Slooooow Dooooown!

I took a day for myself Monday.
One advantage to being a part time teacher is that I only work
Tuesday - Thursday.
I heard there was a sloth at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and
took advantage of another teacher perk -
free entry into the museum with my badge.
The rainforest exhibit leaves next weekend
along with the sloth that was visiting.
His name is

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Attempt...

Before Covid, author visits to schools in my district were quite common. Once the shut down occurred, I didn’t get to go visit other schools. My first visit in three years happened last year around this time. I was excited to get back out there but…

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Can you go back?

This summer, my family was able to take a trip to Europe.
We went back to some countries I had visited as a 17 year old on a high school music tour. (playing the oboe has its advantages).
When it was time to leave, I felt a great loss.
Instead of being grateful for my time there…

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Simple

I turned 50 this week.

5-0.

Divide by 2 and I’m 25. Sounds really good!

Multiply by 2 and I’m... nevermind.

Ack!

I think I’ll stick with 50.

I’ve been hiking lots of miles this year - 100 to be exact. Something happened when I went to bed Monday night after turning the actual age I’d been celebrating all year. I felt suddenly like I’d arrived. I felt a legitimacy as an adult that I hadn’t before. I think in our heads we’ll always feel that we’re still the same age as when in high school or college.  But, I felt a weird maturity come over me that felt…well…mature.

And I’ve decided that going forward I need to try to keep things simple.

One word.

Yet so complicated.

How do we simplify when the world around us is in chaos?

Today I decided to cancel my activities and sit at home by a lit tree and write.

It was a very difficult decision to make. I've been listening to a lot of people say that this time of year is “the great multiplier." If you’ve had a joy-filled year, this season will explode with joy. If you’ve had a tough year, this season will feel even tougher. If you’ve had a busy year - this month’s schedule is going to knock that calendar right off the wall. So what if we choose to multiply our peace instead of our age? (Why would anyone but me do that anyway?)

Choose to cancel an extra activity - even a good one.

Do something that fills you with joy.

Reach out to someone you haven’t connected with in awhile just to say hi?

Today my body will know that I chose to rest.

I could have gone out and bought a fancy coffee drink.

I made tea.

I could have run errands and bought extra little gifts for others.

I caught up with a friend via phone.

I could have gone to a meeting.

I took a mental health day.

I could have cleaned the house.

I read a book.

You could do a million things today…

What will you try to keep it simple?