Baby Steps to Success

A few months ago these big yellow signs popped up all over my neighborhood that simply say SLOW DOWN. We live in a residential neighborhood with an elementary school and a University nearby. Parents walk their kids to school every day and college students and professors hurry to and from class.

I guess SLOW DOWN is a pretty good reminder to pay attention and not hit anyone who is simply trying to get to class.

As I was out walking Fenway today, the thought occurred to me that it would be pretty cool to post signs all over the place reminding us of our goals.

They look kind of like this

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My Love Affair

I am in a happy, loving, committed relationship with a wonderful partner. My partner is loving, kind, fun to be with and knows at least 50% of the people in our small city. So I have to be careful who I share this with – I am having an affair.

Yup, I have fallen for another. My new love is tender and warm. So easy to be with and always willing to cook a healthy meal. She is quiet, low maintenance and cleans up easily.

I have fallen in love (again) with my Crock Pot! Call it a Crock Pot, call it a Slow Cooker – just don’t call me late for dinner.

Isn't she a beauty?
Isn’t she a beauty?

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“How are You?”

How do you respond to a simple “How are you?”

Some people put an incredibly positive spin on everything. You ask them how they are and they enthusiastically respond “fantastic”! And they mean it. Other people respond “lousy” and proceed to tell you every last detail of why their life sucks. Other people mumble “good” or “ok” and give the obligatory “and how are you?”, then walk away before you even have the chance to respond.

My response could be any of the above depending on the day, my mood, and my health. I strive to be healthy and enthusiastically responding “fantastic” (and meaning it) seems like a wonderful answer to such a simple question.

I choose the one on the right
I choose the one on the right

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Celebrate the Little Things

I realized this week that I have lost some of my focus. I have been working a lot more than usual and have gotten caught up in all that entails. Setting the alarm for 5:30 is not really my idea of fun. Taking the dog for a walk in the pitch dark is not ideal. Slapping cheese on toast is not really lunch. Coming home too exhausted to cook is not relaxing. Yup, I am a bit off kilter.

I hate setting an alarm
I hate setting an alarm

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Don’t Judge Me

Imagine going out to a cool brew pub in Harvard Square with your best friends. It is crowded and noisy and you are sitting on the inside of the booth which makes you want to flee. Imagine trying to make rice balls for dinner and jumping up and down every time you touched the mixture because it felt sticky and wet.  What about getting stuck in a crowd during the Montreal Jazz Festival and grabbing your friends belt buckle, begging him to lead you to safety.

You won't find me here
You won’t find me here

Weird right?

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The Sting of Loss

Last week, my honey and went for a bike ride on one of our favorite trails. It was a beautiful day for a ride and we packed our helmets, a pump, snacks, water and bike gloves. We planned on doing 15 miles or so and then grab lunch at an Italian Restaurant nearby. This place has garlic knots to die for! Unfortunately we never made it to the restaurant and I am still craving those garlic knots.

A few miles into the ride I heard her quietly say “ouch” and when I asked what was wrong she said she had been stung by something.  My initial thought was “oh, no big deal it is just a bee sting.” Then a large glaring light bulb, that looked more like a spotlight the size of Texas went off in my head. My honey is allergic to bee stings.

We never saw the one that stung her
We never saw the one that stung her

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No Willpower Needed

When people talk about diet and exercise the conversation often turns to willpower. Willpower as a reason for success and the lack of willpower for failure. I am no expert but I don’t think anyone has enough willpower to resist eating the things they love or to force themselves to engage in activities they hate with any regularity (at least not without turning into a raving lunatic).

Personally, no amount of willpower will get me to go running with you and no amount of willpower will get me to skip a piece of my sisters chocolate peanut butter pie. I mean – seriously???

Not for me...
Not for me…

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Ditch the Processed S*H*I*T redux

This is a first here at My Little Blue Kayak – My very first Guest Post! This post was written by my brother who along with his wife ditched the processed S*H*I*T about 1 year ago and improved their health and happiness in the process.
This is kind of a follow-up to Lake Girl’s post from May 15th, Ditch the Processed S*H*I*T.  She may or may not have had me in mind when she wrote it… I like to think I gave her some inspiration.  Oh, by the way I’m child number 9, brother number 3.  Yes, the youngest.

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What is Lurking in Your Kitchen?

Growing up in Central New York, I am surrounded by farm country. I pass more cows, corn fields and farms than cars on my morning commute.  We like to think most of our food is grown by our local farmer who sells his product to the local supermarket. Unless you are shopping at the farmer’s market or have joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) your food is grown by GIANT corporations.

corn-fields-928384_1920

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Ditch The Processed S*H*I*T

Take Back Your Kitchen

In 2010, I started working as an Occupational Therapist with the elderly population in a skilled nursing facility. Most of my patients were between the ages of 75 to 95 and either lived in the nursing home or were there for short-term rehab with the goal of returning home. My goals for these patients were usually straight forward and involved getting stronger to increase independence or to return home.

wheelchair

I continue to work in a skilled nursing facility however the population of people I work with are much younger and in much worse physical health. I would estimate the average age of the population in my current facility is 65. This is likely the average age, plenty of people are younger than this as well. Think about that for a minute. 65 years old in my opinion is not old. Certainly not old enough to live in a nursing home, requiring  24 hour care. Continue reading “Ditch The Processed S*H*I*T”