Tag Archives: Amazing Women

Day of Rest

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Amanda on Kind Over Matter shared this video in her Friday’s Lovelies list this week. It’s described this way:

Shot in Fire Island, New York, this film (4min. 23 sec) captures the secrets of eternal youth as Maia Helles, a Russian ballet dancer turns 95 but still remains resolutely independent, healthy and as fit as a forty year old. Made by Julia Warr, artist and film maker met Maia on a plane 4 years ago and became utterly convinced by the benefits of her daily exercise routine, which Maia perfected, together with her Mother, over 60 years ago, long before exercise classes were ever invented. (2011)

The video never shows the ocean, but but the wind, sound, light, worn wood, and plant life make me sure Maia lives in a cottage by the beach. Maybe not within sight of it, but certainly within walking distance. If you added writing and reading, some long walks, and a few dogs and maybe a cat to this video, and it would be exactly the life I dream of for myself when I’m old and and possibly living alone (without another person, that is, dogs and/or cats are essential, so not truly “alone”).

Maia says at the end of the video “My secret to long life is simplicity, work, and enjoyment.” What is your secret to living fully, to having your best life? If you aren’t already “there,” if you don’t yet know, what one small thing can you do today to start the long walk into that dream? Do just one small thing, something simple, even if it’s just to identify what you want and allow yourself to daydream about it, identify it, name it and call it.

You and I, dear reader, deserve the best, a long and healthy and happy life. We are worthy, we deserve it, and we have permission (a duty?) to be our truest self, to live our best life. As the beautiful Mary Oliver, another glorious and brilliant older woman, asks in her poem The Summer Day: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?“

Joy Jam

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What were the 3-5 things that gave you joy this week?

1. Spring weather. Spring Break is next week at CSU and I have the fever because the weather has been so nice! The birds are everywhere, making all kinds of noise, and things are starting to green up. This is what the sky over my backyard looks like right now, (I just want to sit under it and stare):

2. Time spent with friends. I have some gems, seriously. This week it was coffee and life strategizing in the sun with one, an accidental lunch with another, and lunch and a movie with a friend who lives in Nashville, so I don’t get to see her as much as I’d like.

3. Superior ranking on my yearly evaluation. This isn’t about pride, ego, or needing external validation (much), but having my good work rewarded, (we are getting raises for the first time in a few years, and the higher your ranking, the more of a raise). It’s also a confirmation that I am doing what I “should,” and that it’s valued.

4. Fruit Salad. Luscious and juicy and sweet: yum.

5. Communally taught yoga class. The person who was supposed to teach this morning overslept and didn’t show up, so we led ourselves. One person started, and then we all jumped in at various times, adding a pose or series. It was awesome.

Bonus Joy: Blackout poetry on old business cards. These are one of the things I didn’t burn in a cleansing ceremony after leaving my old job (which technically is the same position I have now, just a slight shift in responsibilities–I’m now simply an Editor, and not for Writing@CSU), and I’ve always thought I would eventually do some sort of art project with them. This morning, I had two ideas, one being blackout poetry to cover over the old print. Here’s my first one (with an original card slid behind for comparison, to show you a bit of what is getting covered over):

Stay,
bringing attention

With time to consider,
recall vividly

We are all seeking the good life
Each of us calls it by some different name

Friend, call it
Know
Find out

Happy, happy Friday to you, dear reader!