Monthly Archives: April 2012

“Start where you stand”

Thank you, husband.

Patrick spent the past week gently nudging me up from the place I was — feeling overwhelmed by all the changes I need and want to make — to a place where I feel like I can tackle them little bit by bit. And then he sent me this quote yesterday. “I love this,” he said. I do to …

“Do not wait: the time will never be ‘just right’. Start where you stand, and work whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along.”
From Napolean Hill

So after my grand return to my blog last week, it still took several days before I actually kicked things into action. Really, it started when Patrick suggested we ride our bikes to the farmers market Saturday morning. How could I say no? So I said yes.

And can I tell you what power there is in saying yes to something that’s good for you? Even when maybe you’re still feeling a little obstinately attached to the idea that life is too hard to make good things happen? So powerful. Even better is when that good thing includes the biggest hill you’ve climbed in six months and it takes you five minutes to reach the top (where your husband — on his single-speed bike loaded with panniers, no less — is patiently and happily waiting for you).

“Do not wait”

So, it was a good Saturday. Followed by a good Sunday. Followed by starting the week out wide awake, ready to clean dishes. Ready to run a mile (maybe it wasn’t the four miles I ran during my last go, but I was running … “start where you stand”). Ready to finish up little house-cleaning projects and find a 10K to run (the Salem Lake Trail Run — it’s even seven whole miles!). To order some sewing tools I realized will help when I finally sew my apron (a rotary cutter and self-healing board!). To eat sensibly (it’s a no-sugar week for me; I’m looking forward to how good I’ll feel in just seven days).

Wanna see what it looks like? When I come back to life?

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I ran. Damnit. I RAN.

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Half a sandwich. It was enough.

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There is nothing like starting out the day with a clean sink and empty counter.

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My husband made me slow-cooked, steel-cut oats. While I slowly, slowly woke up. Coffee, too. He’s that way. I love him for it.

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More running. Because I can.

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Riding my bike to work. Me and that bike — slowly rekindling our romance.

Oh hi hi hi

Lindsay waving

I swear to Jeebus I'm smiling.

So yeah, I don’t do transitions too well. I spent the last several months:

  • » Being super excited about moving to our new town! Winston-Salem, N.C., is home!!
  • » Looking for jobs and not getting at ALL excited at the idea of sitting behind a computer.
  • » Running running running! Up big hills, around beautiful neighborhoods!
  • » Getting bummed out at not finding work. What’s a girl gotta do?
  • » Letting my being bummed out bum me out. No more exercise.
  • » Getting work! At Starbucks. Interesting.
  • » Getting more work! At an amazing bakery in town (Camino), selling baked goods and learning how to make really good espresso drinks.
  • » Working two jobs and getting tired. And bummed about being tired. And eating because I’m tired. And still not exercising.
  • » Ooh! Just one job now! The bakery is such a good place to spend time, behind the counter or as a customer. I love going into work.
  • » Oh what? I kind of gained even more weight. And also am so-very(-too-too)-slowly getting back into good eating habits and an exercise routine. You know what that makes me? Bummed. Just a little.

So I asked my best friend (hiya, Mela!) what the heck to do, and she talked about how writing her blog and connecting with folks in her area has helped her find her center. You know what? She’s smart.

Time to get back into a routine. Time to get back to writing about it. Because I liked that part. I liked all of you and I liked having a way to stay focused on the things I decided were important to me.

Things I decided were important to me

1. Being fit. Is it being 30 years old? I’m not sure how else to explain that — even with an extra 20 pounds on my frame — I’ve been looking at myself during my weightlifting classes at the gym thinking “damn girl, you’ve got a fine ass,” and “look at those thighs! Tremendous!” So yeah, I’d like to fit back into my jeans, but more and more it’s clear that my underlying motivation for eating right and exercising has to be my overall fitness, not how much I weigh or what size those jeans are. So how to mark my progress? How about a 10K? By this time next week, my goal is to have signed up for an autumn 10K in town.

2. Whole food life. It’s not so much I’ve fallen off this wagon. But last we met, there was still so much I was interested in learning and exploring. I want to take up that adventuresomeness again — new grains, new fruits and vegetables, canning! Goal: To try one new something every week and report on it. It’s also time to learn how to make jams and pickles and put ‘em by. Goals for that to come …

3. Making a happy home. Our house is beautiful, but I struggle to implement the tiny home projects that keep floating through my daydreams. There are walls to be painted, closets to be organized, a bathroom that could use little touch-ups. Goal: By this time next week, unveil a tiny, tiny home project I can plan and implement by the end of April.

3. A handmade wardrobe. I have everything to learn and everything to make. What I might need is a little focus, and my new job at Camino might have offered it: I’d love to wear smock aprons for work — something cute with cap sleeves that I can get get dirty. So a goal! Within two weeks I want to have found a pattern and made my first smock apron. Do you think I could single-handedly bring the smock back into fashion?

Hey …

… This was nice. Let’s do it again. Oh, and Dawgface says hello.

Lindsay and Saazie

Remember me? I'm here, too!