Focus

And this morning, in the early hours….I realized that I’ve been moving non stop since returning from Alabama with the 100. Yes, that’s a good thing. It’s allowed me to get back into balance & renew my focus on my training, household & projects….well, everything.

A few of the things I’ve seen happen since leaving ….

• A body back in energetic balance. When I allow myself to sleep at more natural times, I’m able to train harder, think better, eat better and teach better than I do when running on fewer hours. I also fall back into my natural rhythms easier. Of course, I keep mentally battling with myself about being so sleepy at 9:30 at night, but hey if I’m up at 5-6am, whatever, I can just work then before little man wakes up after 7 or so. This is working out VERY well for my blogging & writing because otherwise, it falls to the wayside. I write much better earlier in the day.
• A drop to getting closer to my more natural weight. Poor choices lead to weight gain even though I’m pretty stringent about most things….but our time in Alabama reset my eating patterns, meaning fewer, healthier calories, no snacking…no sugar, no energy drinks, alcohol. As of today, I’m 11lbs lighter than I was when I left for Alabama & I have no intention of going back. (10 lbs is one clothing size, just in case anyone was wondering.) Another added benefit, my sugar cravings have been gone a long time, but I’m noticing now my cravings for grains are going too, which means, like sugar now…a few bites is more than enough. And yes, even those of us who know exactly what to do to make our bodies respond to weight loss can get lazy and ignore it. Calories In < Calories Out no matter which way you look at it.
• An increase in my training regime. I’m making friends with the heavy bag in the gym & set my intervals for a 20 minute training session so far. I’ve broken a knuckle (no more wrapping my hands with my rings on), damaged some others (learning the art of taping my fingers), and managed to be able to double kick the thing without getting nailed myself I’ve found a way to keep my strength training AND my marital arts training blended, which has always been a challenge before. And yes, keep the miles in too. It’s making for a longer daily session at the gym, but since I’m up earlier and can get some work done before, it all evens out.
• Remembering to smile at people. I don’t normally do this. Usually, esp when I’m out and about, I tend to keep to myself. What prompted this effort? Our service attitude & leaving our ego at the door. So, it’s new for me, but I’m smiling & saying good morning to people at the gym since it’s my main place I’m at when out of the house. I’ve made a number of new friends….at least some people to chatter at or ask for a spot if I need to. It makes the hard training days much nicer.
• Realizing the small stuff DOES count. While I’m a firm believer in ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ – I’m realizing too, there is a balance to that statement, because the small things lead up to big things over time. That means everything from scheduling, to training, to snacking to relationships and more. It’s learning which small stuff counts.
• Enjoy the moment for the moment’s sake. While we were talking/working/joking around while painting the siding in Alabama, I realized I’d forgotten the art of just really being in the moment of wherever I am. Of course, with good company & great attitudes, it made it all that much easier to do I may not understand some of the things the Universe put down in my path, but I’m just going to take the moments…whether focusing on the heavy bag at the gym, helping on a project, or even helping little man work on things, it’s going to be: Stop, breathe and be.
• Sometimes you only need an idea, not a plan. The plan can come later. Point in case, the idea was to get the siding painted. It took us a while to figure out how to accomplish the goal, but once we figured out a plan (together in this instance), it flowed really well.

I’m sure I’m still missing some profound thoughts/ideas I’ve had running around in my brain…they’ll show up again. So thank you team, all of you, for helping me come to those realizations (some of them again…some have to come back again and again to sink in).

Namaste,

Stacia