Thursday, October 31, 2013

365 Days of Giving Thanks


Day 345 - Thursday 10/31/13 - Thankful Halloween is only once a year. 

Day 344 - Wednesday 10/30/13 - Thankful for a quiet night in with the pup.  Needed the early bedtime tonight.

Day 343 - Tuesday 10/29/13 - Happy that my cousins were able to join us for family dinner tonight!

Day 342 - Monday 10/28/13 - So grateful that my therapist knows me as well as she does.  Makes challenging days like today a little easier to work through.

Day 341 - Sunday 10/27/13 - Appreciate the opportunity to participate in the kick-off event of what is looking to be a fantastic experience this coming summer!

Day 340 - Saturday 10/26/13 - Had so much fun collaborating with educators from across the tri-county area at today's workshop!

Day 339 - Friday 10/25/13 - Thrilled this week is over.  'Nuff said.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Why?

It's been an interesting week.  Lots of things to think about.  Lots of questions.  Lots of answers to find.  Lots of thinking.  And yes, lots of tears.

On the flip side, there has been lots of learning, too.

Lots of questions......
  • Why do calories still dictate so much of my life?
  • Why is it socially acceptable to be on a diet, but not socially acceptable to talk about eating disorders?
  • Why does society promote things like Spanx and other body shapers?
  • Who made the decision that smaller and thinner is better?
  • Why isn't good health more important than size and shape?
  • Why does it matter how much I weigh, or what I look like?
  • Why do I care so much about what others think?
  • Why can't I accept my body as it is?
Lots of questions.......


Thursday, October 24, 2013

365 Days of Giving Thanks


Day 338 - Thursday 10/24/13 - Grateful the week of appointments is over.  Seven days.  Four tests.  Three new doctors.  Two IVs.  One X-ray.  Even better?  All came back normal!

Day 337 - Wednesday 10/23/13 - Grateful for the much needed time with my therapist today.

Day 336 - Tuesday 10/22/13 - Happy to find out that the Pup is just dealing with allergies, and not something more serious.

Day 335 - Monday 10/21/13 - Shocked and grateful that the chaotic schedule for this afternoon somehow, miraculously, worked!  I wasn't late for a single one of my appointments!

Day 334 - Sunday 10/20/13 - Enjoyed the yummy cider and fresh roasted corn from the cider mill on this sunny Sunday!

Day 333 - Saturday 10/19/13 - Appreciate the special delivery from the mail person this morning!  Saved me a trip to the post office!

Day 332 - Friday 10/18/13 - Grateful the week is over.  It was a crazy one.


Sunday, October 20, 2013

What a Difference a Year Makes!

Even the Pup got to go!
What a pumpkin!
Last year, I was able to visit one of my favorite places after my not-so-nice little buddy prevented me from visiting the previous year.  Considering the Cider Mill is only open for three short months?  Skipping out on visiting for a full year is really a long time to miss!

 New definition of pumpkin carving!
Last year, I blogged about how nice it was to cave in and return to one of the few places my family visited yearly since I was a child.

Fresh made donuts!
This year?

This year, it's been more than a sporadic visit during the short, three month season.  This year, I've made it a weekly stop!  You can say that by visiting the Cider Mill on Sundays all season long, I'm either ending my week on a sweet note, or starting my week on a sweet note.

A pause in the crowd....
Either way?  I am thrilled that fresh pressed apple cider has been on my meal plan since the start of the season!






Thursday, October 17, 2013

365 Days of Giving Thanks


Day 331 - Thursday 10/17/13 - New doctor today started off really shaky, but grateful that it had a great outcome!

Day 330 - Wednesday 10/16/13 - SO thankful that the state testing is over!  A challenging eight days is now behind us and done for the year.

Day 329 - Tuesday 10/15/13 - Thankful for a day that got me home early enough to enjoy some time with the Pup AND get in a nice shower and dinner.

Day 328 - Monday 10/14/13 - Thankful for my therapist.  That's all.

Day 327 - Sunday 10/13/13 - Grateful for a peacefully and unseasonably warm Sunday!

Day 326 - Saturday 10/12/13 - Thankful for a lazy Saturday with a long, mid-day nap!

Day 325 - Friday 10/11/13 - Loved being a part of a special family's special day.  Much appreciation for letting me share these celebrations.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Baseball as Metaphor for Life?

I'm sure it's been done before, many, many times.  But I haven't been able to think that way, or handle that way of thinking before.

Now I think I can.

Baseball.

Everyone is cheering for their team.  When their team does well, all is grand.  When their team doesn't.... that's a whole different story.

Pitchers do their best to pitch with the support of their fielders for those pitches that make contact.  The fielders are prepared for almost any scenario, as they practice, practice, practice!  Same goes for the pitchers and catchers.

But there's a variable.  The batter.
You can't always predict what the batter will do, despite statistics and analysis.  It's a bit of a wild card.

Like in life.

You can be prepared for everything you can possibly prepare for.  You can study your opponents.  You can practice your pitches.  You can run through plays on the field.

But until that batter, your opponent, steps into the batters box.... you won't know how it will all play out.

Like in life.

Where you try to be planned and prepared for your day, your week, your month.  Where you try to have preventions in place to avoid major catastrophes.  Where you try to take your knowledge of your routines, your job, your expectations, your community, and know how to participate in your world without too much worry. 

Sure, people worry about money and jobs and kids, but in general, you know that life is going to be pretty routine, or so you hope.

Until the next batter comes up.
And swings at your splitter.
And rocks the world that you've grown comfortable and knowledgeable in navigating.

What then?

Thursday, October 10, 2013

365 Days of Giving Thanks


Day 324 - Thursday 10/10/13 - Grateful that tomorrow is Friday.  Today was unfun, to say the least, and I'm glad it's over.

Day 323 - Wednesday 10/9/13 - Thankful I held it together while getting a stern "talking to" from my boss today.  Especially considering this time, I actually did nothing wrong.

Day 322 - Tuesday 10/8/13 - Grateful that the first day of the state assessment went smoothly.  Even more grateful that there's now only 4 days of testing left.

Day 321 - Monday 10/7/13 - So glad we never got the storms we were supposed to get.  Better for the Pup to not have to deal with the thunder when I'm at work.

Day 320 - Sunday 10/6/13 - Thankful that the Pup, who was up sick all last night, is doing much better today.

Day 319 - Saturday 10/5/13 - Got my errands run, got a great nap in, and got a great massage.  All in all, thankful for a nice Saturday!

Day 318 - Friday 10/4/13 - SO thankful the week is over, and even more thankful that I got to have a great impromptu dinner with my BFF tonight!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Week 52: Dream Vacation

OK, so this may have taken me two years, but the impetus for the blog has finally been completed!  This original blog challenge, started on October 29, 2011, has finally landed at the last post of the challenge!

And what better final topic than dreaming of a dream vacation?!

So.... in celebration of a full (two) year(s) of recovery blogging, if money was no issue.... my dream vacation would take me on a month-long tour of Europe and Asia, with a special stop in Israel. 

With camera in hand, I'd visit the historical landmarks that have shaped this planet and the people who inhabit it.  Feasting on foods (since this is a dream, I'd have no food allergies!) from many cultures, not worrying about calories (cause on this dream vacation, they don't exist!)

This dream vacation would continue with a visit to Disney World in Florida, followed by a week in paradise at my California Family's home, and culminating with an incredible, unplugged visit to the retreat center in Mexico where wi-fi doesn't exist, nor does electricity (at least in the bungalows) instead, the days are filled with blue sky, beautiful greenery, and the soothing surf of the waves upon the beach.

Maybe one day this, like recovery, will no longer be a dream.  For now, though, maybe many separate trips will actually become reality!

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Week 51: Life Lessons

Ahh.... some of the biggest lessons I've learned in life thus far..... wow.  Loaded, yet so simple, too!
 
Revisiting a July post of the same topic, here's a few more to add to the list:

  • Sometimes the "how" and "why" are not as important as we try to make them.  Sometimes it's only important to look at the "now" and move forward.  
  • Sometimes pain is a powerful teacher.
  • If nothing changes, nothing changes.
  • Letting go can hurt more than holding on, but it is a hurt that doesn't last as long.

Life is full of lessons.  The question is, are we ready to learn from them?


Saturday, October 5, 2013

Thursday, October 3, 2013

365 Days of Giving Thanks


Day 317 - Thursday 10/3/13 - This morning, I am thankful that I have a half day today and my sub plans are already done. Only five hours....

Day 316 - Wednesday 10/2/13 - Thankful for the nice weather.... loved the sunshine today.

Day 315 - Tuesday 10/1/13 - Thrilled that what could have been an explosive parent meeting before school ended up going better than I could have ever imagined!

Day 314 - Monday 9/30/13 -  Grateful, as usual, that I have such a wonderful therapist.  To trust someone as wholly as I trust her is starting to feel less scary.

Day 313 - Sunday 9/29/13 - Grateful the corn guys were at the Cider Mill, despite the rain - in fact, because of the rain, the hot, freshly roasted corn tasted even better!

Day 312 - Saturday 9/28/13 - Grateful for my nutritionist.  Always appreciate my time with her.

Day 311 - Friday 9/27/13 - Thankful the week is over.