Happiness Project 1.1-- Boost Energy
In my own personal Coulon Happiness Project, following the themes Gretchen Rubin lays out in her book the Happiness Project, See my original post on the Happiness Project, I am resolving to boost my energy! Although I think, this was largely accomplished last year when I resolved to eat more healthfully and start routinely exercising. It took me a while to get in the habit, but I finally did. Be that as it may, I think we can always grow and improve. As Rubin says in the last chapter of the book "You hit a goal, but you keep a resolution" So my goal was to eat more healthy and start exercising everyday. But goals can mark an ending or a finish line, and I didn't want to end or finish exercising, I wanted to keep it up! Here is quick excerpt from the book contrasting the goals vs. resolutions:
"It's something you resolve to do everyday, forever. Striving toward a goal provides the atmosphere of growth so important to happiness, but it can be easy to get discouraged if reaching the goal is more difficult than you expected.......with Resolutions, the expectations are different. Each day I try to live up to my resolutions. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail, but every day is a clean slate and fresh opportunity. I never expect to be done with resolutions, so I don't get discouraged when they stay challenging, Which they do"
January's Resolutions the Happiness Project:
Go to sleep earlier
Exercise better
Toss, Restore, and Organize
Tackle a naggling task
Act more energetic
I continue to resolve to eat healthfully and continue daily exercise. I don't get it right everyday. Believe me, I failed miserably at making protein pancakes the other day! I don't get a sweaty, spin-my-head around workout everyday, but I do try to do some type of workout daily even if only a 10-minute ab workout. I noticed that as I incorporated healthier foods in my life and got in a daily 30-minute workout, I had an overall incredible boost in energy. I usually average about 6 hours of sleep a night. I know that now because I monitor my sleep with my new handy, dandy Fit-bit. I know I need more sleep, but at the same time I don't feel sleep-deprived. In fact, I feel very energized. Probably the best energized I have felt in a long time! I also never nap. I am not much on napping because I noticed every time after a nap I felt this "sleep inertia". I became more drowsy and actually felt more tired and cranky after a nap rather than restored and rejuvenated. So I felt like the first two resolutions I could simply resolve to keep doing, I was already in a habit of it now.
However, the last 3 resolutions to boost energy, I could definitely resolve to do better.
Toss, Restore, and Organize:
Toss: Why do we have so much stuff, and why does it seem to keep accumulating!!
I was off of work on Monday for Martin Luther King Day and decided I would declutter my closets and lurking items that really was serving no purpose and brought no joy. I do this periodically throughout the year when I have some time alone at home. I would say I do a good declutering sweep three times throughout the year, and also right after Christmas, so essentially with each change in season (of course, that is if I lived somewhere that actually has all 4 seasons, but you get the point). So declutering was done after Christmas, but I still felt like we had too many "lurkers". We now had new stuff as well since it was right after Christmas. So "out with the old and in with new, go ahead, and toss a few"! I was able to accomplish my decluttering task on my day off in about an hour. Am I just that efficient!?NO!! Here's why...
Almost 2 years ago, I came across an intriguing blog called the Loving Simple Living. See blog here. I started reading this woman's story about how and why she and her family (2 kids) down-sized from a 2000-sq foot home to a 1 bedroom apartment. In fact, they first went to a larger apartment before down-sizing even further into a smaller one. It took them less than a day to pack up to make the move between the 2 apartments. I couldn't believe it! She has book and a handbook describing how they got rid of things by donating, selling, or giving things away. She also describes what they do, in fact, still own and why they chose to keep those particular items. After being extremely motivated by her blog, I went on to read other stories of simple or minimalist living. Its amazing how these people find genuine peace, freedom, and contentment by owning so little in regards to today's standards.
I never really liked clutter. Clutter always made me feel very uncomfortable, and a mess has always bothered me. I can remember when I was young if I went to a friend's house, I would voluntarily start tidying it up. It was like I couldn't play until their room was clean! I admit I might have been a strange child, but it only proves it's an innate characteristic of mine. I definitely get a good boost in energy and accomplishment when I declutter. So in the summer of 2014 I got rid of a lot of stuff. I donated about half my shoes and clothes, many home decor pieces I was holding on to for no reason, and several kitchen gadgets/items we never used or that we had multiples of in the kitchen.
So what I could improve on this year is to "Keep It Simple". This means that I strive to NOT buy things that I don't need or that I don't love. Do not buy multiples unless its the best pair of jeans I ever put my booty in. Don't buy things that do not serve any type of purpose. The purchase has to be functional, usable, or beautify my home is some way shape or form. If its going to stack, accumulate, jumble in a drawer, or just sit on shelf, then it doesn't need to be bought. Or at least if it is bought, it's given the "one-year" rule of thumb. If its not used to decorate my home, make life convenient, cloth my body, clean my house, or use in my kitchen, then toss!
Restore. I do need to restore some things this year that are just worn out and need to be replaced. My husband and I have been married 8 years, and some of the bath towels we got when we got married are certainly starting to show their wear and tear, as almost thread bare. That would be an example of something I need to restore. I also have to constantly restore the clothes in my kids closets and dressers because they grow out of things so fast. So again every few months (at each changed in the "seasons") I change out their clothes.
Organize. I organize quite often. Ok so I may let mail pile up here and there, but for the most part I try to keep things organized. I go with the "like goes next to like" rule. For Christmas, Dusty got this hamburger making kit from his mom with some seasonings, sauces, and a hamburger press device that is similar to a cookie-cutter, it presses the ground meat into burgers. We didn't really no where to put it in the kitchen because we are starting to get maxed out on space (even with all my attempt at decluttering)! So he causally tosses it in a cabinet above our sink that has our blender and Yedi cups.......yeah, that's not going to fly! I was itching for him to leave the kitchen so I quickly rectify this complete disorder that just took place in our kitchen throwing off the whole "like goes next to like" system. This is just the way I work, its sounds quirky, but "outer order lead to inner calm".
The BIG organization project for me right now is to organize my plethora of pictures form this past year. This resolution involves organizing all pictures and dowloading them all onto my computer and Shutterfly/Dropbox/Mpix accounts from the last year and half as well as stay current on organizing them for this year. I love making Shutterfly photobooks so I know this is something I just need to make time to sit down and do. In order to be a "treasure house of memories" these treasures will be worth the effort. Earlier this week, my daughter, Kora, and I looked at the Shutterfly books of the pictures from her first year of life. She laughed and relished looking at these books of herself. I want to make sure I capture these fleeting moments with them. I can only imagine how she will feel and love looking back at them when she is in her twenties or thirties. I appreciate that my mom makes scrapbooks, and she captured so many wonderful changes and experiences in my life. I need to to pay it forward to my own two kids.
And this leads into the next resolution....
Tackling a naggling task:
This is will be organizing those pictures, printing them, and compiling them into beautiful photobooks. The books are not the cheapest, but they are worth every penny for capturing and holding on to some of my most treasured items, and that is pictures of my kids and family. A moment in time they will never be again, and I don't want to completely lose it!
I will continue on with my January resolutions to "tackle a naggling task" and "act more energetic".......more to come.....next week!
Gratefully,
Diana
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Coulon's Happiness Project 1.1-Boost Energy
Welcome to Gratefully Healthy! I am Diana, a wife and mommy of 2 who has a passion for health and wellness. I want to live grateful, healthy, and whole. Join me to see how far we can go!
Monday, January 11, 2016
Season of Squash!
I have really experimented more with fresh, clean cooking, and squash has been a hidden gem for it. My only real knowledge of squash prior to this fall was summer squash you cut in circles and cooked in the microwave for 5 minutes. Again, by participating in my health and fitness accountability groups, I have been introduced to 3 new-to-you scrumptious squash that I never knew existed!
Spaghetti squash
So tonight I cooked spaghetti squash to eat with my turkey meatballs and tomato sauce. A fantastic way to go low-carb and not even really notice it. A year ago I didn't even know what a spaghetti squash was and never even noticed it grocery stores. I am amazed at how delicious squash can really be when cooked right and seasoned with the right flare of ingredients. I know many people cut their spaghetti squash in half, but I now cut mine in rings most of the time and rub the rings in about a tablespoon of olive oil with a little salt and pepper. Throw them in the oven for 40 minutes on 400 temperature. Bam! Perfect, non-mushy, spaghetti squash to replace your noodles or pasta.
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| Cut the squash in rings and place on parchment paper |
The picture above is the squash cut in rings and baked on parchment paper. The dish was a bacon, goat cheese, spinach, and spaghetti squash recipe. Oh man it was so good. I am not even a big bacon-eater, but this was mouthwatering. Spaghetti squash with bacon, spinach, and goat cheese!
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| This was an amazing spaghetti squash burrito bowl! Spaghetti squash burrito bowl |
Acorn Squash
This is such a great little squash to pair as a side dish with really any dinner and could replace a roll or garlic bread. It goes nicely with like a turkey meatloaf or a lean beef entree. It even makes a great snack. My first experience making it was out of the Autumn Calabrese's Fixate cookbook (which is an awesome cookbook to have by the way if doing the 21 Day Fix! Fixate cookbook). Cut them in half and place the squash cut side down on baking sheet. Bake 30-35 minutes or until tender. Then the Fixate recipe calls to add a little butter, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg! Bake another 15-20 minutes. Sensational squash! Here is a similar recipe for roasted acorn squash
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| Here I put turkey meatball spaghetti over a roasted acorn squash |
Butternut Squash
Last but certainly not least....butternut squash! Yum, my kids even really like this one. They even ask for "sposh" (rhymes with Josh) when I make it. You can cut up the squash into cubes and roast it with a light coat of olive oil and some salt and pepper to taste, or you can completely transform it into "candy butternut squash"! Keep reading....
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| Honey Cinnamon Butternut Squash....the kids love! |
Honey Cinnamon Butternut Squash:
Cut squash in cube-sized 1 inch pieces. Caution*** It can be hard to cut up a butternut squash! So be careful, have a sharp knife, and don't do it alone if possible. Have a kitchen buddy in case of an emergency!
Toss cubes in 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tbsp coconut oil, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, and bake on 375 for 20-30 minutes (until tender). Or you can try a soup with the squash!
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| Butternut squash soup and roasted carrots |
So I hope you find these "diamonds in the rough" of the grocery store (especially if shopping in the rough throngs of Walmart) and enjoy them as much as I did. If you have a favorite squash recipe with any of these varieties of squash or others, please please share! Also don't forget with all these you have to core out the seeds, but you can roast them for snacks too!
Good night and always grateful!
Diana
Welcome to Gratefully Healthy! I am Diana, a wife and mommy of 2 who has a passion for health and wellness. I want to live grateful, healthy, and whole. Join me to see how far we can go!
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Project Happiness....is it really all just a decision?
Because I'm Happpyyy!! Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof.....Because I'm happy...clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth!!
The song Happy by Pharrel Williams, which was the featured song for the Despicable Me 2 movie, is playing through my head as I write this blog post. I am bobbing my head just a little too. I have been thinking a lot about happiness here lately. For a few reasons:
First, as I am discovering my love for a new health and fitness lifestyle and participation in my health and fitness accountability groups, I found I have become a more happier and contented person. You might think "why does your family and kids not bring you such happiness, or your job?" They do! Of course, my family brings me much happiness! But always the deep thinker, I discovered I had been missing (or at least neglecting) a huge part of me that I didn't realize was such a huge part of me. When I joined my health and fitness challenge groups, a passion for health, fitness, and wellness started oozing out of me, and now the flood gates are opening!
Secondly, before the Christmas break, I received an email from a veterinary colleague with this article about a 92-year old lady's take on happiness. I was so touched by Mrs.Jones's beautiful and wise words regarding happiness. Amazing Advice on Happiness at 92-years old. She describes that happiness is a decision, or choice, that you make everyday. She states in the article:
Mrs.Jones also shares with us to "Remember the Five Simple Rules to be Happy" which are:
1. Free your heart from hatred
2. Free your mind from worries
3. Live simply
4. Give More
5. Expect less
And lastly, in November, I finished Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin which I have mentioned in other posts, see New Year, New You. I was so intrigued and inspired by this book as well as her extensive research and observations on habit formation, that I went on to read one of her other bestseller's the Happiness Project. The reason you may see many post from me on her work and why I started my facebook group "Be Better, Be Happy" is because I felt like I related to this author on so many levels. I too was someone who went all through college and gained a professional degree only to realize I didn't have an extreme passion for my chosen profession. I enjoy veterinary medicine. It can be fun, rewarding, and challenging. However, I am not what you would call passionate about it. In fact, I really don't practice medicine anymore. I work in research support and compliance at LSU, which I can explain in another post one day! No, I am just realizing some other things that I am truly passionate about, and those are healthy living, fitness, an active lifestyle, reading, and writing. I may never become a professional writer, and that's ok, but I can still make writing a hobby. A hobby, no doubt, that will bring me much happiness! Hence this blog (and future ones to come).
In my own pursuit of happiness (not to be confused with the movie the Pursuit of Happyness featuring Will Smith as I am not about to solve the rubik's cube and move up in corporate America), I am going to attempt to do my own sort of happiness project! I will focus on the areas of life covered in the the Happiness Project book, but I will tweak it to be my own. Rubin actually encourages her readers to do their own happiness project and gives you resources to do it on your own or with a group. Why am I doing this? It's not that I am unhappy by any means. In fact, this is probably one of the most happy times in my life. I have a strong faith, supportive husband, two precious kids, a nice home, loving parents, a good job..... I have a lot to be grateful for! I am doing this because.....why not? This could be fun, eye-opening, an area of personal growth, and perhaps I could spread happiness tips and tricks to others. And it will keep me doing something that contributes to my happiness......writing! So once a week I am going to do a blog post on the events of my own attempt at a happiness project.
In the introduction of the The Happiness Project called "Getting Started", Rubin states her 12 commandments. Ok, not like the ten commandments we got from God for which Moses brought forth to us down from Mount Sinai. Those aren't the commandments I am talking about, and I am not trying to be sacrilegious here. Its personal commandments that help you stay focused on what makes you, and keeps the people around you, happy. Personal mottos, maxims, adages, or mantras if you will. For those of you reading this who are of faith and/or a Christian as I am, this certainly can be favorite bible verses. Some of Rubin's 12 commandments were:
Be Gretchen
Act the way I want to feel
Lighten up
No Calculation
Be Polite and Be Fair
Spend Out
By the way, I am not trying to emulate Rubin here. I am still going to make my happiness project fall in line with my own personal values and faith. This is just an author whose work happens to resonate with me, and that I believed was very interesting and thought-provoking. If you read this book, its not advocating any type of religion or belief system. She does mention several aspects of religion and beliefs, but only as it applies to the contemplation of one's own happiness. She covers some aspects of Buddhism as it relates to happiness, but one of my favorite chapters is when Rubin describes her discovery and utter intrigue of the life of one of her happiness icons, or "spiritual master", whom happen to be St.Theresa of Lisieux "the Little Flower". Don't worry, I won't get preachy, but to not have some aspect of my faith infused in this project, well, it would be set up for failure. It would fail because it wouldn't be truly me...which is the first commandment. Be Diana.
Take note that Rubin mentions pursuing happiness is not necessarily a selfish ambition. Two of my favorite quotes from her book regarding happiness:
So here are my 12 commandments (and some of hers I liked so much that I stole them for my own):
Let Go, Let God
Be Diana
Just do it
Be grateful and content
Enjoy the process
Lighten Up
Follow through
Keep it Simple
Remember the Serenity Prayer
Be more generous
Show up
Spread joy and love
Throughout the book, she explains how she incorporates these personal commandments in her daily life and in the pursuit of understanding happiness. And I will explain mine as I go too.
The Happiness Project was a year long endeavor, January to December, with each month covering 12 different areas of life seeking or improving on happiness.
January: Boost Energy-Vitality
February: Remember Love-Marriage
March: Aim Higher- Career
April: Lighten Up- Parenthood
May: Be serious about play- Leisure
June: Make time for friends- Friendship
July: Buy Some Happiness- Money
August: Contemplate the Heavens- Eternity
September: Pursue a Passion- Books
October: Pay Attention-mindfulness
November: Keep a contented heart- attitude
December: Boot Camp Perfect- Happiness
So with the fresh start of new year, we will see how the Coulon Happiness Project goes! If you would like to read this book and start your own happiness project. Here is the link to the book on Amazon. Also I am curious if you came up with a personal commandment, maxim, mantra, scripture, or motto to live by, what would it or they be?
Gratefully,
Diana
The song Happy by Pharrel Williams, which was the featured song for the Despicable Me 2 movie, is playing through my head as I write this blog post. I am bobbing my head just a little too. I have been thinking a lot about happiness here lately. For a few reasons:
First, as I am discovering my love for a new health and fitness lifestyle and participation in my health and fitness accountability groups, I found I have become a more happier and contented person. You might think "why does your family and kids not bring you such happiness, or your job?" They do! Of course, my family brings me much happiness! But always the deep thinker, I discovered I had been missing (or at least neglecting) a huge part of me that I didn't realize was such a huge part of me. When I joined my health and fitness challenge groups, a passion for health, fitness, and wellness started oozing out of me, and now the flood gates are opening!
Secondly, before the Christmas break, I received an email from a veterinary colleague with this article about a 92-year old lady's take on happiness. I was so touched by Mrs.Jones's beautiful and wise words regarding happiness. Amazing Advice on Happiness at 92-years old. She describes that happiness is a decision, or choice, that you make everyday. She states in the article:
"It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away, just for this time in my life.”
Mrs.Jones also shares with us to "Remember the Five Simple Rules to be Happy" which are:
1. Free your heart from hatred
2. Free your mind from worries
3. Live simply
4. Give More
5. Expect less
And lastly, in November, I finished Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin which I have mentioned in other posts, see New Year, New You. I was so intrigued and inspired by this book as well as her extensive research and observations on habit formation, that I went on to read one of her other bestseller's the Happiness Project. The reason you may see many post from me on her work and why I started my facebook group "Be Better, Be Happy" is because I felt like I related to this author on so many levels. I too was someone who went all through college and gained a professional degree only to realize I didn't have an extreme passion for my chosen profession. I enjoy veterinary medicine. It can be fun, rewarding, and challenging. However, I am not what you would call passionate about it. In fact, I really don't practice medicine anymore. I work in research support and compliance at LSU, which I can explain in another post one day! No, I am just realizing some other things that I am truly passionate about, and those are healthy living, fitness, an active lifestyle, reading, and writing. I may never become a professional writer, and that's ok, but I can still make writing a hobby. A hobby, no doubt, that will bring me much happiness! Hence this blog (and future ones to come).
In my own pursuit of happiness (not to be confused with the movie the Pursuit of Happyness featuring Will Smith as I am not about to solve the rubik's cube and move up in corporate America), I am going to attempt to do my own sort of happiness project! I will focus on the areas of life covered in the the Happiness Project book, but I will tweak it to be my own. Rubin actually encourages her readers to do their own happiness project and gives you resources to do it on your own or with a group. Why am I doing this? It's not that I am unhappy by any means. In fact, this is probably one of the most happy times in my life. I have a strong faith, supportive husband, two precious kids, a nice home, loving parents, a good job..... I have a lot to be grateful for! I am doing this because.....why not? This could be fun, eye-opening, an area of personal growth, and perhaps I could spread happiness tips and tricks to others. And it will keep me doing something that contributes to my happiness......writing! So once a week I am going to do a blog post on the events of my own attempt at a happiness project.
In the introduction of the The Happiness Project called "Getting Started", Rubin states her 12 commandments. Ok, not like the ten commandments we got from God for which Moses brought forth to us down from Mount Sinai. Those aren't the commandments I am talking about, and I am not trying to be sacrilegious here. Its personal commandments that help you stay focused on what makes you, and keeps the people around you, happy. Personal mottos, maxims, adages, or mantras if you will. For those of you reading this who are of faith and/or a Christian as I am, this certainly can be favorite bible verses. Some of Rubin's 12 commandments were:
Be Gretchen
Act the way I want to feel
Lighten up
No Calculation
Be Polite and Be Fair
Spend Out
By the way, I am not trying to emulate Rubin here. I am still going to make my happiness project fall in line with my own personal values and faith. This is just an author whose work happens to resonate with me, and that I believed was very interesting and thought-provoking. If you read this book, its not advocating any type of religion or belief system. She does mention several aspects of religion and beliefs, but only as it applies to the contemplation of one's own happiness. She covers some aspects of Buddhism as it relates to happiness, but one of my favorite chapters is when Rubin describes her discovery and utter intrigue of the life of one of her happiness icons, or "spiritual master", whom happen to be St.Theresa of Lisieux "the Little Flower". Don't worry, I won't get preachy, but to not have some aspect of my faith infused in this project, well, it would be set up for failure. It would fail because it wouldn't be truly me...which is the first commandment. Be Diana.
Take note that Rubin mentions pursuing happiness is not necessarily a selfish ambition. Two of my favorite quotes from her book regarding happiness:
“The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It's more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity, and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted, yet everyone takes the happy person for granted. No one is careful of his feelings or tries to keep his spirits high. He seems self-sufficient; he becomes a cushion for others. And because happiness seems unforced, that person usually gets no credit.”
“One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.”
― Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun
So here are my 12 commandments (and some of hers I liked so much that I stole them for my own):
Let Go, Let God
Be Diana
Just do it
Be grateful and content
Enjoy the process
Lighten Up
Follow through
Keep it Simple
Remember the Serenity Prayer
Be more generous
Show up
Spread joy and love
Throughout the book, she explains how she incorporates these personal commandments in her daily life and in the pursuit of understanding happiness. And I will explain mine as I go too.
The Happiness Project was a year long endeavor, January to December, with each month covering 12 different areas of life seeking or improving on happiness.
January: Boost Energy-Vitality
February: Remember Love-Marriage
March: Aim Higher- Career
April: Lighten Up- Parenthood
May: Be serious about play- Leisure
June: Make time for friends- Friendship
July: Buy Some Happiness- Money
August: Contemplate the Heavens- Eternity
September: Pursue a Passion- Books
October: Pay Attention-mindfulness
November: Keep a contented heart- attitude
December: Boot Camp Perfect- Happiness
So with the fresh start of new year, we will see how the Coulon Happiness Project goes! If you would like to read this book and start your own happiness project. Here is the link to the book on Amazon. Also I am curious if you came up with a personal commandment, maxim, mantra, scripture, or motto to live by, what would it or they be?
Gratefully,
Diana
Welcome to Gratefully Healthy! I am Diana, a wife and mommy of 2 who has a passion for health and wellness. I want to live grateful, healthy, and whole. Join me to see how far we can go!
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Pursue the Dreams of 2016:
Happy New Year! So I have titled this post "Pursue the Dreams of 2016"! Sounds like I have these really amazing dreams I want to achieve, right? Honestly, I don't know if they are considered dreams. Just things I want to get done in 2016! If I am being totally honest, and a little naive (ha ha), I dreamed of being a background dancer for a famous superstar like Beyonce, Katy Perry, or Justin Timberlake, but I have come to accept reality that that just ain't happening. Obviously. When I was 13, I dreamed to be on Broadway. Well again, that's more than likely not going to happen. When I was 18, I dreamed to become a veterinarian. That dream did actually come true, but I am starting to realize it's not truly a passion of mine. I enjoy it, and it challenges me, but it's no longer my dream. As Joyce Meyer says "If that dream didn't work out, get yourself a new dream". It's not the veterinary medicine didn't work out, but I know I have other things I want to do too. So I asked myself as I was contemplating my New Year's Resolutions, what do I want to pursue in 2016? What resolutions do I have that would be fulfilling a passion of mine, and in turn make me a happier and more fruitful person.
I attempt to find ways to be constantly grateful. So as I was thinking on my resolutions, it occurred to me, aren't we fortunate even to be able to make New Year's Resolutions? We are so blessed in this country that many of us don't have to worry about meeting our basic needs. We have clean, potable water, shelter, as well as ready and available food and other commodities. Our daily physical needs are met, most of the time in abundance! Most people in America are given the luxury of striving for and attaining their spiritual, emotional, and self-fulfillment needs i.e. Maslow's theory of self-actualization. We have the time, energy, resources to explore self-actualization and work toward goal-oriented, personal potential. If you have ever read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair or Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, then you know living in survival-mode doesn't make much time for contemplating what your New Year's Resolutions are going to be, let alone what dreams you want to achieve. The only things these people dreamed about while working all day in the horrific environments of an unsanitary meatpacking plant and a Nazi concentration camp, respectively, was some rest, nourishment, and peace of mind. I am not afflicted by cancer, starving in Ethopia, or suffering in the hot spots of the AIDS epidemic. So even though our country and world may not be a utopian society, I am grateful that I don't live in those despairing and harsh circumstances. I happen to live in time and place where dreams, resolutions, personal potential, and fulfillment can be explored, sought, and achieved.
With that being said I have, gratefully, come up with my New Year's Resolutions:
1. Become a blogger
..ok I bet you are thinking "you already have a blog?". Well, I want to push myself to blog more; I want to write more; and more importantly I want to connect with people more. I want to be blogging consistently 6 days a week by the end of the year. A long time dream of mine (yes, a dream!) is to be a writer or even, I dare say, write a book! However, it takes time, practice, a niche, and a following! Blogging and doing my research on blogging, will help me move toward that pursuit. I also love the fact that people interact through blogging and you can build relationships, not just a business. My goal also encompasses moving towards a self-hosted blog i.e. a genuine".com".
2. Keep a daily journal.
Yes, that would essentially be like a blog, but this is something much more personal and requires writing with an actual pen or pencil. I started a prayer journal last year, I wrote in it every day. It may have been only a few sentences, but I wrote something. I want to continue that, but I want to also do it more in a memoir fashion. The goal is to write everyday or at the very least, weekly, a recount of the thoughts and events of my life. Recording special memories with my kids, frustrations with daily life, excitement over successes, and disappointment with failures. I am not scrapbooker like my mom. I been there and tried that, but I do enjoy to write. Especially when life with my kids is passing by so fast, and I want to savor and remember all the precious (and not so precious) moments. Do you keep a journal? Comment below and share your strategy for keeping and maintaining one, I would love to hear about it!
3. Be More Generous
Be more generous by joining a service ministry and participating in at least 3 charitable causes/events. Generosity is something I need to work on and not just by giving money to the local food bank. I have been given so much. I need to give back. I need to give back my time, talents, and energy for others. In 2015, we walked as a family for the St.Jude Give Thanks Walk, and Kora and I attended and helped with Lily's Tea Party which helped raise over $4000 for St.Jude's Children's Research Hospital toward Childhood Cancer Awareness. This was a huge undertaking by my amazing and beautiful mother. She put the fundraiser together for my niece and the St.Jude cause. I want to be more involved helping her with it this year. Lily was diagnosed with Lymphoma in 2014, and has been cancer free for a year! My brother is a quadriplegic, so contributing toward spinal cord injury research or helping him more are certainly ways I could help. There is so much more we could do!
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| At St.Jude Give Thanks Walk for my niece Lily's team |
For a decade, I focused on nothing but school, academia, and science/medicine while in college and veterinary school. I gave up a lot of things I enjoy doing like dancing, reading, and painting. I am so busy and it takes time to do these creative hobbies, but I thrive on it. I want to paint another painting this year. It was on my list last year, and I never got to it. I admit I am not great, and won't be the next Picasso or Van Gogh. But I enjoy it, and its a huge creative outlet and stress reliever.
 |
| Painted this years ago, and gave it to mother-in-law. Didn't say I was good, just that I enjoy it! |
5. Read about the Saints.
As a practicing Catholic, its a sort of pitiful that I don't know more about the lives of the Catholic Saints. I know bits and pieces of the lives of some of the more popular ones like Saint Theresa of Lisieux "the little flower" and St. Frances of Assisi, but nothing in depth to where I can really fully appreciate the pious attributes that canonized these people as extraordinary beings. They are people that exemplified faith, charity, good deeds, selflessness, hope, sacrificial love, and wisdom. Even if you aren't Catholic or religious by any means, there is so much to learn from the Saints about life and living it for a purpose with humility, peace, and gratitude. My New Year's resolution is to read about 2 saints a month either through a book, website, or a Catholic resource. In fact, I have a copy of the Story of a Soul which is St.Theresa's of Lisieux's famous memoir that I have never completed. Now just may be the time, and I feel I am in a place where I would appreciate her story more. Who is your favorite saint or one that most inspires you?
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| A picture of St.Theresa "The Little Flower" |
6. Get More Organized
I am organized, and then I am not. I keep my home well organized, my closet, my car. I know where things are filed, folded, and stored. But my life is not always managed and organized as it should be. I am kind of all over the place. My mother-in-law is one of the most organized people I have ever met in my life. She seems to have it together all the time. Her pantry is pinterest-inpiring because she has these neat labels and baskets to keep it all organized. When Dusty and I got married, I was baffled by her notebook and folder with all the important information for the wedding filed and ready to go. I can be absent-minded sometimes, and this doesn't make for me remembering to do things. I have kind of always kept a to-do list on a scratch piece of paper. But with having kids now and life just staying busy, I am determined to get more life-oriented organized. So I picked me up one of these planners at Mistletoe Market to help me. I also use the app "Keep" to jot down reminders. So far the "Keep" app has been very helpful, but like my journal resolution, I just like to write stuff down sometimes. So I got a planner and plan to use it....hopefully!
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| A Faithful Mom 2016 Planner. Check out www.afaithfulmom.com |
7. Continue and/or start a collection
My only current collections consist of about 50 pitiable-looking nutcrackers and Christmas tree ornaments. My nutcrackers are badly falling apart because they are getting old and sit in an 100+ degree attic during the year except for the month of December. Some are missing noses, a beard, a foot, or a sword/staff. Its sad, but its the nature of a collection getting old. I adore my nutcracker collection because they are from my childhood and will always be cherished, but the collection stopped after I graduated from high school. I also love to collect Christmas ornaments from my travels or special occasions. Anytime we visit a new place or enjoy a special event where they have Christmas ornaments for sale, I usually pick one up. I was intrigued in The Happiness Project how Rubin (loved this book by the way) explains that a collection offers a boost in happiness. If the collection is practical, doesn't take up a lot of space, and isn't financially restrictive:
"A collection provides a mission, a reason to visit new places, the excitement of the chase, a field of expertise (no matter how trivial), and, often, a bond with other people"-Gretchen Rubin.
 |
| This is just about half of them! |
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| Our first date weekend in NOLA after having Kaleb, we bought our first painting in Jackson Square |
8. Start a book club.
I am a reader, I love books. I keep an updated library card for crying out loud! I find myself watching less and less television and no longer quite as entertained by many shows. I like movies and often feel I watch the same ones over and over. But hands down I would rather throw myself into a book. Fiction, non-fiction, self-help, spiritual, historical, whatever! The quiet absorption into a book that is stimulating, entertaining, or provides insight and knowledge is my idea of good time. Call me boring, but that's me. I would love to share this passion of mine with other like-minded readers, and have always wanted to do a book club. I have attempted to start this by forming a private Facebook group called "Be Better, Be Happy in 2016" which is a starting point for a quasi-book club via a social media platform. Although I would love to have face-to-face meetings, life can be crazy busy so those are not always possible. This group will start with self-improvement books, but could really morph into anything interesting we want to read together. I am starting the group off with Gretchen Rubin's Better than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everday Lives which I thought appropriate for the start of a new year! Many of us have new habits we would like to start and maintain, and New Year's Resolutions to fulfill. This book will help with mastering those new habits and resolutions. If you want to start a book club, join "Be Better, Be Happy", or have any ideas, please comment below and let me know!
This is the bonus resolution. The one I really don't quite expect to achieve, but its nice to think (dream) I could actually do it. Now there are conditions to this resolution. I am not talking about carbs/low carb/paleo dieting, I am talking about super-stimulating sweets like cakes, cookies, pies, candy, ice cream, etc. You get the picture. The only thing I will allow myself on occasion is dark chocolate, ONLY because its so good for me mentally and physically it would be almost irresponsible of me not to allow myself dark chocolate here and there! I have a major sweet tooth, that often gets me in big trouble. Once I allow myself sweets its all down hill. If I can avoid sweets, except dark chocolate, for a year, then I literally could do just about anything in this world. I am also curious just to see how long I can go. I will take bets now!?
So I have 8 New Year's Resolutions (plus my bonus)! That's quite a bit, and I don't know that I will truly resolve in completing them all. However, I think it's the pursuit that is the fulfilling part. The chase is what's exciting! The saying goes to "keep your eyes on the prize", but I am saying "keep your hearts in the pursuit, and enjoy the process"! I will let you know how things turn out! Happy New Year's!
Gratefully,
Diana
Welcome to Gratefully Healthy! I am Diana, a wife and mommy of 2 who has a passion for health and wellness. I want to live grateful, healthy, and whole. Join me to see how far we can go!
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
525,600 minutes...how do you measure the moments so dear!
As the year 2015 comes to an end, I usually take the time that I am off work to clean, organize, and declutter my home. I notice that as I do this, it becomes somewhat an emotional task as I think back on the past year. While working around the house, I usually will play a movie or some music that really just serves as background noise. But on Tuesday of this week, I streamed the musical movie Rent off Netflix because I hadn't seen it in ages. I had at one time knew the music really well, so I thought it would be good to play while working and I could sing along. As soon as the song "Seasons of Love" came on with the lyrics "525,600 minutes....", I kind of stopped dead in my tracks and just listened!
Oh so many moments so dear! Especially with my family, friends, and loved ones, and to record them here would make for a very long blog post, which I still may do like my sister did on her blog. A beautiful post on the past year. See Reflection on 2015. I had set New Year's Resolutions like most people, but honestly like more than half of society I did not uphold them well at all the first 5 months of the year. However, over the summer, many things changed. I started to crank the motions in gear and picked up momentum! Here were my main 2015 resolutions. I did actually manage to implement most of my resolutions, although it took time and simply making an affirmative decision to get started.
1.Practice gratitude! I have tried to make it a point everyday to give thanks to God for the things in my life. If you read Steven Covey's 12 Habits of Happy People, or Matthew Kelly's Prayer Process. They both start off with #1 as "Being Grateful". That is what lead me to create "Gratefully Healthy". People who practice gratitude are generally more content, and more happy regardless of the circumstances that may come their way. I think sometimes "Oh I wish we had a bigger, finer home with more space and better kitchen appliances!". But then I think back. I grew up in a 1300 square foot house and shared a room with my sister for years. I don't recall having a troubled or deprived childhood. I don't remember feeling like we needed a fancier fridge. Would my kids really care? I didn't as a child. I had a wonderful childhood with supportive and loving parents. I don't remember ever feeling like I needed a better or bigger house. I was happy and loved, and more importantly I knew it. I should be extremely grateful for that! So I started a prayer journal this year utilizing the The Word Among Us daily journal. This journal had just enough space for a daily entry to reflect on what I was grateful for in my life. Everyday I wrote some form of "thank you for this new day!" and then mentioned one or two things, people, experience, etc that I was grateful for. I looked back at some of my entries at the beginning of the year. I amazed how much I have grown in the last year in gratitude. The main part of the growth was really consistency and the depth of the gratitude. It was at first for very general things...my family, my health, my job. Then my gratitude evolved into very specific and unique things like "thank you for that I was able to calm down to have that much-needed conversation with my husband" or "thank you for helping me find my lost keys". As Grethcen Rubins remarks in her book The Happiness Project "an atomosphere of growth" is very important contributor to happiness. By daily reflection I feel I have grown more grateful, and this, I believe, has made me happier. Love your life!
2. Commit to a Prayer "Power Hour". Prayer is truly my place of refuge, comfort, peace, clarity, and restoration. I grew up a cradle Catholic, and my upbringing did foster a prayerful lifestyle. But I will say that over the years, Catholicism is not just a ritualistic, church-going, religious habit. It defines me and I am not ashamed to say it. I started praying daily when I was in high school, and have never stopped. I try to get in at least 10-20 minutes a day. In 2015, I wanted to commit to an hour of perpetual adoration at St.Mark's chapel. It was slow going trying to find a suitable time, but finally I settled on Tuesday nights at 8pm. I started mid-summer, and it took a few weeks for me and my husband to get adapted to the schedule. At first, I would miss a week here and there because I would forget to go and lose track of the week. But then I told myself "I committed to do this, you do it Diana!". I have been going weekly ever since! As hectic as life can be, you can only imagine what a full hour in quiet union with the Lord can do to restore your faith and peace. Some Tuesdays I think to myself "I just don't feel like getting out again today and going....I am too tired....I have too much to do around the house". But then when I leave the chapel at 9pm or sometimes a few minutes later, I am so incredibly grateful that I went and spent that much needed time in prayer. Dusty will ask me "How was it tonight?" and my usual response is "Great and much needed!". What do I do during that time? I pray of course, but I also may read a spiritual book or a Catholic book to better understand my religion, say the rosary, write in my prayer journal, sit there, and admittedly fall asleep sometimes (sorry, its true) the late time of day, quiet, and peace just form the perfect soporific surroundings. Its a power hour that has brought me much peace and contentment. Love the Lord!
3. Exercise Regularly. I have always been active, and I have always tried to keep up an exercise routine. After I had my two children, I had had a major setback exercising consistently. I wanted to resume a routine, but I couldn't figure out how. So what did I do.....I went to the library! The library...are you thinking "What did you do, run laps around the stacks? Umm, don't you mean the gym?". Nope I went and checked out books on yoga/Pilates/strength training, health and wellness, and personal development books. I needed to not only get focused on my physical, but the mental health as well. I wanted to discover how to workout at home effectively, learn yoga poses, and do Pilates exercises, but I also needed to get the right frame of mind. I started doing Pinterest plank challenges and circuit workouts, walking the kids in a their wagon up and down our subdivision, walking around LSU's campus, setting a 20-30 minute timer to make sure I did exercise that long. These methods worked temporarily, and I gradually was moving more! Although they weren't quite establishing that routine. I also looked into gym memberships and exercise classes, but working, commuting, and taking care of my two young kids just didn't allow much time to go to the gym. I was contacted (which I believe was truly divine intervention!) by a veterinary classmate of mine to join a Beachbody accountability group. It took me a while to finally commit, but it was literally the BEST decision I ever made. It has changed my life. I finally exercise just about everyday and have been consistently doing so for 7 months with the motivation and inspiration from these accountability groups. I workout in the mornings because I am a true lark! Mornings are when I am most productive and at my best. I usually don't get much more time than 30-40 minutes. So the Beachbody programs, like T25, Cize, and especially the 21 Day Fix were PERFECT for me. I could stay at home and get it done. Within a couple of weeks I was feeling SO much better. I am still doing the groups and exercising daily! I may have a rest day here and there, but the overall process is still intact. I knew I needed it, not for weight loss, but for overall health and well-being. I truly believe in these programs and what they offer people that commit to them. That's why I became a Beachbody coach. I wanted to share with others something that I really struggled with and God brought about a solution. Love to take care of yourself!
4. Build relationships. I realized also I was a Facebook junkie.....oh no! How could I waste so much time on social media!? But honestly, I love connecting with people. Facebook, Instagram, twitter may certainly have its downside; however, I have reconnected with friends from high school, college, my sorority, veterinary school, my hometown....all through these social media platforms. I think if used properly, its a gift! I work in a very isolated environment, and follow the same routine almost everyday.....so in a way social media provides stimulation, novelty, camaraderie, and entertainment. My kids are also still young and not yet involved in sports, dance, cheer, gym, etc....so I don't get to interact with other "soccer moms" right now either. That is what Facebook and my monthly online health and fitness accountability groups have done for me. Life is about building relationships, fostering friendships, and enjoying the presence of others. I have tried to appreciate that and work substantially on connecting with people, and I hope to continue to do so in 2016 with my blog. Love others!
5. Worrying Less! As I strived to be more grateful, pray more, exercise more, build and foster relationships....I found I was worrying less and less. I think this came about because I was growing more confident in myself, building meaningful relationships, fostering good healthy habits, and really no longer forcing myself to needlessly worry over stuff that really was trivial matters or just completely out of my hands. I didn't need to fret over everything. In the end, things work out as they should. I knew I needed to be more flexible, relaxed, and adaptable. Its still a work in progress for me not to worry. Especially as a mother, it seems we have an innate calling to worry! But really, I started thinking "Its sinful to worry". What good does it do? It won't change any situation's outcome. All it will do is waste time and energy. It's like the saying goes "worry is like a rocking chair...always in motion, but never getting anywhere". Yes, I am not nearly as bad I use to be. I can remember having so much anxiety and worry while in veterinary school that I would hyperventilate! That stressor is finally gone, but I also am a different person than I was 5 years ago. With age comes at least some wisdom, and I am learning not to sweat the small stuff and just try to enjoy the ride. As I grow more grateful, confident, and less stressed, I find that many insecurities that would plague my mind and emotional health have dissolved considerably. The idea that I have to perfect at everything no longer disillusions me, and I just try to be who I am now. Love contentment and peace!
6. Start a blog. And so here it is. A year ago I told myself that I would start a blog because well frankly I just like to write! Writing relaxes me and it challenges me. Its a creative outlet, and technical knack. I started my blog "Gratefully Healthy" back in June and have not been very consistent with it. Mainly because of time constraints, but also still wondering what my blog was truly going to be about. I have done quite a bit of "soul-searching" on it these last several months, and I hope that it will help me deliver. Hopefully I will have 525,600 minutes to get it right and pursue the dream in 2016. Do what you Love! Rent's Seasons of Love song
Happy New Year, and I will be sharing soon my 2016 resolutions!
Did you achieve your 2015 Resolutions??? Comment below, I would love to hear about it.
Quick disclaimer about RENT: Rent is a musical about impoverished young artists trying to survive and create a life in New York City's East Village under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Its contains some potentially offensive and provocative language and topics, but the music is incredible and beautifully written, composed, and performed. I hope one could just for a moment appreciate the beauty of the art in lieu of stressing too much over the content i.e. don't watch it with your kids!
Gratefully,
Diana
525,600 minutes, 525,600 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure,
measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In
inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you
measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of
love.
1.Practice gratitude! I have tried to make it a point everyday to give thanks to God for the things in my life. If you read Steven Covey's 12 Habits of Happy People, or Matthew Kelly's Prayer Process. They both start off with #1 as "Being Grateful". That is what lead me to create "Gratefully Healthy". People who practice gratitude are generally more content, and more happy regardless of the circumstances that may come their way. I think sometimes "Oh I wish we had a bigger, finer home with more space and better kitchen appliances!". But then I think back. I grew up in a 1300 square foot house and shared a room with my sister for years. I don't recall having a troubled or deprived childhood. I don't remember feeling like we needed a fancier fridge. Would my kids really care? I didn't as a child. I had a wonderful childhood with supportive and loving parents. I don't remember ever feeling like I needed a better or bigger house. I was happy and loved, and more importantly I knew it. I should be extremely grateful for that! So I started a prayer journal this year utilizing the The Word Among Us daily journal. This journal had just enough space for a daily entry to reflect on what I was grateful for in my life. Everyday I wrote some form of "thank you for this new day!" and then mentioned one or two things, people, experience, etc that I was grateful for. I looked back at some of my entries at the beginning of the year. I amazed how much I have grown in the last year in gratitude. The main part of the growth was really consistency and the depth of the gratitude. It was at first for very general things...my family, my health, my job. Then my gratitude evolved into very specific and unique things like "thank you for that I was able to calm down to have that much-needed conversation with my husband" or "thank you for helping me find my lost keys". As Grethcen Rubins remarks in her book The Happiness Project "an atomosphere of growth" is very important contributor to happiness. By daily reflection I feel I have grown more grateful, and this, I believe, has made me happier. Love your life!
2. Commit to a Prayer "Power Hour". Prayer is truly my place of refuge, comfort, peace, clarity, and restoration. I grew up a cradle Catholic, and my upbringing did foster a prayerful lifestyle. But I will say that over the years, Catholicism is not just a ritualistic, church-going, religious habit. It defines me and I am not ashamed to say it. I started praying daily when I was in high school, and have never stopped. I try to get in at least 10-20 minutes a day. In 2015, I wanted to commit to an hour of perpetual adoration at St.Mark's chapel. It was slow going trying to find a suitable time, but finally I settled on Tuesday nights at 8pm. I started mid-summer, and it took a few weeks for me and my husband to get adapted to the schedule. At first, I would miss a week here and there because I would forget to go and lose track of the week. But then I told myself "I committed to do this, you do it Diana!". I have been going weekly ever since! As hectic as life can be, you can only imagine what a full hour in quiet union with the Lord can do to restore your faith and peace. Some Tuesdays I think to myself "I just don't feel like getting out again today and going....I am too tired....I have too much to do around the house". But then when I leave the chapel at 9pm or sometimes a few minutes later, I am so incredibly grateful that I went and spent that much needed time in prayer. Dusty will ask me "How was it tonight?" and my usual response is "Great and much needed!". What do I do during that time? I pray of course, but I also may read a spiritual book or a Catholic book to better understand my religion, say the rosary, write in my prayer journal, sit there, and admittedly fall asleep sometimes (sorry, its true) the late time of day, quiet, and peace just form the perfect soporific surroundings. Its a power hour that has brought me much peace and contentment. Love the Lord!
3. Exercise Regularly. I have always been active, and I have always tried to keep up an exercise routine. After I had my two children, I had had a major setback exercising consistently. I wanted to resume a routine, but I couldn't figure out how. So what did I do.....I went to the library! The library...are you thinking "What did you do, run laps around the stacks? Umm, don't you mean the gym?". Nope I went and checked out books on yoga/Pilates/strength training, health and wellness, and personal development books. I needed to not only get focused on my physical, but the mental health as well. I wanted to discover how to workout at home effectively, learn yoga poses, and do Pilates exercises, but I also needed to get the right frame of mind. I started doing Pinterest plank challenges and circuit workouts, walking the kids in a their wagon up and down our subdivision, walking around LSU's campus, setting a 20-30 minute timer to make sure I did exercise that long. These methods worked temporarily, and I gradually was moving more! Although they weren't quite establishing that routine. I also looked into gym memberships and exercise classes, but working, commuting, and taking care of my two young kids just didn't allow much time to go to the gym. I was contacted (which I believe was truly divine intervention!) by a veterinary classmate of mine to join a Beachbody accountability group. It took me a while to finally commit, but it was literally the BEST decision I ever made. It has changed my life. I finally exercise just about everyday and have been consistently doing so for 7 months with the motivation and inspiration from these accountability groups. I workout in the mornings because I am a true lark! Mornings are when I am most productive and at my best. I usually don't get much more time than 30-40 minutes. So the Beachbody programs, like T25, Cize, and especially the 21 Day Fix were PERFECT for me. I could stay at home and get it done. Within a couple of weeks I was feeling SO much better. I am still doing the groups and exercising daily! I may have a rest day here and there, but the overall process is still intact. I knew I needed it, not for weight loss, but for overall health and well-being. I truly believe in these programs and what they offer people that commit to them. That's why I became a Beachbody coach. I wanted to share with others something that I really struggled with and God brought about a solution. Love to take care of yourself!
4. Build relationships. I realized also I was a Facebook junkie.....oh no! How could I waste so much time on social media!? But honestly, I love connecting with people. Facebook, Instagram, twitter may certainly have its downside; however, I have reconnected with friends from high school, college, my sorority, veterinary school, my hometown....all through these social media platforms. I think if used properly, its a gift! I work in a very isolated environment, and follow the same routine almost everyday.....so in a way social media provides stimulation, novelty, camaraderie, and entertainment. My kids are also still young and not yet involved in sports, dance, cheer, gym, etc....so I don't get to interact with other "soccer moms" right now either. That is what Facebook and my monthly online health and fitness accountability groups have done for me. Life is about building relationships, fostering friendships, and enjoying the presence of others. I have tried to appreciate that and work substantially on connecting with people, and I hope to continue to do so in 2016 with my blog. Love others!
5. Worrying Less! As I strived to be more grateful, pray more, exercise more, build and foster relationships....I found I was worrying less and less. I think this came about because I was growing more confident in myself, building meaningful relationships, fostering good healthy habits, and really no longer forcing myself to needlessly worry over stuff that really was trivial matters or just completely out of my hands. I didn't need to fret over everything. In the end, things work out as they should. I knew I needed to be more flexible, relaxed, and adaptable. Its still a work in progress for me not to worry. Especially as a mother, it seems we have an innate calling to worry! But really, I started thinking "Its sinful to worry". What good does it do? It won't change any situation's outcome. All it will do is waste time and energy. It's like the saying goes "worry is like a rocking chair...always in motion, but never getting anywhere". Yes, I am not nearly as bad I use to be. I can remember having so much anxiety and worry while in veterinary school that I would hyperventilate! That stressor is finally gone, but I also am a different person than I was 5 years ago. With age comes at least some wisdom, and I am learning not to sweat the small stuff and just try to enjoy the ride. As I grow more grateful, confident, and less stressed, I find that many insecurities that would plague my mind and emotional health have dissolved considerably. The idea that I have to perfect at everything no longer disillusions me, and I just try to be who I am now. Love contentment and peace!
6. Start a blog. And so here it is. A year ago I told myself that I would start a blog because well frankly I just like to write! Writing relaxes me and it challenges me. Its a creative outlet, and technical knack. I started my blog "Gratefully Healthy" back in June and have not been very consistent with it. Mainly because of time constraints, but also still wondering what my blog was truly going to be about. I have done quite a bit of "soul-searching" on it these last several months, and I hope that it will help me deliver. Hopefully I will have 525,600 minutes to get it right and pursue the dream in 2016. Do what you Love! Rent's Seasons of Love song
Happy New Year, and I will be sharing soon my 2016 resolutions!
Did you achieve your 2015 Resolutions??? Comment below, I would love to hear about it.
Quick disclaimer about RENT: Rent is a musical about impoverished young artists trying to survive and create a life in New York City's East Village under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Its contains some potentially offensive and provocative language and topics, but the music is incredible and beautifully written, composed, and performed. I hope one could just for a moment appreciate the beauty of the art in lieu of stressing too much over the content i.e. don't watch it with your kids!
Gratefully,
Diana
Welcome to Gratefully Healthy! I am Diana, a wife and mommy of 2 who has a passion for health and wellness. I want to live grateful, healthy, and whole. Join me to see how far we can go!
Thursday, December 10, 2015
New Year, New You! Becoming Better than Before
Its a new year, a time for a fresh start! In 2016, we are becoming better than ever before..... together!
I am a reader, and I always love a good book that captivates my attention and hopefully in some way will make a meaningful impact. I don't normally do "self-help" books. I am not usually the "self-help" book kind of gal, but Better than Before:Mastering the Habits of our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin was a random book I picked up on a quick pit stop to the library several weeks ago. I mentioned in my post on Jazzed Up Coffee and Peace Vibes, that I recently finished this interesting book on habit formation, but I didn't really dive into its greatness.
Gretchen Rubin, former lawyer and clerk to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner, now turned writer, really opened my mind as to why and how we create habits. She did extensive research into people's habit-forming quirks, and then applying that research she offered many strategies to help one implement a particular habit. I mentioned I randomly picked up Better than Before at the library; so there was little expectations with it and I had no idea who the author was, but the title was interesting to me... I wanted to become better! I needed something to listen to on my commute to and from work too, so it was the audio version admittedly (although I am currently reading 2 other books on my kindle so I need audio appeal sometimes too). I was intrigued to learn new ways I could create new healthy habits, maintain ones I had already established, and help others to develop lasting healthy habits as well. This seemed like a good enough gamble to try and see what the author had to offer.
After finishing the book, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. That's it! Living a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly, preparing and eating healthy meals, fostering better relationships, living purposely, decluttering your home..... while it greatly depends on our own morals, values, personality, and principles, it ALSO significantly depends on the type of habit-former you are! Honestly, when I first started this book, I thought I would NOT like it. She was very philosophical and sort of tried to explain the nature of the research...and I was like "Oh good Lord, where is this going?", but once she started explaining the four primary tendencies of habit formation. I was instantly intrigued or "hooked" if you will! I thought "this is why I do this, this is why I act this way, this is why its been so hard for me to do this or that'....." She explains that as she was doing her research for the book on habit formation, she noticed that people largely fell into 1 of these 4 habit-forming tendencies. Now some people can definitely have an overlapping nature regarding the tendencies, but usually one will stand out as the person's primary habit-forming tendency.
The four tendencies include:
Upholder- you meet outer and inner expectations, you can master habits on your own accord and make yourself accountable.
Questioner-resists outer expectations, meets inner expectations. You master habits only if you have
analyzed it thoroughly and it makes sense to you to do it. You question everything about developing a certain habit.
Obliger- meets outer expectations, and resists inner expectations. The epitome of the "people pleaser" and will largely create habits based on acccountability and feelings of obligations.
Rebel- resists outer and inner expectations..,...the epitome of "living on the whim" or "let's just wing it today". Habits almost feel constrictive to a rebel.
Take the Quiz: What type of habit-former are you?
So I did some soul searching (ok and I took the quiz on Gretchen's website) to determine just what type of habit former I really was! I figured I would certainly overlap into a couple of them depending on the particular habit, but according to Gretchen's four categories... I was an upholder. An upholder will maintain their habits because it brings a sense of true internal satisfaction and approval. I thought that was interesting because I knew how important accountability was to me and thought surely I am an obliger. While that may be true, I think we all have a little of all four categories in us, and different habits may require different strategies for implementing them. I would like to identify myself as a sole upholder, but I saw areas in my life where I seemed to fit in the other categories. There are some habits I have formed over this last year that I think would classify me as an "upholder", but joining monthly health and fitness accountability groups makes me more like an obliger...so you see some overlap.
So why do I read these types of books and what do I try to take from them?
Personal Development! I consider myself a spiritual person, and read many books related to my faith. But sometimes I am just a modern 21st century girl living in a south Louisiana world, And I want information, tips, strategies, techniques for living life in the modern day world while still "upholding" my personal morals, values, and faith. I also want to be as healthy and fit as possible in this world. I would think that most people want to be fit and get healthier, right?! People want to have great energy levels, feel comfortable in clothes, eat a good meal without the pangs of caloric guilt. Why and how is it easier for some people to establish lasting healthy habits, and yet it can be so difficult for others? Its not always a matter of apathy, laziness, or unwillingness; maybe its a matter of how we try to tackle a habit. Whether its to start a new habit, maintain one already established, or quit one that is not so healthy, we need to understand the type of person we are and our habit-forming tendencies in order to create life-changing results.
So with the New Year upon us, I decided that I wanted to take what I had learned from this book and really apply that knowledge to my 2016 goals and to encourage and motivate others to have a happier and healthier 2016. I went to Gretchen Rubin's website and downloaded many resources for essentially creating a healthy habits accountability group. My participation in health and fitness accountability groups for the last 6 months has literally been life-changing! I am now a absolute firm believer that having accountability, a support system, a group to cheer you along is a vital key to accomplishing health and fitness habits no matter what habit tendency you are. So with what I have learned from my own health and fitness accountability groups and from Better than Before. I figured creating a healthy habits group would be a great way to ring in the new year!! People want to reach certain goals and institute healthy habits, we just don't always know where to begin and how to keep it up. The vision I have for this pursuit wouldn't just entail healthy habits relating to diet and exercise, although that certainly will be a key feature, but any healthy habit one would want to master 2016.
Looking back at my 2015 New Year's Resolutions, or goals if you will, I did manage to implement and uphold most of them....surprisingly! I will talk more about that in "New Year, New YOU: Part 2!"
If you would like to join me in a "New Year, New You: Better than Before" healthy habits group, please let me know! I would love to have you join me! I would like to create a private Facebook group to do this, but also toyed around with the idea of just capitulating the information and daily tasks/tips on my blog or Facebook page "Gratefully Healthy"! I will share with you all the tips and strategies to create, lasting healthy habits. I will provide resources from Gretchen Rubin's website to guide us along the way. I am currently reading her other book the "Happiness Project" which I will incorporate aspects of that work as well as it was a year long project that starts with you guessed it..January!
PM on facebook, email me at dianacoulon11@gmail.com if interested!
Gratefully,
Diana
I am a reader, and I always love a good book that captivates my attention and hopefully in some way will make a meaningful impact. I don't normally do "self-help" books. I am not usually the "self-help" book kind of gal, but Better than Before:Mastering the Habits of our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin was a random book I picked up on a quick pit stop to the library several weeks ago. I mentioned in my post on Jazzed Up Coffee and Peace Vibes, that I recently finished this interesting book on habit formation, but I didn't really dive into its greatness.
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| Me in the "all natural"- no makeup, filters, etc. This is the real me! |
Gretchen Rubin, former lawyer and clerk to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner, now turned writer, really opened my mind as to why and how we create habits. She did extensive research into people's habit-forming quirks, and then applying that research she offered many strategies to help one implement a particular habit. I mentioned I randomly picked up Better than Before at the library; so there was little expectations with it and I had no idea who the author was, but the title was interesting to me... I wanted to become better! I needed something to listen to on my commute to and from work too, so it was the audio version admittedly (although I am currently reading 2 other books on my kindle so I need audio appeal sometimes too). I was intrigued to learn new ways I could create new healthy habits, maintain ones I had already established, and help others to develop lasting healthy habits as well. This seemed like a good enough gamble to try and see what the author had to offer.
After finishing the book, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. That's it! Living a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly, preparing and eating healthy meals, fostering better relationships, living purposely, decluttering your home..... while it greatly depends on our own morals, values, personality, and principles, it ALSO significantly depends on the type of habit-former you are! Honestly, when I first started this book, I thought I would NOT like it. She was very philosophical and sort of tried to explain the nature of the research...and I was like "Oh good Lord, where is this going?", but once she started explaining the four primary tendencies of habit formation. I was instantly intrigued or "hooked" if you will! I thought "this is why I do this, this is why I act this way, this is why its been so hard for me to do this or that'....." She explains that as she was doing her research for the book on habit formation, she noticed that people largely fell into 1 of these 4 habit-forming tendencies. Now some people can definitely have an overlapping nature regarding the tendencies, but usually one will stand out as the person's primary habit-forming tendency.
The four tendencies include:
Upholder- you meet outer and inner expectations, you can master habits on your own accord and make yourself accountable.
Questioner-resists outer expectations, meets inner expectations. You master habits only if you have
analyzed it thoroughly and it makes sense to you to do it. You question everything about developing a certain habit.
Obliger- meets outer expectations, and resists inner expectations. The epitome of the "people pleaser" and will largely create habits based on acccountability and feelings of obligations.
Rebel- resists outer and inner expectations..,...the epitome of "living on the whim" or "let's just wing it today". Habits almost feel constrictive to a rebel.
Take the Quiz: What type of habit-former are you?
 |
| The four tendencies...which one are you? |
So I did some soul searching (ok and I took the quiz on Gretchen's website) to determine just what type of habit former I really was! I figured I would certainly overlap into a couple of them depending on the particular habit, but according to Gretchen's four categories... I was an upholder. An upholder will maintain their habits because it brings a sense of true internal satisfaction and approval. I thought that was interesting because I knew how important accountability was to me and thought surely I am an obliger. While that may be true, I think we all have a little of all four categories in us, and different habits may require different strategies for implementing them. I would like to identify myself as a sole upholder, but I saw areas in my life where I seemed to fit in the other categories. There are some habits I have formed over this last year that I think would classify me as an "upholder", but joining monthly health and fitness accountability groups makes me more like an obliger...so you see some overlap.
So why do I read these types of books and what do I try to take from them?
Personal Development! I consider myself a spiritual person, and read many books related to my faith. But sometimes I am just a modern 21st century girl living in a south Louisiana world, And I want information, tips, strategies, techniques for living life in the modern day world while still "upholding" my personal morals, values, and faith. I also want to be as healthy and fit as possible in this world. I would think that most people want to be fit and get healthier, right?! People want to have great energy levels, feel comfortable in clothes, eat a good meal without the pangs of caloric guilt. Why and how is it easier for some people to establish lasting healthy habits, and yet it can be so difficult for others? Its not always a matter of apathy, laziness, or unwillingness; maybe its a matter of how we try to tackle a habit. Whether its to start a new habit, maintain one already established, or quit one that is not so healthy, we need to understand the type of person we are and our habit-forming tendencies in order to create life-changing results.
So with the New Year upon us, I decided that I wanted to take what I had learned from this book and really apply that knowledge to my 2016 goals and to encourage and motivate others to have a happier and healthier 2016. I went to Gretchen Rubin's website and downloaded many resources for essentially creating a healthy habits accountability group. My participation in health and fitness accountability groups for the last 6 months has literally been life-changing! I am now a absolute firm believer that having accountability, a support system, a group to cheer you along is a vital key to accomplishing health and fitness habits no matter what habit tendency you are. So with what I have learned from my own health and fitness accountability groups and from Better than Before. I figured creating a healthy habits group would be a great way to ring in the new year!! People want to reach certain goals and institute healthy habits, we just don't always know where to begin and how to keep it up. The vision I have for this pursuit wouldn't just entail healthy habits relating to diet and exercise, although that certainly will be a key feature, but any healthy habit one would want to master 2016.
Looking back at my 2015 New Year's Resolutions, or goals if you will, I did manage to implement and uphold most of them....surprisingly! I will talk more about that in "New Year, New YOU: Part 2!"
If you would like to join me in a "New Year, New You: Better than Before" healthy habits group, please let me know! I would love to have you join me! I would like to create a private Facebook group to do this, but also toyed around with the idea of just capitulating the information and daily tasks/tips on my blog or Facebook page "Gratefully Healthy"! I will share with you all the tips and strategies to create, lasting healthy habits. I will provide resources from Gretchen Rubin's website to guide us along the way. I am currently reading her other book the "Happiness Project" which I will incorporate aspects of that work as well as it was a year long project that starts with you guessed it..January!
PM on facebook, email me at dianacoulon11@gmail.com if interested!
 |
| The New Paperback edition |
Gratefully,
Diana
Welcome to Gratefully Healthy! I am Diana, a wife and mommy of 2 who has a passion for health and wellness. I want to live grateful, healthy, and whole. Join me to see how far we can go!
Sunday, December 6, 2015
21 Day FIX...now moving FORWARD into 2016!
Its been 6 months!! Got my Fix on, and now moving FOWARD. If you read some of my past posts about my experience with Health and Fitness Challenge groups, aka "Health and Fitness Accountability Groups" as we like to call them now, then you may have seen that I started this journey almost 6 months ago! See the The Challenge Triad! and Happier and Healthier: What Health and Fitness Challenge groups did for me?
Wow, I can't believe its been 6 months already. I used to always say "I wish I had time to go to the gym or take a class", and would play my mini-violin for why I didn't have to time to do it! But then I realized I just needed to make time!! So I said "I WILL do this, its too important to me". And I have been making time ever since. So in honor of my 6 months mark of this journey, I thought I would reflect on where I am now, the two NEW programs that I have completed, and where I am headed next!
This past fall or "Autumn", I have been doing the very popular fitness program, the 21 Day Fix (21DF). In the beginning of November, I started the 21 Day Fix Extreme! I was a bit hesitant to begin the 21DF because I had recently completed Focus T25 (which is a very high-intensity, cardio/toning workout) and then literally danced around with Cize. Both are Shaun T programs that require endurance and coordination. So I knew the 21DF would probably be a new and perhaps uncomfortable experience since it required the use of weights and focused intensely on strengthening. But my goal from the beginning of this journey was primarily to strengthen and tone. Tighten it up!
These two program are INCREDIBLY effective! At least you certainly feel like they are affecting something! Autumn Calabrese gets you working your rear off. She is a motivator and driver! Much like Jillian Michaels, but not quite so intense and shout-y. What did I love about this program? Click here to check out the 21 Day Fix details and here is a Short 2 minute video for 21 Day Fix
Wow, I can't believe its been 6 months already. I used to always say "I wish I had time to go to the gym or take a class", and would play my mini-violin for why I didn't have to time to do it! But then I realized I just needed to make time!! So I said "I WILL do this, its too important to me". And I have been making time ever since. So in honor of my 6 months mark of this journey, I thought I would reflect on where I am now, the two NEW programs that I have completed, and where I am headed next!
These two program are INCREDIBLY effective! At least you certainly feel like they are affecting something! Autumn Calabrese gets you working your rear off. She is a motivator and driver! Much like Jillian Michaels, but not quite so intense and shout-y. What did I love about this program? Click here to check out the 21 Day Fix details and here is a Short 2 minute video for 21 Day Fix
- 30 minute workouts- Yes, every workout in both programs is 30 minutes in duration. That is about all the time I got in the morning to spare, hence why I started with T25. I have just about that much time to workout. So to get it done in 30 minutes makes me smile!
- Variety- the workouts are broken down into Cardio, Upper body, Lower body, Pilates, Yoga, Dirty 30 (which is cardio/full body strengthening workout--LOVE!), and there is also a Plyo Fix. Plyo is an intense plyometric workout (think jumping jacks and squat jumps).
- Use of simple equipment- I didn't think I would like the use of weights. But the program recommends a set of light and heavy weights. I used a 5 lbs set and an 8 lbs set. I also had a resistance band that came with my T25 pack that I used sometimes instead of the weights. I was surprised the different muscles that are worked between the two different forms of equipment. The Pilates Extreme workout utilized the resistance band the whole time, but talk about feeling like you sculpt yourself into a statue after that one!
- Modifications/Modifiers- So almost all the workouts include a modifier doing the program at a lower intensity level. They also have a modifier for doing more advanced moves or bringing it up a level. The Yoga workout for instance shows many variations of the poses you can chose to do based on your comfort level. I also liked how they incorporated the demonstrations of using the weights and/or bands with the exercises.
- Organization- This was certainly a feature of these two programs that I really liked! You have ROUNDS and each round is a set of 2 or 3 exercises that are repeated at least twice. One workout involves a set of 5 exercises repeated twice and there is only 2 rounds. Autumn will break it down at the beginning of each workout about how the exercises will flow. She also does a great job at demonstrating the exercise before the actual 60 sec countdown. I notice with other programs, T25/P90x/Turbo Fire they just jump right into the exercise and you spend half your time trying to figure out how to do it. This is helpful, and something to consider if you are not so quick to catching on to things or struggle with coordination. My Type A organizational-self really liked that aspect of the program.
- Breaks and water! Yes you can catch your breath!! In 10-15 seconds you get to breathe and get a sip of water. T25 is non-stop with no real breaks. In Cize your water break doesn't come until you are almost finished the workout right before you "Cize it up" aka.... do the routine that has been choreographed to music at tempo.
- Motivational quotes-We need those to keep us focused...eyes on the prize. And Autumn provides many of them. "You can do anything for 60 seconds", "Don't undo what you did today in the kitchen", "Life doesn't get easier, you just get stronger", and many more.
- Color-coded Portion Control Containers- Simplified, nutrition plan that visually teaches you portion control and helps you learn how much you should be eating in a day. You are given 7 of these containers that are color coded to represent your food groups. So the green container is for your vegetables, the red is protein, the yellow is carbs, and so on. Based on your weight and activity level you fall into a bracket, if you will, indicating how many containers of each food group you can have in a day. The meal plan also has exactly what can be put in each container, and if it FITS in the container you can EAT it. So no calorie counting. You simply check off your allotted containers for the day. These container were solely part of the 21DF programs, but now they are being incorporated into almost all of the programs. They are so simple and effective that they have decided put them in most of the Beachbody Challenge packs.
Color-coded portion control containers super easy to use! - SHAKEOLOGY- last but certainly not least, a 30-day supply of Shakeology is part of the program. Shakeology is part of all of the challenge packs (in fact THE part of most of the fitness programs). I will post more about why I love Shakeology later, but for now I just want to share with you that I have been drinking Shakeology almost daily for these last several months and I am starting to really see and feel the positive changes in my hair, skin, nails, and of course energy levels! I think this super-food drink is delicious, easy to prepare, and gives me the essential nutrients I need. It takes the guesswork out of nutrition for one meal a day. I drink it every morning after my workouts. Its my breakfast during the week, keeps me full, and provides protein, probiotics, prebiotics, multi-vitamins, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and much more in one shake that I now crave!
I get the combinatin pack of Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry. You get a calender of many different recipes!
So what's next on my to-do list!? For now, in our December Accountability group I am having a fantastic time sampling different workouts by streaming them off of Beachbody On Demand (BOD). BOD gives you access to 100's workouts. You can do a highlighted workout from the newer programs like the 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, Piyo, Cize, Insanity Max, T25, and the new Hammer and Chisel! But you ALSO have access to the all the workouts from some of the classics like Turbo Jam and Turbo Fire, P90x3, P90x2, P90x, Insanity, and so much more. So I am fishing around and trying something new everyday. My goal in December with the holiday fanfare upon us is just to "keep it up!". I need to stay motivated to workout every single day, and I think mixing it up with some variety will do that.
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| Sweating after a quick-paced Turbo Fire workout |
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| Yoga Booty Ballet and Strawberry Shakeology |
NEW YEAR's, new fitness program! I plan on doing Chalene Johnson's Piyo. The combination of pilates and yoga! I have always enjoyed doing pilates and yoga. I look extremely forward to starting this workout series. I have been eyeing it for quite some time. I have been doing a 30-day PUSH challenge online series with Chalene Johnson. This is a daily, task-oriented Challenge to get you thinking about your 6-12 months goals and how to go about succeeding at those goals. I have grown to truly admire this amazingly tenacious and determined woman.
What is PiYo? |
| From celebrity trainer Chalene Johnson, PiYo is a low-impact, high-intensity 60-day body transformation program. It uses the most effective pilates and yoga inspired moves set to a fast pace to help burn fat and sculpt long, lean muscles. Carve every inch of the body without jumps, weights, or strained joints. If you have any interest in joining come January 1st, please don't hesitate to PM me through facebook or email me at dianacoulon11@gmail.com Let's make 2016 your healthiest year yet! I will also be utilizing resources and daily motivational tips to help incorporate healthy habits and making them stick for long-term success! UPDATE (12/20/15): Since I wrote this last blog post, I have decided to do the new Beachbody program Hammer and Chisel at the start of 2016. I do still certainly plan on doing PiYo, but many people in our accountability team are trying out the new program so I think it will be fun to have the accountability and encouragement with us committed to doing it together! This is designed to be a duo program that you and your significant other can do together. I don't know if I will get my to join it, but there is always hope, right? The NEW Hammer and Chisel! Gratefully, Diana |
Welcome to Gratefully Healthy! I am Diana, a wife and mommy of 2 who has a passion for health and wellness. I want to live grateful, healthy, and whole. Join me to see how far we can go!
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