Steps in the right direction

Lately, I've been feeling kinda depressed.  Boo hoo, cry me a river.  Wait!  Maybe I should go on some antidepressants.  Those fix everything... not.

So here's what I've been doing about it, instead of continuing to let it get the better of me:

Drinking my Rick Style Smoothie

• told someone (not everyone in cyberspace.  I told the person closest to me, and MAN I felt better just getting it off my chest.
• started moving (his action steps, not my idea actually).  Today I went to the gym we joined yesterday and did the elliptical for 30 minutes.  That was enough to work up a sweat and come home.
• garbage in... garbage out.  I started putting better foods into my body again.  Last night I had a smoothie, and after my workout today, I made another one.  Recipes below.
• gratitude - the one thing my body told me is that I needed to write down all the blessings in my life.  I just didn't feel like getting out of bed at the time.  So I'll start here, and tonight I'll bring my journal back to bed (I shared what I was thankful for with the kids the other day so it moved from my bedside) where I can write before I go to sleep.

I am thankful for my family, and getting to see them again this Christmas.  I am thankful for my sister, who always knows what to say and how to kick my butt into gear again.  I am grateful for my loving, wonderful parents, who are supportive and kind and always love me whether they agree with my decisions or not.  I am so blessed to have my lover and partner, who is by my side helping pick me up when I am down and who is there to laugh with me.  I am thankful for our wonderful, intelligent, kind, and loving children.  I am grateful they know and understand what love really is, how it should be, and how to act with kindness.  I am blessed to be on my chiropractic journey, and discover the things I will and will not do in my office one day.  I am blessed to be challenged every day, especially on who I am, so I can stand firm in that without compromising and still shine.  I am thankful God is present in our lives each and every day, and I am thankful our children can see that.  I am thankful to have good food to eat and share with my friends and family.  I am blessed to live in a safe place, with caring friends and neighbors.  I am thankful for hugs and kisses, smiles, and laughter.  They make the world a better place.

I am sharing this today because it is important to realize that everyone takes steps backwards sometimes.  The best thing to do is to ask for help when you need it, and keep on taking one step at a time into the direction you want to go.

I almost forgot!  Smoothie recipes!!

Grapefruit Goodness
1 grapefruit, peeled
2 kale leaves
1 stalk of celery

some parsley, fresh

some fresh mint

water, to desired thickness

Rick Style Smoothie

My boyfriend likes the thicker, less sweet smoothies and this suits him just fine.  I don't think it's too bad - has a bit of a lemon taste which I like.

1 lemon, peeled

5-6 cherry tomatoes

2 stalks celery

2 leaves of kale

1/3 cucumber

fresh ginger to taste

1 ripe avocado

water, to desired thickness

I use the Vitamix for my smoothies, but any blender will do (really!)

What do you do to get out of a funk?

Journaling for Good

Yesterday was a wonderful day!  We found out my boyfriend's son came several grade levels in one year, and that was a huge accomplishment.  We both cried actual tears of joy... for him, for each other, for our family.  We were already proud of how far he has come, and all of us were cheering for him.  It was just extra wonderful to know he accomplished what all the school professional said was impossible.

My son, however, had a difficult day and he showed it.  Apparently the day got worse as it went on, and we had a talk about it this morning.  I asked what happened, and he said bad things kept happening.  I asked him if he journaled yesterday before bed and he said, "No."  He hadn't done it for a while.  His last entry was approximately a month ago.

I looked over his journal entries with him, and they went something like this:

5 things I'm thankful for:

1. boobies

2. The Hork-bajir chronicles

3. plants

4. toys

5. food

6

So I shared with him my gratitude journal.  It went a little something like this:

I am thankful for my loving, caring boyfriend who is my best friend, lover, and partner.  I am thankful to have a wonderful family, and amazing children who care for each other and the world.  I am thankful for my ex-husband, who is in Afghanistan for our country so we all are safe.  I am grateful that he calls every week to talk to the kids, and that he sent videos to them so they can still see his face.  I am thankful for hugs and kisses, joy and laughter.  I am grateful for the beautiful vegetable gardens that are flourishing, and for help watering them every day.  I am thankful we have plenty of good food on our table every day, and that we are all happy and healthy.  I am thankful we have a great home, and a bed to rest our heads on at night.  I am thankful for all the blessings God has given us, and continues to give us.

I asked him what the difference was.  He said, "mine is just things I like."  I explained to him that he can be grateful for the things he has that he likes, but there are many other things in the day to be thankful for.  Great moments, people we might take for granted, and other normal things in our lives that we don't really tend to think about sometimes.

I explained that using a sentence, and stating that you are thankful, grateful, or happy about something every time you mention something new allows you to re-experience that great thing in your mind as you write it.  A list is good, and sometimes that is a great way to get people started!  But as I switched from writing a list to writing sentences, I found it easier to write more things that were great in the day and my life.

Andrew got it.  He took the journal from me, and started writing (without me telling him to).  He decided to start writing one thing in the morning, some other things in the middle of the day, and the rest at night before he goes to bed.

Any bets on who is going to have a great day, even when a few rough things happen in the midst of it?

Andrew!

Do you journal?  If you do, is it all the things that tick you off in the day, or the good things?  How do you feel about journaling?  Good/bad/ineffective/awesome?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!