I need a vacation. I need to win the lottery, so I can take a vacation. First I need to buy a ticket. That would be a good starting point. It’s January and I’m deep in the winter doldrums for some reason this year. It’s been cold and dreary, a typical Pacific Northwest winter and I long for white sandy beaches, aquamarine water and endless wine. I know, what a whiner, right?
I feel scattered, unsettled, kind of lost. I’m not depressed or anything, I just need a change, though I’m not sure what kind of change. I need a new focus, something that keeps me intrigued, something demanding of total focus and energy. A new challenge that is attainable, not such a challenge I would give up and accept defeat. That means rock climbing and skydiving are out, totally afraid of heights. Ballet is also out, no grace and that is not something I will ever learn. I guess walking on a high wire would be out too, (no grace and fear of heights) a double whammy.
So, what can I do and what are my interests? Wine, dogs, photography, gardening, hiking, to name a few. Writing, but of late I’ve not been writing either. I’ve been avoiding even looking at my blog sites. I’ve haven’t even done a mediocre job of reading other blogs that I follow. For that I apologize. My fellow bloggers give me many reasons to smile, and I haven’t been giving you your due.
But I decided to sit down and write a somewhat rambling piece that though is far from my best work, it has been a bit cathartic. It hasn’t cured my doldrums or given me any epiphanies, it’s something of a journal I guess, but at least I’m writing again. Maybe I just need an adventure to get me writing again. Or a really great bottle of wine to drink, then take the dogs on a walk.
A woman's view of hunting...with men 
I’m 74 years old and have been doing a lot of reflecting as I’ve gotten older about my life and the lives of all the other people I’ve known. Whether I’ve ever done anything of value…… whether anyone I knew ever did. As a person who has experienced a lot of adventure, sex, ambition in careers, strong opinions …. I think I can say in all honesty I’ve never done anything to make the world a better place and I don’t know anyone who has. Don’t even know of anyone I’ve never met, but read about, who actually has. I conclude life must be about things a lot closer to home than we normally think. About treating those dogs with responsibility and love. The joy of curling up with them, of treating the people around you with respect, even when they aren’t worthy of it. Of forgiving everything, first yourself, then everyone around you. And wallowing in the joy of what-ever-the-hell you are blessed with. Life can’t possibly be about what we don’t have, what we don’t do ourselves, what anyone else thinks, does, wants, or even wants for us.
Just my take on it all.
We do tend to be harder on ourselves don’t we?
I try to be equally hard on the rest of humanity.
Ugh, winter doldrums. Maybe some sort of blogging challenge?
That sounds like an interesting thought, any suggestions?
Perhaps a weekly post on a hike? It would get you out of the house and exploring the area, plus be something I would definitely be interested in.
That is something I could do, not all would be great ones but I would be getting out maybe discovering new places. Great idea!
I think posting the not-so-great ones works well – people like to see that things aren’t always perfect. At least, I like to see that – and I know people always enjoy the outtakes from my attempts to get Choppy and Schooner to pose.
That is so true. The “not so great” moments are sometimes more fun and definitely more memorable.
I’ve been doing the same thing for months. Health issues, work pressures, uncertainty. And I do have depression which is rearing it’s ugly black head again (see all of the above). Two weeks ago I wanted to draw, and found my beloved Brushes app is no more. Along with all my previous work. Ow.
This week I started to write. It’s rambling and badly composed, but just starting felt good.
That and having himself sick didn’t help, did it? We’ll have to schedule a late night call sometime to make each other laugh.
I’d be so up for that. Send me a FB message maybe? I’m always on if I’m awake.
I feel the same.
Hi Susan,
Just as you left us a couple of ‘likes’, my new cleaner had deleted your profile forom our lists due to no activity over the last months. (I’m sorry!) I’ve repaired the damage in our day-to-day monitoring, but if you want to be a ‘follower’, I’m afraid you’ll have to re-enlist?! The consolation being that it’s a free service that will cosat you nothing but time! However, if you want to remain a ‘follower’ over time, you’ll need to drop in on us at least once a month. During the season we usually publish something at least 2-3 times a week, so you will be reminded – as a ‘follower’, that is! Writing tese words – you’re not! 🙂
And if you leave us a comment, we’ll get you mail address (Iwhich will make it a bit easier to avoid something like this!)
I understand completely and this winter I have been lax in posting and checking others out. I have been hibernating it seems. I promise to try and get back in the flow more.
I’ve re-enstated you but upon checking I can’t find you listed as a follower yet? Or has the cleaner gotten hold you again before I could grab you?