Weekly Wanderings -- Week 7

This was a busy and scattered week, with lots going on.  Each day brought new challenges.  Fortunately, as I am in a good place personally, I was able to go with the flow and live life as it unfolded.  Perhaps I would be charaterized mostly as a proud plugger.  

I still have not incorporated the last 2 healthiest  food selections -- barley and lentils.  I will fit them in before month end.  In the meantime, I am so satisfied with the many healthiest food selections that I have continued to incorporate.

My fit focus was absolutely awesome, with 4 fulfilling runs!  Three of them were outside, and totally reenergizing.  One run was at the gym, but was a success because I tracked the bit of speed I am rediscovering.  Twice, I specifically recall thinking that I did not have time for a fun -- life was getting in the way.  Instead of following those thoughts, I fortunately forced myself to fit me in.

Significantly, each day I was able to cross at least one item off my life list.  Some items carry with them my inadequacies and insecurities.  Crossing them off, therefore, brings such success.

Too much of my brain is bogged down with readjusting and refocusing which of my many roles holds the primary position.  Part of this preoccupation derives from one of my exhusband's significant statements, which expressed his feelings that he was third after my job and my family.  Though those words were spoken more than a decade ago, they still haunt me more or less.

This week, roles of mother, employee, and runner competed for the primary position.  I am concerned about the roles that did not even make it to the tertiary position.  Time will tell what will happen with those concerns....  For now, I will remind myself that I only can do my best, which will have to be enough. 

Chosen luxury

After much research, agonizing, and contemplation, I chose the Dell Streak 7 as my new electronics luxury. I decided on this instead of a smartphone because I think that it is more suited to my needs, and those of my Son who uses all of my electronics.

So far I love this product, and could not be more pleased with my choice!

Weekly Wanderings - Week 6

This week worked because I took steps forward on many fronts.  As anticipated, finance, family, and fun focuses fell into place more or less, but well.  Food and fit focuses were awesome. 

Working the 30 healthiest foods list is providing a fun foundation for my food focus.  I still have 2 selections to incorporate.  The other 28 selections are fitting into my diet nicely.  I am learning a lot and I do feel better!  I enjoy food.  At times, I really don't care what I eat.  Making healthy choices, therefore, makes sense for me.  Such choices may take a few more minutes to prepare, but they are well spent.  I am worth it.

Deciding to limit my fit focus to running for now was smart.  In keeping with what works, this decision will work for me currently.  This week, I fit in 4 runs, each of which provided value.  Monday's 1 hour run outside was absolutely awesome!  The other runs were at the gym.  My overall mileage still is much lower than I want it to be, but it is increasing nicely each week, currently at about 14 miles.  At some point, I will have to reincorporate weights.  Right now, however, I am realizing so many benefits from my runs (physically, emotionally, and mentally) so they will continue to receive my sole attentions.

Implementing my mantra -- choose luxury --  is working well for me.  When I choose luxury, then I feel better about myself and more committed to being the best mom, employee, wife, daughter, family member, and friend that I can.  I can define what luxury means to and for me.  Each choice is mine!

My mind murmurs often migrate to figuring out what I want and what is going on "out there."  Currently, so much attention is paid to extremes -- the best, the worst, the most, the least, the wackiest, and the most dramatic.  I am done with extremes.  I want to live in moderation, with a beneficial balance.  Perhaps that's why one of my favorite television shows currently is Chopped.  The prize is $10K, which is significant but not over the top.  The participants are cooks, but not the best or worst ones.  There's not too much time for too much drama, but the content is interesting and entertaining.  I enjoy this Food Network show, and I often learn something from it -- an added bonus!

Chosen luxury

One of the selections on the 30 healthiest foods list is blueberries.  While I love the flavor, I never seem to be able to simply munch on/incorporate blueberries.  I bought all natural Wild Maine Blueberry Jam from Stonewall Kitchen, and I am good to go!  Thus far, I have been enjoying this flavor in my morning oatmeal, which has been such a satisfying selection!

Food Focus / Selections - Day 10 // chosen luxury bonus

No new selections today, which was hectic.  I did incorporate some selections that are on their way to becoming regulars in my diet!  Happily, it's only 10 days into this adventure, and just 2 of the 30 selections have yet to be used.  They are lentils and barley, both of which I already know that I like.  Each certainly and easily will be incorporated.

Today's hecticness was worth it because it resulted in part to advancing a chosen luxury.  I attended a free user group conference for the Nuance Dragon Naturally Speaking sftware product.  This software is a chosen luxury to help with my DIM Memories project.  For so many reasons, I am pleased that I took time to attend this conference!  Now I have to make time to use my Dragon regularly, which will advance my family and fun factors.

Amazon.com -- Customer service success

Once again, I am so pleased that my amazon.com Prime account is one of my chosen luxuries!  Today's satisfaction is associated with my Kindle.  I have the fancy leather cover, which I learned was causing freezing/resetting.  The cover turned out to be of no value.  Having removed my Kindle from its cover,  I so simply communicated with Amazon's customer service (first by email and then on the telephone).

Two days after talking with a customer service representative, I have a replacement leather kindle cover at no extra cost, and no aggravation, to me!  Significantly, this cover is the one with the attached light, so I even made out better.  I could not be more pleased with Amazon and my Kindle, both of which once again have brought a smile to my face!      

Added to that simile were giggles when I read the cartoons in this week's The New Yorker, to which I have subscribed on my Kindle as a chosen luxury.  Laugh today, check!

Food Focus / Selections - Day 9

In addition to already incorporated selections, today I purchased the last of the 30 healthiest foods.  They were bulgur, kiwi, and sardines, each of which I used today.  Using the sardines brought memories of my Dad, who ate them regularly.  I could not employ his regular tactic of adding them to saltines.  Instead, I simply used them as an accent to my dinner. 

Kiwi was tasty, but I did not love it alone.  I will have to find something with which to pair it, starting with the Real Simple article's suggestion.

Bulgur is so interesting, and another item with which I have not worked.  It is a fun find that I am looking forward to regularly incorporating into my selections.

In 9 days, I have not had white potatoes, white rice, or regular pasta, one of which I selected each day.  I don't miss those selections, and am having fun with my new selections!  What do you know, again I find fun  in an unexpected location -- my kitchen.