Vibes

Cate has tagged me for this meme, Beyond the Fields We Know: High Vibes which originated at OptimistLab with the post, How I raised my Vibes. The challenge is to blog about five favorite tricks for “Raising Your Vibes.” So here are mine, in no particular order.

#1 - Enjoy the freebies. Monday morning as I was driving to work, I was basking in the sunlight, the warm breeze, and the low humidity. Arlo was talking about how he met Steve Goodman, and then sang "Riding on the City of New Orleans." I was looking forward to a day rife with new opportunities at work. All of this combined to set me wondering about what it is that makes some days so great, some moments in our life so perfect we want to freeze time and revel in them. Then I thought about blogging about that, but didn't put aside the time to do so. The next day, Cate tagged me for the vibes meme. I know as well as the next person that correlation does not equal causation, but the nudge was fortuitous and encouraged me to think and write along these lines. I can't summon weather or command signs and encouragement, but I can choose to enjoy them when the opportunity presents itself.

#2 - Laugh. I have a robust but idiosyncratic sense of humor. It responds to the absurdities of life, of which there are many, such as the Department of Homeland Security setting up its future headquarters on a site previously used as a psychiatric hospital. Regardless of your politics or your opinion of that agency, surely you see the humor! However, I don't rely solely on the news and current events to tickle my funny bone. I start my day with my favorite comic strips, Cute Overload, Cute Otters, Penguins, Daily Kitten, and Kitten Break. Awwwhhhhhh .....

I've also focused on reading books and watching movies that are funny or upbeat. Last night we went downtown to see a The Thin Man as part of a classic film festival. I also enjoy the Marx Brothers, screwball comedies from the forties and fifties, and animations. I have a collection of Rocky and Bullwinkle shows on DVD, as well as a collection of favorite sitcoms from years gone by (Barney Miller, WKRP, Northern Exposure, and the greatest of them all, Sports Night).

#3 - Read. All my life, reading has been a joy, a relaxation, an escape, and a restoration. Strictly speaking, it's reading per se, not necessarily books, that I enjoy. Though my taste runs largely to popular fiction for escapism and spirit-lifting, I will gladly read newspapers, blogs, websites, encyclopedias, museum placards, or cereal boxes, if that's what's available. I highly recommend the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series, Donna Andrews, Maeve Binchy, or Jane Austen, though my entire list of favorites is much too long to list.

#4 - Talk to the animals. Of late, I've come to appreciate nature more and more. Watching birds and animals is a great treat, and sitting on the desk with a cool drink, a book, and binoculars or camera, is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable ways I know of to spend an afternoon. I always enjoy spending time with Kinsey, my resident critter, and in this regard I have scientific observation on my side. Studies show pets are helpful to both the sick and the well, the young and the old, for maintaining a sense of well-being or raising spirits when down.

#5 - Spend time with other people or spend time alone. While this sounds like a conflict, both raise my vibes. I need more time to myself than most people - my theory is that my brain needs this time to process all that it has absorbed. If you believe in personality types, I'm an introvert. Being around people takes a lot of energy, energy that I need to replenish.

On the other hand, I am neither a hermit nor a misanthrope. I need and enjoy interaction with other people, particularly smart, funny, slightly unusual people like my husband and good friends. My friendships are deep rather than wide, and I'd much rather have dinner with one friend than go to a party. The less fuss involved the better; I'd rather go out to dinner than have guests in or be part of a pot luck and a tee-shirt-and-jeans dress code is my favorite.

I have other "rules" for life, but these will do for now. The second part of the meme is to identify five favorite posts, each from a different blogger. Only five is tough, so I'll concentrate on recent ones that are fresh in my mind and know that I'll undoubtedly miss one that I shouldn't.

Rabbit, rabbit yourself from A Mark on My Wall
Resilience, from Journey Through Grace
Chain Link Fences and Rioting Flowers from Wanderin'Weeta (with waterfowl and weeds)
Early July in the Garden from In the Garden Online
Boats at Sunset from Somewhere in NJ