Our country celebrated 250 years of freedom over the weekend. I could write a whole post questioning how that freedom is going, but instead I’m going to tell you about a recent freedom I experienced. In the spring of 2021, I joined the Peloton craze that took place post-pandemic. I wanted workouts I could do from my basement instead of returning to the gym I had belonged to pre-pandemic. The world was still feeling a little too crowded for me. A coworker told me how Peloton was no longer just about exercise bikes – which I hate. I could use it for strength, yoga, and treadmill – which I love. They even added the ability to track your outdoor walks. I fell hard for this app, and I soon discovered the blue dots. Everyday I logged on and did something, I earned a blue dot to mark my achievement. What fun it was to see several blue dots over the course of a week. The joy a month with many blue dots brought was uplifting after everything we had been through. Without even realizing it, I had an entire week with blue dots, and then two weeks, and then an entire month. That’s right, thirty-one blue dots all lined up. Somedays it was just from my outdoor dog walks, but other days, Peloton classes were added on. What an achievement! I began to wonder how long I could keep this going. I figured something would end this streak of blue dots. I mean I would get sick at some point, or travel would get in the way. Surely this was not sustainable. But several months went by and the blue dots continued. I may have gotten a little obsessed with some of the Peloton subgroups by now, but only for the blue dots. When my first illness hit, I discovered Peloton meditation. Let me tell all you non-meditators, there is nothing better than some breath work as the cold and flu medicine spreads throughout all of your limbs before sleep – and it’s worth a blue dot. Meditation even kept the streak alive when I finally got Covid. The months of blue dots turned into years. Dot after dot after dot. There was no way out. What seemed like a fun little fitness streak, had turned into an absolute mind game. Fitness instructors came and went on Peloton, and I was still there like a hamster on a wheel collecting those blue dots. I was finding that I wasn’t enjoying the workouts as much, but I kept doing them. My favorite yoga instructor left, but I stayed in my downward dog with a different instructor for that dot. This became the ultimate streak and I was trapped. For over four and a half years, over 231 weeks, 1619 days I was doing standing yoga in hotel rooms when I traveled, full body stretches after long days. Whatever it took to get the dot. Until the day I didn’t. A few weeks ago I traveled to Scotland with my husband. I did my hotel room yoga throughout the entire trip. We got home after a long overseas flight and I had a plan to stretch before bed for my dot. But I forgot. I just went to bed, happy to be home. The next morning, my brain registered what I did before I even opened my eyes. NOOOOOO! I quickly reached for my phone and clicked on the app. There was no blue dot for the day before. Only a blank space. And I felt free. Not disappointed. Not let down. Only free. Somebody clapped and broke the spell I had been under for so many years. When I took my dog for his walk that morning, I didn’t even bother turning on the app. I stretched on my own just because it was good for me. I didn’t get a blue dot. This went on for a few days. I googled the yoga instructor who had left Peloton and found she had her own app with workouts other than just yoga. Within a week of ending the streak, I had canceled my Peloton app and joined the other one with the instructor I enjoy. So far, there doesn’t seem to be any blue dots. I remain free. What did it take me 1619 days to learn? Having a streak with something can be fun, but maybe set an end time to stop the streak before it becomes all consuming. When the things we like become have-to’s instead of get-to’s, it might be time to pull the plug. Even just skipping a day now and again may give you the freedom you need. I am so happy an accident ended the hold over me and love the feeling of being back in control. Well, at least with one app, Wordle is another story.
Reading News: There have been lots of distraction this summer but I managed to enjoy several books. Audio books make yard book better. I was on a plane for two trips in one month so got a lot of reading done.
Kid Lit:
The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga– Animal friendship stories always warm my heart. In this lovely book a dog and a cheetah become friends and help each navigate through some of life’s challenges.
Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate – I had been waiting for this animal book from one of my favorite authors. It started out slow, but once I caught the rhythm of this novel in verse, I was hooked. Just so you know, Wombat is a dog and not a wombat.
You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly – I love books where the characters are at the center. Charlotte and Ben each are dealing with their own struggles but find their on-line friendship over a scrabble game can help them navigate through one really tough week in middle school. The story is told through both of their points of view.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo – This was a re-read for me. I read this with my kids when it came out, taught with it as a teacher, and now re-read it as a writer. You can never go wrong with one of her books. Opal is struggling with moving to a new town with her father until finding a stray dog who transforms her life.
The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly – I don’t tend to like futuristic stories where the world has fallen apart because of corporate greed and artificial intelligence, but this book found away to tell a feel-good story
Adult Lit:
American Fantasy by Emma Straub – A fun audio book while unpacking a kitchen. I personally would not want to be on a cruise ship with adult fans of a former boy band group, but this book made all the drama entertaining.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna – This was another enjoyable audio book about a witch helping three young witches learn to manage their magic.
The Ship’s Cat by Alex Howard – This is another find from Scotland. The ending tied together the different adventures a cat has traveling by ship back home. I’m a sucker for a cat story.
Twice by Mitch Albom – Imagine getting to re-do all of your mistakes. Alfie discovers he can do this when he is eight years old. This book is the telling of his life and how he learns to use this gift. It didn’t take long to see why this was recommended to me.
Whistler by Ann Patchett – I traveled to Minnesota to hear the author discuss her latest book and then devoured the book on the flight back home. She does such an amazing job of creating full characters that you miss them when the book ends.
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout – Ann Patchett introduced me to this author so it seemed fitting to listen to this audio around the time I was reading Ann’s book. They have a similar writing style as far as character development goes. This might be my favorite Strout book.
6/11
innocent eyes plead
in front of the evidence
things just fell off shelf
6/27
turning the last page
wish it could be new again
bittersweet goodbyes
6/28
every coffee shop
should hire special greeters
to perk up the place
7/4
no rush to get back
way too many cats at home
peaceful morning walk
Tiffany Painter 