[starpuck]

So I came off the first challenge practically 100%-ing the darn thing and then...

 

As if I'd been touched by a wraith, all the energy and life force in me just vanished.    All that momentum gone.   The boulder having pushed to the top of the hill, has rolled down and settled in the valley.   I know I can't stay down there with old Bouldy.   (That's Sisyphus' job.)    So I have to keep trekking forward.   I might have small boots, and the journey is long, but I have five weeks of budding habits that work and I know it.   So this challenge is going to be more about pushing through the slump.    No fancy tracker this time; but I have made one page to use for the whole 5 weeks.   Filling in boxes in motivating for me, but I needed less weekly time devoted to the making of it.

 

 

So Goals Then  - Keep on keeping on.

 

Track Food 7x/week - best guess for any 'treat meals'.

Move 5-6x/week - 3 strengths works really well for me, a few beat sabers, and fill the rest.

Make Stuff - This is art and piano and D&D prep.   I really liked hitting the stride of 3-4x a week for music/art.  I'd like to keep this going.

Misc goal "Grow" - This is about growing emotionally and spiritually.   My devotion habit is a habit.   Cool.  Keep that up.   I want to challenge myself going forward.   This challenge is going to consist of doing some out of the comfort zone projects.   I feel like I might have a problem with envy and a side dish of slander - things I don't want in my card catalog in general.   So to combat this, I am planning to "write a letter" to any friend I have ever spoke about, in any fashion, behind their back, and fill it with all the reasons I am grateful for who they are and what they've done for me through the years of friendship.  Bonus points if I actually send it to them lol.   Other things may come up too, but that's what I am starting with.

 

That's all I got for now.    I am hoping to make the rounds on your guys challenges soon here ...

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Hey Puck, I feel you on motivation drifting away like smoke in the wind. It's not fun. I'll be here for you no matter what.

[Artemis Prime]

Sweet and simple, I like it. Here to cheer you on!

[Mr_Willes]

I just put this in Tateman's challenge too, but they are really important to me and help me put things in perspective. Displaying them here, not to annoy you but trying to inspire you (as they do for me)...

• "If you got a flat tire, you don't have to slice the other tires."
• "There is never a better time to start than now"
• "Even the smallest steps will get you closer to your destination"

These seemingly simple mantra's help me a lot more than i would like to admit.

 

We got this buddy!

 

"Small boots from Europe incoming!

[Jarric]

I love how you're 'simple tracker' is 1,000,000% nicer looking than mine  .

 

I also love the idea of sending letters to old friends, even ones you never intend to send. I really find writing helps me to get thoughts out of my head, and explore a situation in a new way.

[Elastigirl]

I love the idea of  writing a letter(even if you don't deliver it)  to your friends of why you are grateful for them. When I find myself being short tempered with my husband or feel like he's "not doing his share" I take a minute and think of 10 things about him that make me grateful and it's a good attitude adjustment.

[starpuck]

On 2/13/2022 at 8:11 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Hey Puck, I feel you on motivation drifting away like smoke in the wind. It's not fun. I'll be here for you no matter what.

Thanks Tank.    It's a lot of treading water right now.    That's ok though.  Heads above it.

 

On 2/14/2022 at 11:54 AM, Artemis Prime said:

Sweet and simple, I like it. Here to cheer you on!

Thanks Artemis!  S&S!

 

On 2/15/2022 at 2:21 AM, Mr_Willes said:

I just put this in Tateman's challenge too, but they are really important to me and help me put things in perspective. Displaying them here, not to annoy you but trying to inspire you (as they do for me)...

• "If you got a flat tire, you don't have to slice the other tires."
• "There is never a better time to start than now"
• "Even the smallest steps will get you closer to your destination"

These seemingly simple mantra's help me a lot more than i would like to admit.

We got this buddy!

"Small boots from Europe incoming!

 

Thanks my friend.  These are all great sayings, and I will keep them in brain pockets!!   

 

23 hours ago, Jarric said:

I love how you're 'simple tracker' is 1,000,000% nicer looking than mine  .

I also love the idea of sending letters to old friends, even ones you never intend to send. I really find writing helps me to get thoughts out of my head, and explore a situation in a new way.

LOL.  Ahhh but ... you've probably opened yours already and mine is still fresh and pristine and not touched since.   

It's maybe not fun writing.  And it will take some effort, but I think it's worth it.

 

23 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

I love the idea of  writing a letter(even if you don't deliver it)  to your friends of why you are grateful for them. When I find myself being short tempered with my husband or feel like he's "not doing his share" I take a minute and think of 10 things about him that make me grateful and it's a good attitude adjustment.

Our mood follow where we focus.  Our feelings follow our thoughts.  We're in control of more than we admit often times.  Another hard work tactic here.   Time to put some sweat into this.

 

Mid-week update is ... nothing to write home about.    I suppose there is more on my plate than usual, and I've already confessed to feeling like my boots are smaller this time around.  (Some people have spoons, I have boots.)

 

Monday was surgery day for my bro-in-law.   I managed to workout with Strength #1, but I was gifted a specialty donut for Valentines  Day, and then a customer brought in brownies and by the end of the night I had a full blown, extravagant sweet binge.   The surgery went fine and the surgeon said he did well and things looked good.   My sis was at the hospital from noon-9pm so it was a long day for her, and I was trying to help her keep people updated.   I did not art, or piano.   I had no brain for either.

 

Tuesday I had planned on getting back on track, and while I avoided the worst of the sweets, I binged on nuts, cheese and canned teas.   Pick your poison much?   No exercise was done.  I got home from work and started on dinner so my sis could come home from the hospital visit and get some real food in her belly.   Clean up was done at 7:15 and I was already just done and tired and didn't even feel like playing video games.   We vegged out with youtube videos about some national parks we still want to hit, then planned for early bed.    Last email I read was that a friend was in a car accident that totaled the car.   He was conscious and nothing broken, but this is a friend that has had seizures and memory issues previously so he is in the neurological ward to see if it was a seizure that triggered the accident, or just an accident.    Waiting to hear more updates on that.

 

Today I got Strength #2 in and have avoided the sweets.   Update from the hospital is that BIL is not eating, or moving and just sitting in chair and sleeping.   He should be up and about, and the staff have told him he needs to drink more water, move more and get his gut to wake up and do its thing before they will send him home.   I can hear the heartbreak in my sis's texts that he just seems to be petering out on life.   He is NOT on deaths bed.  He just doesn't listen to advice or put in any effort.  It's hard to support through that.    Dinner is left overs and then Wed is typically video games with friends, which I will participate in but have to play a little by ear.  Maybe some piano if I can sneak 30 minutes in after eating and before games.

 

Tomorrow needs to be some kind of move - but we might be getting snow or we might not.  So I'll plan some beat saber after work so that if it ends up shoveling is on the agenda instead, I don't double up my efforts.     Art should be on the docket too. 

 

This won't be the best week, but I am not completely throwing in the towel, so I count it as effort earned and steps taken.   I may not get around to threads for you guys this week, but know I am rooting for you all and I love yas!

[Mr_Willes]

12 hours ago, starpuck said:

I may not get around to threads for you guys this week, but know I am rooting for you all and I love yas!

 

We's know!

 

Kick ass don't take names, too much work. Just kick all the asses!

 

12 hours ago, starpuck said:

This won't be the best week, but I am not completely throwing in the towel, so I count it as effort earned and steps taken. 

 

Doing a little is better than nothing, just start the workout, say no on the first occasion, even if you know you will eventually cave. The postponed one will never come back to haunt you. Break everything down to small bits.

 

Remember we got small boots. Small steps, small increments, but also a small misstep doesn't deviate us far from the goal!

 

[Rebel Pilot Gar]

16 hours ago, starpuck said:

This won't be the best week, but I am not completely throwing in the towel, so I count it as effort earned and steps taken.   I may not get around to threads for you guys this week, but know I am rooting for you all and I love yas!

Working on your goals and treading water, even if your not actively posting and visiting forum friends is just as valid and sometimes very much needed to combat the wraiths. Hope you can find moments of happiness even if the week overall is extra busy 

 

[Artemis Prime]

18 hours ago, starpuck said:

(Some people have spoons, I have boots.)

 

I'm not entirely sure why, but this made me giggle.

 

It's been a heck of a week, Puck, I would say you're doing great and making some very big steps, even if you're doing it in little boots.

 

[Elastigirl]

Sounds like you are doing a good job of supporting and taking care of your sister.

[Jarric]

You've got a lot on Puck; be kind to yourself. Try to do the things, because they're good for you and they're all great things to keep you in a good headspace, but also be prepared to forgive yourself for what you don't manage. Hugs friend.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Requesting proof of life.

[starpuck]

Am here... if here is on this planet.

*checks planet*

Yup here.

 

Many things on many plates, all spinning currently.

Kinda doing things.   Using a tracking app because it required least brain energy.  

Probably coasting this challenge and hoping to be renewed for next. 

 

Thanks for checking.  *hugs*

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

You're welcome friend. I hope things get easier. 

[NightWatcher13]

Small boots, long journey? Battling wraiths?

[starpuck]

Guys, I don't like my habit tracking app. It's not letting me do what I want lol.    I just want an app that lets me check mark boxes per days.   I don't need a streak, or a chain on some of my goals.  Just need a quick glance to see how many I got in a week.     This must exist somewhere?  Right?

 

I am hanging in there.  I've had a handfullof doc appts for various symptoms I've been having - nothing crazy, just annoying and wanted to rule out more terrible things.

 

1)  Had chest tightness that was coming and going.  It felt like a need to cough, or like my upper lungs were tight/irritated.    Turns out they think it's likely allergen-triggered asthma.     I'm on a daily inhaler (steroidal) for 6 weeks and then they will wean me off it.    

2)   Irritation in throat with no pain that has been there for like 5 weeks now.  It basically feels like there is a spot where I have a hairy mole in my throat.    They think that's LPRD, which is like GERD (acid reflux) but it instead irritates the pharynx and larynx.     They have me on Pepcid for that, and told me to change my diet.  Ugh.

3)  Back went wonky right as I was working on figuring out the first two things, and chiro thinks it's a bulging disc?!?!   Two adjustments and most of the scary pain is gone, but I have non-stop lingering all day low ache still.  I'm doing stretches, ice packs and yoga to combat this.

 

But basically, someone who doesn't like to be on 'maintenance' medicines long term, and who ate a really good diet (ok, so it had one coffee a day and I love spicy food), and weight lifted for health, can no do NONE of those things.  At least for a while.    It's been pretty frustrating.   And with Chicago weather still sitting in the 30s with wind, it's not like I can shift to biking and walking to cover the other things I can't do right now.    Grr.         

 

So, all of this started within the same 2 weeks in January (except the back which was last week) and I am like ... why did years of a certain diet and lifestyle work fine, and then one week in January, ... no longer work?    I'm seriously considering that stress played into this.    After the holidays, covid went crazy.  At the same time as this (and we had people in the office catching it like mad), my brother in law was diagnosed with colon cancer and was setting up his surgery.   So I was on hyper alert trying to not bring a spiking virus into the house of a cancer patient.  Additionally, of course, worried about his outcome, and how my sister was doing and handling a 3rd cancer for her husband.   I was freaking out over relationship status as I continue to wonder if I am even wired right to BE in a relationship, and having no clue how to actually do it.      All this to say, that next week Saturday I am signed up to meet with a counselor and try some therapy again.

 

I feel like I am a bit on the upswing.  I'm frustrated for sure still, but trying to just wade through the mire on that.  I'm doing what I can to get the wheel unstuck and get the wagon going again, and that's all one can do.   I can help my body heal, but I can't control it's pace or anything.      Thought I'd share a bit here first as a means of slowly getting back to more activity here.      My next challenge might just be, well, I might be weird! And do what I want, and start a new thread that's called...     Starpuck chases after Jaskier... it will be art and music and lots of walking as I mend up.    And also lots of Jasker because ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

 

18 hours ago, NightWatcher13 said:

Small boots, long journey? Battling wraiths?

Hah, after writing that all out ... yes.   Battling wraiths!

Heya NightWatcher.

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Puck, you are awesome. It stinks your circumstances are not also correspondingly awesome. 

[Elastigirl]

I'd bet my money on stress too. You are doing a good job handling all that life is throwing at you.  Art and music and walking sounds wonderful!

[Wild Wolf]

On 2/13/2022 at 1:25 PM, starpuck said:

So to combat this, I am planning to "write a letter" to any friend I have ever spoke about, in any fashion, behind their back, and fill it with all the reasons I am grateful for who they are and what they've done for me through the years of friendship.  Bonus points if I actually send it to them lol.

 

Wow...this is deep and thoughtful and just plain AWESOME!

 

I hope you're holding up well, Puck. Miss ya and the gang! I'm striving to get back to doing regular and consistent challenges but wanted to drop in and say "HI!"  

 

Wolf

[Cheetah]

On 3/10/2022 at 11:09 AM, starpuck said:

I'm doing what I can

 

That's hard work, and you're doing it well.  Keep it up friend!

[Jarric]

I think you might be right about the stress - you've had a lot on and those are the circumstances where bodies tend to malfunction. Glad you're on the upswing though, and I'm here if you need to talk/vent.