Day 245

Yesterday I had a tough day...I was sick of not being active, sick of the pain, frustrated at not being able to run, I felt bloated and blurgh. I was frustrated at people looking all happy saying 'I ran 10k today' or 'I just registered for an adventure race' (please note this is not a direct stab at anyone). I was so furious at not being able to claim my body. I am limited by pain and have to work within the pain threshold. Somedays it is an effort to even walk. I mean to say I was frustrated, but not at any one person, just at my situation. 

Then...I take my client to visit a friend (also with a disability and weighing well over 100kgs), whom I hear mutter behind her hand...Megs' looks fat, she looks like she's pregnant. Oh what a day to hear those words! I was having a 'fat' day anyway. I already didn't like my body...but to hear that...I thought...sheesh, maybe I have put on some weight. Then I looked at the situation, two quite overweight people saying me (58kgs) was 'fat'. Then I started to laugh. 

It is funny how sometimes you are so down on yourself and your situation that you forget to look at the bigger picture...are you alive and have friends and family that love you? Even if you can't run a marathon or an adventure race? You betcha! And sometimes it takes an awkward or preposterous situation to knock your senses back in!! 

So today, whilst not running, or even walking (bad pain today), I hold my head high and say...yep I have some weight around the middle and am not as toned as I once was, but know that I am doing everything in my power to be the best person I can be in an uncontrollable situation. 

Next time you feel like judging someone, or saying something about their physical appearance, perhaps you should stop and ask them instead how they are going. 

...Until Tomorrow xox

Day 244

I read this quite often and I love it...

Mindful Schools

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

Remember to put the glass down.

(Courtesy of Jimmy Harmon)

Food for thought...how much weight are you carrying around? Can you set it down occaisionally to have a break? (I guess this is what mindfulness, or meditation allows us to do!) Just remember that everyone has their own glass.

...Until Tomorrow xox

Day 243

My computer went kaput for 2 weeks! Now I have it back, be ready for all my epiphany's whilst I couldn't write...

1. I think dicitonary's should add words into the list once your phone auto-corrects your own made-up ones!

2. Never go to a NEW shopping centre when you are busting for the toilet

3. Always bring extra

4. Keep receipts and photocopy them, particularly important things

5. Eat every three hours to make sure you don't eat like a trojan (or naughty things)

6. Do what makes your heart sing...not ride the 

wave's of someone else's success

7. Life can be cut short in an instant, appreciate the little things...sun on your face, a wag of your dogs tail, bbq with family, phone call from friends

8. You can get more done when you are expecting visitors (or have a shorter timeframe!)

9. 'Busy' is a state of mind..not what is packed into your diary

10. Can you say you have saved money if it gets spent as soon as you reach your goal target??

11. You can get many opinions of something, yet the only one you should trust is the opinion you form yourself!

12. Always take a travel mug

...Until Tomorrow xox

Day 242

I'm at a bit of a loss of what to write tonight, so I thought I'd just start writing and see what happens! I am on a sleepover shift and I forgot my toothbrush. And gosh I'm uncomfortable!! Who would think that such a little thing could impact you such a lot?! But then that's not overly surprising is it, when on a day-to-day basis we let lots of little things impact us. 

It's hard to be positive when you are surrounded by negativity. This week I have realised this so much more than normal, as I haven't been 100%...fighting a cold, the everyday battle of pain etc. So I let little things really bug me. This happens a lot more I think when we forget to look after ourselves. 

Sometimes you really need to check in with yourself and be reminded of what is really important. I mean, yes I will have furry teeth tonight, but I think my partner and friends and family will still love me. What is most important to you? Have you been giving it the love and attention you need to? If the answer is no, then we are living life the wrong way! 

Go and spend time with your loved ones, watch a movie, garden, read a book or exercise. Whatever is most important to you! 

...Until Tomorrow (with clean teeth) xox

Day 241

When something has been taken away from you - something you really miss - it can be challenging to be happy for someone else when they achieve it. It's interesting isn't it - how can you be happy for someone when they are achieving or have something that you really want, but can't have right now?

Every time I see one of my friends (or anyone on social media actually) RUNNING, my stomach does a backward flip, I feel sick and sad...and I start to resent my situation. That's ok, I can feel that way. I can acknowledge it and move on. Now I see people and I am happy for their achievement in running, without comparing myself and my situation to it. And that is what I realise it comes down to. 

Everyday we are flooded with situations, images, music, and people that challenge us to be better, or to compare us to other people (particularly those that may not be realistic, such as models...) And that I think is the biggest challenge - not to succumb to outwardly influences to impact on how we feel inwardly. That reminds me of a saying I came across once:

'If you are outwardly influenced, you are inwardly lost'.

I think we need to be careful about what we take from media, photos, Facebook, friends, advice etc. Yes you can get a bit sad when you compare yourself to someone, but remember it is what you do with it, and how you manage yourself...do you fall into a put of 'poor me' or do you reflect on the other strong aspects you have in your life??

Surround yourself with people and things that make you feel good, and feel fulfilled about where you are in life. 

...Until Tomorrow xox

Day 240

Sometimes the littlest act of kindness can make yours and someone else day. We often look at 'charity' or 'kindness' as being this huge thing, that at the end of the day we are so tired, it just gets thrown into the too-hard basket. This is in regards to us and others. Like we imagine we have to go volunteer for a whole day with an in-need charity, or we have to set aside 2hours a day to do 'self care' for ourselves. 

I want to tell you something...even the littlest act can be rejuvenating and so fulfilling. So what are these little acts?? Smile - at someone or even when you're by yourself. It releases endorphins so makes you feel good, and can be that one thing that turns around someones day! (Just no creepy clown smiles...!) 

Look around you - take the beauty in the little things. For example I was driving past an empty paddock and looked over and there was a cow standing with it's too front legs on a mound, it really only need a cloak flowing behind it! And there in the car, by myself, I laughed so hard! It re-energised me for the day! 

Next time you are walking or driving take note of what is around you. When someone tells you to take note of the simple things - think about what they are for you. A smile, a cow, a child running, a slow-motion dog running, scaring your partner...it is limitless. 

Use your time wisely. You can spend a few minutes a day both on yourself and others. You really don't need to be overwhelmed by days or hours allocated to this. 

...Until tomorrow xox

Day 239

I'm a bit addicted to a game on my phone (probably along with majority of smart-phone users!) it is a search game, where you have a list of items to look for and you tap on them when you find it. You earn coins to unlock more scenes. There is also a 'gambling' scene where you can spin with coins to earn more coins. And the amount of coins fluctuate. (just as in life!)

As I was playing the other day I had next to no coins, then tonight I had heaps. My mentality changed around my coins. And I started thinking about some advice I got last year where I was struggling for money - they said to me 'Let go of the worry around money and money will come'. At the time - I thought, how can I not worry about money if I have none to pay the bills?! Preposterous!! But playing this gambling scene made me realise - its not the value of money that affects how much you do or don't do, it is the matter of which you view it. 

When I had lots of coins, I spent them, I gambled them and then I worked hard for more. I was more relaxed, I approached it with a sense on 'if I got it once, I'll get it again' rather than being a scrooge and holding on to each coin as though it were real life! I realised lately that I have been using this in real life more often. Not that I am swimming in money, but I have the view that it will work out, and the more relaxed I become about it the more I attract. 

I guess its the same as the saying "you attract what you are putting out". Hmmm...this is an interesting topic I feel, and one that perhaps needs more exploring. But until then, I'll keep playing this silly game and let you know any other epiphany's I may have!!

...Until Tomorrow xox