Sunday, January 10, 2016

In my bones

For readers who don't live in the UK, December 2015 was the wettest since records began, and thus far January has continued the trend. We don't have horrendous floods here in Derbyshire, as Yorkshire does. Our rivers are swollen, some fields are flooded, but that's about it.

But it has been wet and wet and wet, and the garden is sodden. The patio furniture looks as if it's made of soggy cardboard. And too many mornings it has not been light until after 8 a.m. because the skies have been laden with dark rain and heavy mist.

At least the rowing boat on the bank above the Monsal Trail is watertight:



Every morning on getting out of bed, I've been saying to myself - at least we aren't flooded, at least we don't live in the Jungle in Calais. We have a warm, cosy home that we can afford to heat. We have so much to be thankful for. And then there's the fact that we're still ----- alive!

In the last week, when I've been quiet on the blogging and writing front, I've been thinking. Last year was tough. Mary died in the spring, and I had health worries in the autumn. The result of my quiet week is this
1/ lots of ideas for stories, characters and writing projects
2/ a decision about what to pursue this year.

What last year taught me - at last -  in my bones - is that we don't know how much longer we have to live, and we don't know how long we'll be fit enough, well enough, to enjoy the things we like to be doing. So I've decided that my word for this year is ENJOYMENT, and that means keeping as fit as I can so I am able to do all the things that I enjoy. This will mean forcing myself out in waterproof trousers on my bike on rainy days. But it also means that I shan't feel like a wastrel if I get to the end of a day in which nothing tangible appears to have been "achieved," but which has been filled with loveliness - people, kids, nature, creativity. It also means I shan't be beating myself up if I buy an occasional garment in the Toast sale, such as thisI've missed the window for being a rock chick in this life, and I've spent the last year resisting biker jackets of one sort or another, but now I've succumbed. So there.



6 comments:

lyn said...

What a perfect resolution. We all get too caught up in achieving tangible results & don't spend nearly enough time just enjoying ourselves, even if the enjoyment seems quite aimless. Love the jacket, by the way, it was a bargain!

marmee said...

gosh! I am jealous! That is a wonderful jacket! Swagger and enjoy....

Sue Hepworth said...

How lovely to hear from you - two of my most faithful readers - and neither of whom I have met, incidentally.
It took a lot of effort to write that post. I've been feeling as though I have nothing left to say that readers will be interested in.
I've lost my confidence on the blogging front.
I'm really pleased you like the jacket too. It is an incredible bargain. I hope it fits me when it gets here. (I do Toast by post.)

Unknown said...

Go get it Sue! The jacket is the perfect way to start your year of enjoyment.
XOXO
LRH

Sue Hepworth said...

I did! And it fits me and looks pretty cool.
Will wear it on the plane to Denver.
XXXX

Unknown said...

Hello.... I am Nubli from Malaysia. Are you still actively writing on this blog, or have you now switched to FB like most people? I used to study in the UK and had stayed there for nearly ten years... It's good to be able to hear (or read) directly from writers in the UK and I wish we could stay in touch. I myself used to write - a discipline that is now frustratingly hard for me to practise.

Regards,
Nubli
nubli_othman@yahoo.co.uk