Investing in the Fall

How can I invest in the Fall even before the summer ends? I can take the opportunity to do the following:

Plan my major Fall commitments. If I could summarize my major commitments, they would be school, holidays, and travel. I can look at my schedule and plan these commitments. Planning now will allow me to have the presence of mind to create small tasks that will lead me to a successful Fall.

Small Tasks. In a little over two weeks school will be back in session. One of the small tasks I've been worrying about all summer is back-to-school shopping. Every year I believe I will start working on all of this earlier. This year I gave myself a deadline to finish this task. I look forward to not being as worried and rushed as I am every year. We celebrate holidays every year, often in the same way. There isn't a strong reason not to have small tasks attached to the upcoming holidays. I know it will make life easier and my Fall schedule more pleasant.

A lot of organizations are recruiting in the Fall. Before that large wave of invites to volunteer reaches my inbox, I need to know what I can realistically do. My commitment to school, holidays, and travel should be on my calendar with the corresponding small tasks. No more should I sign up to volunteer without considering what will truly cost me.

How do you plan to invest in your Fall schedule before the summer ends?

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Summer Health Challenge Week 6

 

Summer of 2022

Listen to the Podcast episode here 

I can't believe these are the last 4 weeks of this challenge! I learned a lot since week 1 and I made significant progress toward my goal of consistency. 

I decided to look back to where I was one year ago so I can better see where I am. 

• June was a busy month. We had a lot of major activities and I was glad to support my family and our guests. 

• We are nearing summer travel time. We are all looking forward to that after a busy month. 

• This summer I developed a greater awareness of my feelings because of the journaling aspect of the Ranting Weight Watcher's Redemption Group. Last year I was journaling once a week. My feelings got the best of me, especially in July. This summer I am proficient at not using feelings as an excuse to eat needless food. 

• This summer I got better at turning down desserts. Last year I was eating a lot more processed desserts. I ate (and baked) desserts this year but the difference is, I planned for the desserts I enjoyed. 

• Reflection works. Journaling once a day really helps me to face the facts and make a decision on how to proceed. 

• I am very happy with the results I got this month. No wonder it is working: I am doing what I said I was going to do which is:

10-week Challenge:

• Weigh/track/measure foods
• Stop eating after dinner
• Complete 50 workouts *
• Sleep at least 7 hours a night *
• Drink at least 40 oz water + electrolytes *

* Adapt these to your level of fitness, current needs 
Start: 5/20 
End: 7/29 

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How to be productive today

What does productivity mean to you?

I asked myself this question recently. Here are a few thoughts on the subject:

1 • How much do we need to be truly productive? The answer is, whatever time you have. If you have 15 minutes, you can be productive. If you have 45 minutes, you can be productive. You have to be the master of your time and assign it to your goal for the day. If you don't have all day to meal prep, you can set aside 30 minutes to prep your breakfasts for the week. Use the time you have. Do what you can.

2 • Let that perfectionist mindset go. I remember working hard all day but my counters were not clear of clutter. I started to feel guilty. Never mind that I had to go to sleep so I could gain energy to be productive the next day. I told myself to let that perfectionist mindset go and embrace a positive mindset. Progress over perfection reminds you that Rome wasn't built in a day. The clutter in my counters didn't end up there in a day and I would take the time to clean. I was able to sleep well that night. The next day, I set aside time to work on the counters. I cleaned them. When productivity is the long-term goal, we get there with small, incremental steps. 

3 • Productivity is as diverse as the people of the world. I don't believe in cookie-cutter productivity because we all have different dispositions. What productivity means to me is different than what it means to you. Once I accept my individuality, I can find a method that works for me. I remember thinking about emptying my entire bedroom so I could organize it. I stopped after the second sock drawer. I was changing 3 diapers at the time. I had to keep an eye on my little kids who had time to empty an entire room? There was no way to set aside an entire day/weekend to get everything out of my room. So I found a method that works for me. I have practiced this method for the past 7 years. My method has given me a lot of freedom. I know this because when things get out of control (as they often do), I know what to do in order to get back to a functional place. Find what works for you. Do not compare yourself to others, no matter how much a creator wants your money. 

4 • Dealing with distractions is part of being productive. It may be that 'ding' coming from your phone every so often. It might be your neighbor calling you. It may be the dishes in the sink. Distractions only start calling your name when you are focused on doing something important. I am learning to be okay with distractions. Here is what I do. Let's say I am focused on a task and a distraction shows up. I stop what I'm doing and I basically say, "oh hey, I see you there. I will deal with you in 45 minutes." If I'm afraid I will forget something important, I keep a pen and a notepad so I can write it down. You can also negotiate what you will with common distractions. For example, text messages are common distractions when I am writing. I negotiate this common distraction before I sit down to write. Here are the terms: unless it is an emergency phone call, I do not answer text/phone when I am writing/studying. I will answer them after lunch. I bet the same things keep distracting you when you are trying to be productive. Work on your negotiation terms.

5 • Rest and productivity go hand in hand. A few weeks ago, I was closely monitoring how much rest I was getting daily. I wrote down what I discovered. I learned that the more rested I feel, the more productive I am. I tweaked the time I go to bed so I can be refreshed in the morning. I also added a little downtime during the day, if I can afford it. When I am tired, it hurts my productivity. I wonder if you ever thought about this correlation. 

I hope you have a productive week. Be productive on your own terms!

• Bible Study starts this Thursday! Even if you can't come this week, I'd love to know you are coming so I can be ready: Register today. 

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Dinner Party

I didn't grow up with dinner parties but I love the idea. To be honest with you, most people would come to our home for lunch when they did. Dinner parties for me are an American experience. 

I mostly watched people going to dinner parties in movies. Interestingly, everything mostly works. Even when there's conflict around the scene, everything looks chic and delicious. 

My life doesn't resemble the party movies I watched. There are dishes in the sink. Our home is way bigger than the small New York apartments we saw on screen. We also have kids who are often part of the party. 

COVID interrupted many things, including our habit of having people over. With the dawn of a new day in Texas, I decided that I wanted to host more dinner parties. 

I started hosting a mystery dinner party. Mystery because the guests didn't know one another. I want to say that they left as friends. That was super cool. 

The dinner menu was Brazilian food. I bought flowers and lit the candles. I didn't have time to make dessert so I bought it from the store. Nevertheless, the company was the main dish, the food and the environment, the sides. 

I miss the nearness of people. Dinner parties give me that. Even when we text and see people on a regular basis, the dinner party offers the opportunity of unhurried conversation. Good conversations lead to connection. 

Connection is the conduct for friendships. Life post-COVID requires that we re-examine our friendships. Nothing and no one is off the table. It is wise to make the commitment to count your friends. If you are honest, you lost some long before COVID. Others, you never had. Why hold on to something that is no longer life-giving? 

If I can't connect with you in a meaningful way, chances are, we really aren't friends. We are acquaintances. Acquaintances are okay. I do make more room in my life for true friends. 

My goal of hosting more dinner parties is my way to make room for true friends. I also believe in introducing friends to one another. 

I honestly get a kick of saying "this is So So, you're gonna LOVE her." I'm not selfish with my friendships. I'm not a friend hoarder. I believe the heart is big enough to accommodate multiple friendships. The heart is insightful enough to know which friends will be close friends and which ones will be simply friends. 

The arms of friendships are always open, willing to embrace everyone. Friendship's table is inviting, willing to save you a seat, fix you sweet tea and give you your favorite dessert. 

I'm eager to see how my dinner parties will produce fruit. I hope they provide a much-needed place for friendships to begin or to start again.

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My first mammogram

During my annual well-woman exam, my doctor told me it was time to start getting mammograms. He explained the process, and what to expect. His office scheduled the mammogram with the radiology department. My mammogram was scheduled for 5-6 weeks after I left my doctor's office. 

A week before the mammogram the radiology department called and told me they were moving their machines so they had to reschedule my appointment. I was like, "okay."

When the day of the exam finally came, I was super nervous. I had not been super nervous about anything in my life for a long time. I asked a few friends to pray for me. The night before, I was speaking with a friend from high school who told me her experience. 

She has a history of breast cancer in her family, so she's been getting exams for a while. She told me I would be just fine. My friend lives abroad, and the government pays for those exams. I thought that was pretty awesome. She also informed me that if you don't have enough tissue to fit the machine, they give you ultrasounds. The playful way she told me made me laugh.

My appointment was at the end of the business day. I went to the wrong building, and instead of driving, I decided to walk to the correct place. I thought the extra walk will help me calm down. That was a good decision. 

The waiting room was empty. When my name was called, I answered. An older nurse introduced herself and told me she would be doing my mammogram. She asked some usual information.

She also asked if I had the COVID vaccine, which one and in which arm. I thought those had to be both signs of the times and health data gathering. 

She asked me to undress from waist up and put on a gown that reminded me of the top part of a choir robe. Here's the problem: I had on a dress. 

She asked me if I had on shorts. I said, no but I can make this dress into a skirt. I laughed and told her, "can you tell I've never done this before? Of all the things I could wear, I chose this dress." She helped me unzip the dress. 

When I was ready, we went to the exam room. The nurse was very skillful and she had great manners. I basically had to stand still so they could take 4 different pictures. When I looked to the walls, I saw a painting with Jeremiah 29:11 written in it. That was very comforting. The visual reminder that God and hope and a future planned for me. 

I stood still as the nurse requested. The whole thing lasted maybe 7 minutes. The nurse said, "sometimes, the doctor's office calls back for additional images, so don't freak you. You don't seem to be the freak out type so you'll be just fine." I took that as a compliment. 

I thanked her and left. My friends asked me how it went. I told them it wasn't so bad. There is pressure but for me, it wasn't painful. I often compare the pain I've felt in the past. I told my friends that my well-woman exam is way more uncomtable. We agreed that part of being a woman is knowing pain and discomfort. It is all worth it if it means we are being good stewards of our health. 

Yesterday, I got a phone call from my doctor's nurse saying the mammogram looks good. I was grateful for the good news. 

I wanted to share this experience because it is important to schedule health exams. It is okay to be nervous and afraid. What is not okay is postponing the things that help us to be healthy. 

I understand that mammograms are expensive. I read in the newspaper this week that an organization was offering them for $99 to those who do not have health insurance. There is a way to take care of your health, all you need to do is reach out for help.

Lastly, I know that God is in complete control. He has also made us stewards of a lof things such as our health. I had my wake-up call when my blood pressure was dangerously high 15 years ago. I decided to do something about it. That wake-up call keeps me focused on living a lifestyle that allows me to manage stress and other contributing causes of high blood pressure. 

I learned that taking care of my health is not about what's going to happen tomorrow but it is about the quality of life I can enjoy today. Tomorrow is not really guaranteed. God has given me today so I will honor Him with a healthy lifestyle. 

Lastly, I want to remind you that I took small steps to go from where I was to where I am. If you are afraid of going to the doctor, call a friend so she can go with you. 

If you are embarrassed to start exercising in a group, invite a friend to join you. Small steps lead to big accomplishments. I want to encourage you to take small steps today. It is not too late to start. 

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Sunday Seven

When you are at your lowest point, here are some things you understand: 

1. You may go even lower. I hate it but it has happened to me. I believe the important thing is to raise your thinking. My brain starts to go to the things that matter. God loves me. At some point, this got to get better. 

2. You have the right to feel your feelings. It does not mean others have to process your feelings for you. Yet you have the right to your feelings. They are there for a reason and they are often pointing at something. 

3. You may find yourself all alone. Sometimes, that's good because you can use that time for reflection. There are temptations to engage in behavior that will lead you away from who God called you to be. Fight those and remain true to who God called you to be. Loneliness can be a gift because clarity comes to those who take the time to find it. 

4. You may cry for help. I don't believe people should be at their lowest without help. Asking a friend for help is wise. You will find that your true friends will be there for you without reservations and judgment. If they aren't, you need to find someone who will. 

5. Look around. When I'm at my lowest, once I feel my feelings and cry out to God, I developed the habit to look around. I do it because the perspective from the bottom is different than when you are on top. You see the ground a little bit closer. You see details you wouldn't see otherwise. Depending on the reason why you're down, you also learn a lot about people. Look around because it makes you relatable to people who may experience the same thing. Look around because it can also be a growing moment. 

6. There's only one way up. The truth is that when you are down, the only option is to get up. This simple fact gives me a lot of hope. The possibility that I won't be down forever is exhilarating to my brain. Hope for today means power for tomorrow. 

7. You will grow. Character development is a mystery. Being in your lowest estate can cause growth. But only if we follow God's plan. Our choice to follow God's plan can make us better. Choosing growth opens us up to the possibility of receiving resilience and hope as part of our character development journey. It is easier said than done when you are low but I'm encouraging you and I to choose growth.

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