Starpuck: Learning the Art of Embrace ...

[starpuck]

EMBRACE!

verb (used with object), em·braced, em·brac·ing.

2.  to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly:

             to embrace an idea.

3.  to avail oneself of:

            to embrace an opportunity.

 

I have survived, I have persisted, but now it is time to start learning how to embrace.    I've done well with really sticking to things through the first half of this year and had a lot of success through various goals.   I'm the trimmest I've been in years, I'm strong, I'm healthy, I'm doing things that keep my mind sharp, and I'm practicing skills and hobbies.    Initially, a lot of this was motivated by the idea of me controlling the parts of my life that I could during the Chaos™ and that's fine!   But, as the weeks turn to months, and as someone who fully understands the idea of 'new normal' [from having three foot surgeries that have forever changed the mechanics of my foot] - I know there must come a time when I do more than endure, I have to embrace what is, and then eventually, I can learn to thrive.  This challenge is about learning how to embrace the now.    And there is much for me to learn how to embrace.

 

THE BODY -  Learn to embrace my body for what it is now, and what it can do.

Continue moving it for functional strength and flexibility, and for cardiovascular health.

Body acceptance as the appearance changes due to above, good habits.

Fuel it with healthy options.

• Strength Days: 2-3 / week
• Move Days: Fill in 3 / week
• Stretch Days: On workout days always, +2 days foam rolling/stretching without it being after a workout.
• Find a good calorie range for maintenance, utilize the zig zag method.
• More veggies, watch the pm sweet treats.
• Unfiltered selfie; with body compliment: 1x/week
• Work on a PM wind down routine.  Get off of video games with time to spare for other stuff!

 

THE SOUL - Learn to embrace practices that benefit the heart and mind.

Continue to do art; drawing, lessons, painting all count.

Continue reading daily bible verses, work in a once a week study or plan to delve deeper.

• Art: 3-4 / week
• Daily Bible Verse
• Study point: 1 / week
• Reach out to friends, new and old, connect and serve: 1 / week
• Random act of Kindness: When given the opportunity
• Read: 2-3 / week

 

Seems like a lot, and it is plenty.  But several of those things are already habit and are just on here to maintain.    I need to find good ways to track the sort of odd goals.  And also decide if I am feeling like a BuJo, or online tracking thingus.    Less theme-y for now too.  That might change.   Right now I feel like just getting some focus is more important than making it fun and pretty.    There will always be gifs though.  Because ... Gifs?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along, and looking for the part about rest like:

[Elastigirl]

Another great challenge

[WhiteGhost]

Here to embrace this challenge

[starpuck]

16 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along, and looking for the part about rest like:

Hahaha that is such a perfect gif for your comment!   Thank you!

 

 

16 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Another great challenge

Thanks thanks!  Hoping to make it a win!

 

13 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

Here to embrace this challenge

I see what you did there.   And I like it!

 

Zero Week ~ Stuff to Get Done

Spoiler

☐ ☑ {for copying}

 

Get Challenge Posted ☑

Create Tracker Sheet ☑

Finish Warhammer NPC Sheet ☐

 

Vacuum Room ☐

Build New Desk ☐

Organize Books / Desk ☐

Wash Sheets  ☐

 

Yesterday went pretty well as far as giving the new mindset a go.      I had a lower calorie day, even including a Dairy Queen Mini Blizzard (Snickers).   I wasn't hungry at all, so I don't feel like I skimped myself.    Getting the challenge up and ready felt food, so I jumped over and decided I'd track via my Google Spreadsheet again.   The only hassle with it is posting requires me to flip from my normal Firefox over to Chrome for the copy/paste to work.  As a once a week summary, no big deal.     Got my strength work out in, and some stretching following it.   My sister wanted to catch up on our guilty pleasure binge show, so after gaming I watched that with her.  It didn't leave enough time for art, and while I could have still read, I opted to do my daily verse, plus the one week study plan I picked up on the app I downloaded.   Reminds me I want to use my context bible to read the same verse and see what *IT* says.     Tank - what was the bible app you had recommended again?   Had the PC turned off by 10:45pm and lights out by 11:10.    Good wind down routine was had.

 

Today I have a routine dentist appointment at noon that should be interesting.   Part of me gives pause like; "Are we sure we should be doing mouth things at this point?"   The other part of me is like; "Yes, because dentists have had their faces covered, masked and shielded since before these times, aaaaand, if we revert to a stricter phase in the coming months, you'll want to have at least gotten those chompers checked out!"

 

 

[GoodDoug]

In Stoicism there is a concept generally called "Amor Fati" or love your fate. The idea is that everything that happens to you, including suffering and loss is good, or at least necessary. And that the ability to look at all the things that happen to you, including the bad things and find a way to appreciate those things will make your life better. It sounds a lot like your embrace concept.

 

I love your challenge and how straightforward it is. The theme of embracing is powerful. To Tank's point, maybe find a way to embrace the chaos that will inevitably throw you off and accept the things that you have no control over...

[Wild Wolf]

14 minutes ago, GoodDoug said:

maybe find a way to embrace the chaos that will inevitably throw you off and accept the things that you have no control over...

 

A dangerous game, but a solid and necessary game at that. I second this!

 

21 minutes ago, Starpuck said:

what was the bible app you had recommended again?

 

YouVersion? You might already have this one, but this is my "go-to" Bible app  

 

18 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Work on a PM wind down routine.  Get off of video games with time to spare for other stuff!

 

I feel this point so hard lol! A solid PM wind down routine is hard to maintain for me so I'll be looking to you for inspiration  

 

18 hours ago, Starpuck said:

There will always be gifs though.  Because ... Gifs?

 

 

 

 

 

I love speaking in gif. It's something that NF has taught me how to do and I will forever be grateful for that "skill" 😂

 

'tis gonna be a good challenge, Puck!

 

 

Wolf

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Wolfie is right, it's youversion 

[starpuck]

Day Two of Week Zero

 

All in all a good day.   Food was fine and no stress.   I went to the dentist on my lunch break and- guys, it felt so good to just go to the darn dentist.   It felt so normal since they have always been in protective gear, and it was just a cleaning and exam and then out.  They were in good spirits and loved my toothy mask I wore in and it was just nice.   Who'dathunk?  Right?   I got an hour of Beat Saber in and also fixed all my mods and got things working really sharply for that.   Played a new song that was super catchy and I also owned it.  NG night was bad- we lost 3 games and it was mostly my fault.  I hate that so much.   My friend is super cool about it though so yay.   Did a bit of inking on the next chibi.  Read the daily verse, plus did the 7 day plan on YouVersion for Wisdom.  (Which coincides with the exact series my church is doing, so this is kind of neat.)   Now, going to shut this down and maybe get a few pages read before bed.

 

 

[starpuck]

Zero Week - Day : Wednesday

 

Pretty good day!  Food was had and tracked.    For my workout, I really wasn't in the mood, but still got dressed, took the Gorilla Bow and a dumbbell outside and did my strength session outdoors.  It was great, except for the dozen or so cicadas that flew near me and caused me to hop around like an idiot.  Yay for lateral movements?  Got stretching in after.    My new desk was in but work was too busy to build it between work things.    I did cheat and play some more Beat Saber just before the clock let out, so I got extra movement in.   Then it was dinner, ESO night and bed.   Only read the daily verses today since I was doing some crafting requests and got off the game late.   11:05 PC off time.     Took a video that I will be using for my weekly selfie this week, and will post on today's recap later.

 

Wrist is still being stupid.  Sigh.   Might go see my chiropractor for an adjustment and some wrist advice.

[Mr_Willes]

I was very impressed by your office workout routine and the display of your guns! So I want to follow around here a little of you don't mind.

 

Also frequently you name gets mentioned D&D related, so hoping to catch some whiffs of that here too.

[starpuck]

On 6/16/2020 at 10:26 AM, GoodDoug said:

In Stoicism there is a concept generally called "Amor Fati" or love your fate. The idea is that everything that happens to you, including suffering and loss is good, or at least necessary. And that the ability to look at all the things that happen to you, including the bad things and find a way to appreciate those things will make your life better. It sounds a lot like your embrace concept.

 

I love your challenge and how straightforward it is. The theme of embracing is powerful. To Tank's point, maybe find a way to embrace the chaos that will inevitably throw you off and accept the things that you have no control over...

Yeah, you can't stop life and all the normal things associated with it.   I can sometimes be a control freak?   Just in the sense that I like to plan ahead, keep organized and have things figured out before jumping in.   I think this is teaching me how to find a better middle ground.    It's sure not easy, but I feel good about wanting to try and delve into this!    Thanks for being here as always GoodDoug! 

 

On 6/16/2020 at 10:53 AM, Wild Wolf said:

 

A dangerous game, but a solid and necessary game at that. I second this!

YouVersion? You might already have this one, but this is my "go-to" Bible app

I feel this point so hard lol! A solid PM wind down routine is hard to maintain for me so I'll be looking to you for inspiration  

 

I love speaking in gif. It's something that NF has taught me how to do and I will forever be grateful for that "skill" 😂

 

'tis gonna be a good challenge, Puck!

 

 

Wolf

Hah, your gif game is strong.   Honed, in no small part by @Mr_Willes I am sure.     And yup that's the app I ended up with.  So far so good on that front!   Wind downs are soooo hard Wolf.    I feel like we should be up howling or something... instead of getting ready for sleep.

 

 

On 6/16/2020 at 11:06 AM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Wolfie is right, it's youversion 

Ayup!  Woot!  Thanks - did it used to be called something else??

 

3 hours ago, Mr_Willes said:

I was very impressed by your office workout routine and the display of your guns! So I want to follow around here a little of you don't mind.

 

Also frequently you name gets mentioned D&D related, so hoping to catch some whiffs of that here too.

Oh ... oh snap.  I feel like I just got a new NF achievement with this guest showing up!  Um hi!!  Hello!  Yes of course, I don't mind!  Ahem.    Plenty of D&D - though lately its been a lot of groaning with how bad Roll20 rolls for me!     Glad to have you though!

 

Thursday of Week Zero - A bit early, but should be fine.

 

Was a frustrating day, with hectic work, dropped internet, problems, and concerns about the days ahead because my coworker is off for 3 days and so I'll be juggling 2 jobs fully, plus the running around part of 2 other jobs, and half my bosses job because he ended up in the ER with some weird skin infection!!!     A good time to practice embracing!!    Since I almost had to run in to work, I missed my lunch break and didn't get to exercise.   So it was after work Beat Saber.   Tonight is Warhammer Fantasy RP night so not much time for drawing, reading or otherwise unless it wraps up early.   But, I will post the weekly 'selfie' with a compliment.    But it's in the form of a short video... a totally embarrassing, bashful-causing video.

 

Video:  Starpucks first day mucking with handstands.   I realize that jumping straight into walk-kick up stands is not ideal, but honest to god... this is less terrifying for me than trying to prop up on a wall!    On a wall, I feel so trapped into one bail out ... the bail out of straight onto my head.  Out in the open I feel like I can roll, shift and tumble better.   Anyway.  The selfie is supposed to come with a compliment.   

 

Compliment:  This is a strong, capable body for a woman in her mid-years.   For someone in any years really!   Also, it's pretty proportioned ... I think?

 

[chickie.monkey]

Heeeeyyyy!

 

 

Good challenge! I embrace you embracing the things.

 

Is that your first time messing about with handstands? You'll have it in no time.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

2 hours ago, Starpuck said:

This is a strong, capable body for a woman in her mid-years.   For someone in any years really! 

What I saw was a badass badassing around with a body that shows the results of hard work and badassery.

[WhiteGhost]

HAAAAAAANDSTAAAAANDS!!!!  Woooot!   Those were really pretty good for a first attempt.  

[Cheetah]

Great challenge!  And you are completely awesome.  Keep up the good work!

[starpuck]

19 hours ago, chickie.monkey said:

Heeeeyyyy!

 

 

Good challenge! I embrace you embracing the things.

 

Is that your first time messing about with handstands? You'll have it in no time.

Man, that is one of my all time favorite Starbuck gifs!  ❤️     I feel like you and I have really bonded more these past weeks over Katee hehehe.   I've messed with handstands in the past - in the sense of ...I've done exactly what I did in this video and not much else.  Never *actually* tried working on them.     I might postpone that based on wrist complaints, but we'll see.    I embrace your embracing of me embracing things!    Love ya girl!

 

18 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

What I saw was a badass badassing around with a body that shows the results of hard work and badassery.

Did someone say badass?  Why thank you!   Definitely a thing of results of hard work.

16 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

HAAAAAAANDSTAAAAANDS!!!!  Woooot!   Those were really pretty good for a first attempt.  

I feel like the skill set would compliment the pull up skillset in the certified bad ass department.   I am pretty sure I have the strength - just not the balance.   And those uncertain hand touches to the ground were actually me being terrified of putting my palms onto a cicada!  Hahaha!

 

9 hours ago, Cheetah said:

Great challenge!  And you are completely awesome.  Keep up the good work!

Awwww, thanks Cheetah.    Always glad to have you here for tag team vlogs!

 

As promised for @Sloth the Enduring - here is a gratuitous bike pic/vid behind this link.     I got out for a nice 8.5 mile ride on my lunch break.  90 degrees here today but humidity was only at like 40% so not too bad.   Well, excluding the air quality alert warnings because air pollutants are bad or something.   Thanks Chicago!     

 

Work is super nuts.   We've been told to take vacation time because we can't all wait for 'if things get better' and then expect to achieve 32 weeks of owed vacation with only 24 weeks of the year left.   This is logical and makes sense, but it's hard on both sides.  To the vacationer - not much to do.    To the person covering the office, they are doing 2 full jobs, plus the running around for the entire work at home team.    One of the sales rep impromptu went to visit his out of state sister, and now has no wifi so can't get into the system!   And next week, the operation manager who is normally here full time, has to work from his wife's practice's office because their main receptionist is on maternity leave, and the fill in that was available because her trip got canceled, is now still going on her trip.   Wtf mate.   Wtf.     Same manager though (the one I had Starbucks cake pops delivered to during his family's covid lockdown) brought me back a pineapple matcha and cake pop on his lunch break and I got all the warm fuzzies from it.

 

Got a bike ride in for exercise, since I knew I could do strength day at home tomorrow while it's raining.   Also MUCH HYPE FOR THE NF PBP GROUP GETTING THEIR LIVE GAME ON TOMORROW!   I get to "meet" @Raxie and @Wild Wolf woot woot.     Of course, I am getting up earlier for D&D than I do for work these days to make it happen.   Commitment folks.  C0-mitt-ment!

 

Food should be fine- even with the really appreciated surprise from my manager at lunch of "What do you want from Starbucks?"   And tonight - I opted to back out of two social (via internet) commitments because I badly need a night where I am not expected to be "on" or "doing this" at a certain time.   In short, I need some me time to do what I want, when I want.    So... that's kind of rest, right @Tanktimus the Encourager?  Sorta?

 

Things I might do tonight, but don't care if I don't do them:

Art

Reading

A solo video game.

A friend-team up video game.

Build my new desk.

Nothing!

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

47 minutes ago, Starpuck said:

And tonight - I opted to back out of two social (via internet) commitments because I badly need a night where I am not expected to be "on" or "doing this" at a certain time.   In short, I need some me time to do what I want, when I want.    So... that's kind of rest, right @Tanktimus the Encourager?  Sorta?

[Sloth the Enduring]

Lol. That was great. Impressive handstands too.

[starpuck]

Proof of said rest night.   After dinner, I watered my cucumbers, then took a glass of wine out to the deck and read my book while the sun set.   Stayed out there for a total of about an hour, though only read for 25 minutes.   Otherwise just sat, quietly, and rested.

 

 

 

It was a good day.

 

[GoodDoug]

I love that you came back to the Rangers and then started your handstands. Gotta do all the things!

[WhiteGhost]

14 hours ago, GoodDoug said:

I love that you came back to the Rangers and then started your handstands.

We got our hooks in when the opportunity presented itself 

[Cheetah]

How is the book?

[starpuck]

Zero Week Tracker and Reflection

 

	6/15	6/16	6/17	6/18	6/19	6/20	6/21
	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
TRACK CALORIES	1497	1672	1738	1710	1642	1734	1892
MORE VEGGIES	5-6	4-5	5-6	6	5	4	3
SELFIE				Posted Self Video
BEDTIME WINDDOWN	10:45 PC Off	10:55 PC Off	11:05 PC Off	11:10 PC Off	11:15 PC Off	10:55 PC OFF
STRENGTH DAY	306 calories / 55m		236 calories / 47m			REST
MOVE DAY		500 calores / 75m	Extra Beat Saber	464 calories / 77m	223 Bike Ride / 300 BS	DAY	Frisebee / 407 calories
STRETCHING	15m post work out		15m post work out
ART TIME		20m inking
READ BOOKS		1 chapter			1 chapter
DAILY BIBLE VERSE	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
BIBLE STUDY	Proverbs 1: 1-7 Context Bible	Proverbs 1: 8-12 Wisdom Plan	Proverbs 1: 8-19 Wisdom Plan	Proverbs 3: 1-8 Wisdom Plan	2 Chron 1:1-13 Wisdom Plan	Proverbs 4:1-9 Wisdom Plan	Proverbs 4:20-27 Wisdom Plan
FRIEND TALK
RANDOM KINDNESS

 

 

STUFF TO GET DONE IN ZERO WEEK

 

Get Challenge Posted ☑

Create Tracker Sheet ☑

Finish Warhammer NPC Sheet ☐

 

Vacuum Room ☑

Build New Desk ☑

Organize Books / Desk ☑

Wash Sheets  ☑

 

It was a hectic week, and the weekend was a time to recover.   

 

After Friday's absolutely wonderful relaxing night, I woke up Saturday morning for a delightful time of D&D "Live" with @Raxie, @Wild Wolf, @Jarric and run by the awesome @DarK_RaideR!  It was so amazing and all of our interactions just jumped right into character, even though we'd spent the last 8 months playing by post and very slowly paced.   Wolf was AMAZING with his bard - even roleplaying out when he got charmed by the Harpy with total perfection!   Raxie's character and mine were liked immediate badass besties, and Jarric's modron was so freaking cool with this super logical talk and no nonsense logic haha.    And or course, Dark_Raider just owned the whole thing as a DM!  It was well worth the early wake up on a weekend.

 

 I ended up doing Abso-freaking-lutely NOTHING all day Saturday and it was wonderful!    I take that back, I did spend 30 minutes cutting the grass so I didn't have to do it on Sunday.   I was oddly super hungry despite doing nothing, and I tried hard to eat healthy snacks - but once evening hit, I scooped myself a rare, unmeasured HEAPING serving of ice cream, and it was glorious.   Woke up Sunday morning, to the scale offering me down 1.5 lbs to my new lowest low... Whoa. What?  Haha.

 

Sunday was church, plus um, ALL of the second part of the to do stuff list.  Also tacos with my bestie, and an hours worth of frisbee and walking through the park.  (We got attacked by some red wing blackbirds too, lol.  Super amusing.)  Then some delicious flank steak for dinner, omg, so good.   Now winding down the night with Sunday night D&D and that's that.

 

The goals seem doable.   I *wanted* to do art, but I also needed some *do nothing time*.   I am confident that this week I'll be able to add these things back in without too much fuss now that I've got some recharge under my belt.   The kindness and friends thing is always harder to do... more so now that limiting social interaction/distance is a thing, but I am determined to do it.      This was the best I've done the bible study and verses, so I am super geeked with this new app!

 

All in all a good starter week.    This work week is supposed to be very hectic, but I am going to practice the art of embracing that which I cannot change and doing so with a good attitude!

 

Week 1!  Heck yeah!

 

[WhiteGhost]

Sounds like an amazing weekend