Pretend

Give Yourself a Timeout

Jeanna GLeave a comment

When we were kids and did something wrong, we’d get a timeout. “Go sit over there and think about what you did wrong. You can come back when you know how to act right.” Oftentimes I am so busy taking care of other things and people that I forget to take care of myself. Sure I eat and shower and whatnot, but am I also nurturing my social, spiritual, and emotional wellness? Am I taking the time to remember who I am and to honor myself by doing what I truly enjoy?

As a kid, I loved being outside. There was so much to take in, so much to feel and wonder about. My daughter and I went on vacation to a lake house with our friends this past weekend. Together we floated in the lake, warmed by the sun and cooled by the water, talking and laughing, rolling over the wake sent our way by the passing boats. The sky stirred our imaginations as we watched the clouds morph into different shapes, wondered about the low-flying helicopters, pretended to be birdwatchers who knew the difference between an egret and a heron, oohed over the distant fireworks, and were mesmerized by the full moon rising and the way its reflection reached across the water to touch us. We breathed the fresh air and felt a close affinity for the world around us. I played, it made me happy, and now I feel recharged and ready for whatever’s next.

Do you forget who you are sometimes, too? It’s time to be your own wellness coach, so blow the whistle and give yourself a timeout! What do you miss doing? Think about it and then go act right!

Figment

Jeanna G2 Comments

While coaching volleyball one night this summer, we had only 6 girls show up to play. I said, “I guess I’ll just be over on the bench by myself this match!” One of the players replied, “Nah, your imaginary friend can keep you company!”

What she doesn’t know is that, when I was a child, I had a whole imaginary crew to keep me company. Despite being the youngest of five kids growing up in my house, I did a lot of playing on my own. Except, I didn’t sound like I was alone because I was usually talking to my good friend, Tommy. No one else could see or hear him, but he was very real to me. He even drove a red blazer!

I don’t know how I had time for Tommy though, because I was very busy raising my thirteen kids in the land of make-believe. Maybe I heard one too many nursery rhymes about women living in shoes, otherwise I have no clue where else that whopper of a storyline could have come from. Now I don’t think I ever blamed Tommy when I got in trouble, but people sure did start to wonder what his relationship was with my kids.

I overheard my daughter talking to herself the other day, so I peeked around the corner to see if maybe she had a Tommy of her own. She was dancing, jumping around, and laughing, so I thought it must be her imagination running wild in there! Then I heard another voice and realized she was on FaceTime with a friend. Strange as it seems, I was somewhat disappointed that I was wrong! Well, I’m not disappointed that her friends are not figments of her imagination, I just hope that she’s allowing her imagination to reach its full potential.

Around the same time that I was hanging out with Tommy, I was fascinated with the Disney character named Figment. He was a purple dragon-like creature who would put on a multitude of disguises and use his imagination to discover all sorts of things. Maybe Figment is why I still can’t make up my mind about who I want to be when I grow up. Why be one thing when you can be so much more (or at least pretend to be)?

Coffeehouse Fill

Jeanna G3 Comments

Many themes cross my mind when I think of high school, but one of the more prominent ones is what I consider the heyday of coffeehouses. Of course it was not the most popular time in the existence of coffeehouses, but in my world, it was.

The shows I watched were Friends, Seinfeld, and Frasier. Each of those shows featured a coffeehouse, cafe, or coffeeshop. And yes, there’s a difference between the three. But what they all have in common is, they weren’t the kind of place you’d drive up to and get your order from a window. Instead, you’d saunter in, order, and hangout.

What was also popular in my circle in high school was learning to play the guitar, or some other instrument that was good for a band. This went hand-in-hand with the popularity of coffeehouses when it came to open-mic nights. The two, together, were a match made in heaven. It helps that my high school sweetheart is who I’d go watch sing and play.

I loved the atmosphere of a coffeehouse back then. The aromas, the lighting, the local artwork. People sat to chat…together. They’d order their giant mugs of cafe au lait, and talk, face-to-face in a non-virtual realm, about whatever came to mind. There weren’t any zooms or smart phones getting in the way of genuine, 3-D interaction. I loved the sounds of the milk steamer, cups to saucers, quiet conversations, and coffeehouse music.

The ironic aspect of this story is that I didn’t drink coffee when I frequented coffeehouses. Now I can’t seem to live without it, and I haven’t been to coffeehouses in decades. When I was in college, I literally rolled pennies to be able to afford what I needed. That had a huge impact on how I spend money these days. Buying a cup of coffee is a treat, not a daily expense. I didn’t actually start drinking coffee until I was 27, and my job as an office manager involved making coffee for the staff. The hazelnut smelled too good to not try. And try again. And try a few more times after that. A couple of stints later, I was a barista for Seattle’s Best at a Borders Bookstore. I loved it, mainly for the organic, fair trade no. 4 with caramel, and my lovely co-worker, Katie. I also loved being immersed in the scents of fresh-brewed coffee and brand new books. Since the bookstore closed, I haven’t had my coffeehouse fill. Maybe I should open my own coffeehouse? That’s probably an idea I should let steep for awhile. In the meantime, I can play pretend at home.

My Coffeehouse

To create my own coffeehouse, I ordered an espresso maker to add to my two drip pots. I buy espresso ground coffee from a local company, and use different flavors of Torani syrup to add sweetness. I’ve learned how tasty honey is in a cold brew, so I buy local liquid gold from the general store. My eclectic mug collection adds some personality. To top it all off, I made myself a Spotify playlist with artists like Natalie Merchant, Des’ree, Indigo Girls, U2, and Putomayo to help set the mood. Now I just need to learn the guitar and gather an audience. For now I think I’ll just sip on my brews and type out my thoughts.