Meg Evans

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.

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…

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.”

Right before I started writing this post, I was changing purses. I have two that I use regularly, depending on the season. In the winter, I carry a plain black purse. Sometime in April, I switch to my summer purse, which is exactly the same style and dimensions as the winter purse. The only difference is that it has a colorful floral pattern, which generally puts me in a good mood when I look at it.

Maybe some people would say that’s a bit strange, but it makes me happy, so I don’t care.

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 did an online “Yoga for Sleep” session this evening, with gentle exercises to help relax the mind and body. One of them was to lie face down while bending the knees and moving the legs back and forth like windshield wipers. Whether or not that exercise helps me to sleep better tonight, it felt silly enough to make me want to laugh. That, in itself, was probably good for me.

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 is currently “unhorsed” because his car is in the shop, so we are sharing my car this week. Today, I went out and had to detour around a stretch of highway that is under construction. I reminded myself that it still got me there faster than a horse and buggy, and that we always have a lot to be grateful for in modern times, whatever may be happening at the moment.

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.”