How am I doing today?
Great question.
My Friday schedule has me driving well until after 11 am now. In the past, with Friday being the lightest day of the week, I was usually parking the bus by around 9:30 and was able to quickly do my shopping for Shabbat and still be back at my desk between 10:30 and 11 o'clock.
I realized today that with my schedule being so different, it may serve me well to change my approach to Friday.
More specifically, in the past, Fridays would be hectic. Get my shopping done as quickly as possible and then spend the rest of the day splitting my energies between work and preparing for Shabbat,
Often that would lead to pressure filled days and then even more pressure filled last minute preparations for dinner.
The change in my routine has given me the opportunity to make a significant adjustment. Instead of cramming as much in on Fridays and then scrambling to get ready for Shabbat, I have decided going forward that this will be different. Fridays are now to be spent in preparation for Shabbat.
That doesn't mean spending the entire day cooking.
It means being mindful that the mundane activities of the week are gradually shut down as I prepare not just my table but my head and spirit as well.
It certainly helped that I cut the grass yesterday and I have made a mental note to make sure that I plan that activity for any day but Friday.
I imagine there will still be the occasional exception to this plan.
Susan may need my help at the shop, although with Becca's new schedule I doubt that will be the case.
It seems that on Fridays, some one always seems to remember something important that they forgot all week long and it ends up in front of me.
On my old schedule, that would have meant one more thing packed into the pressure cooker.
The more I think about this, the more I am liking this new plan.
As I have said many times before, I don't always handle change smoothly.
This will be a major change for me.
I'll just have to give it a whirl and let you know how I am doing as we continue on this Journey!
Shabbat Shalom!
Friday, June 9, 2017
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Another gloriously spectacular day here in New Jersey.
So much so, that I took the opportunity to cut the grass immediately after my bus run this morning.
(One less item on the to do list!)
That to-do list is actually staring to look like a giant billboard that I stare at every where I go.
The Spring clean up around the yard has never quite materialized between the rain and my South jersey in-law visits which has me away from home just about every Sunday.
It is time for me to address this. Today was a good start. By getting the lawn cut this morning, I have cleared my Saturday too attend to some of the other chores that await me.
In my younger days,a 10 or 12 hour work day around the house or yard was not unthinkable.
I know that I no longer have it in me to put forth that kind of effort.
What is the adage"the mind is willing but the body is weak".
Sounds about right to me.
So instead of setting the bar so high as to defeat my efforts before I even begin, I will devise a better plan.
It will start with a list.
(I love lists!)
Then it's just a matter of prioritizing.
Allocating my resources.
How much energy do I have?
What is the best most effective course of action?
What can I accomplish on my own and what should I hold aside for the time when I might have some assistance?
Working smarter will be the difference maker.
And no matter what, completing whatever I set out to accomplish is a must. If it means removing some items from the list, so be it.
If however,it makes it's way onto the list, I must make sure that it gets done.
My mentor Darren Hardy hates to do lists.
It's a valuable lesson he has taught me. Forget the to-do list and make a calendar with a specific , time sensitive agenda.
Cut the grass from 8-10.
10-10:30 take a break.
10:30-1 open the pool.
1-2 lunch.
2-4 pick up debris.
You get the picture. Measurable discernible acts that I can hold myself accountable to.
So that's what is in store for my weekend.
Sounds like fun no?
I thought you would agree!
So much so, that I took the opportunity to cut the grass immediately after my bus run this morning.
(One less item on the to do list!)
That to-do list is actually staring to look like a giant billboard that I stare at every where I go.
The Spring clean up around the yard has never quite materialized between the rain and my South jersey in-law visits which has me away from home just about every Sunday.
It is time for me to address this. Today was a good start. By getting the lawn cut this morning, I have cleared my Saturday too attend to some of the other chores that await me.
In my younger days,a 10 or 12 hour work day around the house or yard was not unthinkable.
I know that I no longer have it in me to put forth that kind of effort.
What is the adage"the mind is willing but the body is weak".
Sounds about right to me.
So instead of setting the bar so high as to defeat my efforts before I even begin, I will devise a better plan.
It will start with a list.
(I love lists!)
Then it's just a matter of prioritizing.
Allocating my resources.
How much energy do I have?
What is the best most effective course of action?
What can I accomplish on my own and what should I hold aside for the time when I might have some assistance?
Working smarter will be the difference maker.
And no matter what, completing whatever I set out to accomplish is a must. If it means removing some items from the list, so be it.
If however,it makes it's way onto the list, I must make sure that it gets done.
My mentor Darren Hardy hates to do lists.
It's a valuable lesson he has taught me. Forget the to-do list and make a calendar with a specific , time sensitive agenda.
Cut the grass from 8-10.
10-10:30 take a break.
10:30-1 open the pool.
1-2 lunch.
2-4 pick up debris.
You get the picture. Measurable discernible acts that I can hold myself accountable to.
So that's what is in store for my weekend.
Sounds like fun no?
I thought you would agree!
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
The rain has stopped. The skies are blue and the temperature is beginning to rise.
It is a glorious Spring day here in Northern New Jersey.
Adding to the splendor of the day, I am feeling significantly better. The cold which has plagued me for the last 3 days is well on its way to becoming a memory.
So here I am,sitting at my desk with a renewed sense of purpose.
Becca is back from her mini-vacation so the shop is back up to full staff and does not need my assistance,at least for the immediate future.
I have followed up on the challenges that popped up yesterday and I can only assume that the wheels of progress are still turning and churning.
Max is now back home from house and dog sitting for his sister, which has returned some of the routine to my daily experience.
These are all good things.
Routine makes me comfortable.
When I am comfortable, I am infinitely more productive and creative.
I know that many of the personal growth gurus I listen to will extol the virtues of being uncomfortable.
Complacency is the breeding ground for failure.
Note that I said I was comfortable once again, not complacent.
There is a huge difference.
It is when I am in a comfortable,stable place that I find the strength, courage and stamina to push myself towards that next uncomfortable place.
When I add uncomfortable on top of discomfort, things feel as if they are falling apart.
I feel lost.
I feel inept.
I feel confused.
And often I feel inadequate.
Today, on this beautiful gift of a day, well on the road to recovery, I know I am nearing my next great adventure.
As one of my passengers on my bus route said this morning...
"What a difference a day makes!"
It is a glorious Spring day here in Northern New Jersey.
Adding to the splendor of the day, I am feeling significantly better. The cold which has plagued me for the last 3 days is well on its way to becoming a memory.
So here I am,sitting at my desk with a renewed sense of purpose.
Becca is back from her mini-vacation so the shop is back up to full staff and does not need my assistance,at least for the immediate future.
I have followed up on the challenges that popped up yesterday and I can only assume that the wheels of progress are still turning and churning.
Max is now back home from house and dog sitting for his sister, which has returned some of the routine to my daily experience.
These are all good things.
Routine makes me comfortable.
When I am comfortable, I am infinitely more productive and creative.
I know that many of the personal growth gurus I listen to will extol the virtues of being uncomfortable.
Complacency is the breeding ground for failure.
Note that I said I was comfortable once again, not complacent.
There is a huge difference.
It is when I am in a comfortable,stable place that I find the strength, courage and stamina to push myself towards that next uncomfortable place.
When I add uncomfortable on top of discomfort, things feel as if they are falling apart.
I feel lost.
I feel inept.
I feel confused.
And often I feel inadequate.
Today, on this beautiful gift of a day, well on the road to recovery, I know I am nearing my next great adventure.
As one of my passengers on my bus route said this morning...
"What a difference a day makes!"
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
This cold is kicking my butt!
Were it not for the commitments I had already made ,I probably would have come home from my bus run and gone to bed. hat probably would have been the prudent thing to do .
However, life had other plans for me, which at the end of the day was probably a good thing.
In addition to being the substitute bather in the shop today, a number of challenges arouse that needed my immediate attention. While most of these are still being worked out, had I succumbed and retreated to my bed, critical days would have been lost, which of course could have had some very costly consequences.
Everyone gets sick. It happens. And the world does not come to an end when that happens.
Life does go on.
Still, it's now going on 6 pm.
Dinner is almost completely ready.
As soon as Susan and Max get home, I need only turn the burner on under the pot on the stove, and light the oven. 30 minutes later they will be eating a delicious dinner and I can be nuzzling my pillow in hopes of waking refreshed and well on my way to mending.
Hopefully by morning, the other challenges that arose today will have been resolved as well.
All's well that ends well.
And I am none the worse for wear.
Were it not for the commitments I had already made ,I probably would have come home from my bus run and gone to bed. hat probably would have been the prudent thing to do .
However, life had other plans for me, which at the end of the day was probably a good thing.
In addition to being the substitute bather in the shop today, a number of challenges arouse that needed my immediate attention. While most of these are still being worked out, had I succumbed and retreated to my bed, critical days would have been lost, which of course could have had some very costly consequences.
Everyone gets sick. It happens. And the world does not come to an end when that happens.
Life does go on.
Still, it's now going on 6 pm.
Dinner is almost completely ready.
As soon as Susan and Max get home, I need only turn the burner on under the pot on the stove, and light the oven. 30 minutes later they will be eating a delicious dinner and I can be nuzzling my pillow in hopes of waking refreshed and well on my way to mending.
Hopefully by morning, the other challenges that arose today will have been resolved as well.
All's well that ends well.
And I am none the worse for wear.
Monday, June 5, 2017
The dreaded Summer cold has set in!
It started yesterday with a sore throat and has now made it into my head and nose.
In general, I am feeling pretty lousy.
It's how I am feeling, not how I am.
I am in a really good place, going about my work, handling what needs to be handled and taking care of myself in an effort to minimize the length and severity of my symptoms.
One great by product of this is that I decided to have a cup of tea last night to sooth my throat.It worked for a while. So just before bed I had another. This morning I opted to fill my travel mug with tea again, forgoing my normal morning coffee on my drive to into work.
It was then that I decided to use this 21 day reset period as an opportunity to detox from my 5-6 cups of Joe a day.
21 days..tea....no coffee.
My mentor Darren Hardy has challenged me in the past to give up something for 21 days . He uses this exercise to make sure that these "habits" are not dependencies.
In the past I have done a number of 21 day challenges with myself.
21 days of not eating after 8 pm.
21 days of reading every night before going to bed.
21 days of absolutely no television.
21 days of no meat.
I have tried the no coffee thing once before.
I think it lasted about 3 days!
Having it coincide with my reset period sounds like a good as well as a novel idea.
It will actually allow me to add coffee back when I start my next cycle.
A gain while I lose!
I am pretty excited about this challenge I have presented to myself.
Now if I can just shake this dang head cold!
It started yesterday with a sore throat and has now made it into my head and nose.
In general, I am feeling pretty lousy.
It's how I am feeling, not how I am.
I am in a really good place, going about my work, handling what needs to be handled and taking care of myself in an effort to minimize the length and severity of my symptoms.
One great by product of this is that I decided to have a cup of tea last night to sooth my throat.It worked for a while. So just before bed I had another. This morning I opted to fill my travel mug with tea again, forgoing my normal morning coffee on my drive to into work.
It was then that I decided to use this 21 day reset period as an opportunity to detox from my 5-6 cups of Joe a day.
21 days..tea....no coffee.
My mentor Darren Hardy has challenged me in the past to give up something for 21 days . He uses this exercise to make sure that these "habits" are not dependencies.
In the past I have done a number of 21 day challenges with myself.
21 days of not eating after 8 pm.
21 days of reading every night before going to bed.
21 days of absolutely no television.
21 days of no meat.
I have tried the no coffee thing once before.
I think it lasted about 3 days!
Having it coincide with my reset period sounds like a good as well as a novel idea.
It will actually allow me to add coffee back when I start my next cycle.
A gain while I lose!
I am pretty excited about this challenge I have presented to myself.
Now if I can just shake this dang head cold!
Sunday, June 4, 2017
So I am finished with my latest 40 day cycle. Now it's 2 days of what we call transition and then 3 weeks of reset.A simple explanation of reset is a specific period of time when your body adjusts to your new metabolism.
During these 3 weeks the goal is to maintain your set weight, with no more than a 2 pound variable.
Sounds easy right?
Trust me, I find this to be the hardest part of the program.
I can gain 2 pounds by breathing!
Food choices are significantly increased during these 3 weeks.
So is my caloric intake.
As I tell my clients, this is more critical than the 40 day cycle.
2 or 3 wayward days in a row can upset the proverbial apple cart and before you know it, you are spinning out of control heading back to where you just came from.
I am actually looking forward to June 26th when I can jump back in to weight loss.
I liken the entire process to riding a bicycle.
The 40 days cycle is like being on a tricycle.
The wheels are fixed and stable and you have to be completely out of control to fall off.
These next 3 weeks, the reset phase is like getting your bicycle with its training wheels on. They don't quite touch the ground and things are a lot less secure.
You can't do what the big kids who are riding real bikes without those training wheels do, however you can kind of blend in and keep up.
If you get too reckless, you will fall.
And falling does have its consequences, mainly bumps and bruises, rarely catastrophes.
Unless of course you put yourself in harms way.
Training wheels are there for a reason. They serve a purpose. They allow you to experience the freedoms that come with riding a bicycle, while learning the rules of the road and how to handle this new vehicle.
There's a lot to learn before shedding those extra wheels and attempting to riding completely solo.
The Journey continues.
Shavua Tov!
During these 3 weeks the goal is to maintain your set weight, with no more than a 2 pound variable.
Sounds easy right?
Trust me, I find this to be the hardest part of the program.
I can gain 2 pounds by breathing!
Food choices are significantly increased during these 3 weeks.
So is my caloric intake.
As I tell my clients, this is more critical than the 40 day cycle.
2 or 3 wayward days in a row can upset the proverbial apple cart and before you know it, you are spinning out of control heading back to where you just came from.
I am actually looking forward to June 26th when I can jump back in to weight loss.
I liken the entire process to riding a bicycle.
The 40 days cycle is like being on a tricycle.
The wheels are fixed and stable and you have to be completely out of control to fall off.
These next 3 weeks, the reset phase is like getting your bicycle with its training wheels on. They don't quite touch the ground and things are a lot less secure.
You can't do what the big kids who are riding real bikes without those training wheels do, however you can kind of blend in and keep up.
If you get too reckless, you will fall.
And falling does have its consequences, mainly bumps and bruises, rarely catastrophes.
Unless of course you put yourself in harms way.
Training wheels are there for a reason. They serve a purpose. They allow you to experience the freedoms that come with riding a bicycle, while learning the rules of the road and how to handle this new vehicle.
There's a lot to learn before shedding those extra wheels and attempting to riding completely solo.
The Journey continues.
Shavua Tov!
Friday, June 2, 2017
Day 39
It's going on 9 pm and I am sitting at my desk for the first time today.
It has been just one of those days.
I was about to retire to my bedroom with a book and a crossword puzzle when I realized that I had not written yet today.
When I started this 40 day cycle, I also made the commitment to myself to write each and every day.
While I definitely had some thoughts to share earlier in the day, at this late hour they have either completely escaped me or are buried beneath the weight of all that I encountered along the way.
Suffice it to say, I am having the dickens of a time mustering the focus needed to recollect myself and my thoughts.
So honoring both the commitment I made to write and my commitment to take care of myself, I am going to end this here and reach out to you again tomorrow when I have had the chance to regroup.
Shabbat Shalom!
It's going on 9 pm and I am sitting at my desk for the first time today.
It has been just one of those days.
I was about to retire to my bedroom with a book and a crossword puzzle when I realized that I had not written yet today.
When I started this 40 day cycle, I also made the commitment to myself to write each and every day.
While I definitely had some thoughts to share earlier in the day, at this late hour they have either completely escaped me or are buried beneath the weight of all that I encountered along the way.
Suffice it to say, I am having the dickens of a time mustering the focus needed to recollect myself and my thoughts.
So honoring both the commitment I made to write and my commitment to take care of myself, I am going to end this here and reach out to you again tomorrow when I have had the chance to regroup.
Shabbat Shalom!
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