Vicki’s Top 13

Posted on by Victoria

June has flown by…and as I think about this post – my final post during our month of focusing on resilience – I realized I haven’t shared my ‘Top 13 R & R List’. 

There’s absolutely nothing unique or magical about it – it’s just my own butt-kick-wisdom, reminders to get serious when life feels out of whack, or I’m mired in muck.

I don’t know about you, but the easiest thing in the world for me – still – is to skip over the things I KNOW I should be doing for myself.  Sometimes because I’m lazy.  Sometimes because I play mind games and manipulate facts, reprioritizing my task list in order to self-sabotage about the stuff I really need to do.  Clean the grout, anyone?  Yeah, I’ve done that to avoid exercise, a painful project, a difficult phone conversation. 

So what?  Yep.  So what. We all play alluring avoidance games, but for me it’s the rut I create that’s a bigger dilemma.  And before I know it, I’ve foregone the restorative stuff, the regenerative, daily practices that help me cling to the best version of myself because I’m getting cozy in the aforementioned rut. 

When I’m not doing the daily maintenance to sustain ME and reload my propensity for patience, I lose my focus and whoosh…negativity is ushered in.  Oodles of it.  About all sorts of things, including eating well. (Take a look at my Victoria Ponders post where I share more about that.)  Daily maintenance and a routine is my way of avoiding a one-way ticket to gloom and doom town.  Shutting the door is easy; the ‘how’ is nestled in my “Top 13’ and a quick audit (no lying to self) usually helps me address why I’m out of whack.

The list, you say – get to the list?  Okay – here it is.  I made a pretty graphic just for you.  Trust me, this looks a lot better than the yellowed scrap of paper yanked out of my journal 😊:

I have questions:

  1. Do any of these especially speak to you?
  2. When you know you need to build resilience, stoke the furnace and engage in restorative self-care, what works for you? 

Here’s to being better, stronger, every day. It’s a process!

Vicki 😊

First image courtesy of Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com. Second image my own.

52 thoughts on “Vicki’s Top 13”

  1. Pingback: Making Peace with Food – Victoria Ponders

  2. Great timing Vicki. I like how you describe the games we play and the rut that we get ourselves into and how it’s the bigger problem! Oh yes! As I sheepishly raise my hand in complete agreement. Ha, ha, this is a really great list. You missed a few items like splurge on a dozen donuts, point fingers at everyone else, and go on an Amazon spending spree, but overall a great list. Yes, I’m joking about my additions … breaking out of this rut thing is hard work! Ha, ha. Thank you for the audit checklist!! Love it😀😀😀😎😎

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    1. Yay! I love that you love it. And yes…we should ‘crowd source’ the OTHER list. The spending sprees, the blame laying on others! I hear you! Glad you liked my list. Let me know if I’m missing anything that you’d add as a healthy habit. I know you have plenty of them, even though you poke fun at yourself, too! 😊😊😊

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  3. Vicki, they all speak to me! Particularly though do two. First, “water,” and I know you mean (I’m sure you do and if you don’t, please don’t burst my bubble) water, specifically water. Too many smart guys will take that say “I get my water in beer” or coffee, tea, wine, sodas, etc. etc. which are all fine but you need that water, truly life-giving water in greater volumes that we realize.
    The second and most important for me, that daily dose of ❤️ (in greater volumes than we realize)!

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    1. We’re on the same page! Yes! And thanks for the morning giggle. You’re right – I know a few of those folks who will profess they “hydrate” in the way you describe — beer, especially, LOL. You’re right – I’m thinking about regular old water and both in the drinking and the restorative power I find in listening to water, being near a body of water of some sort. Thank you, too, for understanding my ‘jar of hearts’. Yep! Remember to give love, receive love – all of that. Hope you have a great day, Michael. 💕

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      1. Indeed the sound of water can be calming, even in extreme downpours or along frantic rapids. How often I feel that comfort and don’t consciously recognize it.

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      2. Me, too! We had some thunderstorms here last night (grateful for the rain, however we get it) and even those heavy downpours were calming to listen to. Nature, right? 😉

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    1. Agree…and as you know – only too well right now – prioritizing self-care is important every day…because those crazy unexpected challenges are always lurking about. 😉 Hope you’re feeling well today. Sending hugs! 🥰

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      1. Fighting a migraine today – the weather has broken – but it does force me to stop and rest … and lots of water 💧
        Sending hugs back. Hope your Sunday is good

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      2. Ohhh….sorry to hear about the migraine. The weather here today is suddenly humid…sticky and poor air quality. Bad conditions for a girl with a migraine, so maybe it’s good that you’re far away? Take care of yourself! 😘

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  5. I love your top 13 – brilliant, dear Vicki!! Why is it that I throw whole foods out the window when I get run down? And move, smile, trees, water — all of them are so good. Thank you for this beautiful reminder and great graphic!

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  7. My morning routine from “The Artist’s Way” gets me on the right track each day. We’re getting up early to avoid the heat for our walk and that’s been a challenge for me, but it’s getting easier. I realize I’ve been skipping my stretches and crunches because we’re in a hurry to get out the door. Today, I did them AFTER our walk. Your list is quite extensive.

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    1. I love that you have stuck with your practice for a long time – and you modify as needed. And yes…I’m always wondering if there’s too much on my list but when I meditate and mull it over, I always come back to the same practices. Thanks, Elizabeth! 🥰

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      2. Right!? And you’ve been following “The Artist’s Way” for a very long time, too — I forget how many years, but I know you told Wynne and I in your podcast! 🥰

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  9. I found the list worthwhile, Vicki. The one that stuck out was “fresh air.” Not because it isn’t useful for self-restoration (which it is) but because (as you know) we in Midwest and elsewhere have recently been through “air quality” alerts and the punishment of drifting dirt from Canadian forest fires.

    It prompts an additional question, at least for me. If we wish ourselves and our children and grandchildren to have fresh air, we must do something that can’t wait.

    If we are to survive and flourish, resilience will be easier to come by if we can breathe fresh air rather than wearing masks and observe the sky continue its progression to grayness much of the time.

    Thanks, Vicki.

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    1. Thank you for that insight, Dr. Stein…I like your more expansive thinking about air quality. Healthful for us to enjoy at the moment (as you said, especially because we’ve had some air-quality action days near us) but layering on the importance of being environmentally vigilant to protect what we can for the future — significance beyond the benefit to the individual with the ‘greater good’ in mind. Yes, yes, yes! 😊

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  10. Love this list and that you have the ability to create yet another of your amazing graphics to illustrate for us! I loved Brian’s addition of a hobby to the list. I would also inject watching wildlife. Highly entertaining but calming as well as they go about their routines.

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  12. My list would be similar. Our home has glass across most of the back. We have a constant view of the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. Our children call it out “outdoor tv”. For me, the most important is slowing down. It allows my mind to tune in on everything else I need.

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    1. I love that – yes! “Outdoor tv” and probably better than much of what’s on tv, I say. And I’m with you. When I get busy and forget that I NEED to slow down (maybe watching nature as you suggest) I’m reminded of how much I need the ‘me time’ to reset. Very important. xo, Maggie! 💕

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  14. Pingback: When You Crack Yourself Up: Sleep Deprived Style – Victoria Ponders

    1. Yes….and you and Tara with your beautiful property…how could you NOT be a nature lover? Here’s hoping you get some rain soon…so you’ll have a reason to hop on the John Deere! 😎

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  16. Pingback: Well Said Saturdays – July 1 – The Heart of the Matter

  17. Daily maintenance and a routine is my way of avoiding a one-way ticket to gloom and doom town. – great sentence. Same goes for me as does your list of ways to stay happy. Great looking graphic too!😎

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