What's On My Nightstand

Last month my blog was a hot button: Why I Left The Right. And next month’s blog will probably be a tropical Facebook storm because I’ve been wanting to write something on the Gay Issue. But not before I have my last Chick-Fil-A. Just kidding! Or am I??? July has enough heat of its own, so I’m not going to add to the barometric opinion pressure. However, once again, I’m going to bare my soul. This shouldn’t get me into too much trouble. Nobody will probably de-friend me over this month’s topic….drum roll please…What’s On My Nightstand. 

Where do I even begin? Let me just start by saying I can’t even see dust! 

1)   1-bottle of Smart Water to make me smart of course, duh!

2)   4-scrunches for my hair when it gets hot and I can’t stand it on my neck anymore. And because I am too lazy to put them away in the bathroom downstairs.

3)   1-pair of blue fluffy socks. It’s July in Chicago—the AC runs 24/7.

4)   Count’em, 3-remote controls. I won’t bore you what they are for.  

5)   1-coaster that I hate to the core of my being. If I have anything with ice in it, the coaster will stick to the glass. Then a condensation waterfall will inevitably spill on me or the bed. I’ve had these cheap coasters since we’ve moved in 7 years ago. I am still looking for the perfect coaster to match my nightstand (which you can’t even see).

6)    Random post-it notes to remind me of a great quote to file. My favorite one that pertains to me would be: 'Don't own too much clutter that you will be relieved to see your house catch fire.' 

7)    1-card from Rich that had to do with wine and chocolate and other stuff you probably don’t want to hear about.

8)      1-Saje essential oil peppermint halo wand (it looks like a pen). I found it while in Vancouver BC in June. Thanks to fluctuating perimenopausal hormones and heat, I have had more headaches this summer. Take the halo wand or any pure peppermint essential oil and put a drop on your temples and then around the base of your skull. It works wonderfully. Just wash your hands afterwards so you don’t blind yourself when you forget and touch your eyes. That advice was free! Your welcome!

9)        1-compression wrap for my finger when I busted it in May.

10)   1-black charger for iPad and iPhone. This comes in handy when I forget to plug in my electronics downstairs. However, I have to remember to bring the iPhone and iPad upstairs. I do dislike the reddish glow one tiny speck of light from the power button gives my bedroom. The jury is out on whether it’s staying.

11)     3-yoga music CD’s. 2-Meditation CD’s I have yet to upload into my computer and on to my iPod. First I need to make space on my 5 yr. old iPod, so what’s the point? The CD’s are there to remind me to finish that task soon.  

12)  1-picture of my nephew Thomas that I found in a yoga book. I read it two years ago while in AZ for training. Thomas gave me the picture and I used it as a bookmarker. Thomas is in his hockey uniform. I haven’t seen him since this picture was taken and I miss him.

13)  2-yoga books: 1-on philosophy and 1-yoga therapy book on Hips & Shoulders. Those books  I’m actually reading.

14)   Earplugs (cuz Rich snores).

15)   1- Band-Aid that has been there since God only knows. My memory is a little foggy as I  approach 50. My best guess is it was used to protect a fingernail that needed to be saved in the morning.

16) 1Basket -You may be wondering what the heck is in the basket? I am too. It is full of   miscellaneous items that found a long-term home: Meaning there is more dust.

a)    My Gratitude Journal. I try to write in it 5 things I’m grateful for a day. However, I write more like once or twice a week in it. Not because I’m not grateful, it’s because I’m well…where is my phone??

b)   1-brochure of a yoga studio in town. 4-yoga DVD’s that I’ve yet to review: Yoga Fit Level 1, and Gaiam’s Detox and Flow Yoga, Relax & Restore, and Yogalosophy. That’s a yogalotastuff.

c)    My favorite book on parenting: The Parent’s Tao Te Ching, Ancient Advice for Modern Parents by William Martin. I wish I ‘d had this book when I was raising Kevin. I would have been a better parent. But it’s never too late. I still read it just to remind myself to back-off whenever my natural co-dependent ways want to kick in again. Page 43: ‘If you push your Children they will lose their balance. If you are always running them here and there, they will get nowhere. If you put them in the spotlight, they will be unable to see their own light. If you seek to impose upon them your own ideas of who they should be, they will become nothing. If you want them to thrive, do what you can for their safety, and let go.’

d)     God Calling. I forget who wrote it and I’m too lazy to move all the stuff to look. It’s kind of like Come Away My Beloved if you like that style of writing. I do when I need to be reminded of the Heavenly Father’s Love.

e)    New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton. I’ve never met that Thomas so I don’t miss him. Thomas Merton is like C.S. Lewis to me: heady. I have to read him slowly, one paragraph at a time, and remind myself that I’m not obtuse. His deep heart for Christ, social justice, and pacifism strikes a cord in my want-to-be mystic bones.

f)     1-journal on Intentions. As an assignment for a school project last year, I had to start the day setting an intention and keeping track of them. I didn’t write everyday, but pretty close. It really taught that when I do that, my day felt purposeful. If I had only set an intention to clean off my nightstand.

Lastly, my reading glasses would be delicately placed each night like a Jenga block on top of this disorderly pile of unstable clutter. But I’m using them at the moment. Upon reflection and looking at my nightstand, I don’t know whether to disappear in shame now that everyone knows what a slob I am or if I should laugh because most of the time I don’t really give a shit? I go back and forth. Luckily, I didn’t find any leftover food or melted chocolate. And the good news is soon the nightstand will see the light of day and Pledge. In a few weeks, my friend, Pam, from NJ is coming for a visit.  The following week, Maddi and Kevin are coming home. Maddi has never been a guest in our house. I’ll have to pretend that I have a spotless house until she really gets to know me!! :-D