I thought that I might be pre-mature in announcing my changes in this blog. Shortly thereafter I would be heading to Atlanta on vacation. Upon my return, I would be in “competition-mode.” If you are new to this blog, I compete in Mediation competitions (which seems like an oxymoron, right?). This means that huge chunks of my evenings and weekends are taken up by going over problems and options and reflections and such.

I mention this because I thought that I would start my posts with the things that I do normally: the daily routines I try to build in to make sure I am living a happy, healthy, well-balanced life. But right from the start, I don’t have those routines to hold on to. I headed out of state and then returned to spend 4+ hours a day, 7 days a week (on top of normal classes) on a new event. I found that I am trying to make time to go grocery shopping and it is hard to eat healthy when I can’t even find time for that!

So I thought: Isn’t this when I need help the most? This is the time when I need the tools I have obtained, the tricks I have learned to live the life I am trying to live!

In reflection, I have learned:

You gotta Eat!
No matter how busy you are, you have to eat. I know I get irritable, and light-headed if I go too long without eating. Sooner or later, I must seek out nourishment. When I do so, even if it is fast food, I can choose veggie-heavy options. When in a restaurant, I can save half of my lunch to eat for dinner later (which not only saves calories, but also time and money!).

Find a Way to Move
My biggest focus now is on exercise. I know I don’t get enough of it, and with the heart problems in my family, I need to get moving more and now! With the activities I am involved in, I am shut into a room and sitting at a table almost the whole time. How can I make myself move? First off, when we take our meal breaks, I walk to the restaurant instead of taking a bus or a taxi. Yes, even in the rain. I also have checked out workout DVDs from the library and try one of those late at night, after the Husband is in bed. Not the big cardio pump I get when on the treadmill, but it is better than nothing.

Following these two tips, I am able to at least get more veggies in my diet and get my heart rate up. It may not be nearly where I want to be, but it is better than nothing, right?

I thought I would share the good news. We got our scores back today and I passed. Yeah!

And while we are having this little chat… the wedding went super swell. Not too much drama, just the obvious tension coming from his side of the family. Ignorant children (with children of their own) think that our side is out get all of his goods. Which would be the ‘family farm.’ And I put that in quotes because they are actually his step children and did not grow-up on this farm (who are we kidding, it doesn’t seem like they have grown-up at all). They just want to make sure they get their paws on it when he dies. Side note: one (out of 5) of the step-daughters was very friendly, so she is categorically excluded from parts of the above statement.
OK kids, here is today’s lesson: If you own a lot of stuff (or have a lot of money) get rid of it while your alive. Give it to charity, retire early, see the world, SPEND! If they were too lazy to work in your lifetime and make their own little fortune and all they want is a big ol’ piece of the pie, sitting around like vultures waiting for you to croak… then they don’t deserve it!

*Disclaimer: I am not an attorney (yet) and the above should not be deemed in any way as legal advice. Just a very good way to get rid of all those greedy tweets who await anxiously for your demise.*