"It's impossible to explain certain things that are not related to regular life. What we are trying to do...we're all like that, we try to explain certain things that (are) unexplainable.

Everything that's around here, it's made out of the same material. But there is another thing, it's very important, but it's not made of the material; you see it's made of something, but it doesn't belong to this world. You see, the real world is not here."

- George Balanchine

Practice stories can become real stories, at least in my case of pretending to move. Now I am moving. Wait, I'm not moving, at least not yet. Actually, I have no idea. What I do know is my father said to be careful not to become so burdened with physical possessions that you can't do what you want, and he knows what he's talking about. During this purging process, I came across an article in Real Simple magazine about getting rid of 50 things that promised I would feel lighter and happier. So, not counting the 25 what-nots I previously gave to my students, here's to making space:

7 bags of stuff donated to Vietnam Veterans who nicely pick it up for you
2 pots returned to ex
2 books returned (and read!)
8 dresses distributed to happy new owners
3 pairs of shoes that actually made someone jump for joy!
3 tiny tables
2 broken containers
4 cute glass milk bottles I'd carted around since 2002
1 vase
1 massive fan
2 furniture items (1 cot + 1 chair left behind by former roommate)
1 pile of paper associated with a terribly "nagging task"
1 box of sidewalk chalk I'd been meaning to give my cousin's kids (apparently called my first cousins once removed)
1 bag of rosacea supplies for my dear fellow sufferer
5 shelves and the associated project
2 gifts (1 book + 1 item I shouldn't wear for several more decades)
5 expired products

Marigold. He mistook my name. The flower guy at the farmer's market flattered me. I surprised him, I think, with my ease. I actually felt like a breath of fresh air, and before I breezed on, he handed me a wild red zinnia that I shyly adored.

Origin of flirt

earlier flert, flurt ; from uncertain or unknown; perhaps Old French fleureter, to touch lightly, literally, move from flower to flower; from fleur, flower

The next day I landed in the sweetest house, one I was fantasizing buying. Its entry way was filled with these little buds all laid out on a screen like I'd never seen before. Dried marigold (calendula) is favored in natural health remedies and now by me. I wish I understood these things. Sometimes I wonder if God is just checking our attention. Actually, I think they're signs that he's  paying attention.

It has something to do with noticing. And being noticed. It all seemed so abundant when I went towards this place I already love, someplace I long to go. Like God's saying I'm here. Come here and you'll find me. I'll find you. We'll know each other in this magical land of marigold.

Up in those mountains, surrounded by fields like the Sound of Music, I felt on top of the world: light, peaceful, easy, at home. Somebody actually said to me "you look happy." I recall being told that I look tired, sad, upset...but I can't remember the last time someone looked at my face and said what was true, I was  happy. When I returned home, someone said "you seem at peace." Just beforehand, I remember hearing her negativity and feeling slightly puzzled and detached, relieved it wasn't my modus operandi.

I went to the store where they were sampling this local craft beer made with...marigold. I went to church and saw Lexi wearing a bright green tank and golden yellow cardigan like a human...marigold. 

Synchronicity. Something is right after all. Yes, my name is Marigold.

10 tips for reducing stress that I'm just re-posting from its original source so that I can throw away this article that I've been transporting in my summer reading bag since 2012. #11 should be stop carrying around stuff from the past!

1. Identify stressors (make a top 10 list, then strategies to shorten the list)
2. Eliminate unnecessary commitments (think carefully about each one and its stress/value or give/take ratio)
3. Stop procrastinating
4. Get organized (from physical space to finding shorter routes from A to B)
5. Arrive on time
6. Understand what you can't control
7. Stop multitasking
8. Make room for relaxation
9. Help others
10. Exercise

 Anything you'd like to add?

If every Monday could start this way.... Waking up naturally from the sound of a rainstorm, followed shortly by the surprise of sunlight streaming through the windows, then the wonder if there might be a rainbow somewhere out there. Instead of... someone's car alarm waking me in the middle of the night, followed by my actual alarm waking me in what feels like  the middle of the night, then the onset of dread about the day ahead.

Plus the accomplishment of a seriously "nagging task", to use Gretchen Rubin's term from the Happiness Project. It's a big day in the claims department! My focus this year on reclaiming all that I want (back) just paid off. Usually, intangible things (like time) are packed into that bag I want to reclaim, but this one contained a check!

It's a reminder that some wrongs do get righted. That I can be assertive. That I can get what I want. Even if it takes 12 months of calling, writing, and persisting. (what if that also applied to my now nearly year-long, newly named Chastity Project?) Fresh from Hannibal, MO, the Damage Recovery Unit has ensured that this monster will no longer eat away at me. Now I can reclaim and recover those units of space and time and money where this damage was so rudely strewn about my desk and mind and bank account for the past year!

Catching up on smoothies recipes now that it's been 2 years of starting every day this way! Although I still don't eat or drink before starting work, now I at least consume something (healthy!) before lunch, and that's progress.

Here's a basic daily recipe that I vary with kale (chard, spinach, etc.) and/or cucumber, depending on what's around. Enjoy!

Romaine lettuce

Celery

Apple

Banana

Ginger

Flax

Blended in that order with water.

For a treat...

Banana

Tahini paste

Cacao

Cinnamon

Ginger (yes, I add it to everything)

Flax

Blended in that order with water and a splash of almond milk

My own personal inventory on what I've tried during this food journey. It all started with an elimination diet that I undertook in search of a calm tummy and clear skin. After two years of buying and trying new foods and products, here's my round-up:

Like, still use, would buy again:
Almond milk (unsweetened) - prefer over coconut, soy, or rice
Almond butter - use in smoothies and for a treat on dates...the food kind ;)
Amaranth - hot breakfast grain I like with almonds + fruit like mango
Cream of Buckwheat - another hot breakfast I like with brown sugar or maple syrup + raisins or cranberries
Chia seeds - makes a nice little pudding with almond milk (that I rarely make)
Coconut butter - yummy in smoothies
Coconut oil - seems to work well for cooking
Fish oil - capsules I forget to take but seem consistently recommended
Flax - ground or liquid in smoothies
Hemp seeds - rarely use but could throw in salads, smoothies, cereal
Sorbet - I have to remind myself that ice cream isn't the only answer...
Apple cider vinegar - I used to take a teaspoon every morning which I can't stand anymore ;) but it's still great for other purposes.

Unsure:
Bee pollen - easy enough to put in smoothies but remind me what's so special about it? ...Virility?
Tahini paste - sometimes I put it in smoothies (with cacao + banana) but otherwise not sure what to do with it
Millet - haven't found an easy recipe yet that I love
Mung beans - same as above
Bragg's Liquid Aminos - basically...I like soy sauce!
Goat milk Kefir - tastes good but trying to avoid dairy (cheese being an exception...)
Kelp noodles - terrible taste that I tried to rinse off. Maybe I just had a bad batch?
Macro Greens superfood - I like adding it to smoothies or apple juice, or but it's expensive and must be pretty engineered, plus in Food Rules, Michael Pollan says to eat like  someone who takes supplements but to then save your money and not bother buying them.
Gluten-free products - I would if I had to, but since I don't have Celiac, I'd rather eat the real thing, just less frequently than before.
Note to self: remember rice, lentil, & quinoa!

No need, I wouldn't buy again:
Wheat grass powder - is this what gave me heart burn that I panicked was breast pain (cancer), thereby bringing on my first ever mammogram...?!?
Natural Calm - never got into it
Pili nut butter - it seemed so yummy at first when I was just plain hungry from my elimination diet, but now I feel no desire for it
Stevia (liquid) - yucky aftertaste
Goji berries - don't love them, not even sure how to use them up except to put in hot cereal
Kombucha - blech!

Specific products I've found that I love:
Hilary's veggie burgers (all flavors)
Kit's Organic bars (all flavors)

What about you? If you're unsure what this is all about, go see this movie!