When The Storm Clears….

Hey Love Bugs!

How ya’ll feelin’? Ya’ll alright?

I took these pictures yesterday after a thunderstorm. I was sitting in my room and noticed a beautiful orange hue bathing the trees with autumn-colored leaves and the grass still wet from the passing storm in my backyard. I grabbed my phone and shuffled as quickly as I could with a recently broken toe to snap pictures to preserve this beautiful scene. Of course, my iPhone camera did not do it justice. I also have no skills in the photography department…. it’s one of those “You just had to be there!” moments.

Anyone who is reading this and lives or was in Georgia and surrounding areas around 6 -7 pm Wednesday, Oct 12^th,  you know exactly what I’m talking about! But for others, it was so beautiful and peaceful. I don’t have the proper words to express my awe at its beauty.  I was reminded by God that after every storm there are clear beautiful skies. This year has been a year of change, clarity, growth, understanding, and humility.

2022 is sprinting on by, isn’t it? In case you’re wondering… we have 18 days until Halloween, 29 days until Veteran’s Day (and my oldest son’s birthday!), 42 days until Thanksgiving, 66 days until Hannukah, 73 days until Christmas, 74 days until Kwanzaa, and 81 days until New Year’s as of today. 

I’m writing this blog while nursing a broken toe. Seriously LOL…. It happened while I was walking toward my window too quickly, and not paying attention.  I jammed my barefoot against the solid wooden base of my cat’s large scratching post that sits in front of the window. OUCH!!!!

You know that silent cry/scream where no sound comes out? Then when your voice recovers, a litany of the harshest curse words and sayings flies out like Busta Rhymes’ verse on Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now” song?  Yeah, that’s the one. For such a tiny bone, it sure has caused chaotic discomfort. I’m taking it as a sign to slow down and appreciate my present life. I’m learning to be patient and more controlled in my actions and words. I mean if breaking a toe isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is. Sheesh!!

I’ve learned so much about myself and love myself even more than I did just a year ago. I’ve grown to be very protective of myself and has resulted in re-evaluating who I allow in my space.  I study the actions and words of others and move accordingly. On my previous post, https://absolutelyshell.com/2022/09/17/when-the-sht-goes-down/, I talked about how important it is to have the right people on your team.  As the world transitions yet again, so must our personal communities. The turmoil of wars, civil unrest, inflation, domestic terrorism, corrupt governments, unemployment, catastrophic disasters due to climate change, and scammers of all kinds affects everyone daily. 

So, where does that leave us?  What do we do as the shit is continually hurled at us?

It leaves us to band together as a community. Now is not the time to be selfish and prideful. Now is the time to take it back to the days of when neighbors looked out for each other, and family was extended to close friends. We all have/had a ‘cousin’, ‘aunt’ or ‘uncle’ with zero blood relation that was at every family reunion, holiday gatherings, weddings and funerals. Family doesn’t have to be blood. Blood is not always thicker than water. And all skin folk ain’t kin folk. Ya’ll know what it is… Be alert.

It leaves us to pay attention to local, national, and international governments. Who are your local elected officials? What do they stand on? What have they done to better your community? To better your circumstance? Also, pay attention to what’s going on internationally. Living in a fishbowl is not cute.

It also leaves us to prioritize self-care. Your self-care should be tailored to your needs. I have an evolving self-care regimen. It changes according to whatever is going on in my life at that moment. I am evolving every day. I make it a practice to learn better, to know better, and to do better.

Not accepting anything less than my worth is self-care. That part wasn’t always on my self-care menu, but it’s number 1 now and cannot be demoted. As I discover the woman that I am, my standards are as high as I can dream. I deserve the best because I am the prize. It’s not because I think I’m better than everyone. It’s because I am truly seeing myself for the first time. I am appreciating who I was, who I am, and who I will be. I am where I am supposed to be as it was written long before I was formed in my mother’s womb. 

We are all right where we are supposed to be. Have faith, and courage my love bugs.

Absolutely Shell xx

https://music.apple.com/us/album/look-at-me-now-feat-lil-wayne-busta-rhymes/422045097?i=422045110