Penny wise and pound foolish

I think it's really important to enjoy the "little things" and take "simple pleasures" but at the same time I hope and want to focus on the big picture and not get caught up in the "small stuff".  Like not stressing about an occasional treat when I overall eat quite healthy or not feeling bad about a lazy day when I'm usually active.   It's figuring out what's worth the effort and what is not. 

This thought was prompted by my reflections/ruminations on the actions of a friend, my former roommate. I recently moved out of my shared house to a place on my own.  The last couple of weeks - she's been rather petty.  Asking about a missing piece of tupperware or emailing me to say she found a broken cup (not replacing it but like she wants me to deal with it). Mind you we still have some big bills to work out but she seems more focused (fixated) on the little things rather than hundreds of dollars. 

I'm going to let a day pass before I respond because my immediate response was to be pissed off and I starting thinking about a rant I wanted to lay on her.  This of course is not positive and totally counter to what I described I'm seeking above. 

Anyway - that's me - rambling instead here but not taking it further. 

Good habits and another use for hockey tape

Hockey tape was the answer to my recent TKD problem of finding something to protect my feet but not land me on my behind, during last class's umpteen kicks. It kept the band-aid in place (friction burn from all the kick's last week) and allowed me to pivot.

So yay - and hockey tape is pretty ubiquitious in my rural northern town.  I also got over my fear of a certain kick (the move I tore my ACL on).  I was nervous, my hands were actually shaking before hand but after a few misses, I landed some strong ones and will only get better with practice.

Also after reading this article on creating routine and habits for success I'm making a few more minor changes. Making water drinking a habit (when I wake up, when I get in to work, before I leave work, etc.) and also taking a stronger look at my diet, I am a pretty healthy eater - veggies are some of my favourite things on the planet but I was also eatin more sweet treats than my body can handle if I want to lose weight. I'm of the philosophy that some are fine but I don't want to be counter-productive.

More on Belly Dancing

I've had 6 belly dance classes and I enjoy it so much, the shimmies, the sashays, the music.  It has improved my posture and freed the tightness in my neck and shoulders, strengthened my core and are mucles. Last night we did a lot of 'hip snaps" which is kind of the motion you use to push a car door or drawer closed with your hip and to make it really "snappy" you have to tighten the glutes. After the class I could feel it, but in a good way like a butt-lift.

Like this.

I also really enjoy the chance to move in a "pretty" way.  I was always a bit of a tomboy and did sports over dance growing up so I never felt particularly graceful.   And yes the class is supportive and encouraging and welcoming of all shapes and sizes and I can see it's very much "what you do with it, rather than what you have". And that feels great. 

I hope she runs another session soon,  I don't think I'd ever want to perform but this is something I want to keep up.

Hopes for "steel"...nerves and buns that is

It's an hour and half to my first TKD class, I missed last week due to a work event and a weather cancellation.   I'm nervous - but as I said before "Fear factor", I'm not going to let it keep me from things any more.  So this is the start.

I need a phyical outlet...the nighttime teeth grinding is back, my neck and shoulders are tight but that's about it on my body.  The belly dance classes are helping, but it's a different type and only once a week.  I need to get a good sweat on.

I hope I'm not the oldest (the club used to be based on campus), I hope I can keep up somewhat or at least bow out before I collapse or dry heave, I hope I don't pull something. I hope I make a friend (over the coming weeks).  And I hope to slide those Mavi jeans over buns (mine) of steel by April.

Moments

There's a moment when:

• you realize a once significant date is unremarkable 
• you bypass a chocolate/sweet/treat because you never were a fan of them and have broke the habit of sharing a colleague's candy bowl
• you realize you've run longer or farther than you ever had before 
• the sight of someone's name raises little or no negative emotion or jaw clench or muscle tension
• a walking route becomes a favourite because it has a hill that you enjoy cresting
• a recipe that had turned out ho-hum before finally worked (probably because I followed it)
• (your own)

those and so many others are the moments when I remember I'm through/over/past "it", that I'm stronger than I had myself thinking, that time does help and that attitude does more.  And what I try to remind myself when I'm not quite there, because I will get there.

The more the merrier

I’ve been naval-gazing lately and thinking about what has “worked” for me in the past in terms of health and fitness.  And also what hasn’t worked. 

I’ve enjoyed and got the most from exercise when it was through a team sport or group classes (ultimate frisbee, running room, TKD clubl).  And not as much by going to a gym or running on my own. I don't seem to stick with it or put the same effort in.  And as I'm also trying to improve my social life I'm on the hunt for another class/club to add to the belly dance. 

The choices are slim in a small town (besides yoga and hockey) but I'm going to check out a taekwondo club on Monday. They look good on the website; organized and with legit credentials. I’m looking forward to it, if a little nervous… it’s been 10 years since I took a class. And I'm out of shape. But, but...I've got to stop letting "being out of shape" keep me from doing things that will "get me in shape". 

And I've already decided I'll just say at the start that I won't be sparring. I was always more a fan of the pad kicking and the forms, the fighting - meh. I wasn't very good at it either.  

I can still count to 10 in Korean and give the important yell - which kind of ends up sounding like “Ah-soo” or an accented a**hole.  So really - I’m all set. 

some belly luv

I’ve had two excellent belly dance classes so far. 

It’s a mixed group age and shape and skill wise as it’s a blend of beginner and beginners once or twice removed. We stretch and prance and shimmy and sometimes sashay around with large scarves. I like the group, the music, the fact that I feel the burn in my abs (all of them) and arms. It’s also a new way of moving for me, isolating muscles and movements. I had never previously thought about flexing just one butt cheek…but now it’s something I practice so my hip thrust has the right oomph. 

Most of the time I feel less like Shakira and more like someone using one of those vibrating belt exercise machines - remember those?  But I trust the fluidity will come, it’s only been two classes and I’m not a fast learner… I have to practice a lot to get it right and then it’ll stick.

The run, er jog, er scamper

Whenever I am getting back into running - I tell myself I just have to go for 5, 7 or 10 minutes and then I can turn around and even walk back if I want. And of course I usually don’t so that way I get in my 10-20 minute run. And after I do that a few times I’m back into it and adding time or speed.  

The day after the last post I went out and lasted 12 minutes and only half of that was jogging. It was weird going out, things didn't feel comfortable, I went out too fast and didn't really settle into a groove before I decided to turn around.  The air was so cold my lungs were hurting (yes I wussed out). On the way home there was a moment on a small incline where I felt things tighten and it was like the physical sensation of when car's automatic transmission changes gears and you feel that engagement into the higher gear. And it felt great. 

But I need to get back out there (and before April) So the solution is something like this - I didn’t think I’d need it once I left frigid Ottawa but I was wrong.  Looking forward to first run (retry).  To be the buffalo, I must dress like one! 

The fear factor

At various times in the recent past I've put off exercising.  I've told myself that I've been held back by work schedules, weather, money but the real reason has been fear.

Fear that what was once a fun challenge will be hard, that I'll struggle with even a short run, that my strength reps will be low, that I'll pull something, that I'll be gasping for air. I've held back because I know that for a while I won't be able to do the same speed or distance and I've been afraid of feeling of less.  

Professionally, personally and physically (concussions) I've had a tumultuous two years and so I've wanted to coast, take it easy.  Because I wasn't sure I could keep all the balls in the air and the fear of not succeeding froze me.  

However, like so many other things I've been afraid of it's seldom as awful as I think it'll be. And regardless it's better to just face it and get started and get through it.

Ever hear the legend of the buffalo?  As told to Donna Brazile...when storms hit and other animals run from them...buffalos charge at them and get through the storm faster.

So that's what I'm going to do...put on the sneakers and go for a run, the first of many.

Truthful hips

Motivation

Well to get to goals, beyond a plan I need motivation/inspiration. First people help – fellow bloggers – you do, your comments and your posts.  Eeven if I don't always comment it's more my lack of creativity than appreciation. 

Secondly, sometimes motivation is as simple and doing/keeping my job (see work related goals below) but for others I need something more. I've come across the last couple of points/tabs/links lately and thought I'd pass them on.

This video makes me tear up every time – clip of Derek Redmond finishing the race at the Barcelona Olympics, despite injury.

Getting past excuses – not sure if this is original or from another source but good stuff in there. “It will never be: easy,perfect, the right time...”

A post about lessons lived, reflections following a memorial service 

And another bit of excitement for me – I just registered for a belly dance class...I am a huge fan of Shakira and floaty scarves and my belly (it's soft and round – like a pony or a cupcake). The class doesn't start until January so until then – I'll do some practicing with this bit of excitement and energy and truthful hips. 

Enjoy!

What are your favourite expressions, videos, pictures for motivation?

Goals down

• grocery shopping
• 1 shared meal
• confirmed entertainment for convocation ceremony
• confirm speaker 

Goals

What are yours?

As I asked earlier (why blog?) what is the purpose of writing a blog.  And for many it is to help the writer state and realize a goal. The goals are varied - some weight related, or physical measurements or race times or distances run, and some are reading lists or financial planning or health related or artisitic.   Some are a life's or month's to do list of activities and achievements. 

 I've seen some awesome lists go down "strike-through" font, bullet by bullet. And the satisfaction from them has got to keep us all going.

I know of some women who have a goal to get pregnant or become a surgeon or be a millionaire by age 40.   And maybe they aren't all going to be met, life happens, priorities change (stocks plummet), but I think there is something very intrinsic in our nature to set goals. To reach for what seems impossible sometimes.

And I think I need to get more concrete in my goals and how I'm going to get there.  I've been reading about goal setting and know the whole "SMART" goal trick (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely) and so I'm going to do some additional revisions as I go along.  (the jeans are still waiting!)

So in the next week (7 days)- I will a mix of home and work

• buy a gym membership (no more weather excuses to not exercise)
• go grocery shopping (I've been slacking and eating out or making meals out of canned food regularly)
• 3 shared meals
• go to the farmer's market
• move blue dresser
• 7 sets (usually morning) exercises - leg and core
• confirm entertainment for convocation
• confirm speaker
• pick and prepare outfits for convocation and banquet
• find/arrange background music for banquet
• arrange two practices with valedictorian

I'll report on them next week.

 

So go on with your goal-setting, big dreaming, list makin, record-smashing selves.

Savin'

I woke up with the Cake version of the song "I will survive" in my head.  Most specifically the line “But now I’m saving all my loving for someone who’s loving me”.  I can only imagine what I was dreaming about but it made me think how strong and valuable a statement and concept that is.  Saving all my loving for someone who’s loving me - of course!  (Acts of compassion aside)To do otherwise is a frustrating and often pointless effort. 

And I realize that this can be applied more more broadly to life -  I’m going to save my love, time, energy, money for those (person, place, projects, charities, exercise, food, etc.) I get something back from.  And let the others fade away.  A little selfish sounding?  I see how it present that way but I think about giving more to few than less to many.   

• Like choirs, I'm in two but I really only enjoy one, so now I'm going to focus on that one.
• Or food, I'd rather go with my favourite, high nutrition food (sometimes more expensive)rather than a lot of others. Yes, mangoes can be expensive but about as much as a bag of ju-jubes.  And I know which one I'm going to "get" more back from
• People, I can be polite and pleasant to almost anyone (really) but trying to have everyone my friend can be exhausting.  Rather I will accept that sometimes the timing or chemistry just isn't there (true for non-plantic and platonic friends alike) and let them be.

What do you think?  In your various paths what have you let go or chose to refocus your energies on?

 

Today's post is brought to you by Cake

Day's highlights:

• Sunshine, always nice but particularly after storms
• Edamame - such a tasty, fresh veggie (legume?) - very "spring" tasting.  I like them raw with lemon juice or mixed in with pasta and parmasean.
• Lunch time singing practice

Let's get started

So, my plan is to move more and eat less, simple eh? Because it works. 


Specifically start jogging again, walking more and I'd like to try a dance class again.  I say again but my last one was 27 years ago. And I'll be cutting back on sweet stuff and bland carbs - talking about you dinner rolls.  I like food but I really like good food so this shouldn't be too hard. I just need to get back to my old habits, when an arugula sourdough sandwich was my ultimate treat. 
And away I go. 


Today's post is brought to you by the black eyed peas
Or if you are more old-school and prefer this MC Hammer's version

Day's highlights:
40 mins walking (20 at a fair clip)
Grapefruit - yummy grapefruit
High five from colleagues for project success
Talking to an acquaintance about her dream job