Post challenge

The 30 day appreciation challenge was an interesting exercise.  Some days it was hard to find 10 things in one day to appreciate, but I often realized I was missing some important small things. It was part memory and part taking certain experiences  for granted. I also learned as I went along that if I actively looked for the things to appreciate in the moment, there were so many. 

A couple of weeks into it, I learned that the 10 things did not have to happen in one day that we could go back to the past or something we looked forward to in the future, so that made it easier. But for some reason, I enjoyed the challenge of finding 10 in a day. 

My practitioner said that as I was doing this assignment she noticed that my body was more relaxed and connected and moved much better. A positive outlook made a difference in my body! I could feel it, too as far as being able to stretch more than I could before I started the the practice and less pain in my knee. 

I also felt like it became a spiritual practice. It was something that I did everyday that I needed to be focused for and it caused me to reflect on my actions and perceptions. I realized one day that you do not have to travel to Bali to find a guru to make some significant changes to your life. Since I won't be traveling anywhere, I was very happy to have that revelation. :-)

I decided to keep the lists up in my journal so I would not lose momentum. I had such an awesome Feldenkrais session today and want to keep up the good energy I created for myself!

The next thing I need to work on is my diet and food issues. I have worked that angle in the past in different ways, but never stuck to a plan for life. The most success I had was in an Over Eaters Anonymous group years ago. Years. ago.

I have been studying the effects of a balanced PH level for good health.  I have read a couple of books as well as research from the internet. I started reading a year ago, then gave up thinking I could never change my diet so much to achieve a balanced PH level. Most of the food I ate (meat, dairy, etc.) is high in acidity. I realized thinking I could never do it, was well just plain negative! Maybe, just maybe I can make the changes. Maybe it does not have to be for 0 -60! I could start with small changes. So I have been trying to add more of what is good for me and less of what is bad. I am planning to call a natural path to help me with a plan and test my levels. This is scary to me and it is scary to not to do it, too, as the research is very convincing that this is something that can help cancer from reoccurring.

So if I commit to it publicly, maybe it will help me to follow through this time. So much work ahead of me. I need to get busy!

- Myself and I  we got some straightening out to do. - Fergie

Day 30 appreciation challenge

1. Day 30!

2. Nice visit with my elder relative in rehab.

3. Spent most of the day reading.

4. Sore throat feeling better.

5. Dinner at Dakota with best salad bar around.

6. Other bloggers are taking the challenge.

7. My parent's clock sitting on my shelf.

8. Laundry all done.

9. Caller I.D.

10. The way social media brings people together in good times and bad.

Day 29 appreciation challenge

1. My husband is reading Glennon's book. I love that he takes an interest in what interests me.

2. The daffodils in my side yard.

3. Cooking with kale for the first time.

4. Just got invited out for lunch for next week.

5.my son checking in with me tonight.

6. A talk with my mentor tonight.

7. Sharing recipes with my mom on the phone.

8. Uncluttered kitchen counters.

9. Cozy inside on a rainy grey day.

10. Green tea with lemon

Day 28 appreciation challenge

1. Good lab results today.

2. Shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables today.

3.  Lifeline sent an ambulance to check on my mother in law after she fell down outside today. She checked out fine!

4. Referral for a naturopathic doctor.

5. The nurse at my doctor's office for advocating that the doctor hire a woman partner for those of us who prefer seeing a woman.

6. Antibiotics.

7. Make over started for the bathroom.

8. Check in call from my other sister.

9. Support from Amanda.

10. How CVS texts you when your prescriptions are ready.

Day 27 appreciation challenge

1. Finding a parking spot yesterday right in front of the ocean.

2. The husband cleaning out the garage.

3. Signing up for AT&T  uverse today.

4. Sister visit.

5. Getting all the Easter decorations put away.

6. Call from a dear friend.

7. Caller I.D.

8. Mom felt well enough to go out today.

9. ICE water.

10. My cute mini fan next to my bed.

Day 26 appreciation challenge

1. Picnic at the beach this afternoon.

2. Kite fliers, skateboarders, bird watchers, motorcycles, sea gulls, flip flops, shorts, all signs of summer.

3. A healing conversation with my son.

4. 77 degrees today!

5. Zinc for my sore throat.

6. Reading Carry On, Warrior and loving it!

7. grocery day!

8. My sister is safely home from her trip.

9. talk of family reunions this summer.

10. TV guide app for my iPad.

Day 25 appreciation challenge

1. The mail was delivered to my door today.

2. Books from amazon arrived.

3. Warmest day yet!

4. Valerie, Mary, Georgia, Cloris, and Betty all on Katie Couric today.

5. I was not the first one at dinner today so I did not have to wait alone.

6. Dinner with high school friends tonight.

7. Husband was offered a part time position.

8. Used my new ATM card today without a hitch.

9. Work colleague checking in with me.

10. Finding a copy of the newspaper article from 1969 about my Dad's barn burning down.

Day 24 appreciation challenge

1. We managed to get the house closed up early and still  have time for breakfast before we headed back home.

2. We made it back in time for mass. We were honoring my dad's birthday and my uncle's passing.

3. Last year at the same mass I was scheduled for chemo the next day. Everyone was sort of awkward around me not knowing what to say. This year... back to normal!!!

4. The interest and excitement my extended family showed for the upcoming wedding of my son.

5. The talk of a family reunion barbeque this summer.

6. My husband's willingness to take on all the driving for this get-a-way.

7. Finding seats at the restaurant after mass for all of us to sit together!

8. WIFI - I really missed it.

9. A new blog reader!

10. Mad Men comes back to T.V.  tonight!

Day 23 apprecation blog.

1.My son feed our cat while we were away.

2. VT water is like a natural hair conditioner. I love how my hair feels after I wash it up there.

3. My eyelashes have come back! I really missed them!

4. Sunlight glistening on the bodies of water as as we passed by in our car yesterday.

5. A cheap bottle of wine with dinner.

6. Visit to King Arthur Flour baking, store and school. So much fun.

7. The conversation with the cook in the  King Arther flour store who said she loved making the food there to give out as samples because it made people happy! Such good energy!

8. Gel pens.

9. Alice's Restaurant in VT.  They are closing. They were supposed to close last week, but managed to stay open a couple more weeks. So glad we made it up there to have dinner once last time.

10. Browsing in the Antique mall at Quiche Gorge. Love looking at all the nick knacks and kitchenware my mom had when we were kids. Oh, and all the Nancy Drew , Dana Girls, Bobbsey Twins, and Cherry Adams, R.N.  BOOKS! Memories!!!

Day 22 appreciation challenge

1. Meditating in the sun room this morning. Best meditation I have done in a long time.

2. Walking the campus of Green Mountain College where my son went to school.

3. The VT Country Store and all the free samples.

4. The manager of The Trolley Shop taking money off of our bill because my husband had to send his food back to be cooked more, even though we did not ask him to!

5. My husband dropping me off at this library so I could post my lists. He knows it is important to me.

6. The librarian helping me with the computer in the library since my i pad would not connect.

7. The drive over to Poultney today.

8. The weather was warm enough for some of the day to go without a jacket!

9. Lots of reminising with my husband.

10. I wasn't looking for a card, but found the perfect anniversary card for my husband for our anniversary in May.

Day 21appreciation challenge.

1. The hills of Vermont.

2. How my sister decorates her home.

3. Kale soup with sausage.

4. Window seat at 56 Main Restaurant

5. Driving through Landmark College.

6. Shopping at the Brattleboro Food Co-op.

7. My sister and brother- in- law and their generosity for letting us stay at their house.

8. I read two books last night at the house with no WIFI.

9. I saw a caterpillar on the front lawn when I arrived at the house. I swear it has been years since I have seen one.

10. Learning a great deal more about Alkaline and Acidity balancing.

Day 20 appreciation challenge

We are taking a few days to go to Vermont. There is no Internet at the house, so I will continue to write my lists and try to post whenever we find WIFI up there!

My practitioner told me today that the lists can be something that even happened awhile ago. The intent is about the feeling behind the thought. So I am going to keep that in mind.

1. My leg stretched farther and higher during my session than it has ever been able to do.

2. I put down the deposit for the bridal shower and picked out the menu today.

3. Meeting my friends for dinner.

4. Packing just about done!

5. I found a phone number that I lost and I was able to call my friend!

6. Got out of the house early this morning.

7. My friend moving up the time for dinner.

8. When I told my practitioner about all the positive feedback on my lists, she got the chills!

9. Delivering my aunt Mary's eulogy.

10. Introducing Dr. Bernie Siegel at a fundraiser  when I was at my social service job years back.

Day 19 appreciation challenge

1. My relative had a double mastectomy a few weeks ago. We found out  today that she will not need chemo!

2. Baked some beer bread today.

3. Settled on a date for the bridal shower for my son's fiancé.

4. Leftover turkey.

5. My husband's support for my decision for Memorial Day weekend.

6. Listening to my promo on the radio.

7. A thank you text from my son.

8. A nice chat with my cousin on the phone.

9. Remembering to put on my hand braces today.

10. My walking meditation

Day 18 appreciation challenge

1. Call and dinner invitation from a woman who is my former teacher and boss.

2. Running into a former work colleague at the mall.

3. Getting  my hair done.

4. Watching  Glennon Melton on the TODAY show this morning.

5. Turkey for dinner, my favorite!

6. Message from another former colleague.

7. SUN Magazine arrived today.

8. Dinner all ready when I got home from the mall.

9. It stopped thundering and raining hard before I had to go out.

10. Finding clips of shows on line when I miss them on TV.