been playing mostly with Richard, but we've also spent a few Sundays playing cards around my sister in law's kitchen table. It's relaxing, it's fun, it makes us all giggle, and it's been a nice bonding experience.
I'll be sure to update you again with what's saving my life right now, as I think it's a great exercise in self-reflection and gratitude, actually. Just for fun... tell me one thing that’s saving YOUR life right now, no matter how big or how small!
