Treadmills, Mud and Social Media

I woke up a few seconds before my alarm went off this morning. That is how I gauge my quality of sleep these days. It’s not a baby waking me up any more, a child with nightmares or coming in late, or even my husbands’ snoring, but a restless mind, sinus issues and the need to potty. Thank goodness the bulk of those night sweats have passed. SHEESH!

I rolled out of bed and put my exercise clothes on right away. That’s about the only way I’ll get on the treadmill most days. If I put on a bathrobe or pajamas then I’ll lounge around for a while reading, or wasting time on social media, and not get anything done. The next thing I know, I look at the clock and wonder where the day has gone. That makes me so mad at myself! Such a waste of time when there is so much that needs done.

I got a long drink of water, grabbed my phone, hooked up to my latest podcast obsession (My Favorite Murder if you want to know) and proceeded to walk. My treadmill faces out over my back gardens and yard. I should say my mud pit because it’s about all there is at this point.

Mud and mummified dog poo. ICK!

I daydream as I walk along, and listen to the podcast with half of my brain, about what I want that scene to look like in a couple of months, in the fall, or even in the winter. I need something to look at over the winter other than wide open space. And snow. Something to catch my eye, support nature and maybe be a bit of a wind break for the shed where I house my angora rabbits.

Hmmm. Trees? Plants? Structures? I really want a smallish pine tree that I can put lights on in November and December that will be magical to see out the back of the house. Yes, a pine tree for sure. One that will stay pretty small.

Before I know it my 30 minutes is over and I go find myself a good healthy breakfast. Veggie egg bake, turkey sausage and coffee.

While I’m eating I check social media, and again, think to myself about how I spend far too much time on such things. I could actually be researching varieties of small pine trees rather than reading about the latest mean things going around social media. Why are people so mean? Or reading one of a few books I have laying nearby.

All of that brings me to the state of my accounts on social. I’ve unfriended 90% of my friends on Facebook and I’m slowly but surely unfollowing pages and accounts that no longer apply to me. I hit “see first” on the ones I definitely want to keep up with. My feed has changed dramatically. For the better. I’m seeing accounts I liked ages ago but never saw in my feed any more. Thanks a lot Facebook.

I’m keeping my blogging pals, fellow craft designers and some artists that inspire me. I’ve left a horde of groups that no longer serve me as well.

I’ve stopped using my personal account and have moved over to my public account.

If I’m going to spend time on social I want it to be a community of supportive, creative women. I want to chat with other women who are trying to make the best of their lives. Trying to make magic in midlife. Women like me! The women who have chosen to congregrate on that Facebook page are pretty, freakin’ awesome.

And even though Facebook has changed algorithms yet again making it hard for my words and thoughts to be seen by people who said they want to see them I am finding that posting on my public page, and interacting with people there, is becoming rather fun.

It’s fun to learn about women who live different lives and make different things.

And that, my friends, is my new social media “strategy”. I’m just sharing a bit about what goes on in my life and learning about what goes on in your life. I quit caring about numbers, marketing techniques or what-have-you. Those things a blogger, writer and artist are supposed to care about.

Mostly women. Connecting in this place we call midlife where so few of us have an idea of what we are supposed to do next.

Mainly because we are pioneers and we are blazing new trails into the wilderness of what happens with women in midlife.

So, hey, what’s going on in your world? What challenges are you facing? What do you look forward to most about growing older?

I’d really love to learn more about you.

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YOUR HEALTH IN MIDLIFE

MIDLIFE FRIENDS, DON’T CLEAN HOUSE ON MY ACCOUNT