Some of our pagan forbears imagined they had a duty to assist with nature's revival every spring by performing fertility rituals. And wouldn't it be fun if it were even slightly true that you could help the crops germinate and bloom by making sweet love in the fields? At the very least, carrying out such a ceremony might stimulate your own personal creativity. In accordance with the astrological omens, I invite you to slip away to a secluded outdoor spot, either by yourself or with a romantic companion. On a piece of paper, write down a project you'd like to make thrive in the coming months. Bury the note in the good earth, then enjoy an act of love right on top of it.
For the past month of so I have been reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rueben. The book has been criticized for being written by a woman who lives on the upper east side of Manhattan, is a writer, and is married with two kids. Skeptics ask, "What does she have to be unhappy about?". I on the other hand understand (or at least I think I do) where she might be coming from. No, I dont live in Manhattan, Im not a writer, Im unwed with no children (thank god) but in comparison to many people in this world I really dont have a lot to be unhappy about. Sure, I live pay check-to- pay check, in a studio-like apartment with limited counter space BUT I have everything I need. I have a supportive family, friends, food, a place to live, and a great job. But like Rueben, at times, I feel unhappy. Unhappy in the sense that I feel like life is, well, blah. So, in attempt to make myself happy (which only I can do) I have embarked on my own "Happiness Project".
April: Take Better Care of Myself
My resolution this month is to simply take better care of myself. Over the last couple years I have increasingly taken care of myself less. By this I mean: I have stopped exercising, started drinking more, taken one too many shower sabbaticals, and all in all have just let myself go. Now, I have always been one of those people who say "Im never gonna let myself go...I dont understand how people let themselves get that far off track". Now I understand. Fifteen pounds later unfortunately.SO the first part of "taking better care of myself" is to lose weight. Now, in the past this would consist of me limiting my caloric intake, taking diet pills, sleeping, and essentially starving myself. But this time I commit to doing it a different way. I pledge to make changes in a healthy, mature, and realistic manner. My goals for losing weight are as follows:
1. Exercise at least four times a week-- walk, run, jump rope, bike, etc. for at the very least 30 minutes.
2. Limit my intake of meat-- now, I have done this before and I will tell you, I feel a whole lot more energized when I stay away from meat products. Does this mean that I am going to cut out meat altogether? No. I enjoy the occasional burger and chicken wings, and I refuse to deprive myself of things I enjoy. However, I am going to restrict myself to only eating meat when I go out to eat at restaurants (see #3).
3. Eat out less-- I think this one is self explanatory.
4. Eat breakfast-- I have always steered clear of breakfast because it makes me hungrier throughout the day. I have always known this is because it speeds up my metabolism, but I hate the feeling of trying to stay away from food and being hungry. So I have created an unhealthy routine in which I never eat breakfast. So far this month I have eaten breakfast almost everyday, and I have more energy and am less hungry in the late evening. BOOM!
5. If it's in walking distance- WALK or bike. This of course excludes when I go grocery shopping and need to carry loads of bags home. But, often times I go to the store to walk around or just pick one thing up, and I live very close to Target, Ross, Frys, Fresh and Easy, and many restaurants and bars. I can easily walk my lazy ass there if Im going for something small or to just get out of the house.
Now, taking better care of myself is not all about losing weight. I have slacked off in many areas over the last couple of months. There are many other components of taking better care of myself that seem like they would be no-brainers.
1. Shower everyday
2. Wake up in the morning with plenty of time to get ready for work (when I rush I feel off all day)
3. Apply lotion everyday-- I use to do this religiously and I have always taken pride in my skin so I want to keep it young and fresh as long as possible. Moms has great skin, so I know if I take care of mine, in thirty years it will still look great.
4. Get plenty of sleep
5. Keep my place neat and clean (not obsessively so, but in Rueben's book she commits herself to completing any task that takes 60 seconds or less, immediately) that's my goal.
I think that is enough for April. So far I am doing well, and feel better than I have in a long time.
Ok, that's all for now.
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