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The past week in Bend brought temperatures into the triple digits (I know many TSLL readers live in climates where this is quite common, so bear with me as someone who doesn't have A/C in the house :)). But because such temperatures aren't necessarily common in the area, for someone who doesn't especially enjoy the heat anyway, this was uncomfortable. But it was probably far more uncomfortable for my dogs.
I share these few days of high temperatures because it was my Norman who kept waking me up at night begging to go to the back screen door - not to be let out, but just to sit and take in the cool night's air which was far more rich and abundant at this place in the house than in my master bedroom. And so, I stayed with him. In fact, I stayed with him, brought my pillow and comforter and then Oscar
followed me and we all fell asleep in the dining room. Unexpected to me, I had one of the best night's sleeps I have had since I arrived back home.
Now whether this was because of the temperatures being far cooler or because my jetlag had finally worn off, or was a combination of the two, I will probably never be sure, but it
was the moving to a different location, trying something new and different that made all the difference.
While it is impossible to prove the negative when we don't move or try something new, if you have ever chosen to make the change in any capacity and experienced the improvement that you could not have predicted, you know that
sometimes, even when you don't know what it is that you will be met with, if your conscience (or your pup) is pulling you to try something, why not give it a shot? Why not at least explore it? After all, if the door won't open that you are pounding on, look for an open window somewhere or a neighbor to let you in (this is an analogy, but the point I think is clear).
On the flip-side of this, sometimes we try to fix things that aren't broke but just going at a slower pace than we would like. But if something is broke and it will not work, try something different. Each of our individual scenarios will be unique, but perhaps take a moment to step back and examine which category it falls into: slow, but progressing, or stalled and potentially quite
stuck.
If you are stuck, trying something new is a step in the right direction because at least there is movement, and the only way to make progress is to move. Even if it is pulling back to make a great running leap.
Last week I promised I would share a few exclusives about TSLL's upcoming French Week, so below you will find a list of specifics of what the week will include. There will be more, but this is at least a taste of what to expect, and hopefully you are as excited as I am to kick it all off on the 12th:
- A minimum of two posts each day of the French Week
- A giveaway will kick off the week on Sunday August 12th
- Author Sonia Choquette, who is living in Paris will be the podcast interview of the week on Monday August
13th
- A trailer previewing the 1st season of TSL Kitchen will be shared
Before I wrap up, the most commented upon post was one which I shared the updates I have made to the "Start Here" or 'About Shannon' page on the blog. While I have updated the images, I have also updated the content, and I thoroughly appreciated hearing from readers as Britain was discussed. Be sure to take a look and see not
only what was shared but how the new images were captured. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, and until next Friday, I'll see you on the blog.
