Promises for May

 

1.  Life is too short to eat food that isn't good.   I don't mean spoiled food, but food that is lacking in taste or texture, or a recipe that didn't turn out and feels like punishment when I force myself to eat it or the leftovers of it which haven't improved.  I did that too often in April and I've made up my mind that if I'm going to consume 'x' number of calories each day, then the food I eat shall (a) taste good (b) be something I genuinely enjoy (c) and look forward to eating.  

I've had ill luck of late with things I crammed into the freezer before John died.  WHY did I save those things thinking they'd taste better later?  

Indeed, life is short and the nourishment I put into my body should not make me gag.   I'm being very faithful to this...and I find I'm more prone to eat properly if I have something I like and that tastes good.

2.  I will buy myself flowers.  I truly love having flowers in my home.  I let several weeks pass without buying any at all.  It took me a little bit to determine why I kept feeling a bit off.  I'm missing the flowers I'd made it a habit to keep on my mantel and desk and buffet in the dining area. I decided last month, when I felt afraid to spend, that once I knew my income I will have flowers planned into my budget.

Some women treat themselves to having their nails done.  Some buy specialty coffees.  If I'm going to indulge myself in any way, then I shall make mine books and flowers.  Twice a month.  I made it part of my grocery budget since I tend to buy my flowers there.

3.  I will continue to rise at 7am most every day. I find that rising early gives me the sense of having seized the day (once I've had coffee!).  For another thing, I find I am far less likely to sit up until all hours because I am tired by the end of a day if I get up at 7a.m. 

There may be times when I've missed sleep that I shall make an effort to sleep in, but as a rule, I feel best and most productive if I'm up early.  I slept in until 9am one morning but most mornings I'm up shortly before the alarm goes off.

4.  I will slowly incorporate healthy things into my weeks.  I started oil pulling a few weeks ago after reading how beneficial it is for oral health and then reading that oral health was the seat of all our bodily health.  

Then I began the next phase by adding in plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables to my diet.  It is not recommended we add loads of fiber all at once.  It is suggested that increasing fiber intake by 5% weekly is the healthiest way to approach diet.  

Did you know that while 5-7 servings of fruit and vegetables are recommended it is actually 10 servings daily that really provide the maximum number of nutrients required for better health?  I'm trying to be aware of this.   While I'm not planning to throw my body into a state of shock by eating ten a day right away, I am slowly increasing what I eat daily.  And I'm taking time to look up what quantity of each fruit and vegetable is considered a serving.  I do well and then I don't.  I'm working on it!

5.  I will wear what makes me feel my very best. 

Say what we like, how we feel once dressed, with or without makeup (depending on which you prefer) does affect how we perceive ourselves.  Put on a pair of pants that are too snug and I'll be mighty uncomfortable until I get home and take them off.  Stained and bedraggled t-shirts are fine for doing painting and nasty cleaning tasks, but not as a standard for at home wear.  Ill-fitting bras, makeup that feels it is sucking moisture from my skin, hair that absolutely will not look good no matter how much care I take in trying to style it, a shirt that crawls up over my middle despite continuous tugging...It all just adds to my sense of self-consciousness.  I do not need any additional reinforcement in that area.

(Clothing)

I confess I got quite used to the higher quality things I purchased from Stitch Fix but once they noted I kept a piece, I often got the same things in different colors or patterns. Often, they were lacking the 'cute' factor.  When I returned to shopping at Cato, I found them wanting in quality even if the things I bought were cute.  There are more places than those two entities which cater to my size.

 I didn't make shopping much of a priority.  And I never purchased anything unless I had the allowance to buy it.  So, if I made obligations elsewhere, say for the house or to gifting that came from my allowance, then I didn't always have the funds to shop, so I didn't.  

I admit I don't get a great thrill from the pursuit of the hunt for clothing.  Nor do I have the requirements for a large closet full of things.  I've kept a very modest wardrobe for years.  

I thought I'd make myself a clothing allowance and actually shop for clothing in nicer stores.  And if any of you have any suggestions of places to look, please do let me know.  The truth is I'm clueless.  I struggle with buying clothing.  I think it's the habit of years and years of not having enough money to really purchase much and getting out of the habit of going into clothing stores.  Today (May 20) I did go into a boutique, with the cutest things.  When I asked about plus sizes, I was told very nicely that they didn't carry plus sizes but the mediums ran very big in most of the lines they carried.  

God bless them!  To think I might even fit myself into a pair of 1X jeans or a medium blouse..

(Hair)

A good haircut is included in this.  

For years John urged me to stop fussing about my hair and find myself a stylist who took time and care to make me look my best.  Instead, I stubbornly clung to what he referred to as the gyp and clip salons where I would pay about $20 for a 5–10-minute cut.  They do one no favors, simply cut and shift you out of the chair as quickly as possible, more frequently than not with wet hair and not a bit of styling. They do not even attempt to upsell products! 

I'm not faulting the technicians.  It is the name of the game in these franchises, and it works quite well for men, who really just want to look neat and done, but it's not necessarily meant to make any woman feel good about herself.  

It's time to find myself a proper hairdresser.  I don't have a clue where I shall find one, but I must begin the hunt.  Once upon a time you might ask someone where they got their hair done, but I've found in recent years that apparently women keep their stylist names and their favored salon as a closely guarded secret.  It's going to be a quest marked by trial and error I'm afraid.  But then I've been living for the longest time with mostly errors, so what are a few more?    After years of gyp and clip I finally could stand my hair no longer and went to get a real proper haircut at a proper salon.  I went into mild shock over the cost of a shampoo, cut and style but you know what?  It's worth every penny.  I like the way my hair looks.  I get the whole shebang experience.  No one rushed me out of the chair and the girl told me I shouldn't come back until 8 weeks since I'm letting my hair grow out a little more.

6. I will get out of the house at least once a week besides church on Sunday.  I've done well enough with this so far.  I've been out with my friend Susan twice in April.  I went to Outreach, and to an Outreach dinner meeting, but that has ended for me, now, by my choice.  They are overwhelmed with volunteers which is a great thing, but they do not need another.

I went to Josh's band concert.  And I do include going out with my children, or going to their homes for meals, as getting 'out'.

I'm watching the community calendars to see what is going on locally.  I could join a small group at church but most meet in the evenings and I'm reluctant to drive 40 minutes or more in the dark... and in the winter months that would be 80 miles round trip, all in the dark.  

It would help if my circle of acquaintances was larger, but that will take time to build.  Though I did think of someone this morning, I'd rather like to reconnect with. I can at least try, can't I?

I had two outings with Katie plus Caleb's awards day and Millie's graduation.  I had a long and nicely personal conversation with a girl from church.  Albeit a phone call is not getting out it's still reaching out, isn't it?  I went to do legal errands three times, went grocery shopping twice and had a nice day out just doing whatever struck my fancy plus I got a haircut.