Silverwitch

Finally, I read thoroughly through all the new posts … and yes, I believe too that the loss of momentum comes with the change of seasons. After my cold, I need to also start again checking up on people.

You seem to have managed a lot while your mom was with you! How do you feel about the time with your mother?

I like how you write down here what you want to do during the day. It is good for accountability, and I believe that it helps doing stuff if one sees the tasks written out. Maybe it's just because I love lists.

In general, I think you have somehow accomplished quite a lot! 

Last week of the challenge, and as usual I don't even know where time went. It goes by so fast. 

But: Yoga and Pilates did happen, i upped my water intake, decluttering ist awesome and has turned into a steady habit, I keep taking my St. John's Wort and I have written down already six (yes, SIX) of my stories for the kids. The last point makes me proud. 

I will continue the challenge for myself until the end of the year, and maybe even beyond, but then with modifications. There still other areas of life that need to be tackled.

And I did get the crochet book!   So awesome, can't wait to try some of the patterns!

I don't know yet whether I will go for the surgery, I am reluctant. But if it has to be then I better get it done. Maybe I go for a second opinion. Can't harm.

Work is crazy, we're very close to Christmas, and there is a lot to do. But I am taking breaks, and drining there later, which both has considerably changed my stress levels. Stress is still a huge factor, but changing just a few little things really took the bite out. 

Next year, I will be turning 50.

By the age of 50, I want my life sorted, decluttered and in many other ways on track.

We will see.

and this weeks session number 2

front squat

10x50kg

10x60kg

back squat

10x110kg

6x120kg (doing this i felt some pain in my lower back. don't know why)

lunges

2 sets of ten per leg with 40 kg

bench press.

8x80kg

6x80kg

dips

12x15kg

10x17.5kg

two sets of hammer curls and straight bar curls. weights didn't go up.

rests were kept under a minute and i feel like the tempo is bit too hard.

Awesome! I'd probably collapse…

Btw, nice new pic!!

Just read through your whole thread.

Don't give up!

You're not coming across as someone with a bad attitude. 

Our life has all kinds of colours, and black is one of them. But remind you: it is NOT the only one!

I hope you will feel much better soon! 

How did the gig turn out? Were you fit enough to enjoy it?

I hear you on the self employed part. 

I am slowly crawling out of the pits myself, and daresay that I will soon rejoin the living. Not the living dead, I've been with them far too long. I hate colds.

Alcohol didn't have any temptation for me wither. But totally "un-paleo" I craved very dark and bitter chocolate. Flushed down with gallons of water or tea. Who knows, maybe it did help me to recover.

Since this is the last challenge of the year, I am going to extend it too, but with giving myself a wee bit of leeway during the holidays. I repeat after you: icecream helps sore throat...

*sharing.some.energy*

Falling in love…? There are worse things that could happen! Enjoy the feeling! 

Wie geht es mit Deutsch?

I have a lot going on right now. Knowing that I'm not keeping up with this challenge is just weighing so heavily on me right now with everything else.

 

I am here cheering everyone on though!

Sometimes we get eaten up by stuff we cannot necessarily influence the way we like. But since this is the last challenge of the year, we cann simply add on what we couldn't do during this challenge. I will do that, and I am convinced we won't be the only two doing so.

I hope everything is going well for you, and that it is GOOD stuff you've going on.

Hey, are you still celebrating the successful presentation of thesis?

It would be totally forgiveable, because this is a great success!

I hope you enjoy the meditation seminar this weekend. Wishing you a lot of wonderful experiences!

So where are you flapping about, fffffinn? Missing you and your magic!

Sounds though as if a lot of positive things happened! 

I keep my fingers crossed that coming from this will be a lot of positive momentum to carry you through all the tasks you still want to get done!

Yes, but I find that when I'm in a down phase it becomes extraordinarily hard to do a simple thing like chuck some biros that don't work. Weird.

Very interesting observation! In depressed state of mind I am totally unable to get rid of stuff I otherwise chuck out without even thinking. As if one clings to matter in order to have stability or something. And yes, weird. But obviously not an uncommon reaction.

Gratitude: 

I am grateful for the awesome support I get here

I am grateful for ending the day in a better state of mind than I started

I am grateful for weekly therapy

I am grateful for a chance to relax

I am grateful for respawn parties

For most of the things on your list I am very very grateful, too! 

You are doing great!

Oh man… slowly I keep crawling back to life from under the rock where I've hidden the last few days!

A common cold is considered a "harmless" type of disease, but hell can this oh so harmless thing impair you!

Urgh.

But I see the silver lining, and even though I have an incredible urge to sleep, sleep, sleep, I feel that I am on the way towards health again.

Maybe there will be a Pilates session tonight, we'll see.

Good times for self care, and so I did have nice hot baths with friendly aetheric oils, went to bed early (sometimes with book) and basically worked in slow motion, because - as hard as it might be to believe - I still went to work. Popped a pill, cut the fever and off I was. So … not exactly along the true self care lines. But more breaks, and mainly administrative stuff, so I don't feel too bad about this. Self employed means one can be overtaken pretty fast by competition that has had the stupid flu vaccine, and keeps their business running. :-/

Couldn't have that, so I went in. 

Today, I got home early, because of appointment with gyn. Had a lot of bloodwork done, results will be in next week Friday, at least that's when I'm supposed to call for the results. Besides that I will probably have to donate my uterus to the gods. Too much going on in that thing (especially for not having youknowwhat every month), and even after super high resolution ultrasound my gyn recommended "when in doubt, cut it out." Meh.

In general, and besides the cold, I do not feel so bad. Probably owed to the St.John's Wort which I still keep taking every day religiously, plus my increased water intake. The cold made me thirsty, I noticed.

Monday, I will have to make a few phone calls, and get an appointment for the procedure the gyn recommended. Probably, I will start out the New Year with this. No way I'm getting it done before Christmas!

A good friend of mine sent me a "care package", full with wonderful organic cosmetic products which I will certainly put to good use. See, I keep decluttering (bathroom and bedroom cabinets), and stuff finds me without my own doing!

If I feel strong enough, I will declutter the kid's closets. The basement has to remain a realm of residual mess for now. 

Oh, and I did have the conversation with the teacher of my oldest. It was what I thought it would be: an … interesting … conversation. Obviously, we disagree what is best for my child. Next appointment will be in mid January (if I am not in the hospital by then because of my uterus).

No matter what, it is time to slowly take the reigns of life back and join the living.

I've lost my voice, my eyes and nose are streaming and my head hurts. I'm signing off until I feel better. Sorry folks and thanks for the support. I will mostly be in bed as much as possible.

Welcome to the club. I know, that does not help… sigh.

I'm in for this as well. 

Wishing you all the best! Get weel soon! 

It's at least a great time for self care… because only with proper self care we will get back up on the horse.

Thanks Silverwitch. The husband has cheered up so I feel much better. I do find running in the fresh air helps ward off cold bugs. Mind you, running in Central London with our terrible air quality can hardly be described as running in fresh air! But ykwim.

I've just decluttered lots of old pens from my work desk and rehomed those which still worked and chucked those which didn't. Feel virtuous!

Oh, it sounds like we share a similar problem … when my husband gets what I call his " moody phases" it drags me down so much! I try not to get influenced, or simply to ignore it, but it never works, and one ends up being pulled into to whole scheme. Urgh. Takes energy, and messes with just about everything. 

Maybe I should try running again, too. It is not the weather for my favoured barefoot runs, but the main thing is oxygene in the system, right?

I'll try, but first I need to come to a stage where my lungs don't feel like flat tires anymore. Damn cold!

Seems that even the cold bugs have a hard time catching you with all the running!

I'm jealous, I'm still crawling on all four because of that stupid cold. No fun to work with a brain that feels chloroformed. 

But you are doing great, sailing smoothly through this challenge, acing it in more than one way! Awesome!

ice cream helps, gargling with salt water helps too but it's vile, nose running, head aches, hurts to swallow, can't talk without it hurting, I have man flu.

too ill to go shopping so this weeks eating plan might go wrong - I have loads of food in the house that it would be good to eat anyway.

I think I'll count the ice cream as medicinal and give myself the food points for this week, I've been ace otherwise. I haven't done 2 decent sessions of exercise though, fail.

Chicken soup helps, too, especially when made with chili. Gargling with very warm salt water helps temporarily, I agree. 

And since I just came out of a hot bath with aetheric oils of thyme, sage, and eucalyptus, I can say that one does feel a bit less beat up afterwards.

Besides this, a generous swig of brown rum in tea is a powerful sleep inducer.

I hope the effect kicks in soon.

Yes, count the icecream as medicinal (I do the same with the rum). *nods in agreement* 

Sending powerful "get well" vibes across the ether to both of you, Scumspawn and Silverwitch!

Thank you! 

First of four advent sundays. We just lit our first candle on our advent wreath, yesterday I finally managed decorating it, and we have a door wreath now too.

The kids did Christmas pictures and cut up a bunch of potatoes to make stamps, printing pretty pictures with water colors. Now I have funny looking potato halves laying around, all colorful.

Husband put the firewood in the garage, I am grateful. Maybe I'll get enough energy together to declutter the kids' closets. 

Seems I will have to carry on the basement declutter plan to next week. Oh well.

But I think I should reward myself, and so I did order the crochet book! Maybe a wise decision, because yesterday I found out that my youngest took my six already finished granny squares to school to include them into one of their crafts project -- without asking me. Back on square one… now I have to start from the beginning. Sigh.

Next week starts Monday with work, and inthe evening with an appointment with the main teacher of my oldest, talking about what comes after elementary school. Let's see whether teacher and I share the same impressions, or whether we will have an … interesting … conversation about whta either of us thinks is best for my child.

Tuesday is plastered with appointments at work, I won't be home before 9pm. After that, the crazy race towards Christmas reaches its peak with constantly someone having off and the others having to compensate. Urgh, I feel weak just thinking about this.

My nose is clogged, I keep sneezing, coughing and feel as if someone beat me up. Stupid cold.

Sometimes, self discipline is the only thing that keeps us running. One just has to be careful that this does not become a habit, because then it easily leads to self neglect and "just functioning" - I know it, I've been there myself.

I keep my fingers crossed for fair conversations without accusations, and mindful consideration of impact before speaking.

Have a peaceful 1st of advent. We just lit the first candle on our advent wreath, and we are all determined to enjoy this time with all our senses. 

May some of the peace of this season take the "riot" out of your mind! *hugs*

I feel horrible, really nasty tickly cough. I blame Silverwitch, I've caught it off her! :-)

Been at a nerdfest all day with my son which was fun but hard work when I feel this rough. Could not wait to get home.

Decided to not have my sugar day this week so I can have 2 days next week at the cake fest.

Self care today was sitting down and doing nothing for a WHOLE HOUR! I read the paper! On my own! Exercise was walking, sort of rucking (I thought of you Tanktimus) because I had to take a laptop to the nerd thing and mine is quite heavy. Portion control ok, I can't taste anything anyway.

The place I normally have breakfast usually are ok to swap bread and hash browns for salad but today they wouldn't. So I gave my son the hash browns and had the bread. It wasn't very nice, I won't do that again.

*with guilty expression on my face*

Seems like I really passed it on … your description fits precisely. I am sooorrry!

Good time for self care, though. Since I cannot do much physically, I tend to just sit there, the contents one one drawer in front of me, slowly decluttering and going through stuff. I feel so beaten up, just terrible. 

I hope you can still enjoy this first advent sunday. Get well and be nice to yourself!

Thank you. We have known each other for thirty years. It would be a bit of a shame to let everything go belly up now.

That's what I think so many times… sailing rough waters is part of it. Giving up is not. 

I admire the generation of our grandparents. Difficulties were something one had to face, and if possible work on solutions together. Nowadays I get more and more the impression that people just run apart at the smallest sign of disagreement.

My grandmother (mother's side) used to say that the spouse is not responsible for making you happy. He should not make you unhappy either, but anything concerned with feelings in a relationship is never ever a oneway street. I know, easier said than lived.

I guess I have not much comfort to offer...

It's been a really tough week here, with lots more relationship issues (it feels a bit unfair to post much detail though) and one poorly child, and several other commitments.  I feel as if I am being pulled in many directions at once.  As a result, self-care has gone out of the window a bit (forgetting to take vitamins, not sleeping enough, that sort of thing).  I'm also feeling really tempted to spend money on stuff that I really don't need, which would be so stupid as this is a habit I managed to break in the last challenge and I don't want to revert to it.

 

However, provided I manage to get out for a run on Sunday, I haven't missed any workouts.  And I've been pretty good on food and tracking. 

 

I need to stay positive.  

Good job on food and exercise!

Both might help you to stay grounded when the going gets tough. Running can really clear your head!

I can relate to this feeling of being pulled in different directions, it is unnerving and takes a lot of energy. I'm feeling for you. 

So, list for this week:

 

Two tasks transferred from last week: cancel cellphone provider (has to happen now, they require a three months notice) and chase last piece of bank paper.

 

New tasks:

#1: organize and declutter kid's room and especially sift through closet, 50% of their clothes in there are too small (tough one, best done with them not around…)

#2: Wednesday get rid of rental car, I have Thursday and Friday off

#3: Thursday => hopefully nice Thanksgiving Day

#4: Friday: meet carpenter with plans for livingroom 

#5: get remaining firewood in garage, wet firewood is no good and in the garage it is kept nicely stacked up and remains dry

#6: start on decluttering pantry room in basement; the room is nice and big and I want to make it more than just a pantry.

#7: get door wreath ready, and buy and decorate advent wreath => Sunday is first of Advent!

 

This was the plan for this week. I got a bit sidetracked by a nasty cold that leaves me coughing, headach-y and with a clooged nose, so my energy is very reduced right now. 

What I managed to do: 

Found bank paper (why did I put it with my car insurance? It does not even remotely belong there!).

Cancelled cellphone provider, and I do hope they'll send a confirmation as I requested.

Got rid of rental car. Good. 

Had a very nice Thanksgining, apart from that stupid cold.

Carpenter was here, now we just have to set appointments for getting the plans done.

Door wreath and wreath for Advent are ready. 

Extras: made a nice chicken soup to pick us up - because husband, kids and I all have that stupid bug and feel accordingly.

Leaves to do:

#1 declutter kids room

#2 put firewood in garage

#3 declutter basement room

Well, this  week is not over yet!

Hubby is cooking a goose.  I spent an hour chopping vegetables to roast, made some bread dough, and then got tired after cleaning up my mess.  I did sweet potato, rutabaga, carrots, onion, mashed potato, and I stuffed a squash full of onions to make into soup later.  He made a stuffing out of apples, raisins, pecans, and bread.  Goose was a little frozen, should have checked it when we got home and maybe kept it in the cooler for a while instead of the fridge right away.  No desserts, but I want to mess with pie dough next week and we can make cookies after that.

Sounds like a great feast! 

Happy Thanksgiving!