Motivation

Ainm, Happy Birthday!

Harley- congrats on the three years, here is to  many more!

Kari- anniversaries of those who have passed are never easy. You're right your mom is smiling down on you all.

I would like to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I did a bit of digging with the help of one of our rads, as my MIL did not have any of her tests with the company I work with (if she had all of this would be passed us now as her mammo was in Dec, bx in Feb , surgery tomorrow, I could have pulled strings and had the mammo and bx done within a week of each other, but that was their choice to not let us in) anyway, it looks like IDC with lymph node involvement, but of course until the SNB is done, we can't be positive. It is a fairly large tumor, 3.6 x 3 cm, will go see her after work tomorrow.

But again, thanks for listening. 

I did the couch veggie thing last night and conveniently "forgot" to do any stretching or other exercises I can usually manage while watching tv. Tonight, after a challenging workday, I did 32 minutes of serenity yoga. I really needed every minute!

Diane, Yeah, I really enjoy the peace of a good walk and the peace of mind afterward! By the way, did you mention being a teacher? If so, what do you teach? Harley, You sound so motivated to keep moving! How are you doing with rethinking educational goals or changing work? Joy, I miss raking, believe it or not. I have had to skip that lately. I especially miss that feeling of being so darn productive. Sher, Baby steps are still steps! Keep it up when you can and don't be too hard on yourself when you can't manage it. You will eventually get stronger, and your endurance will improve, too.

Kari, Anniversaries of losing someone can be bittersweet; the pain of losing someone you love almost always lingers, even if it softens over time, but it also can feel so affirming to recall precious memories. I am sorry that you lost your mom. By the way, is your back still pain free? And how are you with the dark thirty workouts? Ainm, what's this nonsense about being a nonachiever? Do you have superwoman standards? You have accomplished so much in the last year; let it be your foundation and trust yourself to keep up the good work and to expand as it is right for you.  And, happy birthday! kmmd, I hear in your words that motivation to keep trying even when you have days when it doesn't work to be more active. You are inspiring as you continue to deal with treatment effects, exercise when you can, and work full-time. I still daydream about leaving full-time work, but right now I will have to just work harder to find that balance I want to maintain--which is tough when work can be so demanding. Deanna and Spring, you both keep me wow-ed with your walking; I am going to keep trying to walk more and more outdoors, when the weather improves.

And, pk, I am so sorry to hear about your MIL's diagnosis. I hope her surgery will go as well as possible. I imagine your husband is feeling overwhelmed. My husband tends to hold things in, but I have learned strategies for helping him to share more without feeling too vulnerable; I also have found that if I support him in keeping things private, he tends to want to share a little more. You sound concerned about your bloodwork; keep us posted on how you are doing.

THREE MILES!  WHOHOO!

It is raining here today, so I did 30 minutes on the elliptical.

Now it's time to do something with my hair...  I have been coloring it, since it there are WAY too many WHITE hairs mixed in with the brown...  UGH...  They discontinued the color I have been using, so now I have to find a new color. 

Hope everyone has a great day!

Harley

Hope everyone is doing ok today.

The days are getting a bit longer so I'm hoping to add some outdoor walking in soon - weather permitting.  It would be great if it stayed fine for St Patrick's Day!

Sleep well!

Brenda, I am sorry I didn't answer your question last night, I think we posted at the same time.  I am an itinerant teacher for the visually impaired.  I love it.  I work with 3 year olds up to 21 year olds.  I go from school to school and no day is like the day before. 

I did not walk today, my son is playing baseball so I have been glued to the computer. 

diane

Ah, yes, quickies. Lately my body has been preferring quickies given all the side effects of hormonal therapy! Sorry if that is too much info.... Got out and walked for about 35-40 minutes this afternoon. The day was too gorgeous to miss some outdoor time.

I was thinking about your comment on healthy eating, kmmd, and wondering whether there is a healthy eating forum/thread anywhere on this site. I guess I will go hunting in a minute. I am still so tired much of the time that I use up my reserve energy for working out and have little to none left for being imaginative about food choices. Overall I eat well, but I need more variety!

 Diane, your job does sound quite interesting. I have a job that allows me to be "out in the field" a great deal and to have office time as well; when things get too crazy in the office I can bring my laptop home and work there, if the task permits. I occasionally get alternate job offers but I like the flexibility of settings where I am.

kmmd, I hope tomorrow at work will be better for you. I occasionally have crazy days and I take so much longer to recover now, plus I get guilty and fearful about having too much stress when I overwork. However, I remind myself that no life is stress-free and I do enjoy my work.

Ainm, good luck with getting outdoors! I bet it will lift your spirits.

Harley, 30 minutes on the elliptical? Amazing! Are you thinking of doing something wild & crazy with your new hair color?

Kari, SIGH--that was my reaction hearing about your back flare-up. Living with pain is so tiring! I hope your back will improve; maybe no more back seat scrunching?

Spring, I will hope for better weather for you tomorrow; the sunny day here really did wonders for me. To all others, regular posters and lurkers, move! Even if it is just 5 minutes!

Kari

Sorry about your back pain.  Are you feeling better?   I don't blame you for meeting your dd for lunch on a beautiful, sunny day!  

It's sunny here today, but I had to run some errands, and I missed my exercise today...  we are going out to dinner with my MIL tonight.  Her group is having dinner at a Japanese steakhouse, and we have to be there at 4:30, so We need to leave by 4:00...   I need to get ready, so no time for exercise. 

Brenda,

I really like to add some red highlights to my hair, so I usually go for the Auburn colors.  It looks pretty good, considering I do it myself...

Kari,

I love your quote!  Yes, doing 'something' is better than doing 'nothing', so I'll try to remember that just cause I can't do 'everything', that doesn't make what I CAN do unimportant.  Every little bit helps.

Oh, and congrats on your dd's upcoming wedding!  I love weddings!!

Harley

Yes, ouch to the scrunched back, Kari!  Hope you can get some relief so that you can really enjoy tomorrow with your DD.  Oh, and I keep meaning to ask you, are you and your DH still planning to be in Palm Springs in April?  Let me know!

Harley, congratulations on your 3 year cancerversary!  I hope you do something fun to celebrate. You deserve it! 

Penny, how is your MIL doing?  Let us know when you can, and please tell her that we're praying for her complete recovery and a good path report.

Enjoy the weekend, everyone!  We have lots going on here -- a major tennis tournament and a big art show. Hoping to catch some of each.  Oh, and I just walked 3 miles this afternoon, after 3 days of not getting around to it.  I must say, the rest seemed to help my tired body.  I felt much more energized than I have in awhile, once I finally got out there.     Deanna 

Looks like mostly everyone is having great weather today.

Our weather is beautiful. We are having a lot of rock delivered tomorrow so I spent a lot of time prepping the yard.  Did not walk today-maybe tomorrow.

diane

Harley happy cancerversay!!! Three years does go by fast.  I'm glad you had fun at the steakhouse-that kind of restaurant is my favorite. 

Have a great weekend everyone!!  Don't forget to "spring forward"

diane

A bit sore this a.m. from the chiropractor visit yesterday.  Neck was really out of place!  Back is just more tight than anything, which is making it HURT!  But feeling good and the sun is out today, yesterday was PURE winter! UGH, cool and breezy today.  and it figures, next week will be mid 70's right when we head north to cold again!  UGH again...haha

Harley, sounds like a fun time had by all last night!

Diane, don't work too hard in the yard, but enjoy, bet your yard will be beautiful!!

Penny, I've been thinking about your MIL, keep us posted.  Its probaby opening a big can of worms for you.  big hugs.  And so happy your trip is coming up, we were just on Facebook and I was looking at my niece's pics, they just returned from the Big Island, it was so beautiful!!!

Happy Saturday!!!!

Kari, I go to the chiropractor too... but all pretty good so far... I had to go after my recon surgery. But I seem back on track now. i think I'm now on an every 6 week schedule! 

today I went to a BC survivor Yoga "day" retreat - from 9-3, and it was great! Then came home and took the 2 mile walk (32 min). I ate chocolate though! aaaack! several pieces!! I generally stay away from sugar. hard to pass up when it's under your nose!

Spring. 

No workout Friday, but workouts yesterday and again this morning. If the sun stays out and the humidity drops, I will try to get outdoors for a quick walk, too.

Harley, I truly hope your cancerversary brings you opportunities to savor all that you are doing to promote your health and overall well-being! I think milestones often trigger some useful "inner work" and I hope this milestone will be the beginning of more joyful times in your life.

Deanna, Yeah, if we can just get ourselves "out there" we can often do more than we expect and reap some great benefits. That's one of the reasons I try to maintain at least the 15 minute workout, since I often expand it once I start moving and then feel so satisfied. And if I don't expand it, I still feel like I am doing well in trying to care for myself.

Diane, So now I know another of the benefits of having children: as we age their youth and energy and friends can really help us manage the things we are challenged to do or can no longer do. I have no children so I am having to pay people more and more for what I should not or no longer can do!

Ainm, Just get outside, even if you sit and wiggle your toes! You will feel better!

Kari, I hope your chiro visits and everything you are doing will help your back to stabilize. It sounds like you are having some great times with your daughter in planning for her wedding. What will the mother of the bride be wearing?

pk, I'm glad to hear that your MIL is doing well after surgery. How are you caring for yourself as you deal with so many stressors in your life right now?

Spring, Okay, first you get my attention with the yoga retreat. I have got to find some sort of retreat for me, but I keep forgetting to look (which is not a good sign...). Then you get my attention with chocolate. I do not overeat chocolate, but I do savor chocolate and I mean really savor it--the really good stuff. Every few months or so, my husband sends me chocolates from L A Burdick's. I love the bonbon collections--they are worth every penny!

kmmd, I hope your weekend is going well and that you are relaxing and rejuvenating! Hi to all others and use this nudge to move a little!

Brenda,

Thanks.  You are right.  I think these milestones are times for deep reflection for me.   

 Today I fought with that elliptical torture machine.  I think it won...  LOL  I did 30 minutes, and it really whipped my butt!! 

I did some gardening today; I cleaned up one of the flower beds that had old, dried up perrenials in it all Winter.  The new growth is coming in.

Also today, I cleaned up some things that were getting messy, and started organizing some of my paperwork.  It felt good to clean up, even just a couple of boxes of papers. 

Thanks everyone!  Hope you have a terrific week!  Remember to keep moving!

Harley

P.S.  Edited to add:

I didn't realize that I have been as busy today...  maybe that is why I'm feeling tired, and it's only 9:30!

Good for you Harley.

Did some pilates yesterday that has me still feeling my arms and abs today.  Too cold here for getting out and walking.  My minimum allowable walking temperature in March is 50 F.  So, thinking maybe some power yoga today