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How is everyone making out in their small steps towards change?
“Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss. Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real.” Deepak Chopra
I was searching for a quote to describe how I’ve been feeling the past few weeks and came across the quote written above. I was looking for community events to see what was coming up in my community this past weekend. I came across a woman’s group facilitated by a personal coach. I feel as though I am stuck in a rut and can’t find the path to reach my destination. I attended the group on Monday and enjoyed it very much.
There are rules that I need to follow and can’t disclose much about the group. At one point, we had to answer a series of questions related to what we want out of life. It made me think deeply about that. I feel I should add as an FYI this is the only part of my house that looks flowery. Most of my house looks bland. The tablecloth I am currently using is more of a fun kids Halloween look.
I found that on days that I did my regular routine at my main residence that I was hitting around 3000 steps. Walking a dog brought it up to around 5000 steps. I have to push it to hit 8000 steps. It was an eye opener because I did not realize how little I was moving. I’ve been hitting between 5000-8000 steps the last couple of weeks. Time to break out the Walking of the Pounds DVDs. Winter weather is arriving.
I’m enjoying my Tai Chi class. I enjoy the beauty of the movements and being aware of how I move my body. The quieting of the mind releases hidden emotions. We did an exercise requiring us to rub our bellies. The instructor discussed how we tend to hate our belly areas despite knowing this is where the majority of our internal organs are located. My first thought was, “That’s easy for you to say. You are thin!” Then I got thinking about my emergency gallbladder surgery and all the internal organs in that area that does so much for our bodies. We should love that area of our body, not hate it. Most of us were in tears at the end of class. I am glad she stayed to talk with us.
My small goal is to find indoor exercise solutions, hit 8000 steps consistently, and reconnecting to the bliss or joy in my life.
What do you have plan this week? What changes are you making? Share as much or as little as you want!
Wow Sub Bella, you are doing great! Great idea on looking for what is available in your community! And I’ve never been into Tai Chi but your description of it makes me want to try it! I used to be a bit of a yoga rat and what I loved about it was that I felt parts of my body I wasn’t aware existed!
As for walking, while the weather is still reasonable, perhaps you can add one walk to your daily routine? It could be on your own (maybe a walk to the local park where you can read a little bit of a book or magazine you otherwise would have at home) or with your husband (it is a nice way to spend a few moments together). I am the worst when it comes to working out at home, but the few times I do it, it is with 8-minute DVDs. You can always spare 8 minutes a couple of times a day. My husband likes to do a few push-ups in the morning as a way to wake up (I guess he doesn’t see the TWO coffee machines we have on the kitchen counter?), so that (or substitute squats, crunches) may also be an option.
As for me, I am going to visit one of the gyms down the block from me over the weekend to see about joining. I need motivation and perhaps spending exorbitant amounts of money on a membership will motivate me to actually start working out. I want to feel healthier and get my sexy back. There are some other things I want to work on with respect to jobs and personal finances, but for now, I just want to get started on this and then move on to other things.
Good luck and I wish you continued strength and success!
Thank you for the ideas! Let us know how it works out with the gym.
Thanks for sharing, Sub Bella! It sounds like you are getting out there and actively seeking positive change. That’s really great! Your Tai Chi class sounds particularly enlightening. I would love to get more involved in community events/group classes, but instead I hide. My parents should have named me Heidi.
Oh and Mr. Heat is quite the talented photographer!
Heidi – ha!! I’m such an introvert and love to just curl up on my couch at home to read books, blogs and watch TV… In theory, I’d like to be more involved in things but in reality, people wear me out! I need downtime. Especially after spending time with people at work all week. (I’ll tell Mr. Heat that you like his photo!)
ah like a dumb-dumb I replied to you in the wrong spot down below.
Lil Conure – Thank you! Everyone has their comfort level. The difficult part is finding a class or event that fits your comfort level.
Sub Bella, it sounds like you’re doing really well so far at making a change and I love your goals! You have a couple measurable ones that are challenging but definitely within reach, and we could all probably look to reconnect with our bliss. I’ve been trying to remind myself that while I enjoy sub boxes (and shopping in general), material things are not my bliss. (Let’s start a new sub called “Bliss in a Box!” Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon could do our theme song…)
As far as my goals, I’ve been really good about getting my 10k steps the past couple of weeks. But I keep proscrastinating seeing a chiropractor or someone about my hip that’s been a little wonky… Also, I need to eat healthier – I’ve made some improvements but have a way to go…. Food is not my bliss either! Though sometimes is really seems like it – temporarily.
Heat7918 – Bliss in a box – Subscriptionista will be putting cheetos in it. Great job on the 10k steps. My chiropractor put me back together after my surgery a few years ago. I was afraid to lean on my right side when walking. She helped me a lot.
Don’t forget the cat hair and bear repellant spray…
I forgot what else was supposed to be in there…
Couchie Cream Bahahahahahaha
Oh yes I’m very much the same! Such an introvert. Except when it comes to animals then I’m like “you’re all my best friends, let’s hang out” as if I’m in a Disney movie.
I saw one of those ecards once that read:
“My first instinct when I see an animal is to say hello.
My first instinct when I see a person is to avoid eye contact and hope it goes away.”
I just thought that was funny 🙂 I would like to be more outgoing and all but…..exhausting!
Lil Conure I agree! I also say hello to animals and avoid humans. Seattle is full of anxiety-filled introverts though, so we’re all busy ignoring each other!
Sub Bella I wish you good luck on your walking! My boyfriend just put me on a walking regiment yesterday. He doesn’t like that I only get 2k-4k steps a day, and I agree. He says I have to start hitting 8-10k. Yesterday we went for a long walk and I got 11k, but today I had to walk around Target for a LONG time just to get in 4k steps. That’s my nighttime/winter walking secret. I walk around grocery stores or the mall!
Andrea – It’s great your boyfriend is encouraging you. Everyone walks the mall in the winter time:) It’s too cold to walk anywhere else.
Lil Conure – The card sums my sister up perfectly. She is wonderful at the farm with the animals.
Wonderful and thoughtful post. I’ve changed jobs, and I am so relieved to be done with the old job. I’m looking forward to my new one, and enjoying time off in between. I’m proud of you Subbella, and support you and all our lovely Subsistahs.
Yay, Kelly! Enjoy your time off and the excitement of a new job!!!
Thank you so much.
I wish I could take everyone with me today to Tai Chi and the women’s group. I am a bundle of anxiety today. I was afraid it might be too much having both on the same day, but it is how the schedule worked out. Even my face is reacting to my stress. It’s a mask night tonight!
We’ll be with you in spirit! Pretend we’re there… imagine what funny commentary Pnut would say try to come up with a witty Kelly summary and don’t forget: WWSD? (What would Subscriptionista do?! )
WWSD? that is brilliant, you are hot stuff, Heat7918!
Thank you!!! Everyone is the best!!! We did our Tai Chi form for the first time without the instructor speaking. It was amazing. Peaceful and beautiful.
I’m nervous about my group. I have to leave soon. Where is that confident woman I used to be? Last week I cried at Tai Chi and the group. I left Tai Chi feeling at peace. I hope things will go well tonight!
Sub Bella, I know the first rule of women’s group is “Don’t talk about women’s group”… but how did it go?
Heat7918 – Thank you for asking! I had a hard time with it this time. I felt anxious throughout most of the meeting. I ended up crying during my part. My homework assignment this week is to work on my fun/leisure life. It’s giving me a perspective I need in my life right now. The only problem is that it is painful and causes me to feel a ranger of emotions.
I wish there were someway I could help. Are you fairly confident that the anxiety during the meetings will be worth it in the long run? Or not sure yet?
You need to work on your fun / leisure life – does blogging count? I’m very curious about this group…
Thank you 🙂 The anxiety stemmed from having two new participants this week. They were not able to make it last week. We received a pie graph with different categories that we discussed in our group. Everyone had to select a category that rated low in her life and do one thing in it. I selected fun/leisure because I used to be a happy, fun person. I want to recapture a part of that again.
Blogging is fun. It’s why I came back 🙂