Yesterday I went to Phelps, MN, and visited the historic Phelps Mill on the Ottertail River. Being a Monday in the fall, there weren't a lot of people in the park, and it was nice to listen to the water rushing over the dam for awhile. The drive there and back was beautiful, with the leaves about 50% of their full beauty.
Today I explored Maplewood State Park, including taking a 1/2 mile hike through the woods. The hike not only reminded me what I love about being outside, it reminded me how long it's been since I exercised at all! I made a serious attempt to relax, and was semi-successful. My mind has been on high alert for so long that it's hard to convince it to slow down and enjoy the moment.
I booked a seat at a painting event tomorrow night - I enjoyed the first one I did so much, and concentrating on the brush strokes is almost like meditation for me. The subject of the painting is the lake in Autumn, which is fitting.
And the head volunteer for the local animal shelter finally returned my call. She's the only one with the keys to the cat kingdom there, and I have to be approved directly by her before I can volunteer hours without supervision. So Friday morning I'll be helping to clean out all of the cat cages - all 70 of them. I told her that since I was on vacation this week I could give 40 hours of my time, which she seemed to appreciate, but hasn't followed up on. She mentioned several times that it's a skeleton crew and they can use all the help they can get. She said she'd call someone there and see what other time I could come by, but hasn't called me back to confirm.
I also accepted an invitation for a glass class. I met the instructor this spring, and even bid on her student's artwork (which I won!!). She seemed like a nice lady, raising chickens and goats in a nearby town. So when a new friend invited me to join her for a class, I leaped at the chance. It's not until October 10th though.
October 8th my big brother and I are doing our annual gourmet meal / wine pairing at Spanky's on Rose Lake. It's his turn to pay, which I'll be happy to remind him of!
So I'm trying to put a halt to the pity party here in my head. I heard a couple on the radio talking about "practical enlightenment", and one of the things they said stuck with me. When we bemoan our situation, we need to ask ourselves why. This moment, this situation, is exactly what is supposed to be happening, in fact is what we created. We should look at it as what is, rather than what we wish it would be. It is what it is. And to quote Buckaroo Bonzai, "wherever you go, there you are".
At this moment, I am choosing to be happy. Today was a good day.
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