…It feels good to be back to the writing again. I have had some ups and downs as I travel along; I am sure as many of us have. So the Rejuvenation Collaboration (RCI) ended and there was a feeling of sadness. I am sure that goes along with any event that you put a lot of time, effort, and energy into. It was like coming down off of a “high”. I was constantly working on it, thinking about it, and experiencing it for two weeks straight. And then… BAM! Like that it was over…
…So I took some time to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate myself. I was at the beach for the week and weekend lying out in the sunshine not really doing much of anything. And then I got some calls from my sister who recently (like last Wednesday) moved to a farm in the middle of nowhere Virginia. Which sounds ok… but not when you hear she just lived in NYC for the past 10 or so years. So talk about culture shock!… That and the house that they are renting has not been lived in (by humans that is) for at least over a year. And the owner of it had left food, belongings, and holes in the walls and windows… So the cleaning was on!…
…So I hurried up and headed straight there from the beach on Saturday afternoon. I wound up getting there Saturday evening to walk into WOW. It really was a mess. So we spent all day Sunday scrubbing each and every wall with bleach, cleaning up bug guts/mouse droppings/bird poop, vacuuming bugs… and vacuuming some more… and more. I vacuumed every single window jam, track, and crevice to try and get all of the webs, dead bugs, and debris out of there. We unpacked, moved around, organized, hung wall hangings, and made it really start to feel like her “home”. Her home that is so drastically different from her previous three apartments in NYC!!…
…But now I am back to Baltimore- and back into my routine. Or at least getting there. There is a ton of work to do and even more emails to catch up on. Gosh, I hope my sister can at least get some phone service there soon! We sure were unplugged and detached from technology this weekend! But here I am reflecting upon the RCI again… and doing some more of my workbook questions. So I will share my reflections and reactions to Judy Griffin’s workshop on Pleasuring Your Palette!…
- Do you feel fatigued during your shift/work day? I have to tell you, honestly no. But then again I have been working on what I eat, how much I exercise, and the rest that I get now for over a year. I make sure to eat a healthy breakfast each day- and for me that means as little as I can in terms of sugar, a good portion of protein and fiber, and a lot of water. Then during the day my healthy snacks consist of fruit, nuts, or veggies. I drink water all day long and do not reach for any “quick fix” in terms of caffeine. If I do have one piece of chocolate (my boss keeps candy in her office); I limit it to that. Just ONE piece. I make sure I exercise daily and take breaks at work to stretch and walk. And I have to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night… or I am no good! So for me, this answer is a “no”, but I can tell you honestly- it was not always that way!
- Are your cravings out of control? How do you find relief? Hmm… I do see myself craving chocolates from time to time. But that is if I am a) around a lot of it (my Mom stocks her house insanely with chocolate and I like to call her my “enabler” or b) if I am eating out a lot (typically restaurant foods are high in salt so after that type of meal I crave chocolate, I think, to balance it all out), or c) if I have eaten a lot of it lately (like being at my mom’s house) and then my taste buds are stuck on that sort of routine. If I do “give in” I just watch myself and mindfully eat it. I enjoy it. I savor it. And I limit it- as I mentioned in the previous question- with just one piece or one scoop or one whatever. I do not let myself just sit there and eat it without even thinking about it!
- How do you energize? Well, at lot of what I mentioned in question #1. I do ensure that I work out at least 3 times a week. I do make sure I rest well. I do take breaks. I also do what I love and surround myself with things I want to do… since they provide me with energy!
- List two ways you nourish yourself beyond food: Well, I read. A LOT. I have multiple books going at times. Or I am re-reading something I already read. My book list is always growing! And as I said in the previous question- I nourish myself with my work. I work at what I love. I use my gifts and talents. I am creative and have fun with work! I also love being with my family, at the beach, or hanging around with my doggies!!
How about you? How do you nourish your own well-being? In terms of food, but also in terms of non-food ways? How do you stay energized throughout your day?
