Embracing My Introversion At The B

I struggled for many years before coming to terms with and understanding my introversion.  There are many misconception about introverts out there.  The biggest one being "Introverts are unhappy".  It's quite the contrary.  I'm at one of the happiest times of my life right now and part of that is understanding what brings me happiness and re-energizes me....  Alone time, connecting with and appreciating nature, spending meaningful time with my loved ones, being creative whether it's some form of art or photography, writing, being in tune with my senses.  Something as simple as spraying my pillow with lavender spray each night and physically allowing myself to be aware of the calm it brings me.  So many years of my life were spent overlooking or even understanding how important something as minor as that can be.  How different my life is in my fifties from even just a few years ago.  I am beyond thankful everyday for where I'm at.  

Every year Craig and I go to Florida, usually sometime in February, to visit his parents and get away from the cold.  Since my "retirement" my schedule is much more flexible and an opportunity arose to spend more time in Florida this year.  Craig's parents had a cruise planned so I asked them if they minded if I could have use of their car and house while they were gone.  I've never had a vacation all to myself and the thought of a week of solitude excited me tremendously.  It also gave me the opportunity to spend an extended amount of time at Circle B (the nature preserve I love so dearly).  I would go down a few weeks before Craig and he would join me the last week I was here. 

I've been visiting Circle B daily, sometimes twice a day.  I've gone on guided tours of the preserve, explored eagle nests, hiked miles and miles everyday, had an encounter with a bobcat, listened to the owls calling "who cooks for you", listened to the alligators bellowing which makes you feel like you are in a scene from Jurassic Park, talked to other photographers along the trails who share exciting things they've seen that day.  It's nesting season for the birds so the blue herons are building nests and doing their mating dances.  Baby birds are starting to peek over nests. I watch osprey's fly over the lake and swoop down to catch a fish then land in the trees to eat. 

Everyone is so happy to be out there and will eagerly carry on conversations with you.  Newbies always have many questions.  I met a family who had heavy English accents and the kids excitedly told me they had counted 21 alligators so far.  Many people have photography/camera questions if they see you are carrying a nice camera.  Others want to know the best trails to take. 

I was told that US and World News rates Circle B as one of the top 50 places in the WORLD to view wildlife.  I have to agree. 

              

Morning Calm

I'm not one to sleep in or lay in bed in the morning.  It's a much too precious time of day to waste away.  We got a beautiful layer of new snow yesterday and throughout the night.  Still in my pj's I bundle up to take Olive outside. It's 6 degrees so I know Olive will not last long.  I grab my phone so I can snap a few photos.  Olive does a few laps around the yard, does her business and then hangs at the gate begging to come back indoors.  I'd like to stay outside a few more minutes but Olive guilt's me into heading back inside.  I'll enjoy the snow from inside today. 

Do you take time throughout your day to be good to yourself and be grateful?  I'm a firm believer in this!  Mornings are my absolute favorite time of day and a favorite time to reflect and enjoy little things.  Today it was a fat slice of my Dad's homemade bread drizzled with lavender honey from Lavender Hill Farm in Niles, a fresh orange that my aunt ships up each year from Florida, and coconut tea.  I sit here thinking about how good this bread it, knowing my Dad baked this in his Dutch oven and the honey reminds me of my visit to an incredibly beautiful lavender farm this past summer.  The orange makes me excited to visit Florida in a few weeks and I make a mental note to visit an orange farm this year while I'm there. What better way to start my day!

I read an article on FB this morning rating the worst winter states in the US.  Michigan ranked #2, even above Alaska!  This is the second winter that I have had the luxury of not having to drive to work anymore.  But for 30 plus years it was terrifying for me.  I literally had an immobilizing fear of driving that 50 miles round trip to work in winter weather.  It's so much easier for me now.  If we are getting a winter blast I just sit back, enjoy my tea and the view outside my windows.  It really is beautiful when you no longer have to be terrified of it.  I'm also extremely grateful that both of my kids and my hubby have very short drives to work. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 

I hope you have time to slow down and pamper yourself, even if it's something as simple as a slice of bread with honey.