So we had no power Mon or Tues. And we lost power again Weds. It’s such a relief that it’s back, hopefully to stay this time!
It’s been beautiful to see how I’ve been able to cope with it. I’m stronger than I was last year, and so much stronger than I’ve been for the last 10 years. The physical difference is pretty dramatic, even in the last 2 years.
2 years ago, my “pie in the sky” goal was to walk to the main road and back as a Christmas present to Mr. Dude. I didn’t make it by Christmas, but I did by mid-Jan. Now I do 5 or 6 times a day, or at least when it isn’t icy. It’s just part of normal.
2 years ago I couldn’t walk up the stairs, and I’d given up hope that this would be possibility. Now I don’t really give a small flight of stairs much thought.
I just can’t imagine that a few years ago I could have dealt with the cold, walking in the ice and slush, having the traffic lights go out nearby and lifting the garage door without being terribly sore and ridiculously stressed. Don’t get me wrong. I was cranky. But I was also fundamentally okay and strong.
I was an athlete, I was a rugby player, I was a runner. I was quite physically strong. I remember all that like it’s a distant memory, a nice picture I saw on the wall. So I know that my “strong” is kinda not even in the same remote ballpark than my strong before it all. But I’m stronger, and more resiliant than I’ve been for the last 10 years. I don’t exactly know why or how, but it’s kinda freakin’ awesome.
More on the December Sanity Retreat & Contests
The holidays can be a beautiful time of family bonding, celebration and beauty. They can also be an overdoing, overspending, overstressing time of all flavors of excess. For the last 3 years, I’ve been delighted to host the December Sanity Retreat and the July Self-Care Retreat. This is our 6th retreat! I wish I could say it was all about altruism, but honestly, it’s been wonderful for me to have an extra excuse to focus on self-care and rein in my natural tendency to need to bake (at least) 18 kinds of cookies.
I know how powerful it is for me to focus on self-care, and I imagine it’s similar for most of you, so as a gentle extra nudge, we’re doing 2 giveaways.
Giveaway #1: Let us hear your voice!
Prize: a $50 nuts.com gift certificate) they are not sponsoring, I just wanted something with healthy gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free, etc. options (US/Canada)
Comment on any of our hostesses’ posts on the Sanity Retreat, like this one. Leave me a comment on how you cultivate gratitude in your life, OR what you’re most grateful for on this week’s post HERE
Giveaway #2: make the challenge your own!
Blog on your own self-care plans, and a post will be chosen at random as the winner. If you don’t have a blog, contact the hostess of the week and they’ll post for you.
Prize: um, ironing out details–either a gift certificate or a box of self-care books, meditation CDs, chocolate and other fun things from me.
As always, self-care is whatever it means to you. So the December Sanity Challenge can be on whatever YOU need to work on to stay sane during the holiday season
Balance around food * Joyful movement * Sanity & stress management * Making space for art, expression, and spirituality * Connection with friends and family
Or whatever else speaks to you along those lines.
The challenge—post on what you plan to do to make your holidays sane, happy and healthy. Make it specific! Not just “I’ll get more sleep”, but “I’ll get at least 7 hours of sleep, 5 days a week”. Not just “I won’t go crazy making desserts”, but “I’ll make a maximum of XX desserts, and space them out over XX time”. You know what you need to do to keep this doable, and writing it down will help you get there!
I’m delighted to be joined by wonderful hostesses with likeminded blogs:
I hope you choose to join us, too. Grab a badge and we’re good to go!
We’ll also be meeting up in our Facebook group for extra encouragement and support. You’re more than welcome to join us there.
Posts so far:
My 30 days of gratitude:
I’m very fond of violet roses, and so I got some for myself today. I rarely find the purple ones, so I was super grateful that not only did TJ’s have them, but they were just $5! I know they look pink in the pic, but they’re violet. And, of course, G had to inspect because he’s 
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