"This May I Will" Are you ready?
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@themedalist It was good to hear that you're continuing your daily Calm practice.
This morning I finally noticed (and acknowledged) that one of the things FitBit tracks is mindfulness and I actually checked it out. There was a 10 minute meditation with Deepok Chopra that was wonderful. I sat on the porch and it helped me focus while I took in the sounds of nature. The goal is to have 5 mindfulness sessions a week, so I'm going to continue tomorrow. We have so many tools right in front of us to help us meet our goals. Sometimes I'm either blind to them or in denial that they will help.
I love your post, @nebslp! You are so right…we have lots of tools and assets all around us. The trick is putting them to use. It’s easy to think that we need something else to succeed. Chances are, we already have everything we need. We just need to start doing!1 -
@themedalist Thank you for giving this group many tools and ideas to choose from. I’m reading Good Habits, Bad Habits that you recommended and am feeling encouraged. 21 days is not enough to make a habit automatic. My guess is that those here who have had consistent habits of walking (@77tes) and running (@SummerSkier) almost daily aren’t having to talk themselves into doing that every day. If we can get through the early stages of establishing the habit by making the decision to do it even though we don’t feel like it, eventually that inner conflict will subside and the behavior will become automatic. I need to read more to figure out how to do that😏.
My morning meditation with Deepak was awesome today. The reward was that my heart rate dropped 31 points from start to finish. I had just gotten done with an essentrics (stretch) session so it started out higher than usual. But still. Awesome!3 -
Wow! @nebslp your heart rate drop for meditation is impressive! As are your results @SummerSkier from your tweaks. I don’t have a heart rate monitor, so I don’t know If my meditation and diet changes are affecting my numbers. I sure hope they are!
@nebslp I like the Fitbit meditations although I only use the free ones because I don’t have premium.
Great obstacle overcome for my summer preparations - both my husband and I got the J&J vaccine today! My husband was very leery of them because they were rapidly developed. But he is so sweet - when he learned that airlines are requiring proof of vaccination to travel, he said he’d get the shot so I can go to France (not like I have plans🤣).1 -
Another day of Essentrics at 8 followed by meditation on my porch. This time my heart rate went down 11 points to within 1 point of the same low level as yesterday. A few weeks ago I changed my bedtime from 11:30+ to 10:15ish and am getting better sleep and waking up in time to exercise with the TV. I also set my alarm for 9:30 AM to remind myself to take my vitamins. I feel like life has begun again. I am amazed at how the pandemic impacted my emotions pre- and post-vaccination. I’m excited to be able to plan lunch with friends again and to go into their homes🥳🎉.4
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Another day of Essentrics at 8 followed by meditation on my porch. This time my heart rate went down 11 points to within 1 point of the same low level as yesterday. A few weeks ago I changed my bedtime from 11:30+ to 10:15ish and am getting better sleep and waking up in time to exercise with the TV. I also set my alarm for 9:30 AM to remind myself to take my vitamins. I feel like life has begun again. I am amazed at how the pandemic impacted my emotions pre- and post-vaccination. I’m excited to be able to plan lunch with friends again and to go into their homes🥳🎉.
Oh @nebslp!!! I hear your happiness in your post❤️❤️ I am so happy for you!0 -
🎨 May 1 - 7 ✔️
📼 May 1 - 7 ✔️
🎨 May 8 - 14: ✔️
📼 May 8 - 14: ✔️
🎨 May 15 - 18 ✔️
📼 May 15 - 18 ✔️ Finishing last of the audio cassettes (that I know of) as I type this!!!!
On May 17, I got energetic & went through all media & memory boxes now in dining room (along with emptying the media & camera equipment from bottom of hutch)
Sorted the different media into stacks along wall:
Slides & slide projectors, carousels
Printed photos & negatives
VHS
Smaller video tapes
Even smaller video tapes
Teensy video tapes
Digital media
Cameras
Lenses
Various disk cleaners batteries manuals
Camera cases
My family of origin photos/ephemera
Our son’s albums, art
My husband’s
Our travels
FELT AMAZING! Found one more priceless audio tape of our phone message of long ago by our young son!
“It’s a big job, but no longer feels infinite.” is my motto.
I am now going through other rooms/closets to make sure I have ALL media in the dining room. I want to do this thoroughly ONCE.
Goal: done by New Year’s 2022
ALSO: I’ve been placing items with a free sign in front of house. Almost all has been taken. I’ll give it until our trash pick up day!
It’s actually QUITE fun to see what’s been snapped up each time I go for my walk or get the Mail. I keep putting our some new items each day... off now to go through Xmas, all of which have been taken. Also, all storage items/decorated boxes were snapped up. Very exciting!
And then I’ll start going around gathering miscellaneous boxes of sentimental items.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!
I began Sept 2015.1 -
Xmas done & all labeled!! Put 1/2 box of Xmas items out front & discovered all 4 chairs gone !! And many other items gone! So much easier than carting it to various donation places!
Including the labeling & carting stuff our front, it took 1 hour & 9 minutes!
I love to time these “big” jobs. It’s always faster than I anticipate.
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Another morning with Essentrics session followed by meditation. The app said my heart rate dropped 12 points from start to finish. The barn swallows were feathering their nest and chattering above me🥰2
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May and Spring and everyone seems to be doing well this month with their habits!
I am enjoying the variety on the menu and the changes I have made. I think my reduction in blood pressure is working! I know my RHR has dropped in the 40's now overnight also and my chest pain is gone. Of course this may have more to do with what I am NOT EATING (too much ice cream and frozen goodies!) versus the other items I have added in there place.
What I am thinking about now is how sustainable this is for me. There is a bit more food prep involved and I won't cut anything out entirely. We shall see I guess over the next few months how it goes. Quite interested to see how my bloodwork turns out later in June as well as my Cardiologist appt in June too.
@nebslp It is SO relaxing to listen to nature! I am lucky to be able to hear my purple martins again. All 12 gourds have eggs and babies are due soon.
@MadisonMolly2017 you have made incredible strides on your media challenge this month. And it is funny to see how quickly things will disappear off the curb. I fully expect you will be complete by the end of the year finding all the nooks and crannies those things hide in.
@texasgardnr please check in. Hope things are going OK with you this month.
@77tes WELL done on getting the vaccines for both of you. Any side effects? I agree with Rita that your husband may have some plans to surprise you with.
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SummerSkier wrote: »May and Spring and everyone seems to be doing well this month with their habits!
I am enjoying the variety on the menu and the changes I have made. I think my reduction in blood pressure is working! I know my RHR has dropped in the 40's now overnight also and my chest pain is gone. Of course this may have more to do with what I am NOT EATING (too much ice cream and frozen goodies!) versus the other items I have added in there place.
What I am thinking about now is how sustainable this is for me. There is a bit more food prep involved and I won't cut anything out entirely. We shall see I guess over the next few months how it goes. Quite interested to see how my bloodwork turns out later in June as well as my Cardiologist appt in June too.
@nebslp It is SO relaxing to listen to nature! I am lucky to be able to hear my purple martins again. All 12 gourds have eggs and babies are due soon.
@MadisonMolly2017 you have made incredible strides on your media challenge this month. And it is funny to see how quickly things will disappear off the curb. I fully expect you will be complete by the end of the year finding all the nooks and crannies those things hide in.
@texasgardnr please check in. Hope things are going OK with you this month.
@77tes WELL done on getting the vaccines for both of you. Any side effects? I agree with Rita that your husband may have some plans to surprise you with.
bON
Congratulations on your health gains, @SummerSkier & your kinds messages to us all are always appreciated!
I’m such a fan of this group & UAC; both really do help us make those little changes (habits) that improve our lives & health!
One thing I’ve been reflecting upon (and that I’ve said before & heard many of you sa) is how this decluttering work seems to come in waves. A few weeks/months ago, it would have felt like drudgery. Not now. Blasting through things..pretty sure it will slow down again...but I’m going to keep the 5 mins/day going this time. It really is so little time
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Joining this challenge in the middle of May. After I get home from work and change my clothes, I will walk my dog. A daily walk would do us both good and it's very doable this time of year. I'm posting here so I commit and will post back again. Glad to be here with you all.3
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justtodayjen333 wrote: »Joining this challenge in the middle of May. After I get home from work and change my clothes, I will walk my dog. A daily walk would do us both good and it's very doable this time of year. I'm posting here so I commit and will post back again. Glad to be here with you all.
Awesome plan, @justtodayjen333 !
We are glad you are here, too! 👍1 -
OK, here’s an uplifting story. I used to teach entrepreneurship. Near the end of my career I was gifted an amazing Entrepreneurship textbook that a longtime professor & grandfather of a student had penned.
In my (hopefully final) ruthless pitching, I set it our front of our house late last week. No takers for it or two other books. Today is trash pick up day AND the assistant gardeners show up.
Well today THE Gardener & one asst showed.I’ve known home for 34 years so I went to say hi & thank him for coming and doing a really great job today.
He asked “Are the books out front free?”
Oh yes!
“Great! My assistant is in college & he came running to me “Look at what I found!!! Is it okay?” The gardener said “Take it!!”
I can’t fully express how happy this made me. Everything is being taken. Old cat equipment & toys went last night.
I went out & told the student I have a lot of entrepreneurship books & I’ll put them in a box & he can take what he likes.
His response: a huge smile & “Sweeeet!”
❤️
PS About to lug out old, never used photo albums I’ve been moving around the house for 25 years. Finally, getting close to being done with all this! (Likely still 6 months to a year, but still!!! 😃😃😃)2 -
Well, guys, I’m on a roll. Nothing like impending house guests 🤣🤣🤣
All those times I organized/decluttered are paying off now.
I/we had emptied many closets or parts of closets. I’ve now been able to move decluttered/organized items into parts of them. I had gone through decorative items, giving away many. What I kept now fits in my cleaned out dining room hutch!
I’m not expressing this well (it’s late) but it’s all coming together!
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justtodayjen333 wrote: »Joining this challenge in the middle of May. After I get home from work and change my clothes, I will walk my dog. A daily walk would do us both good and it's very doable this time of year. I'm posting here so I commit and will post back again. Glad to be here with you all.
Welcome to our group, @justtodayjen333! I’m glad you shared with us your goal for May. Not only will it make you more accountable to yourself, but researchers have found that when people make a public statement of their intent, they’re more likely to follow through and succeed then if they keep their goal private. We all have a need to be seen as true to our word and reliable.
I hope more of our new members will post their goals so that we can encourage each other to succeed. No one improves their health by just reading about what other people are doing.2 -
@MadisonMolly2017 you are going to be DONE decluttering at this rate. And hope that the visit with the family goes well. I have a suggestion for you for your June tho. LOL.
sleep. 1 -
SummerSkier wrote: »@MadisonMolly2017 you are going to be DONE decluttering at this rate. And hope that the visit with the family goes well. I have a suggestion for you for your June tho. LOL. sleep.
@SummerSkier
I actually am beginning to think I will be
AND I just randomly discovered THREe Priceless slides from COLLEGE 1975 of a really fun project demo that became the basis for much of my two subsequent career paths. I had no idea there were ANY photos of it!!
Looks like my professor sent them to me!!
That just made all past & future “Sentimental” decluttering worth it (Remind me of this if I get bogged down LOL)
Also YES sleep. Having symptoms that are disrupting. It’s catching up to me. Test on Tuesday- been trying to reach other dr all week 😡🥵
Just hoping I don’t pick up covid from the boy. Stressful.
I’m glad your May I Will is working out so well for you!!
👍
Maddie2 -
Oh how fun to find that Maddie! I think you guys will be fine. Your family was tested when they got here and also quarantined right? Hope that you can see them soon and you get relief from your symptoms. At least you got some answers which I am sure are a relief.
As far as May I will for Summer
What I am thinking about now is how sustainable this is for me. There is a bit more food prep involved and I won't cut anything out entirely. We shall see I guess over the next few months how it goes. Quite interested to see how my bloodwork turns out later in June as well as my Cardiologist appt in June too. To me the big thing is not getting stuck in a rut of always doing/eating the same things and also making sure that I am on the right path. If it's not sustainable doesn't mean it's not WORTH doing for a month or several weeks but it just means I need to be more flexible which is probably one of my biggest issues. I have over the past few months learned to be more flexible with my running. It used to be that if I did not run first thing in the morning I was NOT going to do it. Now with sometimes doing sprint work at lunch as a run 2 I have been able to be more attuned to doing things at different times. With our variable weather that is HUGE for me because it means that just because it is storming when I normally do something, I don't just say screw it all and not do it at all but I can wait.1 -
@SummerSkier
Yes, this is something I’ve worked on the past 6-12 months...ie more variety in my food. Had a breakfast & lunch I loved, but realized nutritionally Variety would be better.
Now, with my food as the opposite of before, I will be figuring all of this out again lol
Yes the were tested 2 days after arrival & 5 days. Vaccine #1 on Day 7. We see them late Day 8.
I’m not sure what immune response I have mounted, but I am going ahead & seeing
Them. I will double mask inside & they will wear masks- we’ll sit at least 6 ft apart.
I’m able to shut doors to give them an offfice (they are working some, bedroom, & bathroom. I’ll use upstairs.
Biggest risk kitchen but we are all good at cleaning thoroughly with meal prep.
24 more hours!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doing finishing touches on the house - mopping floors, deep bathroom clean...
A bit of stashing of in process decluttering projects LOL
Pretty tired. Will take A break while they are here except 5 mins a day on media!
Thanks
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@MadisonMolly2017 It sounds like you are ready and fully prepared for the visit. If they have been in quarantine for 8 days and vaxed now AND tested I personally would feel pretty safe being around them. Is it just your son and wife or also some grands?
I hope you can enjoy their visit and not worry too much.
Totally agree on having my meals set and really enjoying them and maintaining, but watching my own health markers realized that eating the same thing pretty much long term was probably nutritionally insufficient for some reason. I am honestly beginning to believe that CICO works but longer term you have to pay attention to the health aspects. Perhaps at 20 or 30 or even 40 you can get away with just the #s but our bodies are definitely less forgiving as we get older. And you have several other requirements to juggle which I do not!
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Happy weekend, everyone!
I just returned from a wedding in central Maine. The bride and groom had postponed their big day twice because of COVID and finally yesterday it happened! It was wonderful getting together as a family again and because of vaccines most people were unmasked. I had to step away at one point because I got so choked up. I’m so grateful to the legions of researchers, scientists, vaccine volunteers, frontline workers, and other healthcare workers who made this day possible. They have given us our lives back and I couldn’t be more appreciative!
And on the way home we saw this:
We have lots of moose in northern New England, but sightings are still pretty rare. Once, I noticed something peripherally as I was sitting in my living room. Looked up, and a moose was standing in my driveway.
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@MadisonMolly2017, I just loved your entrepreneur book story that you shared! So glad they found a new home with an excited new reader!2
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@themedalist The wedding sounds wonderful! I think we will be much more appreciative going forward of those times we can be next to loved ones without fear of getting or giving COVID. The moose posed nicely for you😍2
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Hi all,
@MadisonMolly2017 , I’ll keep you in my prayers. Hope the visit is wonderful and that you stay safe and healthy.
@themedalist , hooray for attending a wedding and getting back to normal! Love the moose. I’m so happy and excited to be planning a trip to Arizona to visit my sister in her new house.
@SummerSkier , your healthy eating tweaks some like they are working well for you. I hope your drs appointments show great numbers.
3 weeks into May. Next Friday is my 44th wedding anniversary. Then my class will end the 1st week of June. After that it’s off to Arizona I go!
My nails are still looking good, but still no polish.
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Thank you dear @77tes for your prayers & good wishes.
Congratulations on your 44th wedding anniversary!!! Arizona sounds perfect!
❤️
Maddie
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@SummerSkier
@nebslp
Thrilled with the news. Pathology not back yet but both endoscopy & colonoscopy showed ALL normal & completely in remission.
Got a prescription for a 10 day course that will wipe out overgrowth if bacteria in small intestine that can cause my symptoms.
Also was told “older people digest their food less well” grrr LOL
And a referral to another specialist who migh have a solution
But my symptoms are not serious so I am celebrating!!!’
Thank you❣️3 -
That’s such good news @MadisonMolly2017 !1
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@MadisonMolly2017 That is good news! I hope you enjoy your family visit and can relax and just treasure the time you can be in the same place. I’m sure it will be all good.
@77tes Congratulations on your 44th anniversary. It’s been described as the Gourmet Anniversary or Grocery Anniversary. It’s recommended that you visit a Michelin-star restaurant and savor a gourmet meal. The alternative is to buy gourmet ingredients and cook your own lavish meal at home. Use your finest silverware and reminisce together over a bottle of excellent 🍷. I would definitely opt for choice #1 because guess who would have to wash all of those dishes that a cooking a lavish meal would involve🤨
@SummerSkier It would be nice if we could just use CICO and stay healthy. I’ve read about the importance of eating enough protein for muscle building especially as we get older and I always fall short on that and am too high on fat. Carbs are not an issue. I wish I craved fruit and veggies but they’re always last on my snack list😒
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