31 October, 2024

Life the hodgepodge way

 


What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like.             

To stay as fit and active as possible, to enjoy being able to do stuff for myself and not letting Parkinson’s get the better of me

 What's one thing you wish you had more of? 

Independence, it the way of being able to go out by myself shopping, since I lost my licence and can no longer drive myself anywhere, whoever drives me feel they have to stay with me.

Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year? 

No, I don’t here in Australia when I was growing up it wasn’t heard off, it is only in the last 25yrs that we have Halloween stuff in the stores, so to me it is just a money grab by retailers.

Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate? 

A lamington it had chocolate cream and icing

Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend... which was it? 

Laid pack, although last Saturday there was a family lunch for my sister’s birthday.

Insert your own random thought here.                       

People shouldn’t need a lot of friends to feel complete or happy, I have never had a lot of friends around me and neither did my parents, they did have friends but only a couple and they were happy. As I am happy with my life, like my mum I enjoy my own company, my sisters are the same but not sure about my brother. \

21 comments:

  1. Dearest Jo-Anne,
    Just like you, staying as fit and active as possible!
    Strength is one thing I wish I had more of.
    No Halloween for me either—it is a commercially invented Celtic celebration that we certainly don't need. All Saints and All Souls were what we grew up with and that is out of respect for those that passed on before us.
    Every single day I eat a square from a big tablet of dark chocolate with hazelnuts. Will have one right after this with my tea and mixed unsalted nuts.
    Laid back and not too many plans as that is no longer feasible. One thing and one day at a time.
    If a person needs friends for feeling happy then they lack a lot of things!
    Certainly real friends are nice to have but not to be around with all the time. Our Parents and even more so our Grandparents understood how to be happy and content! Don't demand too much and you will feel a lot happier.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Hi Mariette
      Yes how parents and grandparents knew how to be happy they didn't need to have a lot of so called friends hanging around but were happy to have a quick gossip over the fence with a neighbour, they had too much to do to just hang around with friends doing bugga all.

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  2. My first thought was, "Independence isn't all it's cracked up to be." But that was stupid realising I'm not the one limited. Thankfully you have a family around you.

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    1. It is something we can easily take for granted, I know I did

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  3. "... it is only in the last 25yrs that we have Halloween stuff in the stores, so to me it is just a money grab by retailers."

    It is here too and we have been celebrating it for as long as I can remember. We don't get trick or treaters out where we live, too far out in the country. Well, we had one family once. That's all. I don't keep the porch light on and don't participate. It is a creepy holiday to me.

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    1. Yeah I always thought of it as a creepy event that I do not understand

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  4. Special days, made up by commercial interests, are awful. Mother's and Father's Days, Halloween, Poodle Day etc. Surely birthdays and religious holidays can be celebrated with family, without weeks of tv ads damaging our brains.

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    1. So true and the adds start way before the event, it bugs me that we have Christmas stuff in the stores from October

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  5. Losing one's independence due to health issues is never easy, Jo-Anne. But you have certainly surrounded yourself with family who loves you and wants only the best for you. God bless!

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    1. Yes I am lucky to have my family around who are willing to help

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  6. I don’t do Halloween. I did as a child and when my sons were young. I’m glad I outgrew it.
    Losing your independence is rough. I wouldn’t like it.
    I’ve never needed a lot of people around me. I’m an introvert and very comfortable in my own skin. I enjoy people but find they talk too much! lol. I can hardly get a word in edgewise; perhaps that is why I blog.

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    1. Hell yeah there are those in my family who talk too much at times never stopping to let someone else speak.
      Having to rely on others is a right pain in the bum but at least I do have family I can rely on when needed.

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  7. I think giving up driving would be so hard. I'm glad you have people who can take you where you need to go and am sure that is a blessing to you and to them too. I hope you have a nice weekend Jo-Anne. I enjoy reading your answers in the Hodgepodge and it's fun getting different perspectives on a wide variety of topics.

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    1. I am enjoying sharing my answers as I enjoy reading other people's answers as you said it is fun seeing how we are all different but also so alike.

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  8. I wish you all the best. I know I have to stay fit too and it can be hard for me with issues I've been having and my COPD. However, they are noting compared to what you are living with. ((HUGS)) Interesting that they don't celebrate Halloween. I don't know what a lamington is but I'm glad you enjoyed it. I used to have a lot of friends when I lived in Illinois. I also had a few friends when I loved in Fontana, CA but now I don't have many at all and since I had to give up bowling it's been hard on me. We depend on seeing Adam, Gabby and James each week.

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    1. Not being able to do some of the things we enjoy because of health issue is so upsetting at times. A lamington is a cake coated in chocolate icing and coconut they come in small squares usually. You can also get different flavours like strawberry or lemon

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  9. I'm also trying to stay as fit and active as possible as the years pile up. You are right about Halloween being mostly a money grab by retailers! Have a great week!

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    1. Staying fit and active isn't always easy but we try

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  10. Thank you for sharing your reflections! Your commitment to staying fit and active despite the challenges of Parkinson’s is truly inspiring. It’s understandable to miss the independence that driving provided, and it’s great that you’re finding joy in your own company. Your perspective on friendships is refreshing—quality over quantity can lead to genuine happiness.

    I just shared a new post; you are invited to read. Happy weekend!

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    1. Thanks Melody, I check your blog most days
      If I didn't enjoy my own company I suspect I would get lonely but I don't so that is good

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