Wordsley, Stourbridge, England: 11 degrees, slightly sunny, overcast with the possibility of rain later.
I had to put the bin out!!!
On Monday night, you need to put the bins out for the dustmen to come and empty them, usually in the early hours of Tuesday, to collect the rubbish or the garbage. When I got up, they had already been, so I brought the bin back into the alley that runs along the side of the house from the front to the back.
It was quite cold, between 9 and 11 degrees, but with a bit of sun, it remained pleasant. As I was outside, I considered doing something in the garden. Due to the rainy, damp British weather, there is a lot of moss over the patio and the walls of the back garden.
I got a hoe from the shed at the end of the back garden and began to hoe as much moss off the patio walls and path of my mother’s back and front gardens.
The sun was beginning to appear, and the air was fresh. I felt warm from doing physical work, and dopamine was kicking in, bringing a healthy feeling of happiness and well-being. After hoeing everything that needed doing, I took a broom and swept the side alley, the patio, and the path, making everything clean, tidy, and organised. Now, with a fresh appearance, a sense of renewal, and a job well done, I felt proud of what I had accomplished.
All of this took just under an hour. It was beneficial for the garden, good for my mother to see her garden neat, and good for me, feeling happy from a dopamine rush that, besides, starts the day well and should sustain this feeling of wellness for the rest of the day.
I had early classes and out afterwards to do my mother’s weekly banking chores, usually on Tuesday mornings. Julie was in the café; it was her day off, and she would be there with her grandson. Every Tuesday, she looks after her grandson for the day while her daughter arranges her own things. Instead of going straight to Kingswinford to do my mother’s errands, I wanted to pass by the café and see if Julie was there, and she was.
Seeing her was a relief. Our feelings motivate us; we adapt to them, and our feelings govern our behaviour and actions. Therefore, the quality of our feelings influences the quality of our actions.
Good feelings lead to good actions! Bad feelings lead to bad actions! Basic karma!!!
Julie gave me a lift to Kingswinford, and we said our goodbyes. I think we spoke more than 20 times during the day, always nice, always positive for both of us, and always sweet.
I’m starting to ask myself where exactly this relationship is headed. I’m considering delaying my return to Brazil, and I’m also thinking about Yasmin coming over during her school summer holidays as part of her birthday present. I’m also contemplating that if and when I go back to Brazil, how long I will stay there and when I will return.
Life is fluid, and our emotions are even more so, which consequently influences our actions even more rapidly.
What is this beautiful, little, perfect woman doing to us???
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
