What do you find to read on the internet? What interests you? What inspires you? 
Where do you choose to invest your time? I ask these because I’d really like to know. I’m home alone on a Friday evening. I say alone and what I really mean is alone of all other adults. Right now there are eight thirteen year old boys in my basement doing the 13 year old boy thing. Lots of XBox and Pizza and more Pizza and then some popcorn and goldfish and chips and Gatorade . . . you get the idea. Where is The Husband?
I’m turning to my laptop for a little entertainment and inspiration. Unfortunately, I’m coming up a little unentertained and uninspired. I have several blogs in my queue that I check in on – some more regularly than others. Some of those blogs have been dropped from my reading list, not because they are not good. They are good. They just don’t seem to fit my interests and needs at this time. I think I’ve outgrown them, I guess. I consider my own site more of a Healthy Living site, so I tend to look at other sites like that. I think my problem is that so many of those are authored by young women, I mean much younger than I, who are in a completely different stage of life than I am. So while reading about some daily life is good, looking at photos of food and What I Ate on Wednesday can be good, and seeing lists of weekly workouts can be inspiring (or sometimes not) and even looking at photos of newborns and toddlers is oh so cute, I’m looking for a little more.
I think I’m looking for more wisdom, more thought, more insight, more inspiration and motivation. I need those things. Don’t we all? And I need them from women who are at my age, who have walked my walk, who have had great life experiences and maybe some devastating life experiences, who know that life is not just a big bed of perfectly photoshopped roses. I want to read, learn and know about health and life and wellness, but in an honest way that can steer me toward the life that I know I have in front of me and to help steer me toward the life I strive to have.
Who’s with me? What are you reading? Who inspires you? Who makes you want to check in with them? Who do you have come into your inbox that makes you feel inspired, educated and thoughtful?
I’d Love to Know! I hope you are Enjoying Your Weekend!
Hi MD. I have two for you and the first is one I’ve been doing for a while. It is the USCCB daily readings. I am sure there is a non-Catholic web site with the equivalent but if you are interested this site provides the daily readings from the bible – one from the Old Testament, a Psalm, and one from the New Testament. It doesn’t take long to read and I then try and reflect on what I read and what God is saying to me. The Bible is the living word of God and I find it amazing how often the bible verse happens to correlate with something going on in my life.
The second is a site that may be more of the same called Embrace Wellness – http://www.embrace-wellbeing.com/ Jackie, the author, teaches at Balance Yoga and I recently followed her Maintain Don’t Gain in Nov/Dec and 14 day FOOD detox in Jan. I know all the sites are saying a lot of the same things that us older women already know but it might interest you. She likes to share recipes too. And both she and Rebecca – my yoga instructors – both LOVED – the cartoon of yoga done right with the wine bottle. Both of them could probably do that trick!
Finally, since the web has it’s limitations. Snuggling up with a good book is the best. So here are two – one for fun and one thought-provoking. For fun – the Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
For inspiration – Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates. This book is also in a daily reflections format or can be read like a book. I find the similarities and connections between faith and yoga and zen incredible. They all point us in the same direction. Whether you like yoga or exercise, are buddist or Catholic or Methodist, the underlying principles for a life worth living are basically the same.
As I enter this next chapter of my life – being young and old at the same time – with aches and pains and hormone changes – with time left to do something new – yet wanting to age gracefully and resign from the crazy super mom do everything world – taking time to do what I like versus what husband or family likes, for that matter what society says we should like or be doing, including surfing the web – I find that I too am looking for inspiration. Hope these help!
Leslie
So well said! Thank you SO much for all of those recommendations. I love Rebecca over at Balance Yoga and so glad you have found a home there. I’m looking forward to checking out the devotion you mentioned. I am currently doing Jesus Calling each morning (for the third time!) along with Encouragement for Today and Girlfriends of God that come into my inbox. The one you mentioned sounds as if it will be a bit more substantial. Thanks so much for sharing that. Embrace Wellness sounds right up my alley and something to add to my list. And as I’m always looking for book recommendations I’m writing these two down right now. Thanks so much for sharing!