Winter is a season of resting. With less daylight and colder temperatures it's a good time to slow things down. Rest is an essential self-care practice that we sometimes forget. If we don't rest, we will eventually get forced to rest.
House hunting was more fun when we first started looking. While it can still be fun, searching for a house is also tiring and, at times, disappointing.
Reflecting on the past year, I would describe 2023 as a “Year of Firsts.” Mostly related to my hobbies, there were things I tried or achieved for the first time. Whether they were bike riding events, traveling to new locations, or just trying new eateries (like a revolving sushi restaurant), I am glad to have experienced these things.
Sometimes someone or something about them gets to me. It may be a character flaw, something negative I perceive about them through social media, an incident that may have offended me, or possibly even jealousy. Or maybe others' shortcomings remind me of my own. Whatever the reason for my annoyance, I don't want to waste my energy hating on someone. As much as I'd like to not care about someone else's personality or behavior, it's not always easy to ignore. Not wanting to be a hater, I thought of an exercise in finding the good in people. Seeing the good in someone helps me from being too critical.
As much as I love bicycle riding, I wasn't looking forward to a 46-mile ride that my husband and I signed up for over the summer. The distance, while it would be the farthest ride to date, didn't bother me, but the idea of climbing hills did. Dreading the four climbs on the route wasn't helpful, so I thought of ways to prepare for this ride and improve my outlook.