Five Things

February might be short but it was anything but sweet! Here's how I kept going...

The morning I was writing this Substack, Judy jumped on my lap—perhaps for the last time.

Judy is the cat I told my oldest daughter she better not get when she was a junior in college. I wasn’t trying to be mean, but two of the four of us living at our home are severely allergic to cats. “She won’t be able to live here or even come here,” I said. My daughter assured me that the cat would never cross the threshold of our house.

At Christmas, Judy came. We couldn’t have our girl without her cat. We were smitten. Then at graduation, Judy came without my daughter and lived for the summer…and then stayed while my daughter lived with her grandparents, who couldn’t have a cat in their house alongside their then ailing and aged dog.

In time, Judy became friends with our dog, Tucker, to the point where she began curling up for naps in his kennel—while he stood by staring perplexed that nobody did anything about it—and provoking playful fights when he passed by corners where she waited in the shadows stalking.

Nobody had a problem with Judy—allergic or otherwise. I’m certain she had a problem with us, as Judy is the center of the universe and we didn’t always respect her role.

Judy is not to be picked up or to be a lap kitty in her perfect world. Only in the early morning on just the right day will she perhaps spend 2-3 minutes lettin you pet her while she precariously balances on your thighs.

While I realized I was experiencing the last interaction of this kind with Judy, I couldn’t hold back tears. Yes, I love this cat, and I’ll miss her. That wasn’t why I was crying, however. My soon-to-be empty lap was a reminder of the room upstairs that’s about to be empty, the home void of my daughter’s bed and childhood dresser and most of her stuff, and the mixed emotions of grief and joy that my daughter will now live in her own apartment the next state over.

Emotions were thick on my window seat as I typed these words. Upstairs in my bed lay my youngest, who was battling day two of a fever, who needed her mom. I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to help my oldest move. My heart felt conflicted, and I worked through it trying with all my might not to be angry at all that was February—a month that started with the engine on my car breaking and then came news of severe indoor air pollution in our home, medical appointments, twists and turns, and now ended with a nasty virus.

Thankfully, March is here. A new day dawns. God is still on the throne. His faithfulness is my fuel. Prayers have helped me keep my peace. Friends have lent their compassionate ears. And many lessons have been learned.

Here are a few things I’ve done to carry me across the finish line of February:

A quote I love: “Life is a journey, and if you fall in love with the journey, you will be in love forever.” — Peter Hagerty

A story I wrote: I was blessed to interview gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz for a couple of stories, one on the eight supplements he recommends for gut health and this one on three ways to boost serotonin. I learned a lot about the “happiness hormone,” but one thing that God had already been working on me about was just how important light is for health.

If you’ve followed me or been friends with me for long, you probably know I used to own a light therapy business. Using red light has helped me cope with seasonal affective disorder. A few years ago, I also started walking outside from October to March in the first hour of light to feel the cold ground on my bare feet for several minutes and to get morning light exposure. I’ve been lax this year in the habit, and it shows!

After talking to Dr. B, I’m inspired to adopt the habit year-round and bring my youngest in on the habit, too. She and I both have sleep and breathing issues. Do your own homework, but know that the science is only getting stronger—the sun is healing, especially when enjoyed as it rises and sets, along with a mid-day dose. Each time can be mere minutes. We live so much of our lives indoors, I challenge you to commit to this habit year-round. It’s warming up, so it’s the best time of year to start. I doubt you’ll want to quit once you get started and that happiness hormone starts doing its job!

Shoes I love: On the mention of grounding, I switched to minimal shoes about a year ago, and these new ones I got (on sale for more than half off!) are the best yet! They are well-made, comfortable, and cute. I bought two pair in different colors, and I have gotten so many compliments on them. If you’re new to minimal shoes, ease in slowly! Wear only for a couple hours the first time. What I love about them now that I’m used to minimal footwear is that my feet are never tired, even after a long day of walking. No, I don’t get an affiliate fee, but I wish I did! Maybe I’ll look into that. ;-)

Something I do most mornings: This is a morning exercise I truly enjoy: good, old-fashion arm circles. I feel like I’m doing a warmup in grade school P.E., but it it opens up my chest, wakes me up, and boosts my motivation. I do 10 on each side, forward and also backward while my coffee is brewing. I love stacking habits in the morning because it’s so easy to build the routine. For March, I’m going to try to incorporate it into my afternoons when my energy dips. I keep forgetting, so perhaps I’ll set an alarm.

Things I’ve learned: My youngest is learning to write an essay in homeschool. She’s also writing a novel in a separate class, so she’s been dragging her feet about any other writing in her curriculum. To encourage her, I asked her to teach the essay writing lessons to me. We were supposed to finish last week, but then she got sick. So I can only share what I’ve written so far, and she won’t share her essay with me until it’s finished (maybe she’ll let me share it with you next month!)

Given the state of my February, my mind, and her mind, how incredibly like God for this to be the subject we had to learn and write about:

The Benefits of Being Optimistic

By Amy Denney

Did you know that your outlook on life can be a self-fulfilling prophecy? Think negatively, and you’ll probably feel that way, sinking into a vicious cycle of cynicism. On the other hand, those who view the glass as half full tend to discover not only more joy in life but also to be more physically healthy, too. The way we choose to view life is more important than we realize.

Adopt optimism as your mindset and you’ll find it’s like a good night of sleep—it can make you feel better physically. One reason could be the effect it has on the immune system. Optimism helps ward off sickness and disease, and, when we are hurt, our bodies heal more quickly and efficiently with optimism. Also, studies show that optimistic people live longer than those with negative attitudes.

What more is there to say, except: He is good.

Shalom,

Amy