Things that matter

A perk of aging is prioritizing. The way I view it, time is our one commodity. How we use it? Expresses how much we value ourselves.

This realization, late for me, I realize, as many of my friends figured this out long ago, is that if we let other people waste our time, we're letting them waste our lives.

Once I started looking at things like that, simple decisions, like whether to have coffee with an acquaintance that I really didn't see ever becoming closer with, became easier. 

I learned to politely decline invitations. Which is liberating in many ways.

All I have is my time, right now. 

Things that I value enough to spend time on them:

My family. Whenever, wherever, time spent is worth it. Every time.

Time in nature. Walking, hiking, sitting...it all feels elemental, and fundamental to grounding and sanity, most days.

Reading. Decent stuff most days, fun, beach-y stuff others. I love to read. It's an indulgence.

Movies. But no scary shit or super suspense head twisting stuff. I like well written comedy. I like mysteries. I like some drama. I love love stories. But no twisty stuff. (see above)

Hanging with my cat. Jarvis is the bomb, and I love him. He knows what he likes, he knows what makes him happy, and I happen to be part of that. I am honored to be a part of that. He's my furry dude.

My BFFs. Nuff said. They make me better. They center me. They get me, even when I'm being a whiny brat or an obtuse idiot. I need them, every single day, to keep on track.

Writing. If you're reading this, you get it's a compulsion. And therapeutic. And fun. And part of who I am.

Healing. My patients rock. They are brave and cool and just trying to get through a complicated life with a little more balance, a little less pain, and some encouragement. They inspire me. It's selfish of me, to get so much from working with them. But I do. Every day.

That's pretty much it. For now. 

Happy Monday. I hope your week is awesome!

Hugs, 

Stevie