I'm not feeling too swift today ⚕️
I was drinking my morning coffee, and gazing out the window … when I noticed Park Maintenance walking the grounds & spraying the ground. Whatever they were spraying to combat the gnat swarms has made me a little loopy, so I hope this post comes together in a coherent fashion 😉
"Take one for the team" is more than a slogan - it becomes a motto when a married couple reach the cooperation stage.
Overview of the Stages of Marriage
Honeymoon Stage 🥰: This initial phase lasts from a few months to about three years. Couples are often deeply in love, experiencing intense passion and excitement. Everything about the partner seems perfect, and the focus is on building intimacy and trust.
Realization Stage 🤔: As the honeymoon phase fades, couples begin to see each other more realistically. This stage involves recognizing each other's flaws 🔍 and differences 🤷♀️ , which can lead to disappointment 🤨 and conflict 😡 Communication becomes crucial as couples learn to navigate these challenges.
Rebellion Stage 😈: In this stage, individuals may assert their independence more strongly, leading to power struggles 😤 and disagreements 😟😪 Couples must learn to resolve conflicts peacefully ✌️ and negotiate 🤝 their needs to maintain harmony 👩❤️💋👨
In our marriage, the Honeymoon Stage, the Realization Stage, & the Rebellion Stage of marriage occurred simultaneously 😵💫; pretty much from the start 😱
Cooperation Stage 👌: After navigating the rebellion stage 🔄, couples often reach a point of cooperation 💕 They learn to work together as a team, balancing their individual needs with those of the relationship 💞 This stage emphasizes compromise and mutual support. We reached this stage about 6 months ago - it's a continual work in progress.
Marriage hinges on team cohesiveness = a harmonious whole = unity.
Team unity 💎 begins with self-sacrifice.
With the small acts of service my husband does, he goes out of his way at times to make sure my life is as easy as possible, in acts of service he can manage without spiking his pain level beyond tolerable - I say small because we are retired; he no longer has to put in long, grueling physical labor. We do not have children together, so he doesn't have to field child-rearing landmines … and my children vacated my life years ago. Our life is pretty laid-back and carefree; the heavy-lifting, stress-filled days, are behind us. His acts of service now are shouldering the hook-up, maintenance, and security of our home on wheels: and taking on the "responsibility" of me (I don't like that mindset - it's makes me sound like a liability instead of an asset; but it's how he was raised - it's the macho cowboy way 🤠 of gender roles; he comes from genuine cowboy stock - himself worked on a ranch doing range patrol, cattle drives, and fence line work; & some of his cousins' children still do the rodeo circuit).
My acts of service are making a comfortable home 💕 & create a serene environment 😇; preparing healthy, tasteful, & purposeful meals 🥗🍲🥣🥧🐟🍗🥩🥖 (body fuel with medicinal benefits); smoothing the rough edges without undue exertion 💎; & meeting him halfway with emotional understanding 💝 - while trying to decipher the needs, wants, & desires, he's not communicating very well 🤔
His presence in my Life makes my life easier 😎; my presence in his life makes his life easier 😘
His height makes my life easier; my short stature makes it easier for him to feel needed 🦁 - beyond the basic every day acts of service he shoulders to keep our free-wheeling lifestyle rolling smoothly along. His quiet ways of getting me out of my head and out of house … makes my life easier - sometimes this comes in the form of an order-to-go meal 🥢🍕🌮; or in the form of an impromptu short, local, drive 🚘 (surprising me with an uploaded playlist of my favored tunes 📀): other times, it involves him not knowing what to say or do … so, he quietly gets busy doing a job 🛠💼 around the house that he's been putting off for a while (like switching out the microwave; leveling the washer-dryer combo; resetting the bedroom sliding mirror closet doors; resetting the sliding farmhouse doors; switching out switches & switch plates; ect.: things he gets busy doing in the moment that he's aware will make my hausfrau tasks easier) - things he understands with his manly brain 🧠 that will convey to me by example that he loves me the best way he knows how 💝; my quiet ways of allowing him space to unwind at his own pace 🐢, in his own way 🎧💻🤘; of observing 👀, taking note of limitations 🤔, & guiding him into a restful state without making it obvious that he needs to take a break 😘 His dinking around inside and outside of Independence, to make life on the road safe and worry-free, makes my life easier; me taking care of interior necessities that make life on the road safe & worry-free, making his responsibility tasks easier & attitude lighter when it comes time to move on.
Even though Holland is an original vagabond legend who had already spent the bulk of his life on the roads we've traveled together these 34 months 🚘⛽️🗺️🧳🏔️👩❤️💋👨, he promised me he would take me to those places - so the gypsy in me could experience them, myself. His agreeing to Road Gypsy with me, seriously makes my life easier; and I gently prod him into tourist mode so he, too, can enjoy road gypsy retirement enjoyment 😎 - easing the decades old road-weary-work-horse mentality of racing from one job to the next. Life, for both of us is to be enjoyed, not simply endured. So, it is easy to thank him for all the noticed things - and the other things he isn't even aware of that he does to make my life easier. Under all the gruff bluster 🦁, and macho attitude 🤠, he really is a good man 😘 - and he deserves recognition for that. And, on the flip-side, he is becoming more vocal in appreciation for the little things he notices I do, to make his life easier, too.
And because we are a team … I am careful to keep the scales balanced: I've learned to be careful saying what I liked, or where I'd like to be - because he would file those words away, and start researching the best ways to make those things come about: he never forgot a single word I ever uttered - he'd always surprises me, saying, "See Baby? I always hear what you say, even though sometimes you don't think so. I hear you & I remember everything you say."
Every decision Holland made, he considered me: even when he was frustrated, or angry with me - whether it was researching and planning a scenic route from A to B, he'd rather have skipped; broadening his food intake to include exotic dishes I enjoy (like Chinese, Thai, Indian (Asia), & Jewish dishes); the music that bounces off Betsy's cab walls while on the road … all these things are love concessions.
Bryan Adams - 'Everything I Do, I Do It For You' song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0pdQU87dc8&list=RDY0pdQU87dc8&start_radio=1
I am appreciative & I keep the Team Work balanced, so my husband never has need to feel the weight of unified responsibility rests solely on his broad shoulders.
I pay attention to what he says; I pay attention to the vibrations of a wounded heart shared with me in unguarded moments; I learn his likes & dislikes - then, I do what I humanly can to make his life easier, to shower him with love to soothe, and to surprise him with unexpected preferences & interests he, as a bachelor would not indulge himself with. Because he does so much for me, and gives me freely what is within his power to give - I return the favor.
Traveling Wilburys - 'Handle With Care' song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBkN03eF1x8&list=RDTBkN03eF1x8&start_radio=1
That's Team Unity 🤝
My Senior Exercise Plan today worked lower body muscles … and was done to the raindrop tempo on Independence's rooftop 😁
The gluteus maximus doesn't just help fill those back pockets in jeans and shorts, it also helps with posture, sprinting, jumping and kicking. As a matter of fact it powers so many of our upright movements that it's a wonder we haven't got more workouts dedicated to working out this particular muscle group. The Darebee Butt Lift Workout lives fully up to its premise and promise. The exercises will help lift your butt.
The safety of the Darebee Butt Lift Workout for a 69-year-old woman depends on her individual health and fitness level. It is generally recommended that seniors engage in exercises only if they are comfortable with the movements and can perform them correctly. The workout includes exercises that may be challenging for some seniors who experience joint health & vertigo (balance dizziness), so always prioritize safety; if there is excessive pain, stop.
The Side Kick exercise targets the glutes, hips, and thighs, promoting strength, stability, and flexibility; the core muscles are also engaged. The safety of Side Kicks for a 69-year-old woman depends on her overall health and fitness level. Side kicks, like other high-impact exercises, can be particularly risky for seniors due to the potential for joint strain and muscle soreness. It is crucial for individuals to assess their fitness level and consult with a healthcare provider before engaging in any new exercise routine. Side kicks, along with other high-impact exercises, should be approached with caution and may not be suitable for all seniors.
#Below are a couple low-impact alternatives to the intensity of a regular side kick - do the bodyweight diagonal punch & a choice of 1 side kick exercise shown:
It is generally safe for a 69-year-old woman to do the Bridge Exercise. The bridge exercise is a low-impact, functional movement that strengthens the core, glutes, and lower back, making it a perfect exercise for seniors looking to stay active and reduce injury risk.
#Here is an alternate Bridge exercise that may be easier on some backs:
The safety of performing the Push Extensions Back Kicks exercise for a 69-year-old woman depends on her individual health condition and fitness level. Factors such as joint health, balance, and any underlying health conditions should be considered; it is essential to listen to the body and not push beyond one's limits to avoid injury. Always prioritize safety; if there is excessive pain, stop.
#Here is an alternate standing extensions back kicks exercise that may be easier on the hip flexor joints; if vertigo is an issue you can use a chair, or counter support, if necessary:
The safety of performing leg extensions, including Leg Extensions/Donkey Kicks, for a 69-year-old woman depends on her individual health condition and fitness level. Leg extensions can place stress on the knee joint, and those with pre-existing knee issues should be cautious. It is crucial for individuals to listen to their bodies and stop any exercise that causes sharp pain.
#Here is an alternate standing donkey kicks exercise that may be easier on the knee joints; if vertigo is an issue you can use a chair, or counter support, if necessary:
*February 7, 2026 - NATIONAL MARRIAGE WEEK #1/2026~Self-Care; Coalinga-CA https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/02/national-marriage-week-1self-care-2026.html
*February 8, 2026 - CHAPTER 2~National Marriage Week #2/2026~Self-Care; Coalinga-CA https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/02/chapter-2national-marriage-week-2-self.html
*February 9, 2026 - LOVE~National Marriage Week #3-2026~Self-Care; Coalinga-CA https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/02/lovenational-marriage-week-3-2026self.html
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