Well, that familiar little no good pest has been around my head since Thursday. What options did I have? Be miserable sitting and doing nothing but complaining about my misery or keep myself occupied with other things and only be aware of the persistent misery when it knocks real hard? I chose the latter.
The other things mentioned included two fairly late nights out involving some loud music and dancing. Now, the dancing part really does help keep the pain at bay. There is a reality bite here in that burning the midnight oil on consecutive nights and getting up early the next day while fighting off a physical challenge does take its toll.
What I want to say doesn't come out right. I'm more irritated by silly things that on a normal day wouldn't even warrant an eyebrow lift. I even missed dinner with my friend Bill last night because I couldn't get it together to communicate my intentions. So, before bed I took some Tylenol night cold syrup.
Bodie woke me up around 2am to go out. I have no idea how I made it to the door and back because I'm pretty sure I was sleep walking. The chicklets woke me up around 6:30 with an alarming cheeping which caused enough concern for me to get up. Upon trying to locate three chicks through very groggy eyes, I found two, and they were in a panic because one was missing. We found her, tucked up under the flap of the cardboard box. All was well. Back to bed I went.
Sometime around 8:30am I got up. While I knew none of my animals would die if they didn't eat before 9am, I sure felt like if I didn't go back to bed I just might croak. Nonetheless, out we went for morning chores. When I finished, I had to think about the list and knew I had covered the compulsories but I sure didn't do them fully awake.
I didn't even have energy to make something to eat. I had a cup of Throat Coat tea, looked at Facebook, talked to the animals and then decided it was time to nap. Oh, I'd say three hours went by, occasionally waking up to Bodie barking at any passerby or Pinkie curling up into my back and then getting down and back up again.
I had fed a light breakfast so the horses needed a lunch. In the meantime, my friend Kim had called to say they could drop off a basketball for the goodles. I'm not really sure what I said the first time I called her back. Recognizing my lack of clarity, while I was outside, I sat down in the dry lot and I just looked and listened and breathed. Shadow and Pippin found their spots to get down close by and chew cud, Red was doodling for his girls, my wild birds were so generous with their songs they induced an immediate smile, the horses were chewing hay, the canal water rushing by, Bodie by the gate listening to the street with one ear and watching me with both eyes, and Pinkie was curled up under my legs seeking comfort from the sound of a neighbor shooting. Such bliss. Such peace. Such gratitude. My heart smiled.
I called Kim back to invite her and Scott over for quesadillas. Yum! Black beans, chipotle sausage, roasted vegetables, mango and avocado. I could not keep that dish to myself! A quick dip in the shower, a little straightening up of the house, chop chop vegetables, a little uplifting message from Pema Chodron and we had a feast!
So, yes, I could have chosen to stay in the dark side of my mood and let the physical discomfort rule my day. But after sitting out with the animals and just taking it all in, I heard them say, "We like it better when you're at peace." And my day changed.
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