I have a dear friend who is also my mentor/coach/counsellor (she has many labels!) who always tells me that I need to look for opportunities to stop and pause throughout my day. Since my brain races too fast for meditation she thinks just a few daily pauses is better than nothing.
Well thanks to my ankle injury I'm overflowing with chances to pause as I really can't do much else. I am grateful that I don't have pain unless I'm walking so haven't needed pain relief. I've spent the last 2 weeks with my ankle raised when I'm not moving about. So I've had a lot of thinking and reflecting time in between reading several books, watching cheesy movies on Netflix and knitting a summer cardigan. Oh and eating!!!!
Much of the time I've been on my own as my son is either working or spending time with his new girlfriend. At times I've felt particularly vulnerable as I realised I wouldn't be able to get myself out of a situation alone. Being unsteady on my feet, I've not been able to go up and down stairs safely and in an emergency I'd be stuck. I'm extremely grateful to have a downstairs guest bedroom and bathroom.
But I'm also grateful for this opportunity at a very tired and stressful point in the school year. June is the most frantic month in a school as we're constantly assessing and recording and report writing and finishing off 'stuff' before the summer break at the end of this month. I've been able to do quite a lot just by being able to sit at my laptop and do my paperwork. My class is now in the hands of a very capable supply teacher (although it took 7 days to get her!) so I feel less guilty about not being in class. Thanks to technology I've been able to log in and 'see' my kids and they've seen me on screen. I've also been able to do my parent contact meetings from home. So still working even though technically I'm signed off.
The biggest thing I've been thinking about is my future and what I need to do now for retirement. Current plan is 2 more years of teaching. This year (for many many reasons!! 😳) hasn't been very frugal so far. That changes now! I've found a few new to me frugal living YouTube channels so I'm binge watching them while I knit. And I'm making lots and lots of lists 😄
So I may be temporarily inconvenienced by my injury. But I am incredibly grateful for this unexpected chance to pause, reflect and be grateful.
Can I ask you to share some of the frugal living Youtube channels that you've found please? - Gill
ReplyDeleteOf course! I was planning on doing on a wee post tomorrow :-)
DeleteThe universe gives us what we need. :)
ReplyDeletex
That's exactly what I've been thinking!!! xxx
DeleteHope someone is looking after the allotment for you!
ReplyDeleteMy son has been watering my tomatoes in the polytunnel but in just 3 weeks the weeds are quickly taking over!!!!
DeleteA positive spin on a difficult situation! Have you found any other good youtubers apart from Frugal Jo (excellent content and presentation) and Frugal Queen (interesting content but -to me- irritating presentation)?
ReplyDeleteYep, love Frugal Jo and I agree about Frugal Queen (wee bit preachy!)
DeleteI've been watching some frugal you tubers too, What Vivi did next is one I look at. She's nice if a bit extreme.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly sound as though you're taking a positive approach to having to take a break, it would be so easy to sink into despair so I think you should pat yourself on the back! Get well soon. x
Yep love Vivi, she's an interesting character and I do admire what she's doing. I'm trying very hard to look for positives even though it can be a wee bit difficult at times!
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