"If I were you right now, Missie", she'd say, tucking her hands into the bias-binding-fringed pockets of her patterned cotton pinny and staring at me hard beneath stern white eyebrows, "I'd be having a word with myself". Then, gnomic utterance delivered and flat heels squeaking on the lino, she'd disappear into the pantry. I'd stand watching the beaded curtain swinging behind her, sensing the displeasure, and wondering what kind of words I needed to have. They didn't sound like nice ones ...
(Click for a clearer view.)
More than half a century later, I try to make sure that most of my words to myself are of the encouraging kind, though - as a friend with a nice line in picturesque speech used to put it - the odd kick up the proverbials can work wonders. This month, all three of these kinds of 'words' might be needed, for Ali Edwards in her One Little Word class is encouraging us to fulfill a daily practice of some kind.
Me? I'm going for strength training. Yep, the sort that involves weights, sore muscles and determined graft. I believe there may even be some grunting. We're allowed to goof off for a day as long as we start again - it's the keeping going that matters. The sweetener is that we can make a nice chart in pretty colours and fill in the blanks to show progress (rigorous honesty required). So, if you have a word of any of these kinds at any point this month to keep me motivated and pushing through, please do let me know - and if you need me to reciprocate, I'd be delighted. I'm going to need all the help I can get :). If Granny were still here, I reckon she'd be wiping her hands on a tea-towel with the words: "If I were you right now, Missie, I'd be getting off that chair ..."