Meg Evans

I had a rather long day. Work, hair appointment, race-practice exercises on the rowing machine, more work, then some easy rowing outdoors to unwind. This wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but it was after 11 PM by the time I sat down to write this post, and nothing particularly imaginative came to mind.

So I decided that instead of stressing about it, I would give myself permission to simply relax and not expect anything more of myself tonight.

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.”

There isn’t much left of the gravel path between my rowing club’s boathouse and the dock. It got neglected during the pandemic, as many things did; and by now, the grass has grown all through it. Walking to and from the dock is like going for a walk through a country meadow, bright green with spring grass and clover, and clumps of violets along the path here and there.

More gravel will be put down sometime this season; the club’s board already has approved the expense. It really does need to be done soon because the path is uneven, with groundhog holes and other hazards that might cause someone to fall. Even so, as peaceful as it felt to walk through the grass this afternoon, I was almost wishing it could stay like that a while longer.

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.”

Eclipse day was beautifully clear here in western Ohio. My husband and I went down to the river to watch from our boat. We brought extra shirts so we wouldn’t be chilly, but Monday was such a warm day that we only needed to wear them during the totality. Seeing the light fade away until the sky looked like sunset was pretty amazing. We felt lucky to have had the chance.

I’ve been reminding myself this week to slow down and appreciate what is around me. When I catch myself running through a list of to-dos in my head, I stop and replace that thought with a reminder that I am only doing one thing at the moment, along with a reason for gratitude to be doing it. Even if it’s something as simple as getting a glass of water, for instance, that is much more convenient for us than it was for our ancestors, who had to trudge to the pump or cistern and could only get ice in the winter.

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 more than usual going on this week and have felt somewhat distracted, like I am ping-ponging between too many activities without enough time to rest and reflect. When that happens, generally the best thing is just to breathe quietly for a minute or so, letting the mind slow down. Everything will get done—or maybe some of it won’t, and that is probably okay too. No worries.

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.”

Although I knew that my old plates and bowls needed replacing, I hadn’t yet gotten around to doing it, mainly because of having fond memories of family dinners. The plates were getting a bit worn around the edges, but they still seemed to be usable.

Then I got a ceramic splinter in a finger on Monday while I was unloading the dishwasher. I thought it all came out right away, but something was still in there causing irritation the next day. When I asked my husband to look for it, he couldn’t find anything either. It seems like he got the speck out, though, because the finger is looking better now.

I’ll definitely be going to the mall to shop for new dinnerware—sooner rather than later.

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.”

Several chilly, windy days this week left me feeling impatient for warm spring afternoons in the sun. Tomorrow’s forecast does indeed call for warmer temperatures, but rain will be moving in, not surprisingly. Rather than complain about it, though, I may just go out for a jog anyway and enjoy being outdoors, whatever it happens to do.

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.”

Today felt a bit hectic. A required meeting turned up on my work calendar for this afternoon, conflicting with an appointment I then had to call and change, and I had to go out and get groceries before thunderstorms blew in. After my rowing machine exercise late in the afternoon, I still had more work to do. And, after work and dinner, when I sat down to write this post, my computer was crawling super slow.

It’s okay, though. The storms have blown through, the computer is functional (knock on wood), and nothing more needs to be done today, so I’m just sitting here peacefully.

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.”

In today’s world, most people are not sailors, and metaphors about anchors tend to be negative. Anchors are things that weigh us down, burden us, and keep us stuck in bad circumstances. We don’t think much about the practical use of anchors to keep boats safe in the harbor. So, when I saw the image below, I thought it was a good reminder that hope anchors us to the future.

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 didn’t have much energy on Tuesday after the regatta on Sunday and the long trip home from Sarasota, but I got on the rowing machine for 25 minutes anyway, going slow and steady. Although it’s not easy to stick with a training plan, the effort needed for racing now seems much easier to produce than it once was.

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 been enjoying time in the fresh air and sunshine this week, letting winter’s indoor routine fall away. Although I wouldn’t necessarily say that being in the house during the cold months leaves me feeling deprived, rediscovering the natural world can feel like coming back to myself.

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.”