What's Wrong With A Little Solitude?

Solitude...the word means different things to different folks.

Some people find the idea of solitude puzzling and some find it downright scary. For me, solitude is like a cool lake...refreshing and renewing. It was with this need for rest and renewal that I chose to spend a few days in complete solitude. The plan was simple, take a few days for myself with some general goals in mind but with no true structure.

It has been interesting to me the reactions I have received in my quest for solitude.

I have been made to feel guilty...

"You are leaving your children?" (They are teenagers and young adults). "You are leaving your husband?" (Only for a couple of days and yes I do love him!)

I have apparently caused worry...

Is something wrong? Are you OK? Is there something you need to tell me? (From my mom who worries about everything...and yes all is well.)

I have received comments that show that some are puzzled...

"What will you do all by yourself? (Whatever I want, thank you very much!)

I have even been the source of envy...

"I would love to be able to be by myself for a few days! (So why don't you take the time?)

I sat out on the deck looking over the lake at our condo this morning drinking my coffee and watching the birds and looking for deer. As I sat, I worked through some personal goals for myself and my family. I planned ways I can be more present as a mom and wife. I thanked God for the wonderful family I had back at home. They did not make me feel guilty...well just a little (smile).

At the end of my few days of solitude I will be bombarded by my husband and five teenagers for the long holiday weekend. I know now I will be ready for them! We will go boating, jetskiing and tubing. We will grill out and play card games. It will be loud and active and I will love every moment of it!

But for today...I will drink another cup of coffee and enjoy....SOLITUDE!

Welcome Spring!

Spring has been slowly emerging over the last few weeks. The end of a long, cold winter and the start of a brand new beautiful season. This year, more than most, I have been eagerly awaiting its arrival and examining the progress almost daily. Which tree will begin to flower first? How long will it take for the forsythia to fill out with brilliant yellow? When will my garden herbs become full and fragrant enough to add to my spring salads?







Spring is a time for new beginnings. I love new beginnings! I think my hobbies reflect this. Every new season brings new experiences and new opportunities. My grocery runs have netted, orzo and couscous for great spring salads. I have begun to bring in fresh spinach, asparagus, tomatoes and chicken for the grill. I am looking for snippets of time to head to the botanical gardens to snap photos of new spring growth.



Here is a great spring recipe for that has become a favorite in our household. Try it this weekend with some grilled chicken or salmon...

ORZO SPINACH SALAD

1 lb. orzo pasta, cooked according to package instructions

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

1 handful fresh basil, coarsely chopped

1/2-3/4 package fresh spinach leaves, coarsely torn

1 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped

8 oz. crumbled feta cheese

2 cloves garlic, chopped

DRESSING:

3/4 c. fresh lemon juice

1 TB. sugar

1 1/4 c. olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and refrigerate at least 1-2 hours to meld flavors. ENJOY!

I enjoy living in an area where I can enjoy the changing seasons. As beautiful as some warm climates are, I would miss this quarterly change. I welcome the chance to start anew four times a year. Soon, I will be embracing shorts and flip flops. I will spend long, lazy days at the lake and drink in the smell of suncreen. Then the crisp cool evenings of fall will creep in with colorful leaves and the scent of bonfire in the air.




But for now, I am happy to welcome spring pushing forward out of the winter.

What's Your Passion?

Over the last few years I have heard talk show hosts, reporters, and authors encourage us to find our passion. It seems that my life will only be complete if i am living out my passion. Well this admonishment has had me stumped for awhile. See, I have passions. The problem, as I see it, is not a lack of passion. in fact, my problem is that I have too many passions!

So then what? None of these so called experts have been able to resolve my questions about how to incoroporate too many passions into an already crazy life. I have found myself over the years dabbling in a little of this and a little of that without fully committing to any.

I have pursued education and completed two degrees in different fields. I enjoy both careers and have difficulty choosing between the two. i have pursued photography, cooking, and scrapbooking to such a degree that I could make each of them a career.

I am an avid reader and anyone who knows me knows that I always have my Kindle charged with plenty of books to keep me well entertained. I have been even been teased that Amazon should pay me a salary for the number of converts I have made to this handy device. I enjoy writing and have the solid beginnings of a fiction novel in place.

I absolutely love to travel and have planned many trips for the family as well as organized some corporate travel events.

What do I do with all of these varied passions? Why can't I simply choose one path? I struggle to give up one hobby in favor of another. This is when the idea of creating a blog occurred to me. By creating a blog, maybe I can inspire others and gain some inspiration for myself.

So...is there anyone out there who enjoys many hobbies and has difficulty selecting? What's your passion?