LIVING LIGHTLY THROUGH APRIL

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LIVING LIGHTLY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS

If you read my blog regularly (thank you if you do!) you'll know I chose "Live Lightly" as my Word(s) Of The Year for 2023. I've made a pledge to myself to chill out a little this year and to take things as they come, rather than trying to push too hard or trying to control everything. I hope my year will reflect taking life at a gentler pace and stepping lightly and slowly.

So, on that note, to wrap up April, I'll be sharing a few little highlights that contributed towards a lovely month....

WHAT IS HYPERPARATHYROIDISM AND WHY IS IT A CONCERN?

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WHAT ON EARTH IS HYPERPARATHYROIDISM?

If you're like me, you've heard of a thyroid gland and know where it is, but you're probably not aware that you have four parathyroid glands, each the size of a grain of rice, that sit behind it. You may also not be aware that one or more of those glands can get a tumour (adenoma) on it that probably isn't cancer, but still has far reaching consequences for your body if left unchecked.

Here's what I learnt when I accidentally discovered I had primary hyperparathyroidism - and what you might like to get checked sometime in the not too distant future.....

IS IT EASTER ALREADY? WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?!

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I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S EASTER ALREADY!

I think I'm becoming one of those people who comment on how quickly the year is passing. It's already April and I feel like Christmas was only a few weeks ago. Now we've just ticked Easter off the calendar and before we know it, we'll be halfway through the year.

I thought I'd share a few little highlights that Easter holds for me - it's such a special time of the year.

FAMILY TIME

I didn't want to lead off with "the reason for the season" serious part of Easter - I thought I'd save that until the end of my post - and I'll jump in instead with the fact that Easter gives us a 4 day holiday and it marks the beginning of the school holidays here in Australia. So many of us take this time to head off on a mini-vacation, or to spend time with family over a very relaxing long, long weekend.

We don't have our family here for the Easter break this year, but we're having  the grandgirls and their parents next week - along with their new little kitten named Mallow. I'll be sure to share a few pics in my wrap up post at the end of April - kids and kittens are soooo cute. Mallow is short for Marshmallow - she's a very sweet little ragdoll cat who the girls are loving beyond measure as she's their first remembered pet.

Mallow the ragdoll kitten
Mallow the mellow new kitten

HAVING A DAY OFF WORK

I only work one day a week now - it's bliss - and because it's a Friday, I never seem to jag having a public holiday to give me a free day off. Good Friday granted me that respite and it was lovely to be home and not dealing with all the busy-ness that a work day holds. I really do enjoy my job (probably for the first time in my entire working life), I go because I want to, and not because I have to - and that makes all the difference......but I still enjoy a bonus day off.

CHOCOLATE TREATS AND HOT CROSS BUNS

I'm not a big chocolate eater - that's my husband's strength. I always find that chocolate tempts me but ends up being a bit too rich. The occasional Easter egg is a nice treat though and he's always happy to finish off anything I can't get through.

I may not be a chocoholic, but I do love a hot cross bun. In fact I eat one for lunch quite often instead of a sandwich - it feels like comfort food to me. The shops start selling them straight after Christmas - which used to do my head in, but now I take advantage of that and buy them regularly in the lead up to Easter because they're so delicious.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBERING THE REAL REASON

I think the fact that Easter commemorates the death of Jesus on a cross often gets lost in amongst the chocolate, Easter bunnies, and holiday rush. You can't pretty this event up - not like Christmas when there's a baby in a manger to offset Santa Claus. Having someone dying on a cross just isn't pretty at all - but it's all the more meaningful because it's not pretty.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What do you find to be the most special aspect of Easter? I think it's different for all of us and often reflects our family heritage. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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Cresting the Hill - a blog for Midlife (Middle Aged / 50+) women who want to thrive
I can't believe it's Easter already! Here's a few little things that remind me of why Easter is so special to me.

WHY DO WE SECOND GUESS OURSELVES?

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WHY IS IT SO HARD TO SEE OUR STRENGTHS?

I'm 60 years old and I still listen to the little voice in my head that doubts I can do something new. Whenever a new challenge arises I immediately think of all the reasons why it won't work out, or why it would be too difficult, or why I'm not "enough" for it. That little voice has been yapping in my ear all my life, but Midlife has woken me up to its meanness and how it limits me.....I still hear it loud and clear but I'm getting better at having a go anyway.

There's a great little quote from Erin Hanson that says: 
"What if I fall? Oh but my darling, What if you fly?"