Instead of Counting Sheep or Stars…

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1. What are florins, tanners, and bobs?
   Hairstyles
2. What is Dead Man’s Fingers?
   Burnt baked goods shaped like fingers
3. What killed the Triffids?
   Still under investigation
4. What’s the difference between a buck and a quid?
   One will be decommissioned sooner
5. How much is an old crown worth?
   Depends on the number of scratches on it
6. What can be known as a ‘Little Gem’?
   Bite-sized chocolates
7. What is pearl barley?
   Ball-shaped barley painted to look like pearl.
8. Finish the sentence: ‘I came, I saw, I………………..’ ‘grammed, or else it didn’t happen.
9. Who said ‘Smile, it enhances your face value’?
   The dentist talking to your inner voice to justify all that money you’re paying him.
10. Where on the human body is the zygomatic bone found?
    Depends where you do your thinking

In response to Fibbing Friday 29th January

Self-Care: How It Was and How It’s Going

I came across this little questionnaire by jaquintinwriter and scored really low. Now, I’ve never really been high maintenance or the girly girl type but…5 out of 20? And this would have been a pre-pandemic score. I made a quick review of my self-care habits just to check if I still feel good about my habits lately.

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How It Was (pre-pandemic):

• Almost daily exercise
• Weekly Me time mostly consisting of meditation, reading, going for or making myself a nice meal
• Some regular monthly pampering i.e. mani or pedicure, massage
• Occasional pampering i.e. hair treatment, facial or some personal shopping
• Annual medical/physical/dental checkup or treatment as needed.

How It’s Going:

• Weekly exercise (mostly nature walks instead of gym) + Healthy eating (mostly home-cooked)
• Me time still there (+writing or art when I’m feeling extra)
• Monthly pampering scrapped – I still do not feel safe visiting a salon or spa.
• Occasional pampering still there but more DIY/at-home, personal shopping at a minimum or barely happening (the latter mainly because I’m going for zero to less waste since mid-2020)
• Annual physical and dental skipped last year (OVERDUE, so will probably try the mobile center options).

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Photo by Shiny Diamond on Pexels.com

Photo by Polina Kovaleva on Pexels.com

My self-care habits now look very different, even more minimal and cost so much less, but a lot more mindful. Actually, this mindfulness spills over to almost all areas of my life now. Rare are the days when I’m running on autopilot. I still struggle a bit with consistency but motivation comes easier now, a lot lighter on my feet compared to last year.

What does self-care look like for you these days?

SYW: Still Sharing in 2021

Share Your World is a fun weekly Q&A hosted by Melanie. You can find out more and join in by clicking on the link below.
https://sparksfromacombustiblemind.com/2021/01/25/share-your-world-1-25-2021/

QUESTIONS:

Is it necessary to trust someone you like?  (friends, acquaintances or co-workers with whom you have no familial ties)
Not necessarily. A person can be trustworthy whether or not I like him/her.

Do you hold grudges?   What do you do when someone really irritates you?
I used to when I was younger. Now I’ve learned (still learning) to not take most things too personally, as each person has his own struggles/issues to work on. What I do depends on my relationship with the one who irritated me; if we’re close or the situation calls for it, I’d express my thoughts, otherwise I’d keep it to myself unless asked.

What’s the most sensible thing you’ve heard someone say?
Try everything.

Is crying a sign of weakness or strength in adults?
Not at all, unless it’s a medical condition. The emotion-releasing kind, at least for me, is a sign of vulnerability and authenticity, which is a strength in my book.

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GRATITUDE SECTION  (Always Optional)

What small things were you grateful for this week?

I just got back from a refreshing month-long stay in the countryside. I wrote more about it here.

First Hopeful Post in 2021 #weeklysmile

It’s been almost a week since I got back from an extended stay in a small town surrounded by great, seemingly untouched mountains just a few hours away from the city. It was a much needed ‘retreat’, digital detox and all, and a spontaneous decision after an out-of-town trip during Christmas. Within this ‘time-out’, husband and I found a secret beach, ate good, wholesome food (I caught on late, air fryers are such game-changers!) and visited a few historical sites from our weekly exploration of this small town and surrounding areas. It was easier to safely distance physically in a small town surprisingly outside the radar of holidaying tourists. With refreshed minds and worries left behind, we also managed to start a few passion projects and even get short-listed for a startup grant by a venture capitalist. Nothing is set in stone but just having a few things to look forward to and learn in the process are welcome opportunities, especially after a wearying 2020. Entering a new year with some good news helped achieve a new year ‘high’, however fleeting, and flex some of those ‘hope’ muscles. I’ve decided to not make any big 2021 plans and just take it one day at a time. I only plan to not take any blessing or opportunity for granted, make the most of my time and take care of myself and my people, and hopefully have more than enough to help others around me.

How about you? I hope you’ve had some good news or encouragement this new year💜

These trees hid the secret beach we found a few weeks ago.

I had a view of this mountain from the balcony of our temporary home over the holidays.

A quaint cafe in the courtyard of a museum we visited one weekend.

A garden cafe in the middle of nowhere.

One of the oldest cathedrals in a UNESCO Heritage Village the country.

Inside the cathedral.