But guess what?

Wednesday.  Blog day.  When I first started this blog (almost five years ago now!) I was religious about writing one EVERY SINGLE WEEK.  It could be late in the evening but before I could settle down, I would drag myself to the computer and write (type) away. 

I never have a topic in mind, however, if an idea appeals to me, I go ahead and enter it as a potential post.  Right now I have seven topics in the hopper that I will probably write about someday.  But before I get through all seven, I can promise you that I will add more.

It's a routine.  I have an expectation (of myself) to write.  I acknowledge that I enjoy writing and while I have varied the routine of weekly to (usually) every other week, it is still something I know I will do.  Because I like routines, expectations, plans, writing things down ....and the list goes on.

Am I a slave to routine?  The quick answer would be yes.  It is "the chain" that holds my life together.  I love structure.  So how can I accept, even welcome change when it comes?

Hmmm.  Sometimes I am better at it than others.  I like to be open minded and hear different ideas.  As I have gotten older, I am much more gracious about recognizing that I don't always know the right way to go.  And once a change has been accepted and made....guess what?  It becomes my new routine.

By the same token, when life interferes with routine (think broken foot versus Barre 3) after a short period of time, it is easy to forget that routine every existed.  And I know when I get this boot off, I will be harder for me to restart that particular routine.  Mainly because I had made such progress and now it will be starting all over again.

I tell you this because that is what I appreciate about routine.  It can keep you going.  And when you keep going, whether it is exercise, quilting, going to work, attending church.......you see results!

#wearefamily

These past few days Mom and I have been surrounded by sisters,  cousins and aunts (Mom's sisters).  We have been talking, laughing,going on field trips, eating all our meals together and even getting some quilting done.  (this is allegedly the reason for our gathering).   Not my normal routine.  But guess what?

It feels like it now will be.  My sisters and I are scattered across four states and this is the first time (since very early adulthood) we have all spent quality time together with cousins and aunts.  And they live in different states also. But guess what?

This change of routine, this newly forged chain will now keep us together.  In our world of technology, we are all just a phone call (ok, maybe text) away!  True, we always have been...but now we KNOW each other.  My world just got bigger!

Until next time,
#blestbethetiesthatbind
#thechainkeepsusto

gether

your pal,
Kari

Walk (or hobble) on!

It was still dark (as usual) when I was driving in to work and I was almost there, when I saw a HUGE pothole in my lane.  I take the same way every day and it wasn't there yesterday.  Luckily I was able to center the car over it and continue on with no damage.  And then I started to think.

In the big picture, it's not that big of deal

I was thinking about sinkholes (a grown up version of potholes) and how all of a sudden, they open up and consume whatever is in the path.  There have been cars...even houses that fall prey to the widening gaps.   And the equivalent of a sinkhole in the air is an air pocket.  You can be flying along (in a plane, of course) and just like that, you drop into the pocket.  That smooth flight can change on a dime.  While terrifying in the moment, most pilots recover quickly enough.

Thankfully I have never experienced a sinkhole but I still vividly remember a flight I was on around 30 years ago and we hit an air pocket.  It felt like we were free falling straight down (not a nose dive but the entire plane just dropping).  The attendant said "Need I say more?  Fasten your seat belt!"

So then I started to ponder life.  And the most constant thing about life is change.  Sometimes you may hit a rough patch, or plow through a pothole.  You can re-route, but sometimes the detours are more trying than just slowing down.  Slowing down is another option, avoiding the rush through everything as you figure out the best way to go.

Recently, I broke my foot (again) and this has caused me to slow WAY down.  It is a challenge for me because I am very physically active and enjoy always doing SOMETHING.  That generally is not limited to sitting around with my foot up.  My preference has always been to "be in the game" versus cheering from the sidelines.

And then I remembered someone else that has never been a cheerleader.  Madison was 11 and very active in EVERYTHING.  All we did was run from one activity to the next.  Until she broke her leg, which took her out of all activities for about a year.

We were given back all this time.  And we made the most of it!  We went to the grandson's games and watched them.  We shared meals together and entire evenings at home.  And until we were sidelined, we didn't really know what we were missing.

So I have hit a pothole.  Just a routine change, not a life change.  We have all had both.  But I have noticed, that a pothole can turn into a sinkhole, if one is not careful.   The challenge is to find the best way to redirect and be grateful for time given back.

Thankfully, I love to read!  And I dare say I am becoming a bit of a quilter.  Maybe I will write a blog!

Until next time,
#Iwillsurvive


your pal,
Kari