Day 2

Challenge: Calling in sick. At my current job I try really hard to avoid sick days from work. I worry about creating extra work for my co-workers, racking up "instances," and using all my sick time when it's not absolutely necessary. I feel guilty calling in and saying I can't be there when I'm supposed to be showing up every day to work! So, today's challenge, when I woke up with a killer sore throat at 4:00 in the morning, was to bite the bullet and call in sick. Turns out I have strep throat. I'd call that one worthwhile sick day. 

Gratitude: Access to resources. It took me thirty minutes and $10 to fill two prescriptions today. Living as I have nearly my whole life with access to insurance, back-up finances, doctors, grocery stores...I sometimes take my resources for granted. Today I want to give thanks that I am in a position to be able to take care of my most important needs (food, water, shelter, medicine). I am so lucky. 

Adventure: Orange is the New Black. While at home with strep throat I was less inclined to come up with new and exciting things to try for today. Instead, I tried a new TV show! I had only heard wonderful things, and I have to say this show has me hooked!

Inspiration: Vulnerability and authenticity. The most powerful tool we have is the ability to be ourselves. Here are some cool videos as food for thought: Slam Poetry, More Slam Poetry, Dance and a Ted Talk (below)! 

Day 1

In this blog I will focus on creating and maintaining a positive, grounded daily life. Along with my commentary you'll find links to articles, pictures, and videos for future inspiration. 

In the "challenge" section I will be working on conquering my fears and practicing new skills. In "gratitude" I will relay the reasons I love and appreciate my life. In "adventure" I'll try something I've never done before, and in "inspiration" I'll offer some philosophical, practical, exciting, or silly pick-me-ups for the day. I'd love to see your own challenges, gratitude, adventures, and inspiration in the comments!

Challenge: Stay in a conflict long enough to say what you really mean and understand what the other person really means. I, like many other humans, would really rather conflict resolved itself. Preferably it would resolve more quickly the more you ignore it. Since this isn't the case, I decided to tackle my interpersonal effectiveness skills in today's challenge. I brought up a particular that's been bothering me to the friend in question and, lo and behold, he got really mad at me! But, guess what? The world didn't end. Now, I've never been in an outright conflict like this and today I stuck it out. I explained myself in kind, honest detail and listened to him explain in the same kind, honest detail why he was offended. We pinpointed the real cause of the problem and I ended the conversation feeling so much better about our friendship! I'd say this conflict tolerance skill is a keeper. If you're interested in psychology or education, here's a super-brief article summarizing the interpersonal effectiveness skills taught in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. When presented well, I find them to be the kind of basic, logical, and accessible skills I want to be taught in elementary schools! I recommend further reading!

Gratitude: People who stick with you through the long haul. Today I am grateful for those non-judgmental, long-term pals who are just as much your friend when you make a huge mistake as they are when you win the lottery. I am lucky and blessed to have more of these long-term cheerleaders among my family and friends than I can count on two hands. Right now I would like to give a special shout out to one of my grandmothers, Bea. My grandmother was born to a Portuguese Catholic family in rural Hawaii and spent her time growing up alternately running around on adventures with her many siblings and taking care of the sewing, mending, and cleaning for the family. When she finished high school she spent three years saving up to take a bus tour of the continental United States. From there she moved to California and started the first generation of mainlanders. My favorite thing about my grandma is her thoughtfulness and gratitude. She has big opinions, big gratitude, and a big heart. She reminds me that I'm human, validates my good choices, and inspires me to pursue my passions. My grandma is also an artist and her quilts, wall hangings, and pillows are my favorite decorations. I am grateful for Wednesday dinner dates with my grandma.

Adventure: 250-calorie meals. I'm not always a promoter of calorie-counting because I think it's easy to lose the pleasurable aspect of food if you're so concentrated on numbers all the time. Nonetheless, yesterday and today I planned my meals to have 5-6 250 calorie meals spaced throughout my day (1250-1500 calories total). I discovered, on the one hand, that this is actually the perfect amount of food for me. I eat every few hours and am just full enough to be content. I end up choosing healthier, tastier, more filling options because I have less wiggle room for empty calories. This schedule also gives my body enough time to digest without being stuffed and over-worked from one big meal. On the other hand, I ate dinner with my grandmother today and put away 750 calories in one sitting. Still, I stuck to my total both days and it felt easy to know how much I was eating and adjust my evening accordingly. Conclusion: good plan to use with wiggle room! My day's food for tomorrow is packed in 250-calorie increments and it all looks delicious! On a similar note, here are some healthy mood boosting recipes when you're craving a pick-me-up and don't want to eat a whole pot of macaroni and cheese or a carton of ice cream. 

Inspiration: Really fabulous dancers. I love dancing. My favorite is the Lindy Hop. Whether you're a dance fan or not, these dancers will make you want to get up and move your feet. This is part of the Invitational Strictly Lindy competition at the 2013 International Lindy Hop Championships. Enjoy!