I'm slowly learning the second part...this will be my reminder
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Staying positive in a negative world
A student of mine once asked me to look at a website that provided definitions of words and asked me if I noticed a trend with what the first definition was. I looked up a number of words and saw what he was seeing, each of the initial definitions was negative. All of the words I looked up had a negative connotation to it even if that was the least used definition of a word. Look at the synonyms and it was the same thing. The first synonym given for "try" was "inconvenience". in fact the 7 synonyms given all had somewhat negative connotations to them, and the word "attempt" was not listed. A primary definition for endeavor was about exerting oneself...it wasn't until the 3rd definition that it was more positive and about gaining.
I reflected on this today, mostly after the reflections I've been making this week in regards to focusing on me. I try to be a positive person and believe that positivity reeds positivity. That is not always what I seem to be experiencing though. I made another step to increase my positive attitude and outlook on life by taking a break from something that has become quite a drain on me...facebook. That's right, I said it...the fb has become a drain on me. I took a break starting Monday morning, and already I can feel it's positive affect on me. What was funny was I went on there today to turn off a notification filter (didn't want my phone lighting up anymore) and scrolled through for a moment, not to comment, just to observe. I found that with a few exceptions, most posts were negative. The people I have showing up on my feed were all complaining about something or another.
It's no wonder it's hard to stay so positive...we've created a world in which it's so easy to gripe to everyone, it's hard to know what's really going on in people's lives. We're also incredibly connected to one another, but in a voyeuristic type of way...and we only get to see the part that people are willing to share, which honestly seems to be quite negative. I admit that I was doing this too...it's so easy to just complain a one liner on there and try to let it go...the problem is, the more we do that, the more we spread that negative energy around and can affect others.
I want to try to take a stand against this negativity and work on spreading my positivity! Though I'm going to remain off the fb I am going to in my real life spread positivity. I'm going to say kind words and mean them to people that I see. I am going to believe in the kind words that others say to me. I am going to shield myself from the negative stuff and encourage and spread the positive stuff.
I do wonder what other correlations I might be able to find...and perhaps even be able to make a difference. So have a wonderful day reader of this blog. Remember that even in your darkest moments, there is always a happy memory that you can grasp at. For those of you with four-legged kids, just look at your dog or cat or turtle...I know that my four-legged kids always can get a smile. For those of you with the two-legged kids, look at all the goodness you have been able to bring up into the world!
So enjoy my lil guys and bring a smile to your face!
I reflected on this today, mostly after the reflections I've been making this week in regards to focusing on me. I try to be a positive person and believe that positivity reeds positivity. That is not always what I seem to be experiencing though. I made another step to increase my positive attitude and outlook on life by taking a break from something that has become quite a drain on me...facebook. That's right, I said it...the fb has become a drain on me. I took a break starting Monday morning, and already I can feel it's positive affect on me. What was funny was I went on there today to turn off a notification filter (didn't want my phone lighting up anymore) and scrolled through for a moment, not to comment, just to observe. I found that with a few exceptions, most posts were negative. The people I have showing up on my feed were all complaining about something or another.
It's no wonder it's hard to stay so positive...we've created a world in which it's so easy to gripe to everyone, it's hard to know what's really going on in people's lives. We're also incredibly connected to one another, but in a voyeuristic type of way...and we only get to see the part that people are willing to share, which honestly seems to be quite negative. I admit that I was doing this too...it's so easy to just complain a one liner on there and try to let it go...the problem is, the more we do that, the more we spread that negative energy around and can affect others.
I want to try to take a stand against this negativity and work on spreading my positivity! Though I'm going to remain off the fb I am going to in my real life spread positivity. I'm going to say kind words and mean them to people that I see. I am going to believe in the kind words that others say to me. I am going to shield myself from the negative stuff and encourage and spread the positive stuff.
I do wonder what other correlations I might be able to find...and perhaps even be able to make a difference. So have a wonderful day reader of this blog. Remember that even in your darkest moments, there is always a happy memory that you can grasp at. For those of you with four-legged kids, just look at your dog or cat or turtle...I know that my four-legged kids always can get a smile. For those of you with the two-legged kids, look at all the goodness you have been able to bring up into the world!
So enjoy my lil guys and bring a smile to your face!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Flashbacks of high school
Not the good flashbacks either. I was a part of something recently that made me wonder how it is we survived high school. This situation also brought up that how some times high school type things just seem to slap you in a the face randomly and it sucks. High school was rough, some times were great and other times sucked...but once you get through high school you shouldn't have to go back to it.
Crazy how certain situations bring it back. The misunderstandings, the blame, the "I hate you" attitude...yet how when you are an adult and these situations happen and you try to understand the situation, it makes no sense. You need to go back and think like a high schooler...and that's when it hits you...I have no desire to spend time with people who resort that type of behavior...and as an adult, I get to make that decision with much less backlash. Since in high school you can get black listed for this behavior and acceptance is so key...as an adult if I'm blacklisted from a group, I think that I would laugh about it.
It also helps me to understand why as we get older you have fewer friends. I happen to have great relationships with the fewer friends that I have. Those are the people I like to spend time with...and not the acquaintances that make me feel like crap...even if those acquaintances are friends with some other friends...I have the right to say, "no thanks...we'll grab coffee/lunch together alone, I'm not feeling the big group thing" and as an adult to another adult, it won't really upset anyone. If it does, again, I think I would laugh.
I still wonder how we all survived high school.
Crazy how certain situations bring it back. The misunderstandings, the blame, the "I hate you" attitude...yet how when you are an adult and these situations happen and you try to understand the situation, it makes no sense. You need to go back and think like a high schooler...and that's when it hits you...I have no desire to spend time with people who resort that type of behavior...and as an adult, I get to make that decision with much less backlash. Since in high school you can get black listed for this behavior and acceptance is so key...as an adult if I'm blacklisted from a group, I think that I would laugh about it.
It also helps me to understand why as we get older you have fewer friends. I happen to have great relationships with the fewer friends that I have. Those are the people I like to spend time with...and not the acquaintances that make me feel like crap...even if those acquaintances are friends with some other friends...I have the right to say, "no thanks...we'll grab coffee/lunch together alone, I'm not feeling the big group thing" and as an adult to another adult, it won't really upset anyone. If it does, again, I think I would laugh.
I still wonder how we all survived high school.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Weighing on me
Why is the number on the scale so important? I try not to weigh myself and trust my clothing (the way it fits) and the way I feel...but after this challenge of working out and eating right and portion control I wanted to see. I should not have done that. The number was ridiculously high which means it was higher before I checked.
Why does weight weigh so much on my mind? I am more than a number on the scale yet I when that number isn't what I expect or want it to be, a downward spiral of self worth begins. I beat myself up mentally and feel less of a person.
The body dismorphia also begins again so I become Honey Boo-Boo's mother in my mind...except I'm able to run distances and workout daily.
No matter how old I get or how smart I am or how aware...I'm still returned to the chunky kid who was made fun of in grade school for being over weight. I'm happily married and have great friends who love who I am not what I look like...yet all I feel right now is self loathing because of a number on a scale.
Why do I do this? I know I'm not alone yet I can't seem to stop the cycle. It's just a number right?
Why does weight weigh so much on my mind? I am more than a number on the scale yet I when that number isn't what I expect or want it to be, a downward spiral of self worth begins. I beat myself up mentally and feel less of a person.
The body dismorphia also begins again so I become Honey Boo-Boo's mother in my mind...except I'm able to run distances and workout daily.
No matter how old I get or how smart I am or how aware...I'm still returned to the chunky kid who was made fun of in grade school for being over weight. I'm happily married and have great friends who love who I am not what I look like...yet all I feel right now is self loathing because of a number on a scale.
Why do I do this? I know I'm not alone yet I can't seem to stop the cycle. It's just a number right?
Thursday, January 17, 2013
19 days and counting
Remember when I did those 40 days of yoga? I do...I may even do it again...but right now the husband and I have decided to workout everyday in January...only I started on the 31st so today was day 19. When I did 40 days of yoga, it was 6 days a week of yoga with 1 day of rest. When I trained for marathons you had a day of rest in there too...today I felt why. I'm exhausted!
Not like I need to sleep exhausted, but my legs are dead, my arms are sore and my brain isn't even working! This morning I opted for yoga as my workout. I had planned on running but the way my legs felt I listened to my body and did some vinyasa. Yoga is such a great release for me. My arms are sore but feel more refreshed and my legs are feeling better. I'm hoping to get a run or two in this weekend (before the frigid cold front comes through with a high of 10 on Monday).
This workout goal is helping me get through a tough month at work and reminding me that I'm stronger than I think I am...the hubby too. Plus, when I am able to get out there and run, it feels fantastic! The bike trainer is a great addition to our home too...instead of just doing a DVD we also do 20-30 minutes on the bike (or use our step to do stepper stuff) so we're doing great and almost a hour a day...go us!
Challenges are a great thing to remind us how we really don't give ourselves enough credit...19 days down and after my yoga refresh I think tomorrow will be another short workout then really long ones over the weekend :)
Not like I need to sleep exhausted, but my legs are dead, my arms are sore and my brain isn't even working! This morning I opted for yoga as my workout. I had planned on running but the way my legs felt I listened to my body and did some vinyasa. Yoga is such a great release for me. My arms are sore but feel more refreshed and my legs are feeling better. I'm hoping to get a run or two in this weekend (before the frigid cold front comes through with a high of 10 on Monday).
This workout goal is helping me get through a tough month at work and reminding me that I'm stronger than I think I am...the hubby too. Plus, when I am able to get out there and run, it feels fantastic! The bike trainer is a great addition to our home too...instead of just doing a DVD we also do 20-30 minutes on the bike (or use our step to do stepper stuff) so we're doing great and almost a hour a day...go us!
Challenges are a great thing to remind us how we really don't give ourselves enough credit...19 days down and after my yoga refresh I think tomorrow will be another short workout then really long ones over the weekend :)
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Running and cycling and juicing oh my!
The husband and I have decided to challenge ourselves to working out everyday in January. Some of the workouts are more about fun than working out...but it's about moving and being healthy. For example, we went ice skating yesterday for over an hour and a half. We had so much fun, we love skating, and that's the longest we've gone at one time. Hopefully we can go a few more times this season since we really do love it.
We've also been using our bike trainer, almost daily. It's nice since we just jump on and watch a sitcom and then we're done. We've also been doing DVDs together. I have gone on two runs this week...that's a solo project since I signed up for an 8k at the end of March/beginning of April. I do enjoy running, but today was rough with the windchill at 18 degrees and all...I still went over a 5k and felt good...just wanted to warm up quickly afterwards so I rode for 25 minutes or so.
The juicing has been going well. I've made some juices I will not make again and plenty that I really enjoy. We're going to keep experimenting this week. Good juices include carrot, orange, pineapple, spinach...apple, pineapple, carrot....cucumber, orange, carrot. Bad was cucumber lemon in water...it works but the water to juice ratio needs to be right...and I think that's more of a summer thing.
This week we add experimenting with collards, celery and ginger...we'll see what happens.
We've also been using our bike trainer, almost daily. It's nice since we just jump on and watch a sitcom and then we're done. We've also been doing DVDs together. I have gone on two runs this week...that's a solo project since I signed up for an 8k at the end of March/beginning of April. I do enjoy running, but today was rough with the windchill at 18 degrees and all...I still went over a 5k and felt good...just wanted to warm up quickly afterwards so I rode for 25 minutes or so.
The juicing has been going well. I've made some juices I will not make again and plenty that I really enjoy. We're going to keep experimenting this week. Good juices include carrot, orange, pineapple, spinach...apple, pineapple, carrot....cucumber, orange, carrot. Bad was cucumber lemon in water...it works but the water to juice ratio needs to be right...and I think that's more of a summer thing.
This week we add experimenting with collards, celery and ginger...we'll see what happens.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Welcome to 2013
Hello 2013.
I am not going to resolve to do anything, I'm just going to go ahead and do stuff.
For example, we bought a trainer yesterday and I tried it out for a half hour yesterday and again today...husband used it today too! My bum is sore. It's odd using the trainer since my bum got sore quick...so did my husbands, but we really like it.
This will be used in addition to our DVDs and running, but I'm really glad we got the trainer. It's odd being in the middle of the apartment but it's reminding us to use the bike :)
We also got a juicer so we're going to go ahead and use that more too...but don't worry, I'm not in a health nut mode completely...we also made some beer today too :)
I am not going to resolve to do anything, I'm just going to go ahead and do stuff.
For example, we bought a trainer yesterday and I tried it out for a half hour yesterday and again today...husband used it today too! My bum is sore. It's odd using the trainer since my bum got sore quick...so did my husbands, but we really like it.
This will be used in addition to our DVDs and running, but I'm really glad we got the trainer. It's odd being in the middle of the apartment but it's reminding us to use the bike :)
We also got a juicer so we're going to go ahead and use that more too...but don't worry, I'm not in a health nut mode completely...we also made some beer today too :)
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