Body
This is the first week I experienced challenges that I would normally use an excuse to avoid exercising–not that I ever exercised before. But if I did, I promise you I would have clung to little time and sleep like a baby koala bear. I limited my walks until it was dark since Nicholas was home sick all week, which I never do because most of my paths don’t have sidewalks and I listen to music while I walk. Some of the scenarios I imagined included being struck by a car, getting attacked by a serial killer, and zombies. Because of this, I shortened my walk to a path that has a sidewalk about 50% of the time. My mileage dropped to .67 of a mile each day, but I walked. Nico finally felt better on Friday, but with his school party and his birthday on Saturday, I knew I wouldn’t have time to walk in my neighborhood. I pulled the Dork Card and went to the mall to buy his birthday present…and walk. I walked the mall. The rest of the weekend went well, and though my husband has had the flu since Friday, I feel okay. I’m wondering if the regular walking has boosted my immune system. I’ve heard regular exercise can do that, but I don’t know the stats or even if it’s true.
Mind
Some of the things I was grateful this week include rocking chairs, our family’s safety, being a stay at home mom, and unexpected time with my dad.
Spirit
I fell behind this week. I was so, so tired that I couldn’t read straight. I feel like a bit of a failure for it, but I can easily catch up since I’m only a couple of days behind. I’m not going to lie, I’m disappointed.
This is called life and it was bound to happen sooner or later. Illness (especially when our family gets sick), deadlines, travel – these things can either be a bump in the road or a total derailment. Good for you for getting over the bump! Walking the mall shows huge dedication. You should be proud of that. You’ll get back into the daily reading, no doubt.
I know. I need to be more gentle with myself. I didn’t catch up today, which is what I wanted. There is always tomorrow.
That keep right sign is a really neat addition to the rest of the feet photos. I’m so excited about your book that you’re going to make out of it, it’s as though it was going to be my own book. I think of it every week when you post your pictures.
I know it’s easy to get down when you get a little behind or miss a day, but don’t. Especially with the reading, because nothing makes me throw in the towel more than my perfectionism. Oh man, I missed a day. Well in that case I better quit forever. It seems funny when I’m outside looking in, but I saboutage myself like that all the time.
I can’t tell you how excited I am about that book! It’s ridiculous, really.
Perfectionism: I know all about it.
I have been feeling crummy because I’ve totally fallen off the exercise wagon in the past month. I have a hard time getting to classes at the gym anyway because of scheduling issues, and I’ve had a migraine a week since we returned to school after winter break (always on one of the two days a week I can actually make a class). Throw in ramped up activities for my daughter and ramped up stuff at work, and it’s been really easy for me to let it slide. I find that once the euphoria of a new routine wears off, it’s a challenge to keep at it, even if it’s doing good things that I like. Good for you for walking at the mall. I think the way to keep at doing what you’re doing is to find ways to adapt that will work with whatever else is going on. For myself, I picked up a used copy of Wii fit, and am going to try that since getting to the gym just isn’t working right now.
I’m surprised I’m doing so well with the walking. Then again, it does give me time completely to myself and is somewhat relaxing, so maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised!
You’re right to think that exercise boosts the immune system (here’s a quickie easy snippet http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007165.htm). Glad you were able to fit in the walks, even though they were at night!
Don’t let your disappointment in falling behind on your spirit readings bog you down, just get right back reading again. You’ve put a lot into your cup, and it might overflow at times, but there’s no use crying over spilt milk, just pick those bootstraps up, and get back in the saddle again (mixed as many metaphors as possible for your reading amusement).
Haha! Thanks for the wind beneath my wings.
I have a goal for daily scripture reading as well, a goal I have worked on for decades. It usually goes well for a season and then I lapse for a while. I’ve decided that I want to be a lifelong learner when it comes to spiritual things, so I need to learn how to start again (or keep going or catch up) with a measure of grace because I am going to be starting again many, many times. I’ve come to believe that a true sign of strength is the determination to keep going even when past failure makes my goal seem cloudy and taints my study time with shame. I refuse to let the shame from the past ruin my future studies! I consciously forgive myself every time I start again.
Thanks for sharing your journey so honestly. It helps me on mine.
I’ve been giving that a lot of thought, actually. I can finish reading the Bible in one year, but I don’t think it’s something I should stop doing on a regular basis. I should look at this year as just the starting point.
He, he! Love the mall walking reference – fitting it in, making it work, that’s what it’s all about :) I bet the extra exercise did boost your immune system, it certainly can’t hurt, right!
I felt ridiculous, but I don’t think anyone noticed. It’s not like I was swishing my hips or pumping my arms. :)
I think it is a wonderful testiment that you are creating a habit to “move” by walking, even though you could have easily pulled the mother card–caring for others care first. My husband calls it putting his “oxygen mask” on (he travels a lot). Keep going. You will eventually find that you will want to do more with your body. No. I am not kidding. See if you can schedule yourself for local town/city rec programs that are usually low cost for residents. They offer classes like Yoga (which is very Mind, Body, Spirit) and Zumba. It is hard to break out of comfort zones, but it can be awfully gratifying to be with others taking time for themselves. It is motivating.
Hope everyone feels better.
Thanks. I was pleased with myself for not flaking out.
I live in Minnesota, where mall-walking is the norm. Took me a minute to figure out why you felt like a dork. ;-)
Haha! I bet it is the norm–I hear it gets a little cold in Minnesota. ;) Around here only senior citizens walk the mall, and that’s because it gets blazing hot in August/September. Anyone else who exercises is a gym rat or does it very, very early in the morning. I would be a little worried about what I will do when summer hits, but I have a gym membership that I’m not using. I haven’t cancelled it because it will be the perfect thing in the summer.