Re-Grouping

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Nina

Don’t you find that you are happier if you DON’T sit at a computer all day and get up and DO instead? Unless I have Real work I have to do at the computer, I now limit myself to a little bit in the morning and a few minutes in the evenings just to check in.

Now I’m back to DOING the things in life that make me happy and not just writing about it with no time left to live it. Right now I’m enjoying FAll.

You know, I started this website because I have a nice life and do things for me that make me happy. It’s an Art, a lifestyle I create to be the way I want. I want to share those thoughts and ideas with other women over 50. Then something happened; I was spending so much time writing and reading on the computer and internet that I was losing my Happy! The very thing that I wanted to share was no longer what I was living! Make sense? The computer, internet, facebook, twitter, pinterest, etc., all suck you into a world that can be fun and interesting but then becomes very addicting and all consuming.

I’m not quitting. I just need to re-group, set better time limits and priorities. I want to knit and sew. I need to work my day job (which is spent with many hours on the computer!) I love to decorate my home for seasons and holidays.

I enjoy cooking and cleaning when I’m not rushed about it. All these things that make my life Happy were being pushed to a back burner and I was getting irritated and frustrated because there wasn’t enough time.

So please bear with me as I re-set my activities and schedule. I DO love writing and keeping this website, so that won’t stop. I just need to make sure it’s fun again and not another job that I feel I HAVE to do. My posts will be shorter, more light-hearted, more fun, and more pictures. This is a Happy place to come to, not a lecture or lesson to be subjected to. Who wants that? If I can share some ideas or thoughts that are beneficial or useful to you – Great!

I started off with coaches and gurus that are internet and website experts, and that had it’s place in the beginning. I needed to learn the How-To’s of the mechanics. Then the coaching got into: you need to write so many posts a week; they have to be so many words; they have to be posted on a certain day and time; you have to get so many sign ups and followers, etc, etc! I guess that’s important for some, but it isn’t fun for me. It became a full time job! I just don’t have the time or desire for another full time job.

So now that I have the basic mechanics down, gone with the coaches and experts! What appears on this website is the Life of a 50ish Woman that is making her life the best it can be. That includes making changes when things aren’t the way I want them to be! I truly live by the premise – If Something in Your Life isn’t the Way You Want it To Be, Then Change It!

Creative Hands Make Happy Souls

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Nina

I have to always have some kind of project, or two, or three, going on. That’s what makes me feel productive and gives me purpose. It may be writing a new article, sewing a quilt, knitting something to wear, or even decorating a room. These things make me happy. You can stand back and admire your work and say, “I did that!”

It’s the process that’s important. It doesn’t matter how it turns out really. It doesn’t have to be perfect or even real good, but just enjoy the process. If you can find a hobby or skill that envelopes you to the point of forgetting time, you can’t help but have a feeling of peace. Find that thing that you have such a passion for that you find it hard to stop once you start. Using your mind and imagination to create something out of nothing is such a feeling of accomplishment.

Creating can relieve boredom, it can bring energy, it can develop self esteem. I believe that women over the age of 50 become much more creative than in their younger years. We now have more time and more patience. I also think that a change in hormones plays a part. Wants, desires and priorities shift and change and there is a greater need to do for yourself now. Our minds and way of thinking also changes and we’re not concentrating so much on what we HAVE to do and a little more on what we WANT to do.

I started a page on my site called My Creativity Shop. Just click on the tab in the above menu bar. You can find things here that keep my hands busy and my heart and soul happy. I’ve known how to knit and sew for a long time, but after the age of 50 these hobbies became a passion. I’ll add more as I get around to it. That’s the thing about being creative. You can do whatever you want, however you want! The items are for sale because I have to do something with them! It won’t make me rich, but it sure makes me happy!

What do you create that makes you happy? Have you had the thought that you really would like to learn how to knit, quilt, or something else? Just do it! Find a class or a book or even go online and learn how to get started. You’ll be amazed at how good it will make you feel!

Is It Possible to be Tired and Happy at the Same Time?

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Nina

And the answer is ——- Yes! I am living (well, I think I’m still living) proof! When you don’t get out of your pajamas all day – you know you’re tired. When your eyes are wanting to close while you’re reading Facebook – you know you’re tired. When little things are annoying you that normally wouldn’t – you know you’re tired. (I need to re-read the last article I wrote on Overcoming Anger and Gaining Peace)

I was asked by a friend today if I took a nap. Well, no, I never take naps. I guess there’s nothing wrong with that if you’re a napper, but I’m just not. I always feel like I never have enough time to do everything I want to do and a nap would just waste time that I so desperately crave.

The reason for my unusual bout of tiredness is the weekend I just had. My other son and his wife and 3 children, and dog, came for the whole weekend. This is in addition to my Spokane son, wife and 2 children that are already here for the month of August. (They leave this Wednesday and I’m starting to well up about it!) Did I ever mention that I already have 2 dogs of my own? Needless to say it was a house full! Here are the ages of the grandchildren: 7, 5, 2, 1, and 1. Now use your imagination. Friday night the adult kids all went to a friends’ house, leaving their kids home with me and hubby, of course. Saturday night we all went to my daughter in law’s parents’ anniversary party. Sunday we had a big birthday celebration at my house to celebrate my son’s 29th birthday and his son’s 1st birthday! So bring on 30 more people for the day!

Yes, I’m exhausted! But look at the reasons why. The memories, the pictures taken, the laughs, the kids all having fun! And just look at my youngest grandchild enjoying his 1 year old smash cake!

Priceless!! It was all worth every bit of energy zapped!

It’s also a great natural cure for sleepless nights. I slept really good last night, which is sometimes hard to come by. I’m hoping for another good one tonight!

Happy Grandkids Makes Happy Grandparents

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Nina

Bob and my dad drove an hour and a half each way to watch my two oldest grandsons on the last day of their very first wrestling camp. They are the 4th generation of boys in our family to wrestle. They’re only 5 and 7, so we’ll see if they keep it up. It’s their choice, but they almost have no choice. They seem to like it so far. They just have to keep being reminded right now that there is no kicking and punching in wrestling!

After wrestling the boys came back home with Bob and Dad. They love coming to Bobby and Nina’s (that’s what they call us) house anyway, but yesterday was with the promise that we were going to the county fair. Now wouldn’t you know it that yesterday was the only day this summer that it rained. We were waiting and hoping all day that it would stop, and it seemed to for a while, so off we started for the short half hour drive. As we got closer to the fair, the harder it rained! There was no way we were going to walk around in the rain and the muddy grounds, so we had no choice but to turn around and come back home. Logan started to cry and I felt bad. I felt like we were breaking a promise even though it was out of our control.

Now here’s the good thing about being the grandparents. We could have just said, “Sorry, that’s life, and there’s nothing we can do about the weather”. But we’re the grandparents. We’re here to make them happy, be happy ourselves, have fun with these new little playthings we grandparents call grandchildren. So we did what any good grandparents do, we promised something else we could deliver! We took them to the mall instead and bought them new clothes, a new WII game and they were allowed to order pancakes for dinner, followed by ice cream sundaes! Yay!!! We were all happy again!

Now we’re considering the fair again today depending on the weather and Bob’s work schedule. Too early to determine that yet. I better start thinking of another Plan B just in case!!