After 4 days of grey dreariness where one has been stuck inside,I awoke this morning to the sun shining through my window. Imagine that! The day was warm for November,as I went off to church , the church  too warm with the many families there with squalling babies,singing todlers,and snuffling Annika and her mother seated next to me.

The rest of the day was spent attending to things that needed doing,as most Sundays are,with the freedom to not to have to go to work.  so I decided to go to the local high school for a nice long swim,having not been there in six weeks or so.AS in previous writings here I am working my way thorough my own personal revolution,and with that comes the need to take care of oneself mentally,spiritually,and yes,physically.

Some people I know think that one must fight their personal revolution looking it straight in the face at every moment of the day.I do not agree with this.For with the change in thinking and attitude,comes strong emotions that sometimes are best ridden on the crest of something physical. And I need balance in my life.

When I swim I meditate.the breathing in and out my mantra.I may think about something that is frustrating me,and swim faster and harder to express that frustration.I may just revel in the feel of the water,(albeit an indoor pool,so not much view) and the strength in my ams and legs propelling me through the water and easing the pain in stiff joints.I swim for a good hour,and emerge less stiff,more relaxed,and have a feeling of strength and well being.

After swimming and then having lunch,I gave away 2 dressers to someone who needed them,took a short nap,then cleaned out the dead flowers in my gardens,as my DH blew the leaves,hurridly before the Eagles game. I managed to trip over a log while hauling the debris back into the woods,and swore loudly,but my DH is deaf and totally unaware of what had happened

Now I have waiting Diana Gabaldon's latest book "An Echo In the Bones" and am looking forward to a great read til dinnertime,which will be beef bourginon,cooked by my DH,over couscous.

And I am feeling good today after a productive as well as relaxing day,fixing up the nest and getting ready for winter.The downstairs windows are washed and the clean curtains back upon them. Tomorrow I will do the upstairs.

And I have pretty much decided to email xmas cards this year,to save paper for the environment.Gifts will be simple this year and I will no longer cater to "lists" that a certain relative sends every year.Even though she does not reciprocate if you were to make a list! No more "do as I say not as I do" for me!

There are alot of things I will do different this year because I am taking care of myself and speaking my mind.no more being manipulated,bullied or made to feel guilty.  This will cause growing pains in the family,but,thanks to a good Teacher,who mirrored back who I really am and will become,I no longer care. My time has finally come.

And so AS the sky darkens early,as it does in mid November,I hear the scrapes of leaf raking and see the piles of golden and brown leaves lining curbs of the houses on our street,and the bareness of the trees no longer fills me with dread or sadness because I know that they will once again burst into bloom,after a long winter's sleep,awakend by spring's warm breezes.