Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Look for the Robins

****Crisp! Yeah, that's what it was this Sunday... a crisp 18 degrees! Fresh and dry, no humidity, not one molecule! In the Summer when the humidity is 80%  you don't get to experience the joy of becoming your own science experiment.  You know what I mean... how long will the bolt of blue lightening be this time as I unwittingly reach for the door of my car! ZAP! Wow, that was exhiliarating! It's so crisp that... thats what your face becomes when you spend more then 5 minutes the delightful fresh air.
**** And the birds, dodging that beautiful Cooper's Hawk (the one who wants to have them for breakfast). That's how they get their exercise and keep warm.  He just keeps them on their toes. Unfortunately, as they're fleeing to save their lives their beaks and heads are what slam into my window, not their toes!
****Just look at that adorable, fluffy little squirrel. She's so friendly. She lets me run right up to her, waving my arms wildly, making a spectacle of myself, before she reluctantly unhinges her teeth from the suet I put out for the hungry woodpeckers!
****Then there's that cute little kitty. I love cats almost as much as I love dogs. Funny thing though, I never saw a dog hide out scheming under my porch steps trying to figure out the best way to bat one of my favorite Carolina Wrens right out of the air! Uughrr!!
****All tongues-in-cheeks aside, complaining gets us nowhere. Too bad its so much fun. I know a trick though that works for me when I'm feeling, shall we say... Uughrrr! Actually, its kind of a game.
****Now you can't go from sobbing to giggling unless you're schizophrenic, but you can purposely catch yourself feeling lousy and challenge yourself to do something about it. Its hard to remember that you can feel better especially if you have trodden a rut in the road to Yukville. Its a familiar trail. But, if you can remember once, you can intentionally climb out of the doldrums anytime. Here's how...
****Think of something you like. Not something you like that you can't have (that's the road back to Yukville). Think happy, think memory of a good time or a good feeling. Think of someone you love or something funny the kids said. If you're really down there you might just have to get mad. Rant and "uughrr"
your way to frustration. (It feels a lot better than grief or despair.) From mild annoyance you can pick up the binoculars and distract yourself into o.k-ness. There's always something going on out there to take your mind off your troubles, at least until your in a better frame of mind to deal with them. Uh-oh, there's that @#^&*/
cat again! Maybe a little upbeat music instead! Bundle up and take the dog for a walk. Watch a funny movie.
Sit by the window and watch for frozen people out walking their dogs and laugh at them. Pet your INSIDE
cat. Exercise releases those good feeling brain-chemical endorphins. Exercise! Ugh...Guilt...back to Yukville!
****Today the first thing I saw as I opened my front door this morning was a flock of about 50 Robins. What a beautiful, hopeful sight! They began to sing like they do in the evening in early Summer. There will be Spring!  Remember: The warm sun is always shining. However, it may currently be temporarily obscured by a Nor'easter.