Time For THIS!

THIS is me making inner changes compassionately.

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Yes this is yet another one of Denyse’s posts as she recounts what has been troubling her for SOME time

It’s now how things are changing…..

SLOWLY

with DELIBERATE

THOUGHTS and

ACTIONS…and finding TIME for BEING.

BUT now it’s not going to be a LONG tell-all of self-criticism …. because of a BIG talk I had with my wise husband and his words OFTEN ALWAYS make sense about me….give or take when it comes to my next search for the ideal handbag…because NAH, he does not get that.

THIS….IS NOW:

I am learning self-compassion.

My default is self-criticism.

So, I, erroneously as my husband pointed out, felt I needed to write down ALL the issues that I had felt burdened with and by …because “my fault?”.

Oops.

He reminded me we have been in a compatible partnership of love and for life for over 53 years AND that has seen us weather some storms but also succeed in some of the immeasurables

• like building a family,

• making and keeping friendships,

• raising children,

• helping nurture and care for grandchildren,

• supporting ageing parents,

• managing our chronic health issues,

• being kind to others,

• working in roles in schools and in other fields where we offered our best skills and talents…and much more….

So it’s a bit about forgiving myself but more about less dwelling on what cannot be changed!

HERE’S THE LATEST NEWS FROM ME.

I use these collages as a reminder for my inner emotional health on-going….they help.

Coming back to live (and rent!) in north western Sydney near where we raised our family and cared for their children, we have become tenants of our house we call ‘home’.

The owners of this place like us and have kept the rent down. It’s still somewhat insecure until the next lease is signed for in early 2025 but it’s HOME,

I am using time each day wisely and taking a leaf out of my husband’s book of self-care.

• We get up at a pretty regular time (not saying what it is!)… but for me I will have had a session of meditation, and written my reflection and gratitude list in my iphone…

• We have a gentle start to the day with breakfast, a chat about the day ahead and start wordle. We tend to finish it in bed that night.

• Then we usually have independent plans for the majority of the day. Sometimes (OK, a lot of time because of age…we are off to health-based appointments)

• For me, late morning has to include a visit to the shops for fresh fruit and often a solo coffee. I use this time for my inner replenishment.

• I have a loose plan to meet up with friends around once a week/fortnight and only one at a time. So much better for sharing.

• I have a late lunch and will read the paper on-line and perhaps do some scrolling as I relax.

• An afternoon walk meets my need to reduce any inner stress and to be in nature

• Then it’s time for some art or writing here or on social media

• After our pretty early main meal, it’s some TV News till we can’t stand it…B puts on headphones and goes to sport, and I put in air pods and go to Audible for stories and memoir.

• We sleep in separate bedrooms for a few health reasons and it works for us.

• We have a 9 p.m. chat time in my (bigger) bed when B completes wordle and then we might look at some highlights on social media until 9.30. B has his viewing worked out in time spaces. Not me.

• My emotional health is given a boost each evening too with listening to one of my favourite meditation teachers or a book or maybe a podcast.

• Lights out..whilst not strict at all..is before midnight.

We eat regularly and well. It is nothing like amounts of food that we could manage way back so we eat to keep well but neither of can ‘over eat’. Simple, small and tasty with some variation in our week’s menu plans.

We laugh a lot. That is such a good way to connect.

My emotional self can sometimes get a bit overwhelmed and whilst I have my self-care strategies, B is also a good synthesiser of what’s going on and helps me check reality.

In fact, HE is the reason this post has had a few reviews by him and I could see that what I thought I needed to do…was not about forgiveness as much as it is about being self-compassionate about what my life has been about and how I have overcome significant changes within.

I am in one of my natural habitats here: Castle Towers Shopping Centre.

From our recent marking of 54 years since we met at Tamworth. A lovely 15 yo Granddaughter took this. Thanks R!

I hope that you are self-compassionate too..or at least you are learning to be.

Thanks for reading everyone.

Denyse.

Here I am joining with Min and friends for here Wednesday’s Words and Whimsy today.

And for the time it’s needed I’ve become a member of #TeamWWWhimsy to ensure the commenting is shared and conversations continue.