30 Things: Part 3

I know traditionally people usually list something they are grateful for each day. I’m not sure I’ll have the time to do that every night, so I might end up listing things in batches every couple days, with hopefully 30 at the end of the month. I imagine once I hit half way through the month, some of these might get interesting. I’ll probably post it to my Facebook at the end of the November or at the start of December. So if you’re here early–hi. There might be typos, spelling and grammar mistakes. I'm not doing a deep clean on this, so please excuse the mess. (Also, another blog post is coming soon. I like it, I'm just worried I'm repeating stuff I've already said in other blogs, so I need to go back and compare them to the new one.)

Scrolling down the list was getting ridiculous, so I'm splitting it up into thirds so it's hopefully easier to navigate. This is the third part.

21. Less scared of Snakes (mostly)

In the past year or so, I've gotten pretty good at identifying snakes. I’ve never had a strong fear of them, but I also haven’t been particularly keen either. Originally, I joined a group after hearing about how some people with chickens let Ratsnakes hang around to eat the rats (and the occasional egg). Sounded like a fair trade. It was an interesting group, and it eventually lead to some others.

One group has people teach identifiers between the different species of snakes, and is where I get to practice. It's become a weird unplanned/accidental hobby as I scroll down my wall, see someone ask ”what snake is this?” followed by their location, and then I take a guess before checking the comments. 

Another group is just to help people identify if the snake is venomous or not. However, my favorite is probably one called “Ratsnakes in Predicaments,” and it's where people share pictures of a ratsnake in some situation that makes you ask “how did it even get there?” 

Sometimes it's not one of the harmless ones. If it's a rattlesnake, a lot of people will then suggest local relocation help. Water moccasins just get the hose set to jet and are told to move on.

The groups have actually been useful, too. My sister sent me a pic of a snake chilling on the pond rocks near the playground in her neighborhood. She was worried about it being a copperhead, but wanted to be sure before sending her husband out to dispatch it. Long story short, I was able to find out for her (and feel mildly self-satisfied with finding out my guess was right). Harmless water snake. The only threat he posed was stealing fish off of someone's line. I think she let her girls take a look at it. 

Do I want to own a snake? Not really. But I’ve gone from being mildly freaked out by them to thinking they're kinda cool. I'm really glad I can identify them correctly at least 75% of the time. And I hope that water snake is grateful too.

(My favorite is probably the Hognose, because they are the most dramatic and hilarious out of all the species. They'll go as far as ‘playing dead’ by rolling on their backs and sticking their tongues out. See. Theatrics. Very convincing. They're hysterical. I keep hoping to find one down here.)

Bonus: I will sometimes learn things from this wrangler named Bruce on Instagram who helps relocate rattlesnakes (usually) in California. Here's a link to one of his more viral moments.

22. My health

I'm grateful for my health in all areas. And I've gotten more protective of it over the years. And if there's anything I've learned, it's stress is the enemy. It's been a running theme for me lately for a reason.

When I was in college, I had a lot of poor habits: not really exercising like I used to, bad sleep habits (still desperately working on that one), eating all the wrong foods, and drinking energy drinks like they were nothing. Then, when I went in for an annual general checkup, I was told I was pre-diabetic when my A1C came back.

Diabetes runs in my family on both sides. My dad has it, as did both of my grandmothers. The genetics are there. I remember the doctor telling me I was too young and that if I didn't get it under control I'd be diabetic now rather than later. I remember thinking “later? Screw that. How about not at all?”

Immediately, I kicked the sugary energy drink, grabbed a gym membership, and started running a ton. Hindsight tells me that it wasn't the best way to go either, but it did help, and it switched my mindset rather abruptly. Three months later, I radically changed my A1C in the right direction.

I still worry about my A1C. Turns out, stress can absolutely impact it, even when you think you're fine. I found out in the past year that even if I'm working out everyday, if my stress spikes high enough, my blood work is toast. So HIIT, meditation, and learning other coping mechanisms are my new hobbies. Because heart disease is another family trait and it too is bff's with stress. So, both of those issues, and their little friend called stress, are something I aim on beating back with a stick, at least to the best of my ability. Life likes to throw curve balls, so I guess I'll have to see.

With all that said, I also take my mental health more seriously than I have before. I think I had an adjustment disorder two years ago, which is basically a mild depression that lasts 6 months. I wrote a little about it in a previous blog, and I'll try to link it later. But it did end, and I'm grateful the adjustment disorder didn't morph into anything else.

But then this year happened and acute stress decided that instead of messing with my emotions, it would mess with my body in other ways instead.

Since then, I've gotten really protective over my bandwidth and mental health. I'm keeping a strong eye on both. I'm more willing to draw lines in the sad, know my limits, and plan ways of letting it out.

But for now, I'm insanely grateful for the health I do have, and I think about that a lot. All too often, I feel I'm reminded of how quickly both can be taken away.

There's no guarantee I'll have good health my entire life. Chronic illnesses, disease, disorders and the like can flare up at any point. The same goes for mental health. But I do know good physical health can have positive impacts on mental health. That more muscle mass is proven to increase survival rates with those who get diagnosed with cancer. And that taking care of my mind helps me keep going with everything else. Nothing is guaranteed. But taking care of both decreases the odds of less desirable effects in just about every area, and I think that is worth pursuing.

23. Hobbies

Thank you ADHD. I have a lot of these. But I'm grateful for the hobbies I have, even if not all of them I'm actively engaged in. I used to draw a ton when I was younger, and I miss that and keep meaning to get back into that. 

But I also like sewing, felt projects, and crafting in general. I like going to the gun range, hiking, and camping. Reading, of course, and writing make the list too. And I'm going to include the gym, because it seems to fall under almost every umbrella.

I have a lot of interests, and I tend to get curious and jump into new things that interest me. Some things stick, and I end up really loving them, or they sometimes get put on hold and then ramped back up again later down the line. And then there are others that tend to end up abandoned (sorry to my guitar and I'm sure other short lived hobbies). 

But I'm grateful that I'm not afraid to try new things. I've had a few people tell me that they are too scared to start things or check something out, and I can understand that. But I'm grateful that I have the personality (or maybe it's my disordered brain) that lets me jump in anyway after a little bit of research and sudden deep interest. It sure has helped me explore and find things that have taught me something new each time.

24. Family

How families show up for each other can vary wildly, and it's sometimes funny to compare. My husband's family is incredibly tight knit to the point that they all agree they'd probably make a pretty good mob if they had any interest in organized crime. Jack said one of his sisters would help him hide a body if he called up and asked, and I'm fairly certain the other would help craft an air tight alibi. Because, to them, family is everything and they will stick by you through your rights and your wrongs. 

I told my sister about that, and she agreed that our family is a different kind of “love you forever.” Ours is the type that if you called and said you'd done something criminal, we'd likely urge you to turn yourself in, and if you won't, then we will—but we'll still visit you in prison. And when you get out, there will be a couch or guest room waiting for you. Still love, but a very, very different flavor. 

So for this entry, I'm going to write a short entry about each family member and why I'm grateful for them. 

Hannah is the pure extrovert of the family. She'd wave and say ‘hi’ to people as soon as she could talk. She's bright, and sunny, and is a big talker. Anytime we go somewhere on vacation and we ask her what she wants to do, her answer is usually people related. She's deeply creative and like her dad, musically gifted. But she also is adventurous and likes the weird and quirky like me. I'm grateful I get a front row seat as she develops as a person. It's been a fun ride seeing her personality grow with her.

Quincy is the one who looks like a clone of Jack, but acts just like me in almost every way (it can be a little crazy at times to witness). He's a little rule follower, which is nice because I need someone who will narc on the other two. He's got my temperament, interests, and sense of humor (at least so far). He's my little buddy who likes to plop on the couch and watch movies with me or cuddle the pets.

Jack is a great dad who makes sure he's there for the kids. He's also incredibly there for his mom, sisters, dad, brother-in-laws, and nephews and nieces. He'll drop anything to help them and many of the people he works with. He's worked hard on creating a good reputation in his profession and is seeing the results of that start to come more to fruition; I definitely would not be able to do the job he does. It takes a certain skill set to handle the pressure and strain his job has, which he does not give himself enough credit for. He has also had good suggestions as to what I could do now that the kids are older, which I also appreciate. As for the Winn family motto, it runs strong with him as he believes “family is everything.” I've watched all of this behind the curtain, and I've been there to witness how much he cares when helping others.

Ember is my little sister. Turns out, as adults we get along really well. She's bubbly, fun, and an incredibly caring person. She thinks I'm funny, which I'm sometimes confused by, lol. Our grandma was known for being an amazing cook who just knew how to put things together, and Ember is a lot like that now with baking—people always want her recipes. We send Marco Polos (a video chat app) back and forth to each other almost everyday (often multiple times a day too). I always look forward to them, and I'm grateful I'm as close to her as I am. 

Scott the middle child. He’s deeply loyal, and cares a lot about the family. I’m not as close to him as I’d like to be, largely due to after high school life took us in completely different directions. He went to BYU after his mission, while Ember and I were at Utah State. He also got married before we did, and he and his wife started their family. Despite not being as close, I’m glad he’s my brother and I enjoy catching up with him.

Mom remembers everything. She has every milestone for everyone written down. She sends the cards, plans the parties, and spends time carefully picking out gifts. Whether volunteering for service activities, helping others, or checking on her friends, my mom is someone who thinks about herself usually last, though I wish sometimes she'd bump herself up the list a little more often. I’m grateful for her role in my life and the example she’s set as not just hard working, but a caring person as well. 

Dad. I’m grateful for the life he provided for us growing up. I also know he loves us.

Shelley is my mother-in-law. She’s fiercely protective of her family, and places them above all else. She’s strong willed and decisive, while trying to do what’s best for everyone. I know some people struggle with their in-laws, and I’ll be glad that doesn’t include me.

Todd is my father-in-law and trying to get him to talk about himself is a challenge. He is an incredible listener who shows a genuine interest in the other person and I deeply appreciate that about him. He’s laid back–until there’s a football game. But he’s always friendly and frequently offers to help others. 

Megan is fun to chat for hours with. She’s always up for a game night or going out and doing something. She usually knows random trivia or the latest fun fact she’s heard. I appreciate the fact that it’s never boring when she’s around.

Lauren is a lot like her dad and is also a really good listener. She is also the youngest of the Winn family, and probably the most loyal. She’s the ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ family member, and I admire the blind loyalty she has in spades.

Evelyn/Dee Dee is Shelley’s mom. She’s a great cook, and is also known for being a welcoming and great host whether at her home in Texas or up at the condo in Utah. She’s easy to laugh with and she often has some fun show recommendations. It’s always fun hearing about the adventures she’s gone on. I’ve always been grateful for how welcome she’s made me feel in her home.

25. Podcasts

I feel like these have been around forever, but only exploded in popularity a few years ago. Regardless of the reasons why they're seemingly growing in popularity, I'm glad because there's so many different types to plug in and listen to. I know I listen to more, but here are three that I've been a fan of currently, or in the past.

I listened to Writing Excuses for years, and it was phenomenal (and probably still is). There's something like 20 seasons now. I really loved the early years with Dan Wells, Brandon Sanderson, Howard Taylor, and Mary Robinette Kowal. But it was usually incredibly educational (and funny) when I was learning to write fiction. Their tagline was “Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart.” I really need to go back and listen to them again.

There was one that I was listening to that I should restart. It’s called Old Gods of Appalachia, and is a story telling podcast set in the Appalachian mountains. It definitely sits in the horror category, but it was also incredibly gripping and really well produced. It's been a while since I've listened to it, and I'd gone so far as to have forgotten the name of it. But while writing this, I decided to try to Google to see if I could find it again. I'm glad I did. I think it'll be one I'll dive back into. 

Another one is Species by Macken Murphy. I found this one from the stupid clock app. Macken will post clips about research, usually about people (he researches human mating behavior, which is what got him so much attention on the app in the first place). His podcast has bits of that too, but the majority of it has episodes on animals. For example, he has one about Brown Bears, with the description of the episode as this:

I like him. His intro isn't my favorite, but he's engaging and dives into the research and theories while breaking them down. I haven't listened to everything, but I've listened to a lot. His podcast is one of my current favorites.

Part 1 includes: The Gym, Social Media, Animals/Pets, Aging, Going Back to School, Airplanes, People are Good, I Hate This City, Books!, and Men

Part 2 (11-20) includes: My Sprocket, Self-Improvement, YouTube, Thanks Mom, for the Fandom Love, Collections, Adventures, The Sound of Water, Pity Parties, Theodore Roosevelt & Alice Roosevelt, Humor