RE-CHARGING our PERSONAL BATTERIES!!!

No,  I'm not talking about batteries (such as the ones in our car,  or the ones in our homes which operate certain things --such as our cellphones)....   I am talking about our LIVES.  How do you (and I) take time out from our busy lives to 're-charge our batteries'??????

Since we are starting a brand new year,  I thought it would be a good time to think about our lives (YES---even those of us who are retired can be very busy)  and find ways to 'unplug' from some of the craziness at times...

My sons (in their 40's) stay SO busy and the stress can be great... I used to be the same way when I was raising kids alone,  working fulltime,  working on my Master's Degree, etc. etc. etc.  Life wasn't always easy --but I just had to keep on keeping on!  But --even back then,  it was important to 'unplug' at times..

NOTE:  All illustrations today come from the internet,  and the article is by Danielle Zeigler, and the link is HERE.   Danielle gave 27 ways to re-charge --but I won't talk about all of them.  IF you want more info,  be sure to click on the link.

One of the ones that really jumps out at me these days is to "UNPLUG OUR DEVICES".  We humans can't seem to do much of anything these days without our fancy devices... We stay totally plugged in  24/7...  Do you DARE turn off those devices for an hour or so each day --or LONGER ??????

While unplugging,   do something that makes you happy... Maybe you love to COOK --and can  make a fantastically delicious dinner.  OR--maybe you want to READ that book on your night-stand --which you have never done...  OR---why don't you LIGHT SOME CANDLES and take a leisurely Bubble-BATH????  There is so much you can do simply AFTER turning off those devices!

Another way to re-charge is to MAKE time just for yourself....It's never easy when we feel as if the entire world is counting on us for everything...  We love feeling needed ---and many times,  we give and give and give of ourselves until the well is dry!

One way I re-charge (both George and me) is to get out most every day (no matter what else is going on ) and take a walk.  Just GETTING OUT IN NATURE is SO refreshing ---and makes us feel good all over.  Even if you can't walk,  just get outside some --and smell that air!!!!

Another thing you can do is to VOLUNTEER somewhere --especially if you are lonely, or feeling sorry for yourself.  I worked with lots of volunteers when I worked in the church for many years.  We couldn't have existed without those wonderful volunteers.

Another way to 're-charge' is to PLAN something upcoming.  It may be a trip to see family far away,  or maybe a special vacation to an area where you haven't been.  Doing some planning will make you feel MUCH better.

One of my favorite things to do is to sit in my recliner,  drinking a cup of hot tea or coffee,  enjoying a fire in the fireplace on a cold, winter day,  and watching my little birdies come and have a feast at the Bird Kitchen....

Another option would be to TRY SOMETHING NEW.   Maybe there is something you have never done --but want to try it... For instance,  take a paining class if you are interested... Step out of that comfortable box and do something new and different.

Keep that LIGHT shining within you all of the time... It's good for you and good for those around you.  Can you recognize it when your light gets DIM?  I hope so --since many people just ignore their 'lights' ---and keep on pushing-pushing-pushing....

One way to get that light shining again is to PLANT A GARDEN... We do that -and there's so much joy in seeing plants grow that YOU have planted!

Want to really make your light 'shine'??????  Then CLEAN OUT A CLOSET or get rid of the CLUTTER around you.... That will help SO MUCH.

Another way to 'unplug' and re-charge is to take a trip... And make it a RELAXING trip --where you aren't going from place to place and staying extremely busy.  BUT--make it a trip like we take twice a year.  One of our 'relaxing' trips is to the BEACH---where we can truly relax and be as lazy as we want to.  Another relaxing trip is our annual trip to Arkansas --where we enjoy life on the top of Mt. Nebo...

LISTEN to MUSIC...  That always help me to feel better when I am stressed or feel overwhelmed...  OR--if you are married or have a special person in your life,  enjoy a DATE NIGHT.  

You have heard of  "Unplug the Christmas Machine"..... WELL--how about unplugging yourself ---and re-charging your batteries!   I am writing this for ME as much as I am writing it for YOU.... Just DO IT.    AND--check our Danielle's list to see more... You might even add some to this list for others to read. 

Check out my other blog,  Betsy's Photo Blog,  today.  Click HERE.

Hugs,

A Tennessee SNOW --Jan 22-23, 2016

Oh --how I LOVE LOVE LOVE snow!!!!  (1/22/16)

Well---you must know that this ole 'snow-loving' lady would certainly have a blog post about our Tennessee Snow this past weekend...  OF COURSE!!!! ha ha ...  First of all,  apologies to all of you up north who have experienced WAY too much snow from this system--and to all of you who have MUCH more snow that we ever get.... BUT--to me SIX INCHES is just perfect....

Here in Tennessee,  we don't get a lot of snow,  and the one we just had is one of the prettiest ones (clinging to all of the shrubs/trees/bushes) we have had in a few years... I remember some heavier snows here when we first moved here about 2003...  BUT--the past several years,  we just haven't had much,  to MY disappointment.

This past week,  we had about 2 inches of snow on Wednesday.  Then on Thursday,  the temperatures warmed up and we had RAIN.... Then on Friday night--we had LOTS of RAIN,  then SLEET and then SNOW... It snowed here on Friday afternoon--and continued all day on Saturday (off and on)...   BUT--it was bitter cold with a stiff wind on Saturday... SO--since I had had dental surgery last week,  other than to take some pictures and feed my birdies,  I stayed inside.

Sit back and enjoy the pictures --knowing that you can enjoy seeing snow from the warmth of your home... Grab a cup of hot tea,  hot chocolate or coffee!!!!!  Some of the pictures were on the 22nd as the storm was getting started, and some were from the 23rd....

I love the little red berries on this snowy bush (1/22/16)

The snow was really coming down at this time, and just getting started.  (1/22/16)

I love snows that cling to the trees/bushes/shrubs... (1/22/16)

Our TINY little SNOWMAN (accidentally created when we were cleaning snow from the deck)  1/22/16

Want to come and sit with me on our BENCH in the front yard?????  Brrrrrrrr.... (1/22/16)

Here's a close-up of the snow hanging onto each branch.. (Glad it wasn't ICE--like we had last year!)  (1/22/16)

Our home surrounded by snow  (1/23/16)

Our Holly Bushes in front  (1/23/16)

Our front yard;  I love seeing the designs in the rocks in the flowerbeds.  (1/23/16)

Shrubs along the upper side of the yard in front;  Interesting how the winds have blown snow on the  house!!!  (1/23/16)

Beautiful shrubs with snow on them;  Similar to my present blog  header (taken a few years ago); (1/23/16)

Taken from our deck--of the back yard and golf course;  No golfers out today!!! ha ha   (1/23/16)

Close-up of the Holly Bushes in the front yard  (1/23/16)

Snow on the big tree in our back yard (looking toward the golf course)  (1/23/16)

Icicles on the heated Bird Bath on our deck;  The birds love this birdbath when the ponds are all iced up....They have to have water in addition to bird seed.   (1/23/16)

A COLD Rhododendron in our backyard;   We had such a WARM December that many of our Rhody Buds BLOOMED early.  You can see a couple of the bloomed out ones in this picture... Bet this Rhody won't be as pretty this coming Spring!   (1/23/16)

The front sidewalk along our garage area;  (1/23/16)

One more picture of our pretty little home --surrounded by snow;  (1/23/16)

Sitting in my recliner,  drinking some coffee,  enjoying the fireplace ---and the view of the snow coming down;  LIFE IS GOOD....  (1/22/16)

OKAY---that's enough... Hope you enjoyed the pictures --from the warmth of your home!!!!!  I am recovering from THREE dental surgeries (on 1/19) ---but am doing GREAT...  Amazing how much they have improved through the years when it comes to  dentistry..  BUT---with improvement comes more COST....  Yipes!!!!!!   Oh ---the joys of getting OLD... ha ha

Have a wonderful day/week... Can't believe that it's almost February!!!!  Mercy Me!

Hugs,