July 3, 2025 · 1 comment · Categories: Musings · Tags:

I spent some time outdoors with friends today, in a cheerful group talking and laughing. This image seemed to suit the mood—I hope you enjoy it and are having a wonderful evening, too!

Word-art that says, "How wonderful it is that we laugh because our bodies cannot contain the joy."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

Tuesday evening, although still hot after I finished an outdoor workout with my husband, felt lovely and peaceful anyway. Wednesday morning wasn’t the most comfortable because the heat wave is still going on, and we woke up to find that the air conditioner wasn’t working. We already had planned to leave early in the afternoon for a road trip, however, and we have a service appointment scheduled for when we return.

I’m still anticipating a fun, magical trip with no worries!

Word-art that says, "In the midst of our lives, we must find the magic that makes our souls soar."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

The clock on my computer went past midnight just now, so this post will have to be published with a Friday date because I didn’t get around to doing it earlier. For a moment, I thought about cheating—that is, setting the date stamp for this entry to Thursday so my readers wouldn’t notice it was a delayed post. But then I decided that was silly. After all, it’s not like anyone expects me to be perfect.

Word-art that says, "No one is perfect... that's why pencils have erasers."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

My husband had a good laugh at my expense when we were rowing in our double this evening. We were just about to start a set of two 1K rows when I saw a hairy spider on the side of the boat, next to my leg. Rather than touch it, I tried to flick it off using a hand towel. That didn’t work because it jumped on the towel, and then I got startled and clumsily dropped the towel in the river. Then my husband came to my aid and gallantly squashed the spider, which was still clinging to the wet towel.

He was still laughing about it when we got home, but I suppose that’s all right. Better than complaining, anyway—and we could all use a few more giggles.

Word-art that says, "Complain less. Giggle more."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

The June rowing plan that I’m doing with my husband, created by our online coaches, has different exercises than those we had gotten comfortable doing in past workouts. They have more sets of intervals, and the focus is on building power at lower rates and improving form. The sudden change left me tired earlier in the week, but not so much today. That’s how growth happens…

Word-art that says, "A comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever grows there."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

I have to admit, this is not the Nurturing Thursday post I had in mind to write when I sat down at the computer. After choosing a different topic, I couldn’t get the words to flow. So, instead, I left that post for another time and decided to give myself a reminder about patience for today.

Word-art that says, "Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind." -David G. Allen

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

When I went out to get groceries this morning, I drove along a curving road beside the river, with trees arching overhead in a lovely green tunnel that reminded me of the description of trees along the country lane in Anne of Green Gables. Although I go that way all the time and usually don’t think much about it, today its natural beauty made an impression on me. I felt fortunate to have such a peaceful break from my workday, even if I was just doing the grocery shopping.

Word-art that says, "I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does." -L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

After hurrying down to the river to get in our rowing exercise during breaks in the rain all week, my husband and I were glad to have a bright and sunny afternoon today. Although it was hot and humid enough to make a race-pace workout very tiring, we didn’t complain. Better than being indoors!

Word-art that says, "Always look at the brighter side of life, just like the sunflower, which looks upon the sun not the dark clouds."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

I’ve had the saying “Let go and let God” in my mind this week, probably because I’ve been reminding myself to let go of expectations for whatever I can’t control. After everything that has happened in the world in recent years, that category feels enormous. Still, I try to keep in mind that there is always space for improvement, and that the future holds many things we haven’t yet imagined.

Word-art that says, "Peace begins when expectation ends."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”

After many years of talking about it, my husband and I finally got around to ordering a standby generator for our house. We don’t lose power often, but now that we both work from home, it is quite disruptive when it happens. There are storms rolling through the area this evening, and we heard thunder not long ago. The generator probably won’t get installed for a few months, but we’ll be glad to not have to worry whether a thunderstorm will cause a power outage.

And there’s peace of mind to be gained, as well, just from checking off an entry on the “someday” list.

Word-art that says, "A little progress each day adds up to big results."

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”