New Phase

It has been about a month since I have eaten any meat. I am still occasionally eating eggs and cheese so I have not completely crossed the vegan threshold. Cooking for my family of carnivores has been a little harder than I thought it was going to be. I am trying to incorporate what I am eating with what they are eating. So cooking meat separate and then adding it in for them as part of the finished product- This worked really well with a Spanish rice and beans dish I made recently.

As a family we have decided to send summer out with a bang. We are planning a four day camping trip to Montauk state park.We are really excited and so are the kids. If you are a parent of teenagers you know what a big deal it can be to get them excited about anything that has them leaving electronic devices behind. This has really been my husbands deal and he wants to make sure he gets to do it before his surgery and the possibility of not being able to do something like this again.

Anyway I digress. My husband, the ultimate carnivore, has been doing most of the planning of our trip. He has even been setting up menus- which I thought was interesting since at home he only cooks if he can grill or wants eggs for breakfast. Oh and ramen noodles- which I refuse to cook because that is not food. So my loving husband "forgot" that I wasn't eating meat and didn't have anything but potatoes on his shopping list for me to eat. This is going to be an interesting trip.

A Little Rant

       I am not one to complain. I am a pretty easy going person. So much so, that I have been described as Switzerland and a push over. Two things have been bothering me. The first was a person actually said to me the other day- "Well, your older son isn't really part of your family anymore since he doesn't live with you".
What? I am absolutely flabbergasted by this comment. For those who do not know my lovely family consists of my husband (MSG) and our four beautiful children (Junior, Gamer, YouTube, and Miracle). Junior left at the end of July for basic training. Some how him leaving and going to basic translated into him no longer being a part of our family and me no longer his mother. Really!!!
         

July, 2014

     The other issue I am having is the baby and I were in the market today. I needed milk, bread, eggs, and some fruit and vegetables for the week. There were a lot of sales going on (which is pretty common in between paydays). The biggest deals were on snack foods. Right by the door was a large display of chips. You know the ones that "Bet you can't eat just one". They were on sale for a $1.50 a bag. We walked past them to the fresh produce. I really wanted to make fresh vegetable soup and some apple- carrot juice. A 5 pound bag of apples which had about 13 apples in it was $4.99. A 3 pound bag of granny smith apples were selling for $2.50. There are 5 of us in the house so I went ahead and picked up a bag of each. That works out to be about an apple a person for maybe 4 days. $7.49 for fresh apples or a bag a chips a day for 4 days at $6.00. We would never eat that many chips in 4 days but it is just an example. My family would probably only need two bags of chips to cover 4 days, so only $3.00. Anyone else see a problem with this?! It makes me so angry. I want to stand in front of the store and say boycott the junk and just buy fresh. Then maybe we can get decent prices for fresh produce. I know so many families who can't afford to buy the fresh fruit or vegetables it makes me sad. Shame on our government for not have their priorities straight and making the health of the American people suffer for their greediness. Help a mom out!

     

Unit 10- Progress, Reflection, The End of Class

In unit 3 we were asked to assess our physical, spiritual and psychological development. This final unit asks us to reflect on those numbers (score 1-10 with 10 being the goal) and to assess where we feel we are now.

Physical- In unit 3 I gave myself a 5. I am gonna stick with a 5 as my assessed number. Now wait, I know you probably think I have had no progress or growth. Not true. My progress has been homeopathic. I have started seeing an ENT to help me treat a health issue I have been struggling with for over a year. She diagnosed me with BBPV or positional vertigo. Anyway, my vertigo has kept me out of the gym. However the treatment is working! I have also, without really trying, started eating a vegetarian diet. I have been listening to my body and well my body doesn't really need meat. So that said- still a work in progress and evolving everyday.

Spiritual- In unit 3 I gave myself a 4. I give myself a 5 now but I still am not outside as much as I want to be.

Psychological- I gave myself a 6 in unit 3. Currently, I think I am a 6.5 or maybe a 7. My mood is lifted and I feel like I am in a better place.

I am going to spend the next 10 days focusing on getting my schedule in place, making sure I have the resources I need, and the support system in place to help me flourish! This will not be my last blog post. I will continue this blog. My family is about a year from transitioning from the Army. I know I am going to have new stresses. I want to chronicle my journey. I head out wiser and with more peace than I have felt in a long while. I know I do not travel alone in this journey. I am grateful for the guidance given.

Unit 9- The Plan

            As part of my last assignment for my class I need to post my unit 9 project. It is in AP format.

                                                                     Introduction

            Integral health and wellness equals wholeness and balance. This balance is not just external it is also internal. The body-mind-spirit connection is one that promotes actually celebrates all aspects associated with traditional healing and couples it with personalized care, patient and practitioner empowerment, and peace. The principles of Aesclepian healing: holistic, evolutionary, intentional, person-centered, and dynamic are characteristics that benefit the healer and the person seeking the health (Dascher, 2006). In the wellness field these characteristics can guide the professional in such a way that they are not so burdened by their noble choice to help others. Developing psychologically, spiritually, and physically, is essential for anyone who interacts with others on a regular basis but more so for the wellness professional. This strong foundation keeps you open. Open to new ideas, alternative possibilities, relationships, and in return helps others to see what the journey to human flourishing looks like (Dascher, 2006). My journey is just beginning. At nearly 40 I believe I have a foundation spiritually, it is not traditional in a religious aspect but it is grounded in nature. Psychologically and physically go hand in hand for me. I am still finding my voice and while I work toward that I am working toward my physical health (namely fitness).

Assessment

            Nine weeks ago when this journey began the idea that a college course would change my approach to life never occurred to me. Taking stock of me, personally, was not something that really crossed my mind. Every once in a while something would happen and while I was dusting myself off or picking up the pieces I might reflect on what had happened or how I could have changed things. Now I see the importance of taking a few moments every once and awhile to check the map (so to speak). Is your life following the path you have laid out? Is there more you could do to enhance the trip or lighten your load? Looking at myself spiritually it is safe to say that I am not spending as much time in the dirt as I should be. This aspect of my life could use some tweaking. Since I used to grade papers (as para) I would give myself a C maybe a B- in the area of spiritual development. This leads directly into psychologically for me. I feel lighter and more centered after a meditation session. However, I am not practicing as I should. I have however made great strides when dealing with others, especially those I love and hold dear. I do know that I need to cut myself some slack and get out of my own way or I will never experience my full potential. My grade for psychological development would be a B. Physically I have made huge strides. This journey started almost 4 years ago when I quit smoking. I then started eating better (however, I have quite the sweet tooth) and have learned the importance of openness with my healthcare provider. I also know now that no matter how healthy I eat I cannot achieve my health goals without including exercise. This being said I give myself a solid B physically.

Goals

            Time management and myself are my biggest downfalls. The first thing I plan to do is make a master schedule. Nothing to ridged, but I need to make time for me. Taking the three main areas spiritually, immediate goal is to get outside for at least 40 minutes a day. My long term goal is to get a garden going. Psychologically, my immediate goal is to be less reactive. My long term goal is to let go. Physical goals are easy. Short term over the course of the next 6 weeks I will work out (walking, jogging, elliptical) at least 3 times a week for a total of at least 150 minutes per week. I will also lift heavy things (weights, kettle bells, or rocks) at least 3 times a week for a weekly total of at least 90 minutes. Long term goals are to build up to working out at least 6 days a week.

Putting it to Work

            In order to see changes in my psychological, physical and spiritual development I have to implement a plan. Apart from scheduling, coming up with strategies that will lead me to ultimate health is what this journey has been about. Spiritually, taking my exercise outdoors is one way I can get more time outside. The other is to take my meditation practice outside. Psychological strategies are ones I have been really working on. Journaling (continuing to blog or keep a small written journal) is something I plan to do. This journaling helps me keep my gentile speech and offers me reflective time. The other strategy I plan to implement is positive self-talk. Physically, the schedule helps the most here. However, I tend to workout longer when I have someone to workout with, so finding a partner is vital. Another strategy I want to try is looking at exercise as a prescribed medication. This will turn it into something I have to do even if I don’t like it and hopefully it will become something I like to do.

Commitment

            The things above are obviously things I know I need to do. My fear is when this class ends so will my drive to meet these goals. To help me stay committed I plan to share my goals with friends and family so that they can help me stay the path. Since I intend to continue blogging I will post updates probably on the first of every month (easy to remember) that will highlight new things that I am doing and reflect on what I am not doing. When I close my eyes and imagine my journey originally I saw a juggler. Trying to maintain all of life’s little balls up in the air while balancing on the ball that was supposed to be my life. Now I see myself floating on a river with bends and rapids but staying afloat with the help of paddles and the occasional life vest.

References

Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health The Path to Human Flourishing, Laguna Beach, CA. Basic Health Publication, Inc

Unit 8 Review

          Our term is quickly coming to an end. With about two weeks left I am asked to look at the different practices I have been shown and choose two that I find beneficial and how I can implement them in my daily life. The first practice I feel like I got the most out of is Loving-kindness. This practice helps keep us in tune with the import people in our lives. When ever I complete a Loving-kindness session I am more aware of my actions and words. I am aware of how they maybe perceived by my loved ones. I choose to to be more thoughtful and less reactive. This practice is great for me in the morning. It puts me on the right track for the rest of the day. I have altered it a little. I can easily find ten minutes more if I can get it (I say ten but a session usually runs 15 to 20 minutes) first thing in the morning when my house is quiet and before the baby wakes up. I  have chosen my back patio as my place of reflection. The sounds of the birds in the morning transcend all other neighborhood noise and I can focus on the practice. The other practice I enjoy is the visualization. I have incorporated this practice as part of my nightly routine. While lying in bed I see my self happy, whole and radiant. Picturing myself as a healthy exuberant person was not easy at first. I have never been one to readily accept a compliment even when I am giving it to myself. I like how it focuses my goals. When I wake up I start the day with the intent that I will make healthy choices and work toward my overall well-being. That leads me into my Loving-kindness practice and ready for the rest of my day.