So, remember when I gave you permission to take a break now and then? Well, I'm taking my own advice this week. Trust me, it's in everyone's best interests.
I will miss you, but I'll be back on November 4th! That's hardly any time at all. Spend some time in the archives, if you want to - a little refresher is never a bad thing.
See you in a week!
- Sarah
Monday, October 28, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Feel-Good Friday!
Happy Friday! Let's have a dance party!
(once again, I'm going to let you provide the music. It is not mine to dictate what y'all are dancing to)
And then let's go into the weekend with the intention of resting, relaxing, and recharging. Make yourself a couple of really good meals, get as much sleep as you want or need, and we'll all feel like new when we meet back up here on Monday. Or at least, new-ish.
Have a lovely weekend!
- Sarah
(once again, I'm going to let you provide the music. It is not mine to dictate what y'all are dancing to)
And then let's go into the weekend with the intention of resting, relaxing, and recharging. Make yourself a couple of really good meals, get as much sleep as you want or need, and we'll all feel like new when we meet back up here on Monday. Or at least, new-ish.
Have a lovely weekend!
- Sarah
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Quick Bite Thursday
I have decided that I have nothing to offer today that can't be summed up in this quote:
"In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?" - Gabrielle Roth
And now I'm off to do some dancing, singing, silence-enjoying, and hopefully find a story or to to be enchanted by. You should too. I'll see you tomorrow.
- Sarah
"In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?" - Gabrielle Roth
And now I'm off to do some dancing, singing, silence-enjoying, and hopefully find a story or to to be enchanted by. You should too. I'll see you tomorrow.
- Sarah
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Love On A Plate
So we've all heard the phrase "food is not love." Which is generally true, but also ... not true. As with so many things, it all depends on how you look at it.
No meal is ever going to give you the kind of emotional fulfillment that reciprocated love will, although I've certainly had a few meals that came damn close. On the other hand, eating well is a very good way to take care of yourself and, by extension, show yourself love. I can't deny that a balanced, reasonably-portioned diet doesn't feel nearly as good as a hug does but I can say that over time a balanced, reasonably-portioned diet is going to make you feel pretty great about yourself, which will lead to more people wanting to hug you, so there's that.
Key phrase here: "reasonably-portioned." It's often so tempting to show ourselves love by giving ourselves as much of what we want as possible at any given time. It's an understandable impulse, but think about it for a minute - remember the last time you had a meal that was so good you didn't want to stop eating? So you didn't? How did you feel when you finally stopped? I'm guessing you felt at least a little bit gross, even though everything started wonderfully. I'm all about "everything in moderation, including moderation," believe me, but excess is almost always going to find a way to backfire on you. So learn to recognize when you're full, and give yourself permission to stop when you get there. If it's something you really like you can box up the leftovers and enjoy it all over again tomorrow, and if you really didn't like it all that much you can give it to your dog or your compost pile or your dining companion who did enjoy it. Never feel like you have to be a member of the Clean Plate Club just on sheer principle.
On the other side of it, some of us withhold pleasurable things from ourselves when we feel we don't "deserve" them, or because for whatever reason we're not that interested in taking care of ourselves. I am really not qualified to delve too far into this angle of the issue, but I will say this, and I'm speaking from personal experience: you deserve to be well-fed, you deserve to be cared for, and once you start the self-care ball rolling it gets easier and easier. And if you just can't seem to get the ball rolling even a little bit please seek out someone who can help you with it. You are worth it.
Whichever end of the spectrum you're on, here's your assignment for today: think about what you most want to eat today, and then go make it for yourself. Set a nice table, even if it's just you and your goldfish, and enjoy exactly as much of your meal as your body tells you you need. Then see how you feel for the rest of your day, and even tomorrow. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Once again, I have no idea what's on tap for tomorrow, but whatever it is it's going to be great. I'll see you then!
- Sarah
No meal is ever going to give you the kind of emotional fulfillment that reciprocated love will, although I've certainly had a few meals that came damn close. On the other hand, eating well is a very good way to take care of yourself and, by extension, show yourself love. I can't deny that a balanced, reasonably-portioned diet doesn't feel nearly as good as a hug does but I can say that over time a balanced, reasonably-portioned diet is going to make you feel pretty great about yourself, which will lead to more people wanting to hug you, so there's that.
Key phrase here: "reasonably-portioned." It's often so tempting to show ourselves love by giving ourselves as much of what we want as possible at any given time. It's an understandable impulse, but think about it for a minute - remember the last time you had a meal that was so good you didn't want to stop eating? So you didn't? How did you feel when you finally stopped? I'm guessing you felt at least a little bit gross, even though everything started wonderfully. I'm all about "everything in moderation, including moderation," believe me, but excess is almost always going to find a way to backfire on you. So learn to recognize when you're full, and give yourself permission to stop when you get there. If it's something you really like you can box up the leftovers and enjoy it all over again tomorrow, and if you really didn't like it all that much you can give it to your dog or your compost pile or your dining companion who did enjoy it. Never feel like you have to be a member of the Clean Plate Club just on sheer principle.
On the other side of it, some of us withhold pleasurable things from ourselves when we feel we don't "deserve" them, or because for whatever reason we're not that interested in taking care of ourselves. I am really not qualified to delve too far into this angle of the issue, but I will say this, and I'm speaking from personal experience: you deserve to be well-fed, you deserve to be cared for, and once you start the self-care ball rolling it gets easier and easier. And if you just can't seem to get the ball rolling even a little bit please seek out someone who can help you with it. You are worth it.
Whichever end of the spectrum you're on, here's your assignment for today: think about what you most want to eat today, and then go make it for yourself. Set a nice table, even if it's just you and your goldfish, and enjoy exactly as much of your meal as your body tells you you need. Then see how you feel for the rest of your day, and even tomorrow. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Once again, I have no idea what's on tap for tomorrow, but whatever it is it's going to be great. I'll see you then!
- Sarah
Monday, October 21, 2013
Just Stuff
Have you ever seen those photographs of people around the world with all of their possessions laid out in front of them? It is damn amazing how much more stuff Americans have than just about anyone else, and we all (or, well, most of us) know full well that we don't need most of it.
No, we really don't. Be honest, think about the last thing you decided to keep "because I might need it." How long ago did you make that decision? Have you needed it yet? If it's been six months, and I'm being generous with that, you don't need it.
Another thing to consider: have you ever found yourself needing something, and realized that you used to have just that thing but got rid of it somewhere along the way? How long did you kick yourself for that? Not very long, I'm guessing. Most likely what happened is that you went "oh man, I used to have one of those. Oh well." And then you went out and procured another one and that was that.
I think a lot of people feel defined by their "things," and certainly we all have things that are important to us and could be considered definitive, but be honest with yourself - how much of your stuff can really rightfully assume such an elevated position? If it's been sitting in a box in your garage for the last two years it's not definitive, at least not in the way you think it is.
And then there's the sentimental angle, but just as with the clothing thing, just because someone you love gave it to you that's not a good enough reason to keep something, and allowing something to gather dust on the back of a shelf where no one can even see it is probably not how you want to honor someone.
So here's your assignment today (yes, it's an assignment day!): go through your house and find ten things you really don't need and then get them the heck out of your house. Whether you throw them away or donate them or give them to someone else, it doesn't matter, just don't let them keep sharing your physical or mental space for one more minute. They don't have to be big things - I'm going to tackle my stash of rubber bands right after I get done writing this (yes, I do these assignments too!) - and you certainly don't have to stop at ten, but ten should be your baseline. But I'm betting that once you start you're going to want to keep going for a bit. It's amazing how much clearer you feel when you get rid of even a portion of the extraneous stuff.
Foodie Wednesday tomorrow! It's going to be delicious.
- Sarah
No, we really don't. Be honest, think about the last thing you decided to keep "because I might need it." How long ago did you make that decision? Have you needed it yet? If it's been six months, and I'm being generous with that, you don't need it.
Another thing to consider: have you ever found yourself needing something, and realized that you used to have just that thing but got rid of it somewhere along the way? How long did you kick yourself for that? Not very long, I'm guessing. Most likely what happened is that you went "oh man, I used to have one of those. Oh well." And then you went out and procured another one and that was that.
I think a lot of people feel defined by their "things," and certainly we all have things that are important to us and could be considered definitive, but be honest with yourself - how much of your stuff can really rightfully assume such an elevated position? If it's been sitting in a box in your garage for the last two years it's not definitive, at least not in the way you think it is.
And then there's the sentimental angle, but just as with the clothing thing, just because someone you love gave it to you that's not a good enough reason to keep something, and allowing something to gather dust on the back of a shelf where no one can even see it is probably not how you want to honor someone.
So here's your assignment today (yes, it's an assignment day!): go through your house and find ten things you really don't need and then get them the heck out of your house. Whether you throw them away or donate them or give them to someone else, it doesn't matter, just don't let them keep sharing your physical or mental space for one more minute. They don't have to be big things - I'm going to tackle my stash of rubber bands right after I get done writing this (yes, I do these assignments too!) - and you certainly don't have to stop at ten, but ten should be your baseline. But I'm betting that once you start you're going to want to keep going for a bit. It's amazing how much clearer you feel when you get rid of even a portion of the extraneous stuff.
Foodie Wednesday tomorrow! It's going to be delicious.
- Sarah
Getting Professional Help
So, what if you've identified what kind of exercise works for you, and you've experimented with mixing things up a little and you're pretty sure you're getting enough protein and whatnot and you're still feeling stalled on your fitness goals? It might be time to call in an expert.
I hear a lot of reasons why people are resistant to work with a personal trainer, so I thought today would be a good day to try to put some of the fears to rest.
I hear a lot of reasons why people are resistant to work with a personal trainer, so I thought today would be a good day to try to put some of the fears to rest.
- Reason #1: "I'm so out of shape, I'd never be able to do what they ask of me." This is actually the best possible reason to start working with a trainer! A responsible trainer is never going to take you someplace that isn't at least a little bit available to you. Yes, you will get pushed to your limits and yes, it will be difficult, but that's how you improve. One of the things that people who do work with trainers really like is the fact that there's someone holding them accountable and encouraging them to work just a little harder.
- Reason #2: "All trainers are perky gym people, and that irritates me." It is true that a lot of trainers are in fact dudebros and barbie dolls, but certainly not all of us. If you're really concerned about personality conflicts, consider inquiring about personal training at a nearby yoga or pilates studio - much less potential for getting paired with a stereotypical "gym-type" trainer, although there is a stronger possibility of getting paired with a New Age hippie, but that might work for you! It is also worth considering that regardless of personality type and outward appearance, 99.7% (at least) of personal trainers went into that field out of a genuine desire to help people get healthier and more fit. A good trainer only has your best interests at heart, truly, and we do not judge. I promise.
- Reason #3: "It's so expensive." This is a tough one to refute; it is indeed a bit of an investment to work with a trainer. But first of all, and most importantly, you and your health are worth it. Secondly, there is almost always a discount offered for buying a package of sessions rather than just one at a time - not a huge discount, granted, but every little bit helps. Thirdly, there are always options to consider: working with a trainer once a month rather than once (or more) a week, asking for training gift certificates for gift-giving holidays, and if you happen to be friends or acquaintance with a trainer you can offer a trade! I've trained people in exchange for baked goods and massages and it's worked out rather nicely for everyone involved.
So there you go! No excuses, now. Give it a try, even if it's just one session. You never know when fabulous things might happen.
Tomorrow we're going all minimalist! Indeed.
Have a lovely day.
- Sarah
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Feel-Good Friday!
Once again, my friends, it is Feel-Good Friday! And your directive for this weekend is to try something new. You know that thing you keep saying you want to do but you never do it? This is the weekend that you do it. And it might be disappointing or it might be better than you ever thought possible, but there's only one way to find out. So go do it! And either way, enjoy the heck out of it!
I'll see you back here on Monday.
- Sarah
I'll see you back here on Monday.
- Sarah
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