Water can Heal

Water can Heal

From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters.  The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease he had.

John 5:4

It never amazes me how soothing and restorative water can be.  When I am sick there is nothing like a hot shower or a cool bath to restore my energy.  When we get stressed at work we tighten almost to the point we turn into rigid stone but a couple of hours swimming in the ocean relaxes us to the point that it all seems to be part of a too-real nightmare.  Sometimes just looking at an aquarium can de-escalate our blood pressure. 


Scrub a dub - dub!

As I face this week of transition; a secure familiar job of six years being traded for a nine week nanny job I am feeling a jumbled bundle of emotions.  I have some frayed nerves that tumble into endless anxiety.  I have excitement that rivals Christmas Eve awaiting Santa Claus as I plan some activities.  I have sadness as I will be turning in a daily exposure of trusted peers and friends for five enthusiastic children/youth who have boundless and unlimited supplies of energy and creative messes to be had.  I'm having trouble concentrating because of part of me is ready to move forward while another part clings to what I know.

So where do I go?  The bath.  The place where I can control temperature and change it instantaneously if needed or wanted.  A place where I can grab a book and stop the alarming pace of whirring ideas.  A spot where water can soothe the anxiety, heal the confusion, and restore my energy and balance my emotions. 

Surprise, Surprise!  It worked.  I remember when we were looking to buy our house I jumped into the tub (fully clothed) to get a feel - could this house be our family home?  Could this tub be my private oasis?  And needless to say - it was and it is.  I remember when my son's temperature was spiking to degrees that I didn't know were possible and not be fatal our first thought was to get him into a bath.  I remember as a kid thinking the tub was a magical place where I created a storyland that rivaled the cartoons "The Snorks" and "The Jetsons" (this may be why I believe my son is part Mer-man ;)  I remember that first shower after delivering my son and that it lasted roughly forty five minutes.  But that shower felt amazing!!!  And when I am beyond ill and I have no energy to climb out of bed to grab a glass of water regain my energy and feel almost completely healed after a shower or bath. 

This passage of scripture quoted above is when Jesus heals the invalid of thirty-eight years and tells him to pick up his mat and walk.  I heard this sermon a couple of weeks ago in church.  But I feel I lived the sermon today.  I was broken and confused and disheartened as I let doubts, worries, criticism circle my thoughts and bound my heart.  But a dip in the tub and peace is restored, refreshed with energy coursing through my body, and cleansed of the negativity. 

Amazing how we can feel downtrodden one minute and the next minute with a change of perspective, the miracle of water and its healing properties; feel restored and once again, at peace.

May your HealthFULL Journey include time to soak in healing waters so that you too can be restored, refreshed, and cleansed.  'Til we meet again. . .

Life Changes

Here is a top ten list of how I know my lifestyle is improving healthwise:

10.  No longer do I believe the mean laundry fairies are shrinking my jeans but actually replacing them with bigger sizes.

9.  My tag was hanging out of my shirt the other day and instead of freaking out that someone might have seen the size.  I was like I hope someone saw the size this shirt is from college - my first go around - which means it was purchased over ten years ago.

8.  Instead of being nervous about my blood pressure and blood sugar being too high I wonder if they are too low.

7.  We need to get out of the house.  (I am borderline hermit! - this is major!)

6.  Soup or salad can be the whole meal and not just the side/appetizer.

5.  Oh I'm thirsty I should grab some water.

4.  When can I fit in my thirty minute work-out today?

3.  I'm cooking, by choice, and enjoying it!!!

2.  I have great parking karma today.  There is a spot right next to the steps.

1.  I feel good and have tons of energy (most of the time :)

Some random thoughts but showing the big picture.  Little by little I'm finding the healthier version of me.

May your healthFULL Journey delight you with the simple blessings of how your effort equals true results.  'Til we meet again. . .

Splish Splash

Howdy ya'll it has been awhile.  Our computer is on the fritz which means it is two steps from being pitched into whatever respectable protocol will do.  It is ancient by computer standards at eight years of age and many crashes.  But I have a chance to blog tonight.  Today was a special excercise day (that I did anything is sort of amazing.)  But we had our first family swim.  Our little guy has swam twice in the pool. Or floated in his huge pool seat more accurate.  However, his daddy hasn't been able to join us.  But today we made time and the weather cooperated.  This moment was almost missed.  I was planning for that perfect moment.  I was hoping to get off work early so that we could enjoy the pool when it isn't so busy as school is back in session.  Instead I worked a tish later.  Which made me feel that the perfect pool moment had been passed.  Once again with a little encouragement of my hubby and the smiles of a sweet baby boy.  We motivated our tushies into suits and the car.  There was only one other family enjoying the Friday evening air.  With delight our son splashed his parents and laughed in delight.  The scene reminded me that excercise does not have to be a chore.  Movement should be fun and playful.  Not every moment has to be dedicated to the best burn rate but seeking out opportunities to test our abilities and the chance to squeal in delight achieves results.  Consistency is key and consistency happens when motivation is easily attained.  As a parent we believe it is our duty to teach our little ones about the world.  But are usually humbled when our child teaches us.  My little boy inspires to me to be my best version.  I do feel like I fail nine times out of ten, but am motivated to keep trying.  Sadly we have access to a beautiful pool in our neighborhood and I believe I have used it a total of three times (in four years).  It is easy to blame our resources, responsibilities, abilities, others, obstacles, anything for why we don't squeeze in work-outs.  But the truth is when we really want something, place it high on our priority list we can make it happen.  No one can do everything, there is only 24 hours in a day.  But we can use our twenty-four hours any way we choose.  I have to be more conscious of my choices so that I can be my best version; for my son's sake, and my own.  I need to not get lost in the quest of perfection.  And to remember there is always time to splish splash with those we love.

May your HealthFULL Journey be not a quest for perfection but a journey blessed with love, laughter, and lasting memories. 'Til we meet again. . .

Surprise!

Life feels like it is full of surprises (It's like I am playing "Press Your LUCK"  and I keep saying Big Money and life keeps doling out the Whammies.  I must have hit my limit by now.)  My hubby and I made a deal that he would take early shift this morning and I would tomorrow.  As I am tired of all the mutiny from within the household.  Six oh four rolls around this morning and my dog is whining.  Who does she wake, oh me of course.  And I stumble into the bathroom angrily.  And as I enter my room to feed the animals and take her out.  My hubby is awake and doing the morning duties.  Ahhh what a sweet man.  Surprise one - frustrating - surprise two - heartmelting.  I crawl back into bed for the beautiful world of sleep. beep beep beep, beep beep beep, beep beep beep beep beep beeeeeeeeeeeeeep.  The monitor was losing battery.  Bitter me!!! So it isn't just the animals and the baby declaring mutiny, it's the world.  I stamp out of the room to grab the cord, plug it in.  And seethe my way into slumber.  I wake up and decide it is time to check in with my blood sugar.  I wasn't expecting perfection but figured it would be quite a bit lower from last week.  Lower but not near where I thought it would be.  Which means it must be broken.  I grab the monitor and ask my hubby for a favor.  He agrees because he is such a nice guy.  He did not know I planned to prick his finger.  He has a beautiful number.  So umm not the machine.  Now I'm frustrated at surprise 4.  But instead of diving into junk food.  (Well I did have leftover turkey tacos from last night but it was a lunch portion).  I decided I needed to work out so I didn't put it off for all day.  I decided to use the Wii Fit.  I got on the scale and saw I hadn't been on in a month and one day.  I know the habits I have been keeping.  I am imagining that I have gained up to ten pounds.  I am ready for it - Surprise 5 - I lost 4.2 pounds.  Really?  Thank you Wii Fit Scale.  I appreciated the pick me up.  Delight with Surprise 5.  And then I did the age body test - 22 years old for today's test - I 'll take it.  Here I was thinking I had lost all of my hard work for those two months.  Yes it was beginning to unravel but I caught it before it fell apart.  I guess I feel that is my lesson for today.  Life is full of surprises , the good, the bad, and the ugly.  We can prepare ourselves and then let it go.  Don't leave everything to chance that is not living,  but don't prepare for every possibility of rough times because a) you can't because it is impossible life still will surprise you, and b) you become a robot - you are programming yourself and your life but still avoiding life all together.  We need surprises.  The good are blessings and the bad tend to teach.  The ugly reminds us of what is truly important and matters at the end of the day.  When we barter all we have for the importance (family, friendship, and health).    I do enjoy a good surprise, but have learned so much from the other kinds.  For those of you experiencing the Whammy surprises.  You aren't alone and I promise there is a limit in life like there was in the game show.  We just don't know what that number is.  Life will get better!  God bless those who are hurting.

May your HealthFULL Journey teach you lessons with as painless surprises as possible and delight you many times over with the good surprises.  'Til we meet again. . .

Fifteen times two

Oh that's right folks I exercised a full thirty minutes.  My goal was fifteen minutes but hit thirty while breaking a sweat.  I forgot that sweat can feel good.  Your body is letting go of toxins because you are working it.  Not fun to sweat when one is just sitting inside an airconditioned house.  Which I have also experienced recently.  But to sweat because I actually grabbed my work-out gear and moved with purpose was wonderful.  I have a Bollywood DVD from the library and popped it in.  Now I didn't do all the jumps and adjusted as I saw best.  It's my body and it wasn't ready to leave the ground for a total of 55 times.  It did a little air, a few times.  Isn't it amazing when you place something on your priority list that it can actually get accomplished.  And I think it was a combo of the two but I felt so good.  A combo of actually moving my muscles who after working out for two months straight and then almost a month off were feeling neglected- cheered that I remember they needed some attention and purpose.  I also think my mood lightened because I wasn't feel guilty for ignoring exercise or postponing the work-out.  Having a little one motivates me to get priorities done in the a.m. when he is sleeping.  Because once he is awake my schedule is in the hands of a seven month old. 

Also my food victory was getting back into the habit of drinking water when home.  It wasn't the only beverage I consumed but it was an increase over recent weeks.  And that's great because we all got to start somewhere. 

So for Saturday I jumped, I sweated, and I reacquainted myself with my water tap.  It really is life's simple pleasures that keeps the world a happier place.  May your HealthFULL Journey spotlight your true desires, priorities, and blessings (big and small).  'Til we meet again. . .

Double Dose

Rough morning start. There are a few sounds in the world that you just dread the result. I was in another room when I heard the coughing sound, that guttural cough from our dog that you want to hustle her to the outside. I was stuck and knew I wouldn't get there in time. So with trepidation I rounded the corner. Nothing. I didn't see anything. Do you know what is worse than finding the surprise after that sound, finding nothing. So I continued my search. Hmm. . . Well I don't remember planting that pile of grass in our living room, oh right that's the surprise. Blech! Always fun to clean up such a present first thing in the morning. I then was trying to squeeze in a work-out (even though I lost some time). My plans were to return my previous DVDs to the library as I was already overdue but wanted to Bollywood at least one more time. It was still as fun as the first time. How funny that even a second attempt I could already notice the improvement. Some of the steps were easier and still makes me giggle to feed the chickens and gorilla walk. And then it is time to head off to work. I started my day with water which was my food victory. Work happened and then I hit the library after buying some fresh produce. As we have been out of town we were sorely lacking fresh veggies and fruit. (another victory). At the library I traded my excercise DVDs for two new ones. Even though I had already worked out for the day I had to do a double dose. I was so excited to try out one of the programs as it was yoga for mommy and baby. I was so pumped. I was thinking "what a bonding experience this will be for me and my little guy". The DVD wasn't quite what I anticipated. I wasn't strong enough for some of the moves and might have been more willing to try but I was terrified of dropping my lil one. Much better to be safe than sorry. There were a couple of moves that brought my son to giggles and I will take that any day of the week. I feel that this might be more fun as a group in a class setting (which is what the video was). But I will probably try this at least one more time with my guy for future ideas to bond and giggle and help improve health (especially mommy's :) Then it was time for a bottle for my lil' one and he is going through a phase. The I drink just a little more than what I share by spitting it back up all over everyone. What a fun phase. That's how I usually respond "How fun!" (Not always in the sweetest tone, but I do try to share a smile. But seriously one can only smell like sour formula so often before patience runs thin. ) Ahh what a day of doubles, and clean up to start my morning and clean up to end the evening. "How fun!" (with a smile :) May your HealthFULL Journey include double doses of the good stuff. 'Til we meet again. . .