This blog is another one of my Random Thoughts posts. Nothing major to write about, but a series of what’s happening with me this week:
New Routine Establishment
I needed a motivational boost so I crafted a weekly/monthly-tracking sheet to help me establish some new routines. On the weekly list: beach walk, beach yoga, distant friend connect, Zumba, out & about day, new recipe, date night, blog post. On the monthly list: jet tub bath, massage, book club, foodie dinner, roast chicken. I’m not going to beat myself up if I miss something, but it is helpful to feel some compulsion to check things off the list! How do you encourage yourself to establish new habits/routines?
Fine is a Four Letter Word… as is Okay.
Years ago, I left a comment card at a 4-star restaurant in Cincinnati that said the evening “was fine”. In fact, I was disappointed in the service, as I had high expectations for a restaurant of that quality. I received a call from their head of hospitality, apologizing for the level of service and he said, ”To me, fine is a four letter word”, implying it was close to a negative curse word. And yes, he provided me with a generous gift card to “try us again” (we did but it was still just fine. LOL.) Why am I reminiscing on this? I’m getting that response a lot lately to my request of, “How was it?” “It was fine.” Or worse, “It was okay.” Yes, those are not positive, upward spiraling comments! They have a more negative connotation. And I have realized when I hear that response, it lowers my own enjoyment – of the event/ dinner/ experience we just shared. Maybe I need to stop asking the question! How do you feel when some says, “it was fine”?
My Days are Full, NOT Busy
As I was journaling one morning I almost wrote, “yesterday was busy” and then shifted to “yesterday was full” and realized how much more positive that sounded. In today’s world, busy is what everybody claims to be, implying they are hugely productive, but there’s a hectic quality to that term. Having a day feel full, full of things you enjoy doing, is a wonderful feeling. My day’s are full – being active, going out and about, learning about plants, cooking meals, reading. Nicely full. Do you think “full days” sounds better than “busy days”?
Powerful Tarot Solstice Insights
I’m a dabbler. I dabble in Feng Shui, Chakra healing, crystals, astrology, new moon rituals, and Tarot readings. I find these things intriguing and often helpful in self-reflection. So for the Summer Solstice, I did a 4-card Tarot Card reading: Context, Action, Reflection, and Self-care. It was one of the strongest readings I have ever done, with insights into creating a new lifestyle/identity, being authentically me, letting go to move forward, expressing my true self, and ensuring things are balanced for body (the physical), mind (mental/clarity), heart (emotional/feelings), and soul (creative/spiritual). So I am reviewing my summer activities (blog link here) with this framework to see where I might need more in any area. This reading really made the solstice a powerful day (even though once again I was disappointed in watching Stonehenge Sunrise Live). What do you dabble in? Did you do anything for Summer Solstice?
Picture Credit: Me – summer rainy season starting with afternoon thunderstorms.
retirementtransition 
I like “full day” better than ‘busy day”. Busy sounds to much like a day full of errands and tasks that must be done. Full sounds more like a balanced and satisfying day.
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The connection of full and satisfaction wasn’t one I had made, but I do like it. Your “must be done” comment about busy is another great build. Thanks.
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If I owned a restaurant, I sure wouldn’t be satisfied with a “fine” review. Good for the manager to follow up with you (even though your second visit was “fine” too). Also, I prefer full to busy too. If I’m busy, I feel as if I’m running around not accomplishing or enjoying much. Full sounds not only more productive, but way more satisfying.
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Janis, I like your build about full being more satisfied. It’s amazing how such small shifts in language can shift our perceptions. I’m fine; my day was busy…. I’m good; my day was full.
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Now you’ve got me thinking: full, filled fulfilling. That’s a connection that I can’t make with busy.
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I usually think if someone says “it was fine” that it was just OK and could definitely use improvement. Yet, when I use it was fine I often think it’s somewhere in the middle; not fantastic but not bad either. I mean it as sort of neutral but I do take it as somewhat negative.
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I like how you phrased it – “sort of neutral, somewhat negative”. Exactly how I feel about it too!
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Busy is a B word I try to avoid now because it conjures up “over work” and “full” “enough” would work for me now as I have loosened my routines and days much more since fully (ha!) retiring.
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It really does conjure up a sense of “over work”, doesn’t it? A feeling of being hectic and a bit out of control. I still like routines, and I’m more than happy with a day full of routines!
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There is a transition to the life you will eventually settle on and it will come as naturally as you please. I am finding that at this latter stage of retirement for us. It’s actually very pleasant!
Thank you for sharing your post for #LifeThisWeek at Denyse Whelan Blogs. It’s been great to see you here and thanks so much for your contribution to the community of bloggers who link up from Mondays to Wednesdays (Australian Eastern Time). Next Monday the optional prompt is Taking Stock. And we are past half way for my 2021 Blogging Year! Denyse.
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So you’re saying if I ask you ‘how are you doing?” and you reply “just fine,” you’re not? Perhaps we should go into more detail, as in “kind of fine” or “sort of fine” or “not really fine.” Perhaps total honesty would work better. “How are you doing?” “Life sucks.” THAT I understand. 🙂
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I actually think when someone answers “I’m fine” to that question, it’s meaningless. Polite, but meaningless. For me, I feel like the question is nothing more than “hi there”; they really don’t want to know. And unless it’s someone close to me, I wouldn’t go into any detail about how my life might suck at the moment!
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Glad to hear from you. I have a set of Tarot cards but really don’t know how to do a reading…any suggestions for where I can go to learn? Did you turn over the 4 cards for Context, Action, Reflection, and Self-care? I would like to learn more. Are you still dabbling in Enneagram? I haven’t read anything more about it lately. I do save pins to an Enneagram board. But don’t go back to reread them.
My mother would agree with you whole-heatedly about the word fine. My father would say ‘fine’ or ‘pretty good’ about everything. Most hurtful to my mom was when a dinner she worked hard to prepare was described as pretty good. I feel the same way about both terms.
I like the idea of your weekly and monthly routine goals. I write up 3-5 goals on a blackboard each season and do pretty well about completing them because the board is in my bedroom where I see it all the time.
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Leslie, I have a book that goes with my Thoth Tarot cards. (https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Handbook-Practical-Applications-Ancient/dp/0874778956/) I’ve found or been given some different kinds of “spreads”; this one was specifically for Summer Solstice. I shuffle the Tarot deck and then pull 4 cards, thinking each phrase/question as I pull each card. I color-sketch each one onto a piece of paper (that’s my own creative desire) and then I go into the book and read about each card. I find it’s a helpful way to do self-reflection as the cards can have multiple meanings and I tend to pull out what’s important to me at the time.
I’ve not done that much lately with Enneagram. I did a lot of reading back in the fall/winter and some of my 21 for 2021 were developmental elements based on that. I know my type and my hubby’s type, and I’m more aware of when I’m sliding into my stress areas…which has been really helpful!
Yeah, I get “fine” or “okay” on dinner’s all the time. I know I’m not the best of cooks, but I do try. Maybe someday I’ll get a “hey, this is really good”!
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