Juggling Act

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We are in Greece right now, and this simplified way of living on the beach has got me thinking am I doing too much in my regular life?

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I am a wife and a mom and even though I decided not to continue teaching, I still write blog posts, film yoga videos, and make mini-malas which all take time and energy. You can call it work even though sometimes it feels like play.

Would life be easier and more enjoyable if I simply tended to the many tasks that being a mom and a wife require and let go of my work? It’s tempting for a moment, but my work is an outlet I value. I am learning first hand that being a mom is the world’s best job, but being creative and expressing myself is also so important.

Life might be easier if I only focused on dinner and baby Luca but I wouldn’t be as satisfied.

So my wish for you is that you make whatever it is your heart wants you to make: a dance, a poem, a picture, a book… because even though you might have to juggle more to get it done, it is almost always worth it in the end. And the world needs it.

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Overheard at the Coop

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I am a member of the Park Slope Food Coop and for those of you haven’t heard me either complain or rave about it (I do both), well that’s another story.  The Coop has really great produce, cheese, bulk items, raw chocolate, etc.. that are fresh and affordable since each member has to work a shift.

While working my shift last week I overheard another member say, “I’m giving up sugar…and when I say sugar I mean maple syrup, honey, agave…  I’m giving up wheat…and when I say wheat I mean bread, pasta, pizza and only having 2 tablespoons of grains: quinoa, amaranth…  I’m giving up dairy…and when I say – well you get the idea.

While although that way of eating is extremely healthy, what’s the point of living? Shortly after that, another woman asked if I was a vegan – I then went out for a meatball sub.

I even had a few sips of Coke

I even had a few sips of Coke

Aware this was certainly not one of the healthiest things I could have eaten, I ordered anyway – and savored half of the warm, gooey, sandwich.  Do I eat that way every day?  Nope.

I shoot for something like more like this - colorful.

I shoot for something like more like this – colorful nutrient dense eating.

When it comes to food, as it comes to anything else in life, it’s all a balance. And finding your unique balance is essential to your health and enJOYment of life.  You can have a vegan diet filled with green juice & algae – but if you’re not enjoying it – what’s the point?  I’m all about green tonics and seaweed, but I also enjoy a pizza and beer every now and then.

The thing I find troubling is when we ‘indulge’ we often then bear the wrath of our inner critic, “I can’t believe you did that, that was so gross, you have no self control, you are a fattie and always will be” ….at least that’s what mine sounds like.  Then we end up feeling worse about ourselves and our self worth.  Did eating a bowl of ice cream really make you that much worse of a person?  I don’t think so.  I’m interested instead of food being right or wrong, finding a well balanced approach to eating.

There are many reasons behind what we eat and how we eat, and that can give us a lot of information about our relationship to ourselves – which is the most important relationship we have in this world.  Take a look and see what comes up when you reach for what you reach for – and be as gentle as you can be.  Be a detective, use your food choices as evidence as how you are feeling, drop the judgement and replace with patience and forgiveness.  Because it’s always changing, just like the weather.

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Pendulum Swing

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I did a three day cleanse last week.  I had smoothies for breakfast, liver cleansing salads for lunch, and gentle soups for dinner.  All for the sake of giving my digestive system and organs a rest and getting my hormones back on track.  The hardest part was not snacking, staying away from chocolate, and not eating 3 hours before bed.  After falling asleep with chocolate in my mouth last week, I knew I would benefit from pressing the reset button.

Liver Cleansing Salad

Liver Cleansing Salad

I realized a few things.  I really do need snacks.  Every body is different, and some work better with just three meals vs. five smaller ones.  I realized I really do need something at 4:00.  The thing is I often have something at 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, all the way up until dinner, and then after until bedtime.

Lightbulb!  When you can’t engage in your normal patterns, you are then able to actually realize what they are and why they exist.  It’s nice to take a break so you can take a look.  

Then this happened.  On the fourth day, I found myself at the table scarfing a tray of middle eastern delicacies.  Dipping countless pita chips into the various dips like there was no tomorrow.  Red wine sandwiched my bites, and then cheesecake and chocolate espresso cake completed the feast.

Nice easy way to exit the cleanse right?  Alcohol, sugar, dairy, bread, the works.  Those certainly weren’t the perfect foods to ease my body back into normalcy, but this issue wasn’t about what I was eating.  It was how I was eating – out of control, like there was no tomorrow, like this was my least meal.

While I was so in control for those previous three days I swung the pendulum far over to one side, that it had no other choice but to swing as far over on the other side to balance it out.  Exhausting and informative.  The cleanse, and the post cleanse is not the place for me to be regularly – on one side or the other.

But rather the ability to find the middle, the ease the exists there.  This place is enjoyable and you could stay there for a while rather than dancing on these extreme edges.  Finding the choices that keep you as close to the center as possible.  This is why dieting doesn’t work long term.  Instead of quick fixes, it is about finding a lifestyle that is supportive to meet your health and wellness needs.

So be gentle, get curious, and tune into what your body needs to stay in the middle.  The point requiring the least amount of energy to be and function in.

If you’d like to add a little liver cleanse into your daily routine – without swinging from one side to the other try out above picture: Kale + Fennel + Red Onion + Lemon juice and salt + topped with olive oil before you serve.  Nicely paired with quinoa + salmon.

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Guidelines

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What are your guidelines for a happy & full life?

This is something I asked myself after a pretty unbalanced week.  As I am starting to grow my health & wellness business, A Well Fed Body, I found myself impatiently pouring energy into my ventures.   Things fell by the wayside.  Self-care was last on the list.  I didn’t cook a home cooked meal until Friday night.  (!)

Feeling out of whack is frustrating & uncomfortable, because I know what I could be feeling and experiencing instead.  But it also a blessing, as it gave me a jolt to stop and identify what I need to feel fulfilled.

So I journaled.

photo-4I realized in order to feel grounded, I’d like to experience these things throughout the week:

  • Cook! Eat home mostly, dine out occasionally
  • Make juice
  • Use one afternoon to stay at work and plan
  • Plan for my lessons & classes at least 1 day in advance
  • Move my body at least 3 times a week
  • Take at least 1 yoga / dance class
  • Screens off at 10:00 pm
  • Read for 15 minutes a day
  • Have one Facebook free day per week
  • Be creative – Create

Now these are guidelines – meaning they are something I will work towards.  They are pretty ideal & yet somewhat realistic.  But just like any other guidelines – they are not do or die.  I will be kind to myself if I don’t get to check them all off at the end of the week.  At least I have something to steer me, and check back with as I move through this week.

Wondering what keeps you grounded and comfortable in your days?

 

 

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