Some days be like, I don’t really need to eat, I just wanna use the air fryer.
A Non-Essential Skill
SYW: On Funny Things, Eating Off The Floor, Cats Hating Wind and Bernie Sanders
I’m taking a break from a slew of meet-ups on Podfest 2021 (more on this in a later post) by joining Melanie’s weekly Share Your World. Here goes:
Have you ever ‘butt dialed” someone? (‘butt dialed’ means have you ever made a phone call that you weren’t aware of making, because the buttons on the phone got pushed by your sitting on them (in your pocket) OR having something in your handbag press against them?)
I don’t think I have, mainly because I lock my phone automatically and when not in use and almost never put it in my pocket😉.
If you were given 1000 acres of land, what would you do with it?
Hmm..Depends on location. If it’s a good one outside the city, ideally near a mountain or beach, I’d probably take it upon myself to develop a portion of the land into one of those self-sustaining eco villages or co-housing, with lots of green spaces, play areas/parks, food gardens, the works. Biophilic design all throughout. Then donate some of that land to a cause/non-profit organization close to my heart. Ahhh, a girl can dream, right?
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen on-line recently?
I don’t normally watch cat videos, but this one in a travel group in facebook posted about her cat making faces at the beach, making clear how much she hates the wind. Prior to that, that Bernie Sanders crochet doll was cute, and the fact that it was turned into a fundraiser was adorable. Also that website placing Bernie Sanders anywhere in the world was hilarious.
Have you ever eaten something off the floor? ‘5 second’ rule applies or not (the ‘5 second rule’ is that if you pick up the dropped food within a set time frame, it’s still ‘clean’ and you can safely eat it)?
I know I have at least once lol.
GRATITUDE SECTION (always optional)
Feel free to share your gratitude with everyone in the form of a quote, a thought or an image.
“Happiness is there for the taking—and the making.”—Oprah
“The key to being happy is knowing you have the power to choose what to accept and what to let go.”—Dodinsky (Isn’t he talking about Serenity here?)
Brewing Something #PepperDay
Saw this Pepper Day linkup and thought Perfect! This blog needs waking up! I usually accompany that (this blog has had a few wake up calls lol) with trying out something new. Launching a few projects within the week and needless to say, I’m excited how it’ll turn out. Figured I needed to do something to divert my attention from the news and current events that pull me down from prolonged exposure and re-channel my energy to more productive pursuits. I also don’t want to feel helpless with all that’s going on and so the projects are my way of helping out while learning something new, in the process. Wish me luck!
Join the Inlinkz link party here before it ends (in 15 hours!).
FOTD on CNY + VDay + Roadtrip
Whether you’re part of a pair or going solo, give yourself some love today. Better yet, have a daily dose of self-lovin’. Don’t be afraid to receive it, or freely give some of it. The world will be a better place with all kinds of love in it.
FOTD
Aside from its attractive color, this particular flower in full bloom was bigger than my cupped hands. I remember using its nectar to make bubbles when I was a kid.
Instead of Counting Sheep or Stars…
- What are florins, tanners, and bobs?
Hairstyles - What is Dead Man’s Fingers?
Burnt baked goods shaped like fingers - What killed the Triffids?
Still under investigation - What’s the difference between a buck and a quid?
One will be decommissioned sooner - How much is an old crown worth?
Depends on the number of scratches on it - What can be known as a ‘Little Gem’?
Bite-sized chocolates - What is pearl barley?
Ball-shaped barley painted to look like pearl. - Finish the sentence: ‘I came, I saw, I………………..’ ‘grammed, or else it didn’t happen.
- Who said ‘Smile, it enhances your face value’?
The dentist talking to your inner voice to justify all that money you’re paying him. - 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.
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).
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.
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💜
A Time and Place for Lists
This week felt like a turtle crawl in a bit of a haze. Mid-week I was actually surprised it’s not yet the 2nd week of December. Usually, I make a mental note of things to accomplish in a week (on paper if there’s a lot), a grocery list of things that have run out prior to the scheduled grocery trip and then semi-plan something else to do or find someplace to go. I limit list-making to these now but I used to be big on lists.
One list I started recently that I’m actually excited about is the list of ideas that come to me anytime of the day. I don’t filter anything yet, but maybe when it gets too long I can start hacking at it. Right now it’s a bunch of things I want to learn, some projects I can tackle this year and next. It’s a good exercise and I highly recommend it.
These days I’m also spending more time in the university of youtube and academy of podcasts for learning or entertainment. I still love reading (long-form on good days or listicles/list posts on lazier days) a few times a day, but warming up to other styles of learning (aural/linguistic) other than my usual visual, solitary or kinesthetic approach.
What’s your preferred style of learning?
This post is part of #SoCS.
bernmusings 