Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a big fan of Jamie Ridler.  On the blog Roots of She Jamie discusses her Elder Project which is fascinating to me.  This week Jamie discussed her relationship to her body and asked others to share their thoughts so that women of all ages could learn from one another.  One of the things that I have found in this stage of my life is that being strong and making sure that I am strong is very important.  Just as when I was young, looking and feeling good is very, very important to me but if I am being truthful being strong enough to live my life to the fullest is now the most important.  As a young person, I was not very in tune with my body and it was not until I was 50 that I really began working out and taking care of myself.  Now at 65, I make sure that I walk, exercise with a trainer, and do yoga each week.  It is easy to become stiff and less flexible at this age and I am doing something each day to ward that off. 
Two weeks ago, I had an experience that solidified for me the importance in what I am doing.  I live in the south where it rarely snows and if it does the snow melts in just a couple of hours.  Well, the snowed lasted for five days and I knew if I wanted to get out of the house I was going to have to shovel wet, heavy snow.  Growing up in the north, when it snowed all of the kids grabbed a shovel to go out an make money shoveling their neighbors walks and driveways.  But all of the kids in my neighborhood were too excited (and rightfully so) to want to work.  They just wanted to go out and have fun.  So I decided I could shovel my own driveway.  And I did.  I was thrilled that I did not need anyone's help and actually enjoyed the beautiful day and the cold weather. 
 I love to give advice.  If I could tell you one thing, it would be it is never too early or too late to take care of your body.  Believe me your life will be so much fuller if you do! 

It is Wednesday and time to join Jamie Ridler and the other Wishcasters and think about Jamie's prompt.  Today Jamie asked, "What do you wish to enjoy?"  I want to enjoy this time of my life.  I want to relax and enjoy each day as it comes.  I always feel that I should be doing something more with my time.  So this week I am going to make a concentrated effort to enjoy whatever I am doing and not worry about whether it is a valuable way to spend my time.   I am going to enjoy and celebrate each moment, hour, and day and see what happens.

Last week's artist date was to a furniture store.  I have been looking for new furniture for the living room for awhile.  I decided to spend just a short amount of time looking by myself.  Usually, I go with friends, get other people's opinion and then go home to think about it.  This week I decided to take my time, really look at the colors and textures and just enjoy the experience.  As I walked through the store, my eye immediately went to a Chinese red couch and chair.  There was a matching chair with greens and browns and red that I decided would look great in my room.  The real reason I was looking for something new was to help me with my back.  If any of these chairs sat just right for me, I knew that I had just bought some beautiful new furniture.  When I sat in the brown flowered chair, I knew right away this was the one for me.  I really enjoyed my artist date and shopping for furniture by myself.  One added benefit to the whole day was that since buying and sitting in the new furniture I have not gotten up once during the night because my back and legs were hurting.  So my second artist date was a huge success!!!!

On Wednesday I mentioned that I was going to renew my practice of going on an artist's date once a week.  My goal is to save Wednesday for this outing and then to write about what I did on Thursday.  I am already a day late but my motto is going to be better late than never.  This has been a very unusual week for me.  Because of the snow and ice I have not left the house since Monday.  I thought I would go crazy because I really like to get out, see people and do things.  But I found I can stay home and be ok.  I did go out to shovel and walk the dogs once before it became too icy.  Our driveway and street does not get alot of sun so the ice may be with us for at least one more day.
I was determined to still have my artist date with myself but this week it would have to be at home.  I took lots of pictures of the snow and ice and it was fun.  I have not taken any classes in photography so I have a lot to learn.  But I enjoyed being outside (on my back porch) and taking pictures.  I realize I need to learn more about lighting and how to capture the sun in all its glory.  There were so many pictures of the sun reflecting on the ice that I just couldn't get right.  But I will keep trying and maybe take a class or two.
.The picture I do like is the one of the snow on the gate.  For some reason, I am attracted to gates.  I was thinking about why this morning.  Is it because they protect us from the outside or lead the way to new adventures?  I decided it must be both.  I love to feel warm and safe at home but I also love to go places, meet new people, and learn new things. 
If you took an artist date this week or are thinking about starting the practice, I would love to hear about what you are doing.

Today, Jamie Ridler of Jamie Ridler Studios asked, "What do you wish to renew?" Last year I worked one-on-one with Jamie and it was a wonderful experience.  One of the things I started to do as a result of working with Jamie was to take an Artist Date with myself each week.  I usually went out to lunch and then to an art store or book store or I went for a walk and took pictures or to the park and drew.  I didn't do anything that cost alot of money and I go out by myself all of the time but there was something special about my weekly Artist Date which usually was on Wednesday afternoon.  As sometimes happens in life, even with things we love or enjoy, my date with myself started taking a back seat to other things.  It has been awhile since I have gone on an Artist's Date but I would very much like to renew the habit.  The only way to renew something is to start - so starting this week I am going to go on an artist date with myself and blog about it each Thursday.  If you do something like this, I would love to hear about it.

Today is my birthday and a day I want to celebrate this year.  Although I always spend time with family and friends on my birthday I really don't like the idea of getting old and so I tend to give very little time or thought to my birthday.  But this year I decided that my birthday was special and that I should celebrate it and enjoy it.  Since there is a very unusual snowstorm in our area today, I will be celebrating with my husband at home but that is special too.  The world looks so beautiful right now covered in white.  It is early and so there is noone out.  Everything is so quiet and still!  It is a perfect day to do yoga in front of the window so I can see the snow. It will be a perfect day to read or paint or write.  Nowhere to go, nothing to do.  Just a day to enjoy being home!  What could be better than that?

It is Wednesday and once again time to participate in Jamie Ridler's Wishcasting Wednesday.  Today's prompt was easy.  I wish to say yes to new opportunities. I want to jump in with both feet and grab the brass ring with all its bells and whistles.  I want to see all of the new possibilities available and have fun taking a chance and trying new things.  I want to say yes to a creative fun lifestyle and all that it has to offer.  I was going to make strong my word of the year but I just changed my mind.  My word is Yes and I am sure by using this word often my new year will be filled with many new exciting adventures.  Yes!!!