by Jeni | Apr 6, 2021 | Dogs, Language, Relationships, Retirement, Spain, Travel, Yoga
On the pier at Puerto Deportivo in Gijon One month in Gijon, Spain and we are starting to find our rhythm. I’ve staked out my favorite spot in yoga class and as usual arrive early to make sure I get it. (Yes, I know what you’re going to say. For years,...
by Jeni | Mar 31, 2021 | Kindness, Language, Letting Go, Peace, Relationships, Spain, Travel, Yoga
Yoga at Puerto Deportivo in Gijon Shoshin is a word from Zen Buddhism meaning “beginner’s mind.” It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just...
by Jeni | Mar 27, 2021 | Family, Kindness, Language, Peace, Relationships, Spain, Travel, Yoga
Spring in the Cimadevilla neighborhood of Gijon This week in my Spanish language class, my teacher Cristina flashed a photo on the overhead projector of my neighborhood Cimadevilla because of it’s historic significance. Because our class is small, conversational...
by Jeni | Mar 22, 2021 | Downsizing, Family, Food, Language, Letting Go, Peace, Relationships, Retirement, Spain, Travel, Yoga
View from my writing desk Yesterday was cleaning day in our apartment. It was too early to run the vacuum cleaner and risk waking the neighbors below us, so I grabbed the broom and started to sweep. The repetitive movement of the broom bristles made a soft swishing...
by Jeni | Mar 17, 2021 | Dogs, Retirement, Spain, Travel
The Queen’s Gardens (Jardines de la Reina) One of the beauties of living on Claudio Alvargonzales street in the Cimavilla neighborhood is our proximity to the Jardines de la Reina (The Queen’s Gardens), a beautiful little oasis of green grass and giant...
by Jeni | Mar 12, 2021 | Food, Kindness, Language, Spain, Travel
Lately my life has felt like the game, Taboo, a word guessing game where a player chooses a card and then tries to get his partner to say that word without saying the “taboo” word listed on the card. Only I am playing the real life version where I enter a...
