Lately

I'm ready to get back into the swing of things after feeling a little under the weather over the last couple of weeks. It's nice to feel the energy of possibility again after needing to put everything on pause. I've been easing my way back into busyness though I always feel the tendency to want to run around and catch up on everything I had put on hold. Somehow or other, life goes on, regardless of what I have and haven't done. 

   I managed to go for a walk around the neighbourhood so it was good to get out into the fresh air. I really enjoyed working with Mr S these last couple of weeks. Our schedules mean that we often do housework at very different times but lately our "free" time has overlapped. It's been really nice to see how easy it can be to get the house clean and comfortable when there are two pairs of hands.

   I noticed lately I haven't been keeping a list of what I need to do so that might be top of my "to do" list tonight. It feels like "Take Two" with my goals but I'm ready to prepare for the week and make the most of it. I think having breakfast before I go to work will need to be my priority this week. 
   I had a lovely lunch with a good friend this afternoon. She took the risk of inviting another friend over and I'm so glad she did. I'm not sure whether it's an introvert thing or a social anxiety thing but I noticed we can sometimes get almost territorial about our time with a friend, hoping no one else comes in on it and spoils our special time. I think it's because we treasure the opportunity to connect meaningfully and know that such opportunities are extremely rare. 
    Friend G had invited Ms C to our afternoon gathering and what a delight it was. She was a lovely person. Sweet, mature, intelligent, engaging.  When Friend G confided that Ms C has only been living in this state for the last four years and has never experienced such loneliness in her life, I felt humbled. I was so glad we had been open to including her rather than limiting ourselves. 
   It also made me think about my goal to invite others over to our house once a month. For one, it reminded me how important it is to reach out to others and put our own needs aside for a while. However, it also reminded me that I have yet to actually invite anyone over and how lovely it would be if we did that.

Moments of Inspiration

It's been quite a week of inspiration. The introvert that I am, I often find my sources of inspriation in obscure reading and internet surfing and the like. This week I have been privileged enough to experience this so close to home.

• I visited very good friends of mine in their new home last weekend. It's a lovely big home, well-built, many rooms and in a good part of town. I am rather envious. Then they decided to tell me about their visitor who was on his way to their place. It turns out that he is homeless. I was gobsmacked ( and wondering at what point they would realise that they could only wind up getting hurt). My friend, B, had seen him in the park on the way to work and had started talking to him. Then she decided to share a meal with him once a week. She has since introduced him to another friend and this homeless young man is able to get some safe accommodation from them. These friends are now helping him reestablish himself. I think it's an amazing story and I admire B's courage, not just in daring to approach this man out of concern but also in standing up to a  society which says "Don't do it". Beautiful, inspiring work, B.!!