Today hubby, Cosmo and I were walking down a block near our old apartment when we encountered a blast from the past: Lightning the Turtle. His owner brings him out to the neigborhood dog park a few times a year; more often, he can be sighted wandering around the base of his owner’s front stoop. He is huge – probably about two feet long – and has the prettiest coloration on his shell: tinges of yellow and gold on dark brown and olive. I wonder what makes a person choose a turtle as a pet…
This week things were slow, work-wise, and I savored it – I went to Whole Foods one day in the middle of the afternoon, and picked out my favorite new treat: papaya with lime juice. I cooked fish for dinner, and spent time in the garden.
A few years ago, I put all my energy into a job that caused me anxiety and stress and made me feel bad about myself. I had no creative outlet, and no time or energy left for all the other things that mattered to me: friends, family, volunteering. I felt this huge disconnect between the real me and the me that I was presenting to the outside world. Worst of all, I felt stuck.
This week I had time to look around at how much my life has changed; I was happy with what I saw.
I wonder what makes a person choose a turtle as a pet…
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
And, we’re happy with what we’re seeing! Keep it up, Amanda — You’re an inspiration to all of us!
Thank you, friend from other job! :)
The muralist agrees that you are an inspiration! A strong and beautiful woman!
The muralist loves the name Lightening for a turtle. Wonder where Lightening’s owner found him or her…
Speaking as a Washingtonian who spent a decade in Tucson, where Sonoran Desert Tortoises are weird and wonderful regional characters, and now happily back home in DC…… sometimes the turtle (or tortoise) chooses YOU…