Old school indeed

I wanted to make a fancy daily journal but didn’t find the items I had been looking for. So I went old school. Like as basic as it gets as I don’t even any gold stars like we got at school.

In the past I have used an app to keep track of calories. It involved just more screen time and a certain amount of frustration. Because even an apple could show up with 50 versions and no I am not exaggerating. An egg wasn’t even an egg. So… enter the piece of paper and the pen.

The sheer irony — hung it on the fridge with magnets that say ” The only thing better than a good friend is one with chocolate!

Truth is I know what to do and not do to lose some weight and be healthier. I just need help saying no to myself with snacks. For example I made oat apple sauce muffins with no oil and no sugar. They are so good. So good that I eat them when eating them is not the right choice. So I am giving myself check marks for good choices and x’s for behaviour that needs to change. Trying to stay focused, positive and not beat myself up for a bad choice and then derail myself for however long before I climb out of “I’m a smuck to myselfville”. Then if I need to adjust things next week I can just change things up.

It gives me hope that I can stay the course. I am also going to create my own 30 day fitness challenge for May. Beginner level senior citizen type. Taking into account  that my back still seems to hate me and I need to account for that in my plan. Lots of research shows that a significant walk every day can be a huge key to maintaining health. We walk almost every day (the wind occasionally makes us all wimps) but some days we only do 1.5. It’s like the food- I know what I need to do.

I have joined the women’s road biking group I rode with for a few years. Pretty certain I am going out in the back of the pack but that’s ok. I am going out. On my road bike (in spandex but let’s not focus on that sight!). It’s a “forced out” and will be written on the calendar and the wind be damned they ride. As of next Friday the gravel bike will be off the trainer and The Engineer and I will be out climbing hills and lamenting a rural life (the only two times that happens is when the wind is crazy and when we ride on gravel roads). But we can hope for less wind and just the right amount of gravel on those roads. Or we can go out and face reality. Hope is not passive and I must continue to remember that. That hope takes effort just like being physically healthier.

Remember what is important

Which brings me to my WOTY update. April was a much needed “quiet” month.  Reduced work shifts, less city runs,no soccer and a long list of necessary and fun projects. I undertook a deep spring clean of 2 floors of the house which lead to a lot of decluttering and it’s amazing how the dustless walls improved my mental state of mind. I live on a gravel road in a windy locale and have no AC so the windows are open in the summer. I’m not even going to harbour any hope that said walls will remain clean and what’s more is that even light fixtures will, once again, be filled with dead insects within a few months. I think the belief approach is pragmatic and as such borders on realistic.

I spent endless evenings working away on the inside of this blog doing housework. I suppose it’s akin to washing walls and light fixtures. No one really notices that it has occurred except the person who felt it needed to be done. Same with the blog. I went “inside” and cleaned up the media files as well as ensured that posts had a featured photo and were categorized. I managed to get 7 years worth done which leaves about 4 years worth (the oldest stuff) to do and while it matters not a stitch to anyone else I do care that it be “neat and tidy” as well.

I also spent a fair amount of time exploring other blogs and several books in the past month. The bonus to back pain is that it forces me to slow down and ice so I spend time reading. I am still working on learning more about ADD and am part way through “Scattered Minds” which is apparently one of the best out there on this subject matter. I’m much more partial to historical fiction but it’s important that I learn more and I am hopeful that my actions help the road ahead. The same could be said for this month’s Indigenous content. I read “The Reason You Walk” by Wab Kinew and this man finds hope in spite of the background of Residential School and the legacy that it left in his family. So clearly outlined about why it will take generations to rebalance families.

As with every spring I’ve ever experienced hope sails in on the colour of crocuses and the sound of geese and cranes. The intensity of the blue skies and the sweet song of the meadowlark. The smell of that lone little rain shower. The exploring and meandering that occurs with the Littles.

It makes it easy to forget about the devastating effects climate change is showing all around the world. A recent Canadian report highlighted the top 10 cities that will be significantly impacted and Saskatoon is on the list. The whole province will be hotter drier windyer (is that like a legit word) and colder – well obviously not all at the same time. So are we doing our part was the discussion and could we “step up to the plate” more. We really live a fairly conscious life style in that regard but one can always do more. Which is why, coming to a garage at our place, on Tuesday will be a new Hybrid vehicle. Then the I’ve hit one too many deer SUV (which was a gas hog) will end up under the wrecking ball. It’s the biggest step we can take in regards to our lifestyle so I guess I am happy that deer # 4 happened.

As usual thanks to the hosts of #whatsonyourbookshelf and the #woty update linkz party. Nice to be invited to a party. We are still living Covid quiet lives and wondering if it’s now just the normal to only hang out with your spouse. Can’t even say “asking for a friend” because I feel like we aren’t too connected to many friends right now. I am hopeful summer time will change that.

It’s a lengthy post but hope isn’t one dimensional. It impacts so much of how we feel and what we do.

Bernie