How many of us start to look at our lives and come up lacking in some way, especially around our birthday, or the beginning of the year. We make goals, or resolutions….sometimes we actually keep them.
This year is no exception for me. I knew I was getting close to my birthday because I started looking in the mirror with a more critical eye…humm, not as young as I used to be. Heck, I don’t even think I look as young as I did last year at this time. Gained a few pounds, more gray hair, a few more wrinkles, and these little dark patches on my face…could they be *gasp* age spots? {shudder} Yes, my illnesses over the past couple of years have worn me out.
I’m already trying to lose weight, 6 pounds so far! Now if I can just keep it up. I’m also trying to get some more exercise, that hasn’t been going as well as I’d like, I get dizzy every time I exercise. Hopefully, that won’t be the case much longer!
I thought about coloring my hair, but do I really want to put those chemicals on my hair. I finally got to the point where I think all of my hair is naturally my color. Yes, some of it is gray…but it’s me. I’ve always liked my cool gray streak on the left side, right in the front, but now it’s on the right side too. I don’t think I’m looking cool any more, just old. I’m thinking of putting a natural rinse on it to make it a little shinier, a little browner, and possibly make the gray look more like highlights. It should just wash out. If I decide to go this route, I promise I’ll post pictures.
For the wrinkles and dark spots (I will NOT call them AGE SPOTS!), I’ll use a bit more moisturizer, and perhaps some lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide applied to the spots will help lighten them. We’ll see. The hubby pointed out that there was a Groupon for a Chemical Peel. Ewww. I told him I was not vain enough to hurt for it! (I don’t really think he understands what a chemical peel is.) I can’t tell you why, but I got so tickled when I told him I wasn’t vain enough to hurt for it, I mean I just laughed and laughed. Stuart thinks it’s very amusing how I crack myself up sometimes.
I’m thinking I will go out and buy me a new outfit. Something that fits better, that makes me look more put together. In other words, not the over sized T-shirts and shorts I’ve been wearing.
I’ve also decided on joining a group on another blog Ton-Fifty-ONE is going to be having a workshop covering the book The Artist’s Way, by Julie Cameron. The workshop is 12 weeks long, and will start on July 4th. Just 2 days after my birthday, how fitting. I’ve owned this book for years, and I’ve tried to go through the process more than once, but I guess I’m either not good at following through something like this without a little push, or perhaps it was made me confront too many issues? I don’t know, but I’m willing to try it again, and I’m sure that with the push that a group will give me, I can do it this time. Just 12 weeks…3 months…to “discovering and recovering my creative self”. If anyone wants to join me on this journey please come along. I know I can use all the motivation I can get!
My creativity got bogged down by my chronic illnesses. My biggest goal this year is to use my creativity to help me with my illnesses. Help express myself… The words are failing me, I can’t seem to get out what I want to say. I guess I’m trying to say, I believe in art therapy….and so much more.
Picnic with Ants 
Happy unbirthday to you (in advance of your birthday). I look forward to reading of your journey toward creativity. I think it’s a wonderful idea to use your creativity to help with your illness. I’m sure you will find a way to express your feelings/emotions through art. As you say, being part of a group following the same path should help with the motivation.
There are henna rinses that are all natural, and can add a touch of shimmer, or cover the grey (deep conditioning as my friend calls it). I started getting grey hair when I was 14. No streaks (mom went salt and pepper, dad went white), just chunks. But each grey hair means a hair has grown back in (I’ve had a few “sheds” lately). And my grey hair is curlier!
I colo(u)red my hair even before all the grey; I could choose a colo(u)r I liked rather than my plain old shoeleather brown.
As I will probably forget when the appropriate time comes, Happy B’day to you! Wishing you a year full of rainbows, butterflies, daises, and dreams come true.
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Phylor, Oh what wonderful birthday wishes! *big smiles and giggles* I got my steak pretty early, but I liked it. It was small at at first, I even made it a much larger blond streak for a while. hehe. One time I made it bright pink! I used to color my hair redder, or just played around with it, but I’m way too lazy to keep it up, and I’ve become a much more “natural girl”. : ) I have used henna before. And I may do it again. But I was reading about a coffee rinse I could do..and I’m thinking about trying that. Oh who knows what I’ll do. I’ve been known to be pretty spur of the moment when it comes to my hair. thank you again for the lovely birthday wishes. I hope I can keep the creativity alive. wendy
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I have that book, too! I’ve also never gone through the whole thing. I hope doing it with a group is more fruitful. *big hug*
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Hey Vincent, You can do it with me! : ) *BIG HUG* back at ya! w
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Happy Birthday!
Have a wonderful day and go ahead and treat yourself. You deserve it!
I did a quick look at the website. I hope you enjoy it and it sparks some wonderful and healing creativity.
Maureen
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happy birthday! i’ve got the right day!! yay!! hope it’s wonderful!! we’re going in a bit to celebrate my day’s b-day as it’s today as well.
~nicki
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Nicki,
Thank you so much!!! I hope your father had a wonderful birthday!!
I love it when people share my birthday, I don’t know why, I just think it’s kinda special.
w
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Hope your birthday was a fun day!
So many of your current sensations are what I deal with on a daily basis. We truely are kindred spirits!! I just hope and pray that you have sprung a leak and Linda can plug you up and you’ll be good to go for another year or two! Wish I could spring a leak. It would make my life so much better!!
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Oh Linda, I’m wish you could spring a little leak too. We may be kindred spirits, but that part of us is completely flip-floped huh? Your pressure too high, mine too low. *we’d make a great person if we could put the two of us together*
I used to suffer from those symptoms all the time too. But it has been so much better, that now it’s annoying. Well, the hearing has never dropped and not come back for this long. This is a bit strange. But not as bad as it used to be so I feel like I shouldn’t complain too much.
Crossing my fingers about Thursday.
How are you doing?
w
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My symptoms are slowing coming back. The meds seem to be holding them off a little.
I too am finally back on the weight loss trail. I need to try to lose as much as I can before I have the shunt, if I do it. I’ll tell you, having a chronic illness is such a challenge. Not a day goes by when I’m not reminded. I’m sure you find the same. If I don’t get much exercise during a day, I have to cut back more on what I eat or I can gain weight. If I can stay moving, doing things, I’ll burn more calories and can eat more “normal” meals. Yesterday I put up 20 pints of zucchini and yellow crooked neck squash. Today I slept til 10.
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Wow! your garden is really producing. I can say, our garden has been a learning experience…learning what not to do. : )
I’ve been sleeping a LOT. Way too much today. All I want to do is sleep, it’s kind of worrying me.
Got off the weight loss wagon…quite a bit this past week. Think I may have gained back all I lost. *sigh*
I’ve realized just how very much I HATE this Fructose Intolerance. I feel like my body has completely betrayed me.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed with it all.
Tomorrow is another day.
w
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