It’s a constant journey – this whole concept of living and not doing things to excess, finding balance…etc etc.

Accountability, having someone guide you, finding experts who remind you of all the things you probably have already read/heard/seen but let slide,  are all factors in trying to be healthier.
Tendonitis hit me last fall and I’ve been seeking out different ways to inexpensively deal with it. Physiotherapy is not inexpensive, but sometimes you have to get that little bit of extra advice and manipulation to get you on track. Also, hearing how it’s going to take a long time to heal – it took a long time of doing things badly to cause it – means that I know I will have to keep working at it/ resting it when I can.
As I approach bridal season – it actually really kick started this past week – I know I’ll really have to pay attention and take the time to do the strength training for my back < here’s the concept – using the arm muscles more than the back to do things seems to have contributed to the problem, so increasing my back strength and “putting my back into it”  will help take the pressure off my arm and elbow>.
This morning I had my once/month training session at Free Form Fitness and we went full body workout. Everything was put through its paces.
My hamstrings are already talking to me as I have begun cycling 2Xweek, about 50 minutes out and 50 minutes home at the end of the day.  On the alternate days, I’m trying to leave early enough to get off the bus at Billing Bridge and walk the 30 minutes to the studio. And at least 15 minutes of walking past the end of the day before I hop onto the bus.
Mindful eating is the real challenge for me. I don’t mind eating stuff that’s notoriously bad for me, I don’t mind at all.  Alas < yes, alas>, it makes a difference in how I feel, the numbers I’m tracking < a bit of scale and a bit of measuring tape, but not being too tough on myself about it>.

While I have lost about 5 pounds since January, it’s very slow. I had a back injury, the elbow thing, still on my journey with anxiety and lots of factors are making ti seem like I’m not making any progress at all. And it can be easy to slip into that space of “what’s the point”, when it seems like the efforts are wasted.
<sigh> ….
Apparently, the possibility of age being a factor is coming into play as I approach “middle age” as well – whatever! Actually, if my grandmother lived to 96… oh, yeah, ok it’s looming. But what thought process – if you think about how the first “half” of your life involved learning to talk/walk/think/develop skills etc. and you potentially have that same amount of time to continue to learn and grow…oh.. too much thinking for a Monday.
Well.. this was more a ramble than a journey into deep insight, but that’s ok too. I’ll continue to dance with amazing friends, explore finding balance in food and activity, and take my #zeropeopledays very seriously as I am much better with others when I take some time to recharge and do other stuff…
here – have a Sprocket pic! and a great week on your own adventures!

 
 
 

Went out last night to the Aziza & Aida Hafla organized by Jehane of Duniya Studios and had a lovely time.  It was great to reconnect with the community and get that little boost of #SparkleEnergy that comes from seeing wonderful dancers expressing themselves!

Thanks to Eurika, for the little boost of, of course I’ll drive, as not having a car also adds a factor to what events I participate in.  Still ok with not having a car, Ottawa’s bus system is reasonable, but there are moments when it tilts me into the, I’m going to stay in tonight, mode. And while that has been something I have needed to do for myself, it’s time to peak my head out of my burrow as it were.

This winter I’ve been taking time to take care of myself, including adding strength  training to my system of life. The personal training is not inexpensive, but I’ve found the level that I can afford and while it means really trying to maintain some serious accountability at home, I’m getting there.  I’m trying to adjust my eating habits too and have received some interesting advice from my trainer and the Free Form Fitness website.
Obviously, anything that gets us moving, in a way that we continue to do it, is great. I like the complementary aspect of the weight training to the dancing I am still doing, now to start working on cardio a bit more – the bane of my existence… But last week I also started walking a bit more after work, rather than catching the bus right away, so I hope to do that when I can…

 
So, I’m looking forward to the many upcoming events with both Bollywood For Fun and Ottawa’s belly dance community! 2016 started out a bit tough, and I’m taking it one day at a time, but I’m so very blessed!

Well, that’s dramatic isn’t it.
February 16, 2016 gave Ottawa a record snowfall:
CBC
The Citizen
The Globe and Mail
And my window/ street:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Last night, when @wtl came home, I knew he would be grabbing the shovel and heading out to do some community shovelling #ottawashovel. So I grabbed the second shovel, and helped a bit too.
I had already called a ” Snow Day” for our dance practices, as I strongly believe that if you do not HAVE TO go out, STAY HOME. Let the city do it’s work and don’t be adding to the vehicles on the road.
Emergency service workers, people picking up children from school, people trying to get home from work, you all HAVE to be out, but are more likely to stay off the roads as soon as you can. Otherwise, why would you put yourself and others into a situation that merely contributes to potential accidents and delays for the people trying to clear the roads.
 

I a very grateful that my back has healed enough for me to be a functionally walking and shovelling person again, so that I could help out with some of the neighbours driveways, and on a completely selfish note, I knew I would want to walk this morning, so I made sure to shovel my own sidewalk along our block to King Edward. And I was very glad to have it this morning as Sprocket could walk easily along it, and not be buried with every 3rd step.
Having gone for my coffee walk this morning – it’s gorgeous out, and great for a workout, walking along through the pile of snow- I wanted to make some suggestions and things to consider, based on what I have already seen between 7 and 8 a.m. this morning.
1 – Do you really have to drive today? REALLY?
2 – If you do have to drive today SLOW DOWN PLEASE.
3 – Pedestrians are taken care of LAST, so they are walking ON THE ROAD, because there is NO SIDEWALK for them. SLOW DOWN.
4- Even if there is a side walk, Pedestrians will also likely have to MOUNTAIN CLIMB to cross intersections, OR WALK ON THE ROAD.
5- SIDE STREETS ARE NOT PLOWED – Why are you trying to drive onto one?
6- Consider paying FOR PARKING TODAY if you really have to drive instead of trying to park on side streets.
7 – If you see someone has cleared some snow already- a path, a space for their garbage cans, access for their stroller/car etc., DO NOT PILE SNOW THERE!
These are merely suggestions, and some folks will take offence, and that’s fine.   And many folks will be able to stay off the roads today as they planned in advance as we were provided with advance weather forecasting that told us there “might” be a storm coming through.
Maybe one piece of advice to cover it all:

Be kind today.

All the best to everyone in this whacky holiday season!  Find some peace, enjoy some quiet and hug folks as needed.

 

And if you are having a tough time of it theses days – please see my previous post – Sloth Hugs…

It has occurred to me that in 2015, SO MANY of the people I know have been inundated with “LIFE“.  2014 did that to us, as did 2015, but this year has been little bit less melodramatic for us personally – sort of…. well…
Ok, that’s it… Sloth Hugs to you all…Image linking back to http://iwastesomuchtime.com/on/?i=75908 ’cause they had it and it’s cool – go there – give them traffic.
Back to my post.
After a few times, “back in the day”, of getting WAY TOO INVOLVED in situations that were none of my business, I tend to now be a bit more reserved in my “reaching out” to people who are going through “life”.
I care about what you are going through, but I also care to give you the space and time you need to process whatever it is in your own way.  I figure, if you want to talk about it, you will, in your own way and in your own time.
But just in case folks find my reserved behaviour standoffish – have a virtual sloth hug again.
Note:I even have proxy sloth huggers in place for in-person hugging if you ever need that from me – but I’ll need notice to make sure they are available….  And cookies and chocolate will occasionally elicit surprise “actual hugs” from me too – just saying…
My Yule Toast for us all…

May the darkness of winter bring quiet reflection, peace and rejuvenation to us all. And may the light that returns bring joy, glittering moments of sparkly happiness, and gentle smiles to our days.

And… here’s a Sprocket MinPin Hug too…