It’s a steamy summer Sunday and here are 5 random thoughts from my world:
1) A few months ago I attended a workshop and the homework assignment was to ponder the answers to 3 questions: 1) what’s the greatest risk you ever took and how did it turn out? 2) How do you define passion? and 3) What’s your big “Super Hero” dream – i.e. what does “next” look like? The first two questions were easy to answer (more at “On Saying Yes“ ) But #3 had me stumped and, in the absence of one “big” vision, I realized I wanted to say YES to things I really want to do. I had worked hard to say “no” without guilt – all to make room for Yes’s. Here’s an update on my plan: Yesterday, at a lake gathering, despite my fearful and fluttering gut, I said “yes” to getting in the middle of 3 on a Jet ski. I yelled so much and laughed so hard that I said “yes” again – only this time on the back. Bouncing along the lake like a flag we all laughed and hollered and screamed so much that I was absolutely breathless when we returned to shore. Others looked at me in astonishment – Hubbs with pride — my hair wrecked, my voice hoarse, but my face glowing with happiness.
What helped me say yes? 2 things: A) I know the gal driving has a “need for speed” but she also loves me and would never put me in danger. As we left the security of the dock, she turned back and said, “don’t worry I won’t go that fast,” and I answered with “Let ‘er rip” and she did. Whoo Hoo! I don’t remember the last time I had that much fun. The other? B) the snarky look of another who was convinced I’d never go … ha ha, watch me sister! Whoo Hoo!
2) It’s steaming up to be a hot August day — 80% humidity, temps in the 90s. I’m channeling my Grandma F. by cooking early while the sun is low. The house smells amazing as pork chops and chicken bake – – and when they’re done and the kitchen is clean I’m headed to the pool with peaches, lemonade and books. Hubbs is golfing and we’ll meet up later where he’ll surely bring up yesterday’s antics. The perfect Sunday!
Grandma and Mom in the kitchen together. An Emjayandthem(C) photo
3. After Friday, I’m so looking forward to Monday! 🙂
4. Yesterday at the lake I hadn’t planned on going in the water, much less riding a jet ski. So after the first run, my shorts and everything under them were drenched. My friend, 6″ taller than me, loaned me some swim shorts while my clothes went into the dryer. I pulled them on, twisted my tank top in a knot above my belly button, and rejoined the crowd. Hubbs smiled and I laughed. You see I dress pretty modestly and rarely does anyone else see me like that. But it was a beautiful summer day and I’m not getting any younger and just when is a dose of radical silliness appropriate anyways?
“Oh my God, what if you wake up and some day you never got your memoir or novel written; you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big, juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like you did when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen.” – Anne Lamott
5. Because of some family heart issues, I had a Cardiac Stress Test last week — and I kicked it to the curb. In thinking about it now, if they only knew how much this chick can handle they’d have cranked it up a little more!
P.S. I’m just so happy! See # 3
What are you happy about today?
What a happy-filled post, MJ! You were a brave girl on the jet ski. I wasn’t nearly as brave when Motor Man took me years ago. I love that quote: it’s one to remember and bring back to mind often.
Thank you! I had a blast on the jet ski and was a bit sore yesterday from all the bouncing around ~ would I go again? Absolutely! Next time I hope to drive one 🙂 MJ
Phenomenal! I had missed your previous post, and boy am I glad I followed the link back to it. Happy dance time for sure. So glad you got your jet ski ride. I rented on several years ago for a few hour and had an absolute blast. So much fun. (It was smaller). Have a wonderful Sunday.
Thank you so much! It has been a joy-filled week and weekend – whoo hoo! MJ
I am happy because I am doing what I love. I have my chalk paint out and my unfinished hutch, mirror and side table that I am working on today. My yesterday was filled with housework, errands and meals so that TODAY I could just paint. My hutch top is white, my mirror will be a mint sort of green and my side table is blue but now it is coated in a clear glaze for protection from water spots, stains, etc. Loving my lazy Sunday.
You were in your happy place when you wrote this – yay on you!! To me that’s how we should spend our Sundays – restoring ourselves doing what we love 😀 MJ
PS can’t wait to see the finished product, love the color choices!
You are living on the wild side girl! Good for you!
yes and yes! MJ
Love 5!
you and me both. 2/4 siblings have had heart attacks. Clearly we have a genetic component at play — and I’m happy my Dr. thought to get a baseline test done. So far so good – whoop! MJ
Excellent…
thank you David 🙂 MJ
Yay! Yay! and Yay! So glad to hear the joy in your voice! It’s nice when life is so wonderful that we feel the happy bubbling up inside, isn’t it? You deserve it, my friend! ~ Sheila
Yes it sure is. I feel like a veil has been lifted and that anything is now possible. Will there be other obstacles in my way? Of course there will … but I’m experienced now. And once you know, you just can’t un-know.
Hugs
MJ
Love this!! I can envision the fun-filled wild ride. 😄 ( where’s a Go Pro camera when you need one?!?)
R
It was quite the wild ride. On the first run the gal behind me screamed her face off and I yipped and yelped. On the 2nd run it was my turn and I came back to shore with a headache from yelling (but a big smile, too). Way too fun. I don’t really want to know how fast we were going but I can say this — had we left the jet ski we would have bounced across the lake!! 🙂 MJ
I LOVE this one MJ! How very brave you are and how exhilarating to be letting go like that. I’m afraid I’m a bit on the “up tight” side but striving to relax and open up. Gonna copy the Anne Lamott quote to put up on the wall as a reminder! 🙂
As I sat on the deck with the others the “just do it” mantra came to mind — and my friend’s face when I said yes was priceless. Sometimes we just gotta get out of our own way and go for it 🙂
That quote is a favorite — who doesn’t want a big juicy creative life? 😀 MJ
The sounds of giddy happiness are just too awesome! Yeah. 👏🏻🎉
Indeed they are!! Insert fist pump/rebel yell here 😀 MJ
Always enjoy your posts! And great answers to the writing prompts. I’m in the middle of a class myself and a few of the prompts gave me great ideas for future blog posts. Love it when that happens!
Yay – I look forward to reading them Leah 🙂 MJ
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Go for it, MJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy every minute of life you can!!
You know it!! Life isn’t always short, but it’s long if you’re miserable — I’d rather be happy, joyful and fulfilled 🙂 MJ