Yesterday was a religious fast day. Fasting is supposed to spur repentance but my focus was getting through it (i.e. successfully not eating or drinking despite the cravings, weakness, etc.). Since I’m nursing and it was a minor fast, I gave myself permission to break the fast midday. My rabbi said it was fine. My … Continue reading What We Tell Ourselves Matters
Tag: wellness blogger
Early-Morning Gym-Goers and Overall Success
Recently I've been going to the gym in the early morning to exercise. My first day, the front desk person said he likes how early-morning gym-goers know what they want, have their sh** together, and get in and get out. This made me wonder: Is there a correlation between going to the gym in the … Continue reading Early-Morning Gym-Goers and Overall Success
A Photoshopped World, A Tormented Soul
This morning my mom made an innocent comment that the way my daughter was wearing her hair made her look like Audrey Hepburn. I felt uncomfortable with this, because growing up and to this day I struggle with social comparison, including with celebrities. I still remember learning in my late teens that magazines are photoshopped. … Continue reading A Photoshopped World, A Tormented Soul
A Mommy's Tummy Ache is Different
This morning I had a stomach ache. My body tends to express stress in this way. And the past few weeks have been full of emotions—conscious and repressed ones—so my hurting tummy is no surprise. I had a tummy ache, but not only did I still have to go to work—as I'm used to as … Continue reading A Mommy's Tummy Ache is Different
Hello, Blogosphere
Hello, Blogosphere A world I hold close and dearWhere I can openly express my fear, Without people looking at me queer.For if I tell it to a friendPerhaps that relationship would endIf they really knew what was behindMy cheerful face—a weary mind.And when I blog, I am unique, The words spoken are those only I … Continue reading Hello, Blogosphere
The Secret to Peace of Mind: The Breath
Do you control your breath or does it control you? The answer is: both. Breath is a unique biological function in that it occurs involuntarily, but can be manipulated through conscious effort. As part of my decade-long pursuit of greater peace of mind, I have engaged in mindfulness meditation exercises focusing on the breath. This … Continue reading The Secret to Peace of Mind: The Breath
Taking Accountability for Your Stress
You know how they say people can't drive us crazy if we don't give them the keys? Or how the only thing we can control in life is our response? Well, I've been thinking about this for a long time—more than a decade in fact—and while I understand this on a rational level, it hasn't … Continue reading Taking Accountability for Your Stress
Creative Writing Is My Jam
One of the things I like about working in a preschool is being able to use my communication and writings skills. In particular, I enjoy writing a weekly synopsis for the parents of what we did each week. Today, it was suggested that I look over another teacher's weekly summary. I took this very personally. … Continue reading Creative Writing Is My Jam
Stress Management Tips
Stress needs to be managed moment to moment, as well as daily, so it doesn't build up to the point of lashing out. Practicing healthy coping mechanisms for stress throughout the day (e.g. breathing, light stretching, positive affirmations) helps diffuse the stress so it doesn't build up. Doing a mindfulness practice for a few minutes … Continue reading Stress Management Tips
My Current Work-Momlife Balance
Previously I blogged about reducing my hours at my preschool job and wondering what I would end up doing instead. My intention was to have more downtime: for myself, and my toddler daughter too. And I do—that is, when I'm not training to become a water safety instructor in the evening. I guess I'm not … Continue reading My Current Work-Momlife Balance
