Taking stock this spring
You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.
~Walter Hagen
Here we are halfway through spring (in the Northern Hemisphere at least). It seems like a good time to stop and smell the flowers…both literally and figuratively. Thus, I am using this week’s blog post to take stock.
What is taking stock?
As it relates to blogging, taking stock is typically a creative exercise in which you respond to one word prompts with a quick sentence. You give yourself a few moments to process the word and then write the first thing that comes into your mind. So it’s literally off the top of your head!
You can use prompts you find online or make up your own. I’ve seen people use the A-Z approach or the letters in the current month. As in past taking stock posts, I have chosen to go with a seasonal approach: SPRING.
Taking stock this spring
Seeing…beautiful flowers everywhere, which makes my heart happy.
Planning…a trip with my sisters to Bryce Canyon National Park. We are staying in these star-gazing domes, and I am so excited! I’ve never been to Bryce Canyon, so if you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear them now.
Reading…Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, which was recommended by Kindle Unlimited. I am about three-quarters of the way through, and it is intriguing enough to keep my attention, but not necessarily resonating with me. I’m thinking it was probably intended more for young adults. If I were to give it a ranking, I would give it 3 out of 4 stars.
Next on deck is Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, which I have high hopes for. This one was selected by Leslie Clingan’s Come Read with Me virtual book club. They’ve never let me down before in their selection.
Improving…my health and wellness. This is an ongoing effort, and one that I actually enjoy…for the most part. Right now my focus is on cutting back saturated fats and added sugars in hopes of bringing my cholesterol down before my next scheduled physical exam. I am quite pleased with my efforts in regard to sugar, but still struggling a little with saturated fat…not added fat so much, more the fat that exists naturally in the animal products I love.
Nurturing…two new lavender plants. We started with four when we first landscaped our house. Two died, two thrived. We replaced the two, and one of them survived, but the other died. Then one of the original plants died. Obviously, I’m doing something wrong…but something right too. Aren’t I? Or maybe I’m only meant to have two. Anyway, I really love lavender and am giving it one more attempt. I read up on what they need, and I am giving it my all. Pray for me!
Gaining…confidence in my retirement lifestyle. I spent the first year or two of retirement resting, recuperating, and playing. Then I started to feel a little guilty, like I should be doing something productive or useful, but without tying myself into a restrictive schedule. Along those lines, I’ve donated blood, written some love letters, and offered some free health and wellness coaching. I feel like I’ve found my sweet spot…at least for now…where I can enjoy relaxation and recreation without guilt, and at the same time, feel as if I am doing some good in the world.
Your turn
I hope you enjoyed this little Taking Stock post. I’d love it if you’d take one or more of these prompts and share your response in the comments. Happy spring…or autumn, as the case may be.
Seeing – so much green outside it almost is too much! Spring is here.
Planning – walks outside in various city and township parks we’ve never been to before
Reading – just talked about the latest book I read on my blog today [yes this is a teaser]
Improving – my eyesight by getting new spectacles, my prescription has changed
Nurturing – my sense of emotional balance by evaluating what I’m doing every day, looking for ways to generate positive moments, staying grounded in reality
I love all of these for you, Ally! Don’t you just love spring and the colors? I will definitely check out your book past.
Off to see about these love letters. I too am taking great delight in the flowers. It’s such a beautiful yet simple pleasure! #WWWhimsy
The love letter charity is a great organization, Lydia. I’ll be interested to hear what you think. Flowers are definitely one of life’s simple pleasures…both those we cultivate and the ones that grow wild in nature.
Hi Christie – those glass domes look amazing – the stars will be right on top of you. It sounds like Spring is going well and that you’ve found your sweet spot in retirement. It’s funny how it’s so different for each of us, but also such a wonderful stage of life.
I’m so excited to experience the star-gazing domes, Leanne. I’m sure there will be a blog post coming out of that trip. Retirement seems to be the one time in life when we have space to just be and to contemplate what lifestyle we want for ourselves. I couldn’t agree more that it is a wonderful stage of life.
Christie,
I enjoyed this post especially your thoughts about your retirement…I have not work now of 6 years and I thought I had it all figured out and then my husband passed away so I am once again redefining what I want my retirement to look like…I do enjoy relaxing and “playing” in my house but I have also started to do more volunteering at my church…
Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
Thank you Debbie. Life has a way of stirring things up for us, doesn’t it? Losing a spouse is a big one. I’m glad you are finding the things that bring you joy in this new stage of life you find yourself in.
Hi Christie, I love your beautiful nature photos and it’s always nice to catch up with someone via a taking stock post. I’ve been SEEING my rotting deck area with kids slide near the pool being removed and now a new deck and a new pergoda about to go up! I’m PLANNING on relaxing and enjoy a week up at the Sunshine Coast in late May. I’m READING the final book in a trilogy about Angels that my daughter loaned me. They’re young adult fiction but so what – I’m enjoying them. I’m IMPROVING my ability to be resilient and strong in order to manage all the challenges that have been sent my way lately. I’m NURTURING myself as much as possible. I need it and deserve it. I went for an infrared sauna yesterday. It was fabulous! Thanks for sharing with us and linking up with #WWWhimsy xo
Thank you, Min, for the kind words and for sharing your taking stock responses. I bet you are going to really enjoy that new deck and pergola. Yay for resilience and nurturing. I believe they go hand-in-hand. Take care of yourself, and thanks as always for hosting #WWWhimsy.
Finding the sweetspot in retirement is a challenge. I hear you on that. I admit I am resting more these days after being diagnosed with burnout from trauma relating to my oral cancer and more.
So, I’ve had to be kind and gentle with me and allow more self compassion and less inner critic. As a people pleaser from WAAAAY back I am learing I no longer need to impress anyone.
The flowers that ‘spring’ up as you have shown are such a reward after winter.
Take care,
Denyse x
Good for you, Denyse, recognizing the need to rest and be gentle with yourself. As a fellow people-pleaser, I know that is no easy task. Take care of yourself!
Oh I hope you do a post on Bryce when you get back! We’re planning a trip there for NEXT spring. Wishing you all the luck with your lavender plants. My son brought one to his college dorm room with him… but it didn’t survive past winter. I have no growing skills so I always just hope for the best.
I will do a post on Bryce Canyon for sure, Joanne. How exciting that you are planning a trip there as well.
One week in, the lavender plants are thriving, but we’ll see what happens in the heat of summer. My growing skills are limited, at best.
Hi Christie I have had an extraordinarily busy week and it will continue until next Monday. I really needed to read your opening quote so thank you. I will be taking time to smell the roses today when I go for a mindfulness walk. Your photographs brought me joy. Have a lovely May. Sue L #TeamWWWhimsy
P.S. I finally worked out how I can access your blog through your link – high fiving and hand clapping 🙂
I’m glad that quote spoke to you, Sue, and that you enjoyed the photos. You are welcome. And a big high five for figuring our my crazy blog access. I really appreciate the perseverence.
I do enjoy your seasonal taking stock posts (stole your idea in the past of course.). Right now, I’m struggling to write and even a 6 word prompt series feels daunting. This will pass, I am sure.
Hope you are feeling better soon, Pat.
Oh my, that’s an interesting idea Christie. I shall give it a try. Not sure if it will end up being a blog post, or whether it’ll simply be an exercise in reflection.
How extraordinary is your experience with lavender. I’m terrible with plants and generally avoid buying them, even my mother eventually gave up buying them for me. But my lovely brother & sis-in-law have bought me an olive tree for our new place, so I am trying oh so hard not to kill it! I am keen to get a lovely set up going in the outdoor space here, we’re currently searching for the right garden furniture. It catches the morning sun perfectly, so the idea place for a morning cup of tea 🙂
I’m not so good with plants either, Debs, but I am trying. Good luck with your olive tree and your lovely outdoor space!