Meditating and Journaling...

I've been journaling for years...if you look at my catalog of my life, you'll see when i've journaled more and sometimes when i've journaled less. When i'm really listening to myself and how God is teaching me and leading me, I will write about it. I'm sometimes a verbal processor, but I really need to write to get it all out. But, that's just me. Some people don't need to write out what's going on.

The reason I want to journal/meditate and pray more is because I want to keep somewhat of a written documentary of the various seasons of my life. I think that I'm much more available to be present to myself when I write and listen to what's happening. You know?

What about you?

Stop. Deep breath.

One of the things I'm known for is my love for planning things. It's a love-hate relationship. I have this weird capacity to see schedules in a 3-d way, I see how things layer on top of each other, I have a pretty good sense of my friends' schedules (they don't know this, haha). But I just get it. I hear when people are tired and when I look at a combination of their schedule (if it does or doesn't include a workout) or if they aren't eating very well, or haven't been to the doctor in awhile...I can hear their weariness even more.

Part of the 31 day challenge for us all is to remember to STOP. And take a deep breath. I mean, a real deep breath. Not one of those, let me add TAKE A BREAK to my to-do list. But, no, just stop. I think that to-do lists have a place in our lives as long as they don't paralyze us or hold us captive to the calendar or clock. I use my to-do list at work to make sure that I'm holding onto the right projects in the right place. I refer to my calendar to make sure that I'm watching certain ongoing projects: pay this bill on time, buy gardening supplies, look at plane tickets, call so and so back, finish these minutes.

For me writing my 31 things was difficult on a number of levels. I didn't want to feel like at any point I was setting goals for myself that if I didn't achieve I would feel guilty. If you know me, you know that I reprimand people who demonize any type of food or berate themselves for not working out. Choosing health is choosing freedom. As soon as you feel like a goal/intention is suffocating you, don't do it. There is an element of re-learning or learning discipline, but there's a fine line between discipline, self-abnegation and punishment...and guilt. You have to find that line on your own. Don't compare yourself. If you only wrote 10 things you wanted to do for the challenge, take those 10 things and work it. Those are YOUR things.

As you learn how to listen to your body, write down and remember what you're learning about yourself. I know for me last night I had a piece of pizza, I was tempted to feel guilty, but I enjoyed that piece of pizza and knew when I was full. That's a big step for me. Yes, I need to watch how much dairy I have because of my lactose intolerancy, and yes, I love vegetables and maybe should have had a salad with my pizza, but you know what, it's over. I'm moving on and I enjoyed that pizza like it was the bomb.com. Cause, it was.

At any point this challenge is controlling you, step back and see what that means. This is a journey to health with others. And it should be enjoyable. And me saying all of this isn't to say that this journey won't be difficult. You got this.

31 things submission: Hilary

Alright! Welcome another participant!!! Hilary! I work with this young woman at Word Made Flesh as well. She's a sweet friend to all and has a heart that is open to joy, sorrow, excitement, sadness. She's really great and I can't wait to hear how her 31 days goes!

my friend Jara invited me to participate in this challenge. it was supposed to start on May 21 (31 days until the start of summer - the start of summer falls on June 21! YES!) but I missed that deadline. So, I am starting my 31-day challenge this Friday May 28th and I'll run it through until June 28th! i'm very excited - i feel my heart racing just thinking about this challenge! I love to compete and I think this is a great opportunity for me to compete with myself (in a positive way), be challenged and achieve!! ROAR! ...i needed to add that!

31 Challenges:
Run in the morning 3 days/week
Lift weights (including core strengthening) 4 days/week
Bake a new kind of bread
Weed the garden every week
Read out of my new devotional book everyday
Pray every day
Call dad every week
Call Halee every week
Visit Holly and Heidi every week
Eat hard-boiled eggs
Have protein source every day
No food after 9PM (great idea Liz)
Take Ayrton and Vesper to the park
Ride bike to work 3 days/week
Get 7 hours of sleep
Challenge myself with stairs/sprints every week
Compete in road race
Make a new flag
Try no gluten for 1 week
Each more than 5 fruits/veggies each day
Begin training for Market-to-Market race
Mow Heidi and Tom’s lawn
No clothing purchases
Sit on the front porch for 20 consecutive minutes not doing…not even reading
Think of consolations and desolations every night (thanks Amanda and Daphne!)
Finish reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Visit the Farmer’s Market when I’m in town
Take care of my car (clean the inside, check the oil and check the tires)
Go to a lake/campground/park outside of Omaha
Show gratitude, be loving and see God in others

I'll let you know how these 31 days and 31 challenges goes!

Middle of the Week (Day 6/31)

Just wanted to check in with you today...no worries, this isn't something to make you feel guilty that you haven't done any particular thing...but really just a check in. How has it been going? Have you noticed anything different? Have you shared your goals/intentions with a friend?

For me, the middle of the week can bring a very tired Jara...I will have taught a few classes at the Y, I will have been at work for 24 hours...(three 8 hour days)...and I just feel it. I hope to be present even to my typical midweek fatigue and maybe check back in with my goal to not hit snooze..and get 7 hours of sleep!

Meals...

What did you all plan for your meals this week? What's the favorite meal that you've made so far...or a meal that you're proud of that you would want to share with the group.

Here's a link to some of my favorite food and health blogs. They have good recipes listed, too!

You love oatmeal??? Check out Kath eats and her devotion to oatmeal!

Smitten Kitchen...love it and this recipe.

And if you're looking for a place to track your meals, check out DailyPlate. I like it!

I also dig this site...really good recipes with price breakdowns!

31 days till Summer challenge: Daphne!!!

I love love love this woman. She and I worked together at Word Made Flesh for about four years. We were neighbors in the office and at home in our apartments. Daphne is also a part of a lovely yogurt company, del marie, in Omaha. If you're in Omaha and haven't tried it out, you need to, it's an order. Check out her list of 31 things.

I love love love the listening to your body parts!!!!!! (PS We got Caleb to do a round of stair running yesterday)

I took the challenge!! Thanks for helping me to be a more whole, healthy person Jara!

1. Go vegan 1 day a week.
2. Wash my face and moisturize each night before bed.
3. Take a day off the Internet (includes checking iphone!).
4. Move every day even if it’s just a walk.
5. Do my planks.
6. Run 1 mile without stopping.
7. Ride my bike for transport one day a week.
8. Listen to the stomachache. What does it say? Write it down.
9. Listen to my desire to eat more. Am I really hungry? Write it down.
10. Stop (or don’t start) eating when I’m not hungry.
11. Say a nice thing to myself each day.
12. Be kind. apologize and ask forgiveness of myself when I catch myself being mean to me.
13. Try PX90 with Jara.
14. Run stairs with Jara at least once.
15. Think about my desolation/consolation each day.
16. Practice gratitude. Write it down.
17. Take a week-long break from solitaire (yeah, I’m a big nerd!).
18. Go to the park with Finley.
19. Smile at people when I’m out.
21. Plant my garden and watch it grow.
22. Sit up straight while on the computer.
23. Have that prescription made into reading glasses.
24. Turn off the TV and read.
25. Get up before 6 am.
26. Stay up past midnight (not on the same day as 25).
27. Take a nap (okay, maybe on the same day as 25 or 26).
28. Write something just for fun and share it with someone.
29. Work on expressing my honest feelings and thoughts rather than what is expected of myself or others.
30. Let my nails grow. Ask myself “why?” when I have the urge to bite them. What’s making you anxious, lady?
31. Do my very best during the 31 day challenge and not give up.

Crocker's thoughts on small steps...

"as far as i see it, health and wellness is all about incorporating small changes (steps if you will) into your daily routine, making those routines habits, and making those habits a lifestyle.

while everyone else is trying to be a habit breaker, i want to be a habit maker."

- crocker's blog

Incorporating small steps into our lives makes a lifestyle change sustainable...that's what I think. I mean you hear about 21 days to make/break habit...you take it a day at a time.