January 19

We've made it halfway through our month of vegetables! And I'm finding myself in that part of the Thirty Days where my motivation wanes a bit.  So, a blog entry and reflection to get myself back on track...

We got off to a good start, carefully weighing out endless portions of carrots and broccoli and lettuce. Thank heavens for watermelon, which weighs in well...

Challenges this month: 

* packing lunches for work-- not used to so much chopping in the morning!

* getting in enough fruit-- this one surprises me a bit as I tend to think that I like fruit. But I am never motivated to just eat an apple or a banana. If someone would purchase, prepare and keep on hand a fruit salad, heavy on the berries, I'd have no problem eating a half pound a day...

Perks:

* Four pounds of Christmas weight are off!  Could be the fact that I've been back to the gym three times a week, or it could be that I find I really do have less room for all the other parts of the meal, after eating a bushel of greens. 

* I think my skin is evened out a bit.  Not too many other drastic physical changes to note but one does feel healthier as one crunches away on broccoli florets and cucumber on the drive home...

Goals moving forward:

* Keeping up the good work!  Trying trying trying to make this a habit.

* Weigh out the daily fruit and introduce more variety to make that part work.

* Try some cooked greens as a part of mealtimes

* Pay more attention to the eating choices around the veggies-- watch the sweets, less meat, etc.  Nothing drastic, just keeping up the consciousness for these next 11 days...

January 3

New Year's Thirty Days time!

Going to jump on that "get in shape for New Year's" bandwagon-- trite as it may be-- as I am feeling the effects of a busy, cookie-filled December and need something to jumpstart my path towards a healthier me...

I've been inspired by the "Eat to Live" diet (the book for which I got as an NPR pledge gift).  I am interested in this program because it does not purport to be a diet, rather a way of eating that is in tune with our human physiology and that builds health and strength.  The more I read and learn about what the author calls the "Standard American Diet" (or SAD, isn't that cute?) the more I am convinced of the toxicity of refined sugar and flour, our over-processed and unnatural way of eating.  The crux of this plan is to base your diet on fruit and vegetables, while limiting ( or possibly eliminating) animal products, sugars and refined grains. 

The reason I am even considering something so radical?  The plan is presented as a series of 10 steps and I am pretty sure I can get through to step 4 without a problem.  Even if I can't ever reach the semi-vegan, twigs-and-berries existence that this doctor insists is the key to health... it certainly can't hurt to have more veggies, right?  Also, this part of the plan does not restrict any foods.  It just says to add in the green matter to your regular diet.  The natural offshoot is supposed to be that we will gradually, and without resentment, begin to eat less of other foods and feel more satisfied by life in general.

We shall see.  It's worth a shot.  And I could use some vitamins and fiber to get myself back on track after the holidays...

This month: Steps 1-3 of the "Eat to Live" diet.

1.  Eat 1/2 lb of fruit and 1/2 lb of raw veggies each day.
2.  Chew everything thoroughly.
3.  Gradually increase to 1 lb or fruit and 1lb of (raw or cooked) veggies daily.   Include a lot of kale.


So far, so good.  Nat has joined me on this venture, though he has let it be known that he will not be cutting out most animal products when we reach step 6.
We've bought a small kitchen scale and are dutifully portioning out piles of bananas, apples, berries, celery, carrots, broccoli, lettuce and more lettuce...We've learned that watermelon is great because it's really heavy.  And that it takes A LOT of salad to make 1/2 pound.  And that it really keeps you busy at mealtime to eat that 1/2 lb of salad... 
 Also, it's hard to change the habit of inhaling one's food with minimal chewing.  It is going to require a lot of vigilance to make myself really chew each bite...

Now, I like salad. And I don't mind carrots and broccoli raw if I have something to dip them in.  But I think one of the challenges going forward will be finding ways to keep this veggie overload interesting.  Salad ideas, anyone?  Healthy dips?  What is your favorite vegetable to eat raw?


 
 

December 31, 2012

One hour and counting til a New Year begins.

It's both appropriate and a little daunting to talk about resolutions on here.  A space devoted to resolutions all year long, to reflection, to change.

On this last night of the year I wonder as I write-- have I done it justice?  Have I reflected, changed?

It feels like 2012 was gone in a flash, as if very little has changed even amidst the changes that have come (new job, new PhD in the house, ever-growing little ones).

It was a good year, don't get me wrong.  Delightful in its smoothness.  Full of pleasant moments, sunshine, laughter.  Many beautiful photographs were taken and memories stored up in them.  Travel, festivals, museums, school, lakes, children, friends.  If I reflect on it for a moment, there was almost a surfeit of happiness and happening wrapped up in this years.  A bit of a blur at times...

Part of my goal in this Thirty Days project was to make life memorable, to have goals and projects and alterations to the fabric of my life that would stand out in memory, freeze in time, last in that way that great life changes can last.  I am not sure  if I accomplished that goal in 2012.

And so, as I look ahead to 2013, I am seeking to answer the question:  How can I make change in my life, and the lives of others, that will leave a mark?  A mark in memory, on the world.   How can I live this year with intention, enjoying the ride, the sunshine, the little moments-- and reaching for something a little larger, too?

I've been thinking a lot about the idea of dreams, these aspirations I've got for the way I want my world to be.  I can spend hours (days, weeks) visualizing the house on the lake, the dream kitchen...  but as I sit here, 36 years old, there are still some gaps in the dream-future.  Still, somehow, I am not sure what I want to be when I grow up.  I can see the shape of who I wish to be but the details are fuzzy.

In 2013 I'd like to solidify my dreams, and then orient my life so that each thing I do is moving me closer to their reality. 

There's a resolution for ya.

In the meantime, there are some steps I CAN take, towards the dreams I know already:

1.  I'd like to be in fit and fabulous shape before I turn 40.  Ten, maybe fifteen pounds lighter, leaner, in shape, my body working as a healthy and smooth machine ready to tackle whatever age may bring.  To that end, in 2013 I will be intentional in my eating.  I will eat food that helps my body achieve health.  I will find ways to be active, to challenge my fitness and grow my strength.

2.  I want to have a beautiful, open kitchen with a view of a lake out the window.  I want to be able to furnish this house with rich and lovely fabrics and furniture.  I want to live each day in this comfortable, lovely space. To that end, in 2013 I will be intentional with my money.  I will not spend it on fruitless items.  I will save money towards bringing my dream house into reality.

3.  I visualize myself as a person who creates beauty and good in the world.  I want to be the person who goes out of their way for others, who creates spaces and details and moments and encounters that bring joy and peace to others.  To that end, in 2013 I will practice small ways of being kind, other-centric, detail oriented and considerate.

4.  I see my family in 5 years, my children growing tall, myself mothering them with patience, creativity, and joy.  I see my family in  20 years, gathered together, my children happy to be back at home.  To that end, in 2013 I will work at being the best mother and wife I can be, patient and gentle and intentional in my parenting choices. I will work to create a structure for my family, a safe space for us to love and grow.  I will not take a moment of our lives together for granted.

The past week...

Christmas has taken over a bit around here.  To my credit, life is still revolving around the spirit of giving-- just the focus has been on my family, my friends, my students. 

I've made myself a nice little list of places to donate my things.  I've successfully sent off a bag of food to a Food Bank drive at school.  I've written two more love letters to strangers, and left them in public places in the hopes they'll find their way to the person who needs them most.

I've also baked cookies, bought gifts for my children (but not TOO many!), wrapped presents, wrote out cards, and generally devoted my waking hours to the preparations of the season.

So, I am choosing to be OK with this thirty days going on a bit of a hiatus.

To be continued.

After Christmas. 

December 13

December 13:

Today I wrote two love letters.
I got in on day 10 and 11 of the 12-day letter writing challenge from moreloveletters.com.
Better late than never, right?

It felt wonderful, mailing off those two notecards full of affirmations for strangers.  It was fun to write them, using several colors of felt-tip pens and little doodles and hearts.  And, it took all of about 10  minutes. 

I could get into doing this more often.

Love letters?  Easy.  You know what is unexpectedly difficult? Donating my stuff.   I've now gathered and collected and set in the foyer and back of the van:  a bag of children's shoes, two bags of children's books, a bag of pantry food items, a large box of nice toys, and a bag of baby linens. 

No one wants them.



Well, that's not exactly true.  I could call up the Veterans and they'd pick it all up for me.  Or we could run it right down to Goodwill.  And I know these wonderful organizations would put my cast-off items to work, selling them piecemeal in thrift stores where the income would, bit by bit, go to help people. 

And chances are good that's exactly what will happen.

But what I WANTED to happen, what I had planned for this week of sorting and sifting and giving away, was for these items to go straight to people who could use them.  These baby clothes-- right to little ones in a home for families in crisis.  These toys-- right into the hands of children who will play with them.  These books-- right into the homes of little ones who can read them.  I don't want anyone to have to pay for these things.  I want to GIVE these things away.  I want them to do the most good they can.

I spent my lunch hour today trying to find an organization to help me do this, using a handy database published by (of course!) the Solid Waster Department.  Turns out, there are an impressive number of organizations reaching out to a staggering variety of people right here in our county.  Turns out, the need is heartbreaking and real.  And, it turns out, all of these amazing organizations specify "new items only."  Or money, course.

I am beginning to think uncharitable thoughts about these organizations.

Nonetheless I will soldier on, and have given myself the task tomorrow of contacting a list of organizations that seemed like possibilities.  Maybe I can talk them into taking this stuff.
Or maybe I will just walk around handing out bags of toys and books.   Who can say?

December 8, 9, and 10

8th: Gathered children's outgrown shoes to donate to Soles for Soles, excited to send them off into the world, straight to little feet who need them.  Ran out of time to drop them off.   Bag of little shoes wait patiently in my trunk as we speak.  I am thinking by Friday...

9th:  In retrospect, our Second Sunday Soup could have been a food drive.  Sadly, because I have no forethought and a lot of changing to do still, it was not.   We just ate and drank and were merry, enjoying the sounds of running and laughing children, cocooned in our nest of plenty.

Don't you just love it when a Thirty Days turns out to be a month long guilt trip?

Note to self-- Ask guests to bring a food item in January.

10th: The children and I filled a good size box with outgrown and unwanted toys.  They're still fine toys, all of them.  So much, we have so much... Now, off to find them a home where they can do the most good. 

If I had time and web design skills, I would start a website called Do the Most Good, a one stop shop for individuals to target their non-monetary donations directly to people, where their time and possessions can do the most good, right away.   I would like to find that website right now, really, I don't need to start it and get the credit or anything.  I just want to send these books, this food, these shoes, these toys on their way sooner rather than later...

Future giving days may include:

Donating blood (thanks, Melinda, for the nudge)
Writing some of those love letters
The "Be an Elf" program through the Post Office, where one directly answers a letter to Santa with a wish come true (oh the joy!)

Any other ideas?

December 5, 6, and 7

5th:  Gathered a bag of food from our pantry and two bags of books from Jack's shelves.  Spent an hour trying to figure out where one takes a bag of food to put it to best use in this community.   FoodBank only gave me suggestions for how to organize a drive.  A noble thought but I am not up for organizing a drive, not this month.  Anyone know where one can take a bag of food in this city??

6th: Gave spare change to the "bikes for kids" fund at Rick Case, while paying for my oil change.  Thought to myself that during my "random acts of kindness " month I may pay for the next person's oil change.  Because it would be great, wouldn't it, to go to pay for that little, routine expense and find it already taken care of?

7th: Donated unused toiletries from my classroom stash to the FoodBank supply drive at school.  Got to wear a little sticker all day for doing so.

I've also discovered a lovely free way to give some loving care to the world.  Have you heard of moreloveletters.com?  I heard the founder of this site give a TEDtalk on her work and I was hooked.  (by the way, the TEDtalk app is my new obsession...)  Now, just to find the time to handwrite love letters to people in need...