WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR DECEMBER 2022

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  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,906 Member
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    Snowflake1968 wrote: »
    Machka - what a lot of work your dry stream has been, I can’t wait to see the finish.
    Your nose is healing well.
    I like your manner of setting goals.

    Tracey in Edmonton

    Thank you!

    Most of the time involved in the dry stream has been waiting.
    Waiting for the weekend to work on it.
    Digging.
    Waiting for a dry weekend!
    Re-digging because a torrential rainfall caused things to collapse.
    More digging.
    Waiting while my biopsies healed.
    More digging.
    Waiting while my surgeries healed.

    I'm so thrilled that I've finally got to this base gravel step!!

    I'm now waiting till our gravel place opens again after the Christmas break so I can get river rock.

    Machka in Oz

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,906 Member
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    Machka9 wrote: »
    If you're interested in the Action for Happiness Calendar ...
    Do Good December
    This month, we're encouraging you to carry out small acts of kindness.
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    https://actionforhappiness.org/calendar

    Or we could post something we're thankful for, or happy about, related to the holiday season.

    December 1 - I love the Christmas music. :) Come December 1, that's almost all I play. Christmas music or classical music (when I have to think at work or when we're in the car).

    December 2 - Christmas decorations! We're lagging behind a bit because I usually like to decorate on December 1. But we got the decorations upstairs on Dec 2. Today I'll rearrange furniture and make a start.

    December 3 - Summer. My favourite season. And we are finally having a few days of decent weather after a very wild and woolly spring. That's not saying the good weather will last (thanks La Nina) but there should be more of it.

    December 4 - Memories. So many of the Christmas songs and traditions remind me of my parents and grandparents and happy Christmases with them.

    December 5 - Christmas Displays. I like how many of the shops have Christmas Displays, and some are quite detailed and intricate.

    December 6 - Greetings. People smiling and wishing each other Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

    December 7 - Shortbread. So much delicious shortbread!

    December 8 - Family. Christmas seems to bring us together a bit more.

    December 8 - Trees. All over the world, millions of people are putting up trees in their houses and work places and decorating them. :)

    December 9 - Sparkly Things. I love how everything becomes sparkly at this time of year.

    December 10 - Yummy Things. Mince tarts and cookies. Fudge. Special Chocolates. All sorts of nibbles that only come out at this time of year.

    December 11 - Colours. Reds and greens and a few other combinations out everywhere.

    December 12 - Christmas Stories. Twas the Night Before Christmas. A Christmas Carol. Jesus Birth.

    December 13 - Wrapping things up, and I don't just mean presents.

    December 14 - The Christmas songs I know by heart. I sang them to myself during my surgery to help keep me calm and focusing on something else.

    December 15 - Rest. Except for one Christmas, I think I have had a holiday time over every other Christmas. Today I'm on enforced rest.

    December 16 - Comfort. Christmas is usually a comfortable time of year for me. In Canada it was about going out in the cold to shop or ski and then coming home and curling up in warm, cozy clothes. Here it's about spending time in the warm sunshine, at the beach, in the garden or right now, looking at the lovely outside from inside.

    December 17 - Joy. Christmas has usually been a joyful time for me ... probably mainly to do with being able to take a break.

    December 18 - Pretty. It's such a pretty time of year and people seem to go to lengths to make everything pretty.

    December 19 - Movies. Last night we watched 2 Christmas movies. I get a kick out of them and can just relax and enjoy them. I've got 3 of the ones on the Bingo card below. :)

    December 20 - Home ... or away. Either way, Christmas is a time to be somewhere I feel comfortable.

    December 21 - Fun. I usually relax a bit more around Christmas and make a point of doing things for fun!

    December 22 - Exercise. Christmas has usually been a time when I get extra exercise! In Canada, I was out skiing and snowshoeing. Here I'm usually out cycling, running and walking.

    Unfortunately, I'm not as active this Christmas. But I'm pushing for a bicycle ride this weekend. :)

    December 23 - Health. Christmas is usually a time to regroup and regain my health through sleep, exercise, and eating better.

    December 24 - Love.

    December 25 - Jesus' birth.

    December 26 - Silent Night. It's quieter here than usual.

    December 27 - These in between days when there's nothing much to do. :)

    December 28 - Gardening

    December 29 - Warmth and sunshine

    December 30 - Time ... time to work on things at home, time to rest.

    December 31 - Reflection.

    :heart:

    Just saw your post, Barbara ...

    :heart:
    auntiebk wrote: »
    Aha, finally found a December daily gratitude calendar.
    https://www.spacewiseorganizing.com/december-gratitude-challenge/
    “This time of year, there’s a lot of pressure to think about what we want instead of what we have. Every day for the month of December, celebrate what you’re grateful for corresponding to the theme of the day. Snap a photo or update your status on IG or FB with #spaceforgratitude”
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    1 What is something that makes you laugh? Rhody! We're so very glad we got our little COVID Cat!

    2 Something about the current season you’re grateful for. Rest. There will be a lot of rest over Christmas.

    3 What about your body do you love/are you grateful for? I like my nose and want to keep it. But my official answer will be legs - for transport (walking) and recreation (cycling).

    4 Who is someone in your life that you’re grateful for? I've said husband and parents last month, and that's true, but this month I'll say ... my manager. She has been supportive and encouraging regarding my input into my job.

    5 What is a book that changed your life? The Bible. :) With the Christmas season in mind, I'm reading the gospel of Luke now.

    6 Think about something you’re good at. I think I'm good at planning and organisation.

    7 What is a lesson you’re grateful you learned? To speak up. To say my piece.

    When I was young, up till about 17-ish, I was quiet and shy. Then I went through a bolder phase from about 17 into my early 20s. Then the quiet shyness resumed for the most part until my husband's accident. And then the bold me reappeared!

    Where I once guessed what people might be thinking and thought my answers, now I'm vocal and even told I'm quite blunt. :smiley:

    8 A basic need that has been met. Shelter. I'm very thankful for our particular shelter.

    9 What are you most grateful for in the city/town where you live? The proximity to both mountains and beaches. :)

    10 What rejection in your life are you most grateful for? Oh that's an interesting question. Either there haven't been many or I don't remember them but I'm drawing a blank. Although ... about 18 months or so ago, I didn't get a job I was going for and thought I wanted. I think I prefer the one I have now. I think it is providing me with more opportunities for experience and learning.

    11 Something you use every day. A coffee cup to hold my morning coffee. :)

    12 Something you don’t need anymore. What don't I need anymore? Perhaps some of the time consuming traditions like writing the Christmas letter, doing Christmas cards, heaps of baking ...

    And outside of Christmas, I'm making choices that work for me. Picking and choosing what I want to do ... and don't want to do. I'm grateful I can make a few more of those choices.

    13 Refuge – space you love in your home - my chair. I bought a wing chair about a year or so ago and it's my spot.

    14 Item of clothing - rain jacket. Because it appears that it isn't going to stop raining! Also comfy pjs. :)

    15 Taste - I am grateful that I still have a sense of taste. That was one thing my husband lost with his brain injury.

    16 Touch - I'm glad for my smooth, comfortable bed where I've been spending a lot of time.

    17 Smell - Love the smell of our roses.

    18 Sound - Thoroughly enjoying the sound of the Christmas music I play all day long. :)

    19 Sight - I'm appreciating sight after spending the last 5 days without glasses!! I can wear my glasses for a little while now but have to take a break after even just a minute or so.

    20 Texture - the smooth creamy texture of chocolates, the melt in the mouth texture of shortbread. :)

    21 Color - All sorts of Christmas colours!!

    22 A song that makes you happy. Jesus Loves Me.

    23 Type of weather you love. Sunshine and warmth.

    24 Professional who helps you. That would be my surgeon!

    25 Something you take for granted. The love of my family. Not that I take them for granted but that I know they will always love me. :heart:

    26 A TV show that you look forward to watching. Midsommer Murders. We'll start watching it again after the Christmas season. They'll play 150 reruns of it, so it's nice to take a break and watch Christmas movies and then we'll look forward to seeing it later.

    27 A movie you watch over and over. A Christmas movie would be Scrooge with Alistair Sim. :)
    But actually, I have a little collection of Christmas movies on DVD and I watch them every year.

    A non-Christmas movie would likely be Princess Bride.

    28 An opportunity you’re grateful you had. Ooo. Many of them! In the past year, the jobs I've had.

    29 A place you love to visit. For the past nearly 5 years ... an area of northern Tasmania where the land is relatively flat and good for cycling.

    I'd love to visit other places but of course we still can't leave Tasmania.

    30 A tool you find incredibly useful. My laptop!! And outside, my little shovel.

    31 A daily habit you’re happy you’ve cultivated. Reading my Bible.


    Machka in Oz


  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,906 Member
    edited December 2022
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    December walking total. Didn't make the 50 km this month because of surgery, but that's OK.
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    2022 Monthly December
    Walking/Running Distance (km): 41.7
    Walking/Running Time (min): 521.8
    Cycling Distance (km): 109.3
    Cycling Time (min): 353.4
    Flights Stairs Climbed Number: 37.0
    Flights Stairs Climbed Time (min): 26.6
    Other Time: 120.0 (Gardening)

    Totals
    Total Distance (km): 151.1
    Total Distance (miles): 93.9
    Total Time (min): 1021.8
    Total Time (hr): 17:01:47

    Total walking for 2022
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    Total cycling for 2022
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    The images are from Strava. :)

    Machka in Oz
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,906 Member
    edited December 2022
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    Highlights in 2022
  • kymarai
    kymarai Posts: 3,611 Member
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    Welcome Carol from Mexico! We are a chatty group so don't feel like you have to comment on everything, but jump in often. You won't find a more supportive group of women from all around the world. My DH has all those medical issues as you. I try to make sure he has a few healthy meals around his not so healthy snacking. Medicine kept the AFIB in control up until this past year when it didn't. In September he finally quit smoking cigars and in November he had an ablation that has been successful so far. Both those things slowed his heart down and now he has put on a few extra pounds that need to come off for the other health reasons. Walking is absolutely the easiest form of exercise and requires not special equipment or even space (though walking outdoors has more benefits). I too struggle with water intake (actually any beverage intake). I do the best I can. I change up my cups often for different experiences. The threads run monthly with the new link showing up at the end of the month. Just watch for it, so that you can keep in touch. Bookmarking the page helps find it again easily. Welcome!

    I needed a little quiet apparently this morning. Woke up early. Moved more Christmas to the dining room to pack up. Trying to figure out what else I need to move from my spaces for less clutter look and easier dusting. Already my living room feels calmer.

    Here's to a New Year full of Love, Health, and Adventures!

    <3
    Kylia in Ohio
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,906 Member
    edited December 2022
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    Highlights in 2022 ... using a wellness wheel for reference with a possible suggestion of what each element of the wellness wheel might mean.

    Physical - Exercise, Diet, Sleep:
    The ability to recognize that our behaviors have a significant impact on our wellness and adopting healthy habits (routine check-ups, balanced diets, exercise) while avoiding destructive ones.
    As above, I exercised 303 days of the year.
    We completed the longest ride since my husband's accident and the fastest.
    I also ran a 10K.
    I've had more sleep this year. :)
    Skin cancer was spotted ... and dealt with.
    I got a new doctor.

    Environmental
    The ability to make a positive impact on our environment, be it in our workplace, our communities, or our planet. Decluttering a room, recycling the trash, or emptying the dishwasher are all small ways we can contribute to promoting a clutter-free, cleaner, organized, and more productive living space and calm home environment. Staying environmentally conscious by educating yourself about global environmental issues, taking care of the environment, and creating spaces that are conducive to positive emotions are other ways to focus on your environmental wellness.
    Lots of work in the garden which has been a great stress relief and we've had the joy of seeing so many flowers and lots of fruit and veg. In addition, I've learned a lot!
    We've also made some good headway on projects that have and will make garden care easier in the future. For example, we completed laying gravel for paths and the patio. We also gravelled an awkward triangular-shaped area which just seemed to grow weeds. Now it is a useable area and my husband has pots of red hot pokers on the way there.

    Finance and Occupational
    Our ability to understand our financial situation and taking care of it in such a way that you are prepared for financial changes. Our desire to contribute in our careers to make a positive impact on the organizations we work in and to society as a whole. Budgeting, keeping financial health in mind, and finding the right job for you all fall under occupational wellness.
    I've had 3 jobs this year! The tail end of one job, a 6-month term position and my new job. Ups and downs but a big learning experience!! And these jobs have been an advancement upon the job I had held.

    Social
    Our ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. Keeping a strong network of people that you feel connected to is key to your social wellness and can help fend off feelings of stress, isolation, loneliness, or even depression. Participating in group activities alongside family or friends, joining organizations, being open to new connections, and respecting and nourishing meaningful relationships is key to healthy social wellness.
    Our first granddaughter was born. :)
    We've also started to build relationships and connections within the beekeeping community, and continue to do so within our cycling community and brain injury community.

    Emotional
    Our ability to acknowledge and share feelings of anger, fear, sadness, or stress; hope, love, joy, and happiness in a productive manner. With a strong foundation in emotional health, you leave yourself better equipped to adapt to any of life’s changes and cope with stress. This category could include self-care, saying no, and reaching out for help.
    The first 6 months of the year were pretty stressful, but moving to my next job helped.
    So did gardening and starting an almost daily habit of walking Rhody when I got home from work.
    And colouring ... loving colouring.
    I've also really enjoyed having about 3 weeks off work over this Christmas season. Granted, some of it was recovery from surgery, but it has been so nice to just rest.

    Spiritual
    The ability to develop congruency between values and actions and realize a common purpose that binds creation together. The spiritual wellness dimension refers to the beliefs, values, and ethics that guide you through life and inform your actions. It asks you to look inwards and explore your purpose and meaning in life through the spiritual lens to find peace.
    As mentioned a couple posts above, I've been reading the Bible every day.
    And enjoying music.
    And enjoying nature.

    Intellectual
    Desire to learn new concepts, improve skills, and seek challenges in pursuit of lifelong learning. It encourages you to stay curious, learn, and take part in creative activities to ensure your mind stays healthy and active.
    No university or other further education this year but lots of learning in new jobs, the garden and about bees.
    I've also been reading for pleasure more often.

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    And also https://www.talkspace.com/blog/wellness-wheel/ ... for tips on how to prioritise these elements.

    Machka in Oz
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,906 Member
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    Katla49 wrote: »
    DH went to the hospital late last evening via ambulance. Our daughter will take me to the hospital to see him. I hope he is doing well.

    So sorry.
    Prayers for you all.

    I am, again, glad you are there with your family.

    M in Oz
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,906 Member
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  • SophieRosieMom
    SophieRosieMom Posts: 3,353 Member
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    Kelly - sorry to hear about Chappie :( Hopefully the grands will be OK - I'm sure seeing and spending time with you again will help the whole family. <3

    Katla - sending hugs and many good thoughts your way. <3

    Hair & Thyroid - had it tested this past October, TSH is 1.27 which I think is good. Thanks to you gals with suggestions regarding Rogaine & Zenagan, I'll check them out. :D

    Rebecca - your salad looks yummy! You have nearly 10 different plants right there. ;)

    The yard and property maintenance and clean up guy is coming out this morning at 9 to give me a quote. Yesterday I noticed the huge old honeysuckle vine is pulling down a piece of privacy fencing along the shop. I propped it up with a fencepost. It's rotted at the bottom anyhow. The fencing and honeysuckle need to be removed, plus I need major pruning and some shrub removal (I think) done along the house.

    Lots to be done around here. This guy has a good reputation, has done excellent work for several of my friends. If he can get it tamed this summer, I think I can keep it up for a while. :)

    I'm working on my 2022 (and 2023) lists.

    Lanette B)
    SW WA State
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,906 Member
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  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,906 Member
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    I'm having a very quiet New Year's Eve evening awaiting the arrival of the New Year.
    My husband and Rhody have gone to sleep.
    The neighbourhood is quiet.
    I have music playing and my Christmas lights on.

    And there are 6 minutes left in 2022.

    Machka in Oz
  • kymarai
    kymarai Posts: 3,611 Member
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    Happy New Year to you!
  • grandmallie
    grandmallie Posts: 9,716 Member
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    Happy New Year Machka !!
  • ginnytez
    ginnytez Posts: 1,337 Member
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    Barbara Southern Oregon-I already have my part A card. Since I work full-time and have employer benefits I don't use medicare yet. Since I have a government retirement things are a bit different. Summary in spoiler.
    My public employee retirement system will provide me with money for an HRA when I retire, but I have to sign up for My Medicare plan through what they call their connector. I looked yesterday and I will have about 45 options. I am going to start reviewing and taking notes. I contact them 3months before and they assist with search. In terms of Social Security, I am eligible for some but windfall provisions will go into play so I won't get that full amount (government retirement is much more). When I notify SS of retirement date I can arrange to apply. I will have give them advance notice because of receiving husband's survivor benefits-but only while working full-time.You are correct-retiring inset just not showing back up at work!

    Katla-Prayers for all of you.

    Heather-I also liked the last image best. Can't explain why as well as others but it struck me as more finished.

    Machka-your yard work is outstanding. Way beyond me at this stage in my life, but we once dug a four foot deep 14 foot long pond by hand in back yard! I filled it in by hand after husband died and declared myself done with yard work except for my few rose bushes! Happy New Year to you!

    2022 Highlights-YS got married, hit one year anniversary of not smoking without weight getting totally obnoxious, got successful surgery for health issue, ending year with weight trending downward! And of course, I didn't actually do any of the things I thought of doing to some people at work!

    Carol-welcome!

    Going on my walk this morning-need to dress for the rain. Plan is to get house nice and clean for New Year, have to pay all bills and balance the check book, and of course, watch football. I have some sorting papers nd shredding sort of tasks to do while watching. Big meal item for tonight is shrimp ring for dinner. Have small pork loin frosting so I can make pork and sauerkraut tomorrow.

    Take care all,

    Ginny in Ohio

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