Friday Health & Wellness 🌻
Make Room for What Makes You Smile

Today, the birds outside my tower window were putting on a show.

Crows, juncos, starlings, sparrows, and two visitors from the woodpecker family. They were flying past my windows, hopping through the cedar, and making trips up to my roof. One woodpecker even decided to peck on the side of my townhouse.

Apparently, he had work to do, too. 🤣

My grandcats, Musty and Ghini, were trying to keep up from their windows. Heads turning, eyes following every movement. And there I was, trying to take pictures between patient calls.

Pretty Boy, my Steller’s jay, kept making quick appearances when I couldn’t reach for my camera. I wanted one good portrait, but he was operating on his own schedule. 🤣

It was a good reminder for me.

I still had pain.
I still had questions about my health.
I still had things I was waiting to hear about.

And I had something to smile about.

Sometimes we get so focused on what needs to be fixed that we put enjoyment off. We tell ourselves we’ll relax when we have an answer. We’ll feel better when the appointment is over. We’ll make time for something we enjoy once everything settles down.

But how long are we going to make ourselves wait?

Today, I enjoyed my birds while the questions were still unanswered. I laughed at my cats while my body still hurt. Later, I stretched out on my couch and enjoyed the air coming through my window.

Those moments belonged in my day, too.

When I think about caring for my health and well-being, I want to remember to make room for the things I enjoy. There is room for the appointments and responsibilities, and there needs to be room for living.

What makes you smile?

Maybe it’s a favorite song.
A conversation with someone who understands you.
Your pet doing something ridiculous.
A flower blooming.
A good cup of coffee.
A quiet moment with no one asking you for anything.

It doesn’t have to cost money or require a whole afternoon. Sometimes it means looking up long enough to notice what is already there.

And some days, enjoyment may be harder to find. We don’t need to turn that into another reason to criticize ourselves. We can simply leave a little room for it when it comes.

Tonight, I encourage you to ask yourself: What have I enjoyed lately? Have I been making time for it?

We don’t have to wait for everything to be resolved before we allow ourselves a good moment.

Today, mine had feathers, fur, and absolutely no respect for my photography schedule. 🤣

From Lady Flava in Her Tower 🌻