I'm obsessive about my reading list (see down right, that's them... the blogs I love). It's a list of smart, funny, very real women bloggers - some of them are artists, some mothers, some feminists. Some are all three at once. So this morning, while reading The Waffle's (as per usual) witty post, she inquired, 'What are your five tiny triumphs of recent weeks?' And I think that is an excellent question and worth pondering.*
Oh! And the photos are shots from our month in the states, and are images of one of the most beautiful places on earth, as far as I'm concerned. Just wanted to share them.
Triumph 1 - Speaking my mind. Sometimes in a step-families there is a reticence to always be totally honest. Especially about political/social/justice issues... because I don't want to push my agenda on people I'm not actually blood-related to. But this last weekend, I was asked an honest question and I answered it from my heart and my head, bluntly. And it felt good. (Not easy, but good.) It brought the feminism into the house, and I reckon every 12 year old girl needs a healthy dose of that now and then.
Triumph 2 - Slow momentum. I'm heading back into the frenetic time of year. I suppose for all teachers, at whatever level, autumn is a time of getting the wheels turning again. (Rusty, yes. Squeaky, yes. Exhausting, yes.) And, as per usual, I find that once I'm back in the Full Swing of Things, it all feels a lot easier than this warming up phase. So usually I rush. But this season, I'm purposefully easing back in... just adding a few tasks here and there, as needed. It's an as-needed speed of velocity, and it feels better. (Note to self: obsessively reading your emails does not count. Must keep working on this.)
Triumph 3 - Moving on Purpose. I am vehemently anti-exercise and have been since my teenage years. But. Since I bought a car last year and stopped teaching drama every day, my lifestyle is suddenly SO much more sedentary than ever before. My energy levels have been more like puddles... and my usually nonchalant attitude about a fluctuating body size/shape has started to send up warning twinges. Like: 'Hey, didn't you feel a lot better when you were walking everywhere and doing yoga 3x's a day?' 'Hey, didn't you feel a lot more fit?' 'Hey, didn't you look a lot more fit too?' So I've been doing a yoga/modern dance workshop this week, and damn I'm feeling it, but I'm also feeling a lot better. (Note: only this week so far. So let's not get excited. Follow-through has never been my strong suit.)
Triumph 4 - I made espresso chocolate frosting. Instant coffee power, chocolate buttercream frosting, cream cheese. Whipped. Shockingly good. (Of course, I spontaneously threw it on an apple spice cake, which wasn't a flavour combination made in heaven, but you can always scrape the frosting off and eat it with a spoon.) Happy accidents are certainly triumphs.
Triumph 5 - The two-year-old is showing signs of empathy. When her little friend was crying yesterday, she came up to me and said, 'Andy's sad. You help him?' Which is a huge step forward from her previous tactic... 'Andy's sad. I'm not sad! La la la la!' (envision skipping around the room). So that's a step forward.
Triumph 6 - The Main Issue with partner? Showing signs of life/improvement. The embers are glowing. So patience has been rewarded a wee bit. Thank goodness.
I think I'll do this weekly.
It's like he's looking out into the field, wishing he was a Real Horse.
*Note. What does this say about my character, than I find Gratitude Lists nauseating, but Triumph Lists enthusing? Methinks I am less compassionate than previously hoped for.
