#gaining perspective

It was Mardi Gras, the Smoky Phoenix was packed with people wearing all kinds of outfits - or a distinct lack of them, actually - there was no shortage of beads and the atmosphere was charged with fun and suggestive moments. In short, it was the perfect evening to party and many people took advantage of that. Usually, Alfie would be in his element, an easy smile on his face, a flirty comment on his lips, while he moved around and engaged in conversation with people, making it a fun night for everyone. Right now, however, he couldn’t have been further from that self, if he tried - silently nursing his drink and turning down flirty invitations from women who sported large smiles and even larger assets, not even really finding nice words to tell them no. It was no more than a no and a shake of his head, if even. After the fifth person he had turned down, he had finally had enough and stood - nodding to Tim behind the bar, before jerking his head towards the door. It could be so easy, just smile and make some small talk and distract himself for the night, but it was no use. His mind just wasn’t in it, his heart even less - and the thought of taking someone home? He wasn’t even going there.

His thoughts were circled around one particular person and around the last two weeks and... Alfie sighed, looking up at the night sky, when he stepped outside the restaurant. She had gotten under his skin, and try as he might, he couldn’t shake her. He didn’t want to shake her, either, he realised yet again - her smile, her laugh, her humour, her caring nature, her absolute gorgeous self. The way she could go from innocent to sexy in an blink of an eye. The way she responded to his touch, his caress, made sure he was taken care of, too. No matter that it had only been short of two weeks, he felt himself drawn to her, wanting to be with her. But circumstances meant he couldn’t and - it had been so much easier, when he could just turn off his thoughts, turn up his smile and seek a distraction, but he felt like the biggest shit simply thinking about it now. He found his fingers playing with his phone - he could call her, of course. But what would he say? What could he say to make things better? Easier? He didn’t even know where they stood right now, only that it was clear that he would never push her to doubt her decisions when it came to her daughter. And that she was her priority, always. Where did that leave them? “Never date a mother,” he could hear his older brother’s voice, but he simply shook his head. She wasn’t just a mother, and he wouldn’t reduce her to one, either. One thing he knew, however - he wanted to get to know her - he wanted her, all of her - and he wouldn’t just give up.

the most normal day i’ve had since march 2020

Gaining perspective through travel, cultivating compassion and gratitude, and not hovering over our children – EDEM ep. 26 With Noele Sutherland McLain

Stepping away from our everyday opens up our minds and hearts and gives us new perspective. We can see our world differently, sometimes with deeper compassion for others and appreciation for what we have. We can do this where we are by taking a mental break or by physically by traveling—to a new country or just a new neighborhood nearby.

Meet Noele Sutherland McLain, a mom of a son who is four,…