Excuses...the word that draws a line in the sand

We see it on memes regularly. The ever-so-fit mother of four with a six-pack asking "what is your excuse"?! This draws the line in the sand. Camp 'six-pack' cheers and is motivated to continue the clean eating and early morning workouts. While camp 'scars-earned' join together to defend enjoying their life and the body motherhood helped to design. Whichever your camp there are physical changes that occur regardless. I know, because I have gone camping at both sites. Neither my kale dinner nor my loose track pants have saved me from :

My bladder.  Or rather, what is now a walnut sized holding tank for my urine. It is a new magical organ. Even after having emptied my bladder, it can and WILL hold onto just enough urine to make coughing, jumping, laughing, and farting (yes, I do that sometimes) a stressful moment. I now watch adult absorbant undergarment commercials with interest.  I have also rid my closet of light coloured pants (nothing says accident like a pair of grey sweatpants). 

Chin hair.  Or the rogue neck hair. WTF (why the face!?). I am a fair haired individual. Blonde, fine arm and leg hair (which I do shave), and ONE neck hair that is black and could very well be classified as a rhino horn. It too has a magical existence. One day it is gone (I know it is gone because I have plucked it from its rooted position and searched for its reappearance daily and dilligently) only for it to emerge as a lone soldier, standing at proud attention a half inch long. Come on!! 

Eyesight. I have great eyesight. 20/15. Better than 20/20...however, as of late it seems to need to get warmed up before it works. No amount of rubbing my eyes in the morning will remove the blur. Reading small print on labels is a test of arm length. Bringing small print in closer to my face only gives me a double chin (I know this to be fact because I have seen my reflection on my iPad screen).  

Soreness. I am not talking about the muscle aches from a hard workout, I am talking about the injuries and muscle use from decades past. Perhaps it was the sprained knee from University basketball or the strained elbow from the biking mishap in elementary school. It may rear its ugly head when the weather changes, when I am sitting on the floor, or when I am having a cocktail. For no reason other than to have me say 'arghhh' out loud when I attempt movement.  

My excuse?! I don't have one. Probably because my memory is also shot. I defer to my children for statistics and recall. I used to have a memory. I used to know people's names, where I went on spring break and what I had for breakfast. Now, unless I write it down, take a picture, or have somebody remind me... I do not have a clue. I should have the kids wear name tags, as I rarely get their names right on the first attempt. 

No matter your camp, it is coming....age. If we are lucky we get to celebrate another birthday. We can erase the line in the sand and take comfort in the knowledge that no amount of cardio and self love will erase the crows feet. We are the same. We do not need to call out the other camp or defend our way of reaching our next birthday. We can celebrate. Together. 

Stay happy and healthy

www.jomoma.ca

Let. It. Go.

Look, I have been there.  I have been truly upset with what I deemed an injustice against my being and somebody has told me to "let it go". Say what!? Let it go!? I am pissed! I am hurt!  I am upset in ways that consume my every cell!!  Let it go you say??! Clearly that person doesn't understand the wrong that has been done. Surely they would suit up in armour and stand in my corner if they sincerely understood the crap I was dealing with. Let it go? No way!!

LET IT GO. I get it now. It is sage advice. 

Life is a continuous journey through good and bad. Through easy and hard.  Through happy and sad. If we spend too much energy on the negative, our journeys are shortened and less enjoyable. Yes, I know that some are reading this and think, okay, Sar, enough with your 'love everybody and be the sunshine routine'! 

The truth is I DO NOT LOVE EVERYBODY. There are a number of people, organizations, things, that I detest. I dislike these people and things with such venom that it consumes me. Or, it used to. Hence the sage advice. Let. It. Go.  Stewing in the negative is a great way to get marinaded in that flavour. Bitter. 

Being angry or upset for prolonged periods of time is like ingesting poison and expecting the other person to die. It is ridiculous. Why give your energy to the awful stuff? Why spend whatever precious time you have on this earth lamenting the cruel, the unfair, and the sad? Have you ever passed by a stranger who smiled at you? For no reason other than to smile? Pretty awesome. That is the stuff to spend your energy on. 

I appreciate that there are life events that are upsetting. People I have loved have died. I have lost a best friend, grandparents, and a baby.  I have been overlooked for a position that I was best suited for on a team and in the work place. I have been hoodwinked, lied to, taken advantage of, stolen from, physically hurt and emotionally blackmailed. I know. I understand. I get that there are many reasons to be upset. So be upset. Mourn. But then, let it go. Let the stuff that weighs down your heart, your spirit, and your mind go. Spending your valuable time on the stuff that doesn't make you feel good gives all that terrible stuff more energy than it warrants. It DOES NOT deserve you. Do not give yourself to it. 

Let it go. 

Stay happy and healthy,

www.jomoma.ca

Skin a cat

There are more than 100 ways to skin a cat. And before you send PETA after me, it is just a saying. 

The point being that if there is something to be done, there are umpteen ways to go about get'n er dun.  

My blog(s), at times, are a 'how to', and perhaps my methods are not ones you would ever consider. If that is the case, then AWESOME! Not because I want to turn people off, but rather provide something novel that may be effective when other methods have not had positive results. The big name Motivational Speakers and Psychologists preach 'if you want to make a change then you must CHANGE what you are doing'. Taking up the same action and effort and expecting a different outcome is truly an act in futility. Changing your approach may be what you need to reach your goal. If you can find that in my blogs I am privileged. If you find a sense of kinship, I am honoured. 

My blog(s) are simply me sharing me with you. It is both an unnerving and courageous endeavour. I put down in words what makes me happy, sad, strong, defeated... I am basically letting my readers into my head and my heart which can be quite the ride for both reader and author. Buckle up. 

My blogs are intended to provide information as well as a medium for readers to feel a sense of community. To identify with or question a position. To perhaps provide a different approach or support for an approach recently taken up. My blogs are intended to leave the readers with an insight into my inner being and to aid in their own introspection. Yes I write about squats, coconut oil and blue blockers. I also write about loving yourself, finding happiness, and seeing the humor in the vomit of life. I am hopeful that there is something of value to be taken from each blog and that it fuels your quest to be happy and healthy (physically, emotionally, and mentally). 

I am me. You are you. They are them. Each of us has something to share. Perhaps 100 ways to share it. If you do know how to skin a cat....

Stay happy and healthy

www.jomoma.ca