I’m no longer a spring chicken. I’m more like an autumn hen. I don’t prance, but I can still slink. That’s the good news. Yesterday it finally dawned on me that I seriously need to start taking care of this old hen.
My chest had been feeling tight lately, so I thought I’d better get to my doctor. My mind is like an Olympic mogul skier. It just keeps going bump, bump, and a few more bumps out of control. Maybe this has something to do with my tight chest. EKG looked perfect so now I really needed to make some changes.
My husband jumped on the scale just after I bitched that I’d gained 4 pounds. He now weighs less than me!! While he was doing arm pumps and prancing around the doctor’s office, I took my autumn hen body into the exam room and told him to sit down and hush up! As you can imagine, I didn’t say it quite that nicely.
In addition, he is also much calmer than me. He can actually meditate. I don’t know how he does it. He never rushes, but he’s usually late and it doesn’t bother him. When he gives me instructions on how to calm my mind I want to bite him…a nicer autumn hen might just peck him. Not his one! If I hear “clear your mind” one more time….well, I’m going to do something. My head is so full of random useless thoughts I can’t remember what I had in mind. I just know it’s going to be very dramatic. That much I can remember.
I actually felt quite sad for this old hen sitting on the exam table. I was entrusted to take care of her in body, mind and spirit. I was failing. In my mind, her feathers are a bit tattered. I imagined her walking in circles. He hen feet need a pedicure and her beak could use a little bronzer. I wanted to pick her up and hold her and tell her I’d take good care of her. Cluck Cluck Cluck, etc. If she’d sit still long enough I would just pet her and calm her down. She’d become a barn yard care taker. I could relate.
And so today I begin. I’ve actually wondered when I would start to take it seriously. How bizarre I that? I’ve actually asked myself, “Anne, is today the day?” I’ve asked this for weeks. And finally, the day is here.
The old autumn hen has proclaimed it’s time to prance again. I shall be a motivated care taker of my body, mind and spirit. The rest of the barnyard can take care of itself.
This hen is off duty.
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