2-2-08
Happy Ground Hog Day! It is still dark so we will have to wait to find out our fate with respect to the arrival of spring this year. My entries are few and gapped this past week. I briefly considered removing the blog, but decided that I don't have to "appear" perfect here any more than I am. wouldn't that be crazy making?
Last night I went to see No Country for Old Men. I am going to have to read the book now since the movie left me with a lot of questions. Choices and consequences.
Reflecting back over January, I have to say I was very busy, but kept "being awake" a central and conscious force in my life as intended. I consistently did the things that are important to me. No, I was not perfect, but I wasn't on auto pilot for 31 days straight either. Just for Today I will do every task in an unhurried manner and give myself more than enough time to complete each task.
1-30-08
Last night I chose not to set my alarm clock. This morning I chose not to get up until 4:30am, the second time I woke up. I am also choosing not to go to the gym before work. I will do Walk Away the Pounds 2 mile walk and some yoga at home.
Just for Today I will get back in bed with my coffee and read until 5:30am and go into work an hour later. My life - my choice.
1-29-08
It has been a week since I returned from vacation and made my last entry. The week has flown right by and I feel right back into my rushed - go go mode of living. See how easy that was? Just for Today I am going to stop between chores (no multitasking) and decide what is best to do next. Oh, by the way, I am planning on retiring from the VA two years from today.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
V A C A T I O N
1-22-08
I took a week off from work that translated into 11 days. During my vacation I visited family, read, went to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN and drove to New Found Gap in the Smoky Mountains National Park. I played games with games with family and friends, ate drank and was merry.
I did not write in my journal, sit meditation, go to the gym, nor do any thing Just for Today. I was on vacation. I slept in every day and didn’t worry or think about accomplishing anything. For me, that is why vacations are limited to one week. I can only live so long without direction.
One of the first articles when I got home was how to live without New Years Resolutions. Honestly it sounded unrealistic; and it is for goal oriented individuals such as myself. Unless of course you are in recovery from living life to the extreme with to do lists and feeling worthless if nothing is accomplished and checked off your to do list.
Just for Today I will go to the gym and enjoy a healthy diet. I am half way through the book The Spectrum by Dr. Dean Ornish and it makes total sense – the choice is always mine.
I took a week off from work that translated into 11 days. During my vacation I visited family, read, went to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN and drove to New Found Gap in the Smoky Mountains National Park. I played games with games with family and friends, ate drank and was merry.
I did not write in my journal, sit meditation, go to the gym, nor do any thing Just for Today. I was on vacation. I slept in every day and didn’t worry or think about accomplishing anything. For me, that is why vacations are limited to one week. I can only live so long without direction.
One of the first articles when I got home was how to live without New Years Resolutions. Honestly it sounded unrealistic; and it is for goal oriented individuals such as myself. Unless of course you are in recovery from living life to the extreme with to do lists and feeling worthless if nothing is accomplished and checked off your to do list.
Just for Today I will go to the gym and enjoy a healthy diet. I am half way through the book The Spectrum by Dr. Dean Ornish and it makes total sense – the choice is always mine.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Let the Music Play
1-11-08
Last night I had my first piano lesson after a 3 year hiatus. I played four pieces I had been practicing for the past four months to let my new piano teacher know my current abilities. The keys on her baby grand felt and sounded different than my Baldwin upright. I was nervous and only a bit self conscious, but so glad I was there. Her patient teaching style was encouraging. When I left her home at the end of my lesson I knew I had made the right decision to return to my lessons.
Just for Today my practice period will be longer than usual and without critical judgment.
Last night I had my first piano lesson after a 3 year hiatus. I played four pieces I had been practicing for the past four months to let my new piano teacher know my current abilities. The keys on her baby grand felt and sounded different than my Baldwin upright. I was nervous and only a bit self conscious, but so glad I was there. Her patient teaching style was encouraging. When I left her home at the end of my lesson I knew I had made the right decision to return to my lessons.
Just for Today my practice period will be longer than usual and without critical judgment.
My Health - My Choice
1-10-08
I started reading Dean Ornish‘s new book, The Spectrum. It is a scientifically proven program to help us feel better, live longer, lose weight, and gain health; it is based on his 30 plus years of research. The basis premise is we all have a spectrum of lifestyle choices we can make, i.e. what we eat, how much we exercise, stress reduction, that will affect our health.
Realizing our options and possible positive outcomes can give us the information we need to make intelligent decisions about our lifestyle choices. Basically the further along you are in a disease process, the more comprehensive changes are needed for reversal. The less room there is for unhealthy choices and the bottom line – it is our individual choice.
I will not live my life in fear, but rather in joy. I have the genes for living a long life; I want them to be healthy and happy years. Just for Today I will weigh each lifestyle choice I make keeping in mind my need to lose a bit of weight. Although I don’t have any existing health concerns or other risk factors (I quit smoking in 1984), I know that excess weight can be a contributing cause of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes – just to name a few.
I started reading Dean Ornish‘s new book, The Spectrum. It is a scientifically proven program to help us feel better, live longer, lose weight, and gain health; it is based on his 30 plus years of research. The basis premise is we all have a spectrum of lifestyle choices we can make, i.e. what we eat, how much we exercise, stress reduction, that will affect our health.
Realizing our options and possible positive outcomes can give us the information we need to make intelligent decisions about our lifestyle choices. Basically the further along you are in a disease process, the more comprehensive changes are needed for reversal. The less room there is for unhealthy choices and the bottom line – it is our individual choice.
I will not live my life in fear, but rather in joy. I have the genes for living a long life; I want them to be healthy and happy years. Just for Today I will weigh each lifestyle choice I make keeping in mind my need to lose a bit of weight. Although I don’t have any existing health concerns or other risk factors (I quit smoking in 1984), I know that excess weight can be a contributing cause of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes – just to name a few.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Alive
Last Saturday I thought my iPod died, but last night when I turned on my computer to check my e-mail it came back on and was downloading all the newest pod casts that I enjoy listening to. I really panicked on Saturday trying to remember if I had bought electronic gadget insurance. Things in my office are not necessarily perfectly organized.
Just for Today I am going to perform fifteen (15) minutes of organizing in my office before I go to work (yes – exactly, it will happen between meditation and piano practice). Yup, I will have to get out of bed 15 minutes earlier this morning.
Just for Today I am going to perform fifteen (15) minutes of organizing in my office before I go to work (yes – exactly, it will happen between meditation and piano practice). Yup, I will have to get out of bed 15 minutes earlier this morning.
Another Day
1-8-08
Last night I didn’t set my alarm (my body said it was really tired and needed a good sleep). I didn’t wake up this morning until 5:10 am and I felt sluggish. I got back in bed with my cup of coffee and started reading a new magazine. I didn’t get out of bed until late and had to make a dash to get to work (I did not write this morning). Hitting the ground working I kept going until after the board meeting; I left work at 7:00pm.
Just for Today I lived in a state of constant flow. The coffee pot and the alarm clock are both set and tomorrow is another day.
Last night I didn’t set my alarm (my body said it was really tired and needed a good sleep). I didn’t wake up this morning until 5:10 am and I felt sluggish. I got back in bed with my cup of coffee and started reading a new magazine. I didn’t get out of bed until late and had to make a dash to get to work (I did not write this morning). Hitting the ground working I kept going until after the board meeting; I left work at 7:00pm.
Just for Today I lived in a state of constant flow. The coffee pot and the alarm clock are both set and tomorrow is another day.
Listen
1-7-08
By 1:00pm yesterday I had the house as clean as it was going to get and Mike had vacuumed. The last load of laundry was in the washer. My blog was in and Zazen at home was done. I was pooped and did the only thing that made any sense – I took a shower and slipped between clean sheets, and took a short nap. Gone were the thoughts of the gym or a movie. Gone was the need to be more productive.
After an hour lie down I made lunch and practiced my piano. Then I got back in bed, caught up on e-mail, listened to the Cast-On pod cast; and checked out their website, and knitted.
Mike and I sat down at 5:00pm with a bowl of popcorn and watched a movie. I am grateful for my good sense and experience that told me it is best that I listen to my body and act accordingly. Just for Today I am going to listen to my body and respond appropriately for each situation.
By 1:00pm yesterday I had the house as clean as it was going to get and Mike had vacuumed. The last load of laundry was in the washer. My blog was in and Zazen at home was done. I was pooped and did the only thing that made any sense – I took a shower and slipped between clean sheets, and took a short nap. Gone were the thoughts of the gym or a movie. Gone was the need to be more productive.
After an hour lie down I made lunch and practiced my piano. Then I got back in bed, caught up on e-mail, listened to the Cast-On pod cast; and checked out their website, and knitted.
Mike and I sat down at 5:00pm with a bowl of popcorn and watched a movie. I am grateful for my good sense and experience that told me it is best that I listen to my body and act accordingly. Just for Today I am going to listen to my body and respond appropriately for each situation.
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