Eve says yes

[I am Eve]

As I sit down to write my eighth challenge I reflect again over changes during this last year.

January 7 2012 I did my first challenge. It feels remote and recent at the same time.

 

I have come to realize that even though my inner image of my life is quiet, reflecting, peaceful and even slow; the way it looks to spectators can be rather frantic and intense.

This challenge will be no different!

The last week of this challenge will involve one of the greatest moments in my life: my wedding. We have of course been planning it for quite a while now but there are still a million things left to arrange and decide. I am incredibly happy and quite focused at the same time.

 

Our wedding will take place in a very wintery landscape and so it is only natural that I will keep my main quest:

making it shine.

 

In order to stay focused, strong and sharp I will incorporate similar cornerstones in my challenge as before.

 

Focused mind

Yoga, it will always be yoga for me. It frees my mind, gives me harmony and transforms my body. Last challenge I kept the goal of doing yoga every day, and I managed. I did this by in a way lowering my demands to just be on the mat - not having to do a whole one hour session every time, etc.

Though I am pleased with the result I feel that I was slipping a little bit and there are things that I miss from my practice. So, moving back to discipline (I like it!), I will do three full sessions every week and keep the goal to go on the mat every day.

 

Strong body

As I wrote above, a spectator of my life would probably find it rather intense.

The week after our wedding I plan to participate in the same skiing competition I did last year. There is one small problem though: there is no snow yet.

In order to keep strong I will train in the following way.

Armstrentgh (preferably a ”poling machine”) 1-3 times a week, about 1,5 hours of running/skiing in one go once a week and a shorter run/ski once a week. I already run about 5-7 k’s twice a week and I have earlier ran distances up to 15 k’s so I have what it takes. I’ve just been a bit lazy lately ;-)

 

Sharp brain

I am still very much aware of my disabilities brought about by my fatigue syndrome. Now, I am healing, and it is wonderful and a bit frightening at the same time. 

I am pushing myself, learning and studying, at the same time that I try to pace myself and allow time for recovery and rest. Last challenge I had the goal of studying twice a week and I will just keep that one as it is.

 

 

Life quest

This challenge will end with me uniting with my partner in a celebration of our love.

We have been a couple for ten years and during that time I have grown in many ways, not least learning to love myself with the help of the one who loves me.

This said, I have my ups and downs. I still have a strong tendency of letting frustrations, disappointments and fears channel their negative energy towards me rather than the actual source. In several challenges I have addressed this in different ways and it is time to do it again.

My life quest is to perform loving acts towards myself no less than three times per week.

I will list them as I am aware of them, there is no list readymade.

 

Last but not least: my motivation.

It also remains the same as previous challenges.

In September 2011 I went on full sickleave for a fatigue syndrome. Since then I have come back to fulltime working and again being on the on-call schedule, I have moved to a new town and new job. I will forever have to take care that I don’t get sick again.

 

Grading will be added soon

[Liberator]

Wow! Sounds like your most dramatic challenge yet, ending in a wedding! Awesome! I look forward to your updates!

[Wandern]

Yay! A year of NF! And you have been such a dedicated inspiration to the rest of us. Thank you! And congratulations on all the progress you have made!

 

A wedding! What fun! And I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it snows for you.

[I am Eve]

Wow! Sounds like your most dramatic challenge yet, ending in a wedding! Awesome! I look forward to your updates!

 

Thank you Liberator! Yes very dramatic - I hope I don't get cold feet

 

 

Yay! A year of NF! And you have been such a dedicated inspiration to the rest of us. Thank you! And congratulations on all the progress you have made!

 

A wedding! What fun! And I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it snows for you.

 

Those are kind words Wandern, I think that it's you guys that inspire me.

Yes! Snow! Now please….

[Panczo]

lots of wisdom and self-awareness in your challenge Eve

 

wish u an awesome wedding day

[I am Eve]

Day two of challenge.

I am off work today r/t on-call week (on-call again tomorrow night). I had planned to go for a run and combine it with an arm workout at the gym but then I landed in the sofa after breakfast and it is just so nice and comfy here. Will try to decide if I'll just take the day off from outdoorsy things and do a nice long yoga inside instead and clean up the place a a little (my partner and bonus daughter visited this weekend). As I write that down I feel that this is what I'll do. My stress levels have been up for a some weeks - ever since I'm back on on-call. It is going well but my mind still gives me a hard time and I worry. A lot!! Today a feel a rare calm and sense of contentment. I'll treasure that and I'll do a life quest thing and be loving towards myself today; I'll stay at home, feel cozy under a blanket and have coffee for a couple of hours.

[I am Eve]

lots of wisdom and self-awareness in your challenge Eve

 

wish u an awesome wedding day

 

It will be so….exciting. Self- awareness: yes, wisdom…maybe? When I write things down I seem to reflect more and better about things.

Thank you Panczo!

[Ahyar Dreamspark]

Congratulations on the upcoming wedding! May you have some snow ASAP.

 

... but then I landed in the sofa after breakfast and it is just so nice and comfy here.

 

Replace "sofa" with "computer chair" and you have me lol. Props for still going to get things done!

[jedi_mind]

I've been dating my lady for ten years as well, and we're tentatively planning a wedding for august....and I really don't know where to start o.0

 

Congrats I wish you the best in that.

 

100th post!

[Heidi]

Eve, what a lovely and loving challenge. I like your decision to be cozy today. How was yoga?

[Affekonig]

Feels for you.  For years after having an on-call job I had a physical reaction to the sound if I happened to hear a phone in public that had the same ringer as my old on-call phone did.

 

I've just gotten into x-country skiing this year, so much fun!  Way to go on the courage to plan that for wedding time....!

[I am Eve]

Congratulations on the upcoming wedding! May you have some snow ASAP.

Replace "sofa" with "computer chair" and you have me lol. Props for still going to get things done!

On my way north again, hopefully towards snow and skiing. I did get some things done.....but mostly I just rested;-) Thank you for your congrats, it feels pretty great :-)

[I am Eve]

I've been dating my lady for ten years as well, and we're tentatively planning a wedding for august....and I really don't know where to start o.0

Congrats I wish you the best in that.

100th post!

Congrats on your 100 th post!

Just start somewhere-we decided first about how many guests we wanted to/could invite a - and took it from there. We decided just over a year ago, which means that our level of activity has varied a lot the last 12 months...

I'm happy for you!

[I am Eve]

Eve, what a lovely and loving challenge. I like your decision to be cozy today. How was yoga?

Thank you so much Heidi! Actually .... Long yoga didn't happen until the day after, but then it was fantastic and released a lot of tension!

[I am Eve]

SNOW!!!

[I am Eve]

Relaxing after sauna after first x country skiing this year. Quite cold and hands complained a lot but great feeling all in all.

I started soft because I want to be able to go again tomorrow. Finally there''s snow.....

[I am Eve]

Feels for you. For years after having an on-call job I had a physical reaction to the sound if I happened to hear a phone in public that had the same ringer as my old on-call phone did.

I've just gotten into x-country skiing this year, so much fun! Way to go on the courage to plan that for wedding time....!

It's interesting how a certain signal or sound can affect you (thinking of Pavlov...)

As you see above, I just started the season today. Finally.....

[I am Eve]

Great Saturday that started with one full hour of yoga, studying, cruising the forum, working out on the treadmill and "polemachine" (too cold to ski) followed by relaxing sauna and quality time with future husband....

[Eirlys]

Hope the preparations are going well for your wedding!  Must be exciting to have that on the horizon to look forward to

 

And snow!  I'm jealous  What part of the world are you in?

 

That sounds like an ace saturday... glad you're managing to get both exercising and relaxing in

[Heidi]

[quote name="Eirlys" post="852141"}

That sounds like an ace saturday... glad you're managing to get both exercising and relaxing in

[Heidi]

That sounds like an ace saturday... glad you're managing to get both exercising and relaxing in

Absolutely.

[Panczo]

Great Saturday that started with one full hour of yoga, studying, cruising the forum, working out on the treadmill and "polemachine" (too cold to ski) followed by relaxing sauna and quality time with future husband....

that sounds like perfect day

[LittleTurtle]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!  How wonderful!  

 

Also, I'm very admiring of your attitude towards winter...can you rub some of that positive vibe my way so I can make it through the frostbitten days? 

[I am Eve]

Wednesday

 

My very slight cold does not seem to be getting worse so today I'm hitting the gym :-)

Sorry about my absence (I've been visiting your threads instead ;-) )

[Affekonig]

Wednesday already where you are? pesky round planet. Hoping for you that getting some blood moving will be what you need to feel better!