Positively Friday

I've had a tough row to hoe getting over the sickness that's plagued me the last couple of weeks. I still sound somewhat congested, have a cough, am blowing my nose, and feel pretty tired. I even missed posting here the last two days. And there's so much work at home to catch up on. But with a lot of rest, vitamins, medication, and encouragement, I think I can safely say:

I don't know when I'll be back. But back I will be. ~Dominic, William Steig, 1972

(Okay, so I'm hoping it'll be Monday). Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Waist Loss

I am slowly easing back into exercise, though if I attend tomorrow's Total Body Workout Class, which I plan to do, I'm sure there will be no easing! 

I was supposed to measure myself on February 1, but that day was the peak of my sickness, and I just didn't have the energy for it. I did measure myself on February 4, however, and am pleased to report that my waistline is down three whole inches from the beginning of the year! Exercise works, folks, so what are you waiting for?! If you're not sure how to get started, check this out from the good people at Participaction. And in the meantime, at least join me in a happy dance!

One Liners

As I mentioned last week, it's a bit difficult to think about anything, much less happiness, when you're sick. Though I am feeling better, I'm still not 100 percent. But I think I can handle some 'one liners' - that is to say, one sentence snapshots of things that make me happy. While Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project fame attempted to keep a gratitude journal, she soon gave it up in favour of more concise data entries - ie single sentences - therefore, I give myself permission to do likewise.


Happiness is

• the ability to sleep in when you're sick
• lots and lots of soup and rest
• having someone to take care of you
• not knowing (or caring) that the laundry and dishes are piling up
• ginger ale and teas with healing properties
• knowing family and friends are praying for your recovery
• finding it easy to keep to a diet
• an unlimited supply of facial tissue
• a stack of books to read
• waking up every day and being alive

That's ten, and I'm just getting warmed up! What would you add to the list today?

Lovin' La Vida Liebster

It's been a while since I've received a blog award, so I'm grateful to Beth Stilborn over at By Word of Beth for presenting me with the Liebster Blog Award. Thanks so much, Beth.

When you click on “read more” you’ll learn five things about me that you’d likely never even thought to wonder about, and you’ll have a chance to meet five worthy bloggers as I pass the award along.

First a bit about the Liebster Blog Award:

“Liebster is a German word, meaning dearest or beloved, but it can also mean favorite. The idea behind the Liebster Blog Award is that it is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers in order to create new connections and bring attention to these wonderful blogs!”

The requirements are simple: Add the award to your blog (simply save the logo above to your desktop, then add it to your blog). Thank the giver with a link back to them. Pass the award along to five other bloggers, and let them know they’ve been given an award by leaving a comment on their blog. Hope that your followers will spread the love to the blogs you’ve spotlighted. 

Now, five exceedingly random things about me.

1. I've wanted to go to Sweden ever since I was about nine years old and The Samuelson brothers came to sing at my church. All the girls were crazy about them! ;) I've gotten over my crush on Jard, but the longing for Sweden persists.

2. I wince internally when people whose native language is English don't seem to know how to speak it. 

3. The strangest thing I've ever eaten is mushroom stuffed escargots (that's snails for you non-French speakers). They actually tasted pretty good!

4. I studied Shakespeare under Northrop Frye at the University of Toronto, and once rode the elevator with him. He was not much for small talk.

5. My husband and I like to dance ... around the kitchen!

Now the fun part. Introducing you to bloggers. May I have the envelope please? (Cue the drumroll…) The Liebster Award goes to

• Kimberlee Feick Lowry at The Someday Diaries 
• Denise Heil Ford at Walking with Dusty and Dee
• Bonnie Way at The Koala Bear Writer
• Doug Blair at Moments Mid-Stream
• Diane Girard at Free Words

Please enjoy!

Positively Friday

I'm finally starting to feel better. Today I actually managed to go out for breakfast with the family (I only ordered the fruit boat - packed with delicious fruit and vitamin C), pull a 4.5 hour shift at work, and attend a dinner we'd been invited to months ago.  Thankfully, I can sleep in as long as I want tomorrow. I'd like to get some work done - Lord knows the laundry and dishes have piled up while I've been sick - but let's face it, the main thing is to continue my recovery so I can get back to what's important. That brings me to this week's "inspirational" quote:

Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work. ~ Ralph Marston

Unhealthy bodies (minds and spirits, too) tell us that it's time to take a break. Pushing ourselves through only serves to make things worse. Listen to your body. When it tells you it's sick and/or tired ... rest. When you are refreshed and renewed, your productivity and the quality of your work will be much better.

Blessings

With few of my own brain cells firing right now, I thought I'd share this touching song by Laura Story. My 'miserable' cold pales in comparison to what Laura and her husband have been through, and this song can minister to anyone who's facing life challenges. You can read Laura and Martin's story here. Enjoy the music video:

As I Lay Dying

Catchy title, huh? I'm sure it was just as catchy when William Faulkner published the book by the same name back in 1930. 


Okay, so I'm not exactly dying. At least not any more than the average (sick) person. It's just that, as I was thinking about what to post for Writerly Wednesday, I decided I'd give you a writing prompt. Your challenge is to write the opening paragraph of a novel or short story, beginning with the simple word "As". 


The lone male in my critique group penned a brilliant short story starting with the phrase "As it happened..." You may use that, "As I lay dying", or any other sentence, as long as it commences with "As". 


I'll edit this post, adding my effort, once I'm up to the task. In the meantime, if you undertake this challenge, let me know in the comments. And if you post your piece to your own blog, leave the link in the comments here so we can all enjoy.