Thanksgiving Pandemic Version

 

Yesterday marked the annual Canadian Thanksgiving gathering for our family. 

Each year I am grateful for those in who are able to visit. As the family expands and the younger generation comes into their own, the gathering ebbs and flows with the rhythm of our lives. 

Ebbs, & flows and rhythms have been turned upside down and inside out in this Year of Covid. Out of an abundance of caution we cancelled the in-person gathering. At the last minute we decided to open a meeting in Zoom and invite everyone to drop in when they could. At one point we had 16 people and 1 baby on the call at the same time. 💖 

We met the Sweet Baby James (just 8 days old). He slept through it of course. Thank you to his parents for using up precious down time to hang out with us. 

This was James' first Zoom meeting. We learned that he was not the only one on their first zoom call. 

We met Wally, a beautiful black cat and new(ish) addition to our son's household. 

Our niece listened and chimed in while she turned over her garden for the fall. The rest of us safely tucked away on her phone in her pocket. 

Our nephew joined us as he played virtual Star Wars games. 

When my step mom joined the call she entered the room saying "I see ___ and ___ and ___....." which prompted a discussion about the Romper Room lady. 

Another niece joined us between work shifts as she folded her laundry and dismantled her bed in anticipation of a new one arriving later this week. 

We were treated to glimpses of the newest house in the family as my sister and her husband hung light fixtures and installed a fireplace screen. 

Yet another niece joined us while scrapbooking. 

Gathering via Zoom is, of course, quite different than meeting in person. For one, it's more obvious when someone heads for the bathroom! On the other hand, it's easier to head for the bathroom when each has their own. No waiting!! 😄

Keep Smiling and Keep Moving (even if it's from the comfy chair in your living room)
-Paula 

How to complete a 30 day Challenge in 79 days !!

There's an argument to be made, of course, that adding length to anything 2020 is just plain crazy. Let me explain. 

My fitness buddies and I have entered October with the a create-your-own challenge. Challenge ourselves for today, for the week, for the month. It's all up to us. I'm inspired by the variety of choices the group has made. 

I chose to do 30 days of yoga. I chose Yoga with Adrienne as my guide and started right on time on October 1st. A Thursday. Then the weekend came and I had a class to teach on Saturday (an enjoyable but physically and mentally draining task)  and preferred to go walking on Sunday. 

I modified my plan to do 30 days of yoga only on the weekdays (M-F). 

By the time I was ready for yoga on Monday, October 5th (after work) I had decided that I should repeat day 1 and day 2 and continue through Friday to day 5. I liked the idea of building the flow of the days one into the other.  Then I had some talking to myself to do: 

ME: Maybe I should keep going straight through to day 30. Even on the weekends. 
Still ME: But I like walking and hiking on the weekends
ME: I can do both in the same day you know
Still ME: I can but it's likely I won't. 
ME: .............

Then I tried day 3. Day 3 was hard. A lot of standing poses balancing on one foot at a time. I had to reach for the wall to stay upright much of the time. I got lost and had to catch up to the video. 

Still ME: What if I do every day twice. And only do them on Monday through Friday. 
ME: ????? 

Still ME: The first 2 days I did Day 1 and Day 2; (this week) Day 1,2,3,4,5; (next week) Day 3,4,5,6,7; (the next week) Day 6,7,8,9,10 etc.  

Now, I have to admit that Still ME was being affected by my perfectionist tendencies. But only slightly. Yes, I like to get things right. But I am learning to be kind to myself - especially when it comes to trying to get my old lady body to cooperate with my not-so-old-lady ideas of what I can/want to do. 

Perfectionist brain tends to go over the parts of each session where my balance was off or my muscles felt strained or my lower back caved in. When I repeat the day, I do so with an intention of finding ease or strength in those movements or moments. It doesn't have to be perfect and it will likely be better. With that thought in mind, I'm looking forward to Day 3 repeat on Monday 😎.

So then a spreadsheet had to happen. Another plus! LOL And it turns out that my scheme (see Still ME above) means my 30 days of Yoga will be complete on December 18th. 79 days after I started. 

Stay tuned! 

Keep Smiling Keep Moving (and Keep Thinking)
-Paula