karma?

A few short days after taking a new lease on life, I get the flu.

I haven't been sick in at least a year. Is this my body's idea of a rebellion? I mean, I have this week off of work and had all these plans to hang out with friends and, what was it I said, be in good company? Ya, well, now its 1 o'clock in the morning and I'm up sipping on hot tea and honey to help my sore throat. I could have floated the river, done crafts and various DIY projects that I had in mind, cuddled a cute baby, and who know what else!!! But instead, Im outta the game for two days.

What the hell?

All is not lost people. Like my good friend Gloria Gaynor said- "I will survive!!!!"

side note:  I truly thought Aretha Franklin sang that song, but thought I might double check with Google before giving the wrong artist credit.  Good thing......

First off, I want to say that the last post was a little, well, lets say, dark? I was in a mood. Better now;)

I went to something called "Night Owl" after work the other day and the topic was "self care and creating calm for nurse". LOVED IT!! The whole hour we talked about stress and people's perceptions of stressors, good stress, bad stress, healthy coping, etc. It was great!  I'm normally not into that kinda stuff, but this time I felt like it was just what I needed.

The woman brought up some really good points that made me think about how easily stressed out I am and how I need to take better care of myself. One interesting topic was how stress creates a long term change to the body. Not just those frown wrinkles and weight gain, and more interestingly, cancer!  Now, now, I know you are probably thinking "duh!", but I guess I never really thought about the connection. She noted how the mind is a very powerful thing, and when we continually think negative thoughts and carry negative energy, it sends that negativity to all the cells of our body....long story short, the cells do not work to their potential or fulfill their roles entirely, thus- risk for cancer. Can you see the connection?

I was very motivated to make some changes.

Here are some of my "Things To Do In Order To Not Give Myself Cancer" objectives:

• Read More
• Nourish my body (I mean, REALLY try hard to eat better)
• Sit in silence at least once a day for at least 10 minutes
• Laugh often
• Be in good company
• Get movin'
• Stop allowing myself to over sleep. Shoot for 8 hours of sleep, no more. ( I tend to allow myself to oversleep these days. Waste of a day)
• Be mindful and self aware (remain present, watchful, aware of what is happening around me without become emotionally involved or captured)
• Be truly present (I could expand here but it would be another entire paragraph)

These are just a start people!  Any ideas that work for you to help keep your mind healthy? Send 'em my way....

I have been trying really hard lately to hang out with my friends more often. I feel like I need them around me to help me stay grounded and connected to the things that really matter. Its been a busy summer so far with lots of weddings, engagements, barbecues, and random get-togethers. You know, the fun stuff. I can't help but wonder, though, if things will be different in the future. Everyones getting married and starting families and its hard not to wonder if one day these pictures will all be just a memory of things "the way they were back then", you know?

Anyone who really knows me knows that I don't really like change - and things are changing around me.  I'm struggling a bit and I can't quite put my finger on why. I'm having a hard time being "content" lately. Is there a pause button that I can push to make life stop for a minute and let me figure out my emotions? You know, get it together a bit more. Im all over the place- like I don't know if Im coming or going or what!

Hard to explain.

 

102 degree weather = water fight with Jay.

I won.

He needed to recoup with some boy time with Dustin...