Day 15: Keeping Accountable

Hey folks, I’m going to keep this one really short today…mostly because I have a 4:30am wake-up tomorrow morning. Crazy I know, but it is what it is! Anyway, as with all challenges there needs to be some form of accountability factored in as a check in to see how progress is going, and if in fact there IS any progress. Seeing as it is the end of the month, even though I’m only 15 days in, I figured now would be the perfect time to do it. Mid-month and month end all rolled into one. So here’s the scoop thus far.

My water intake is going REALLY well. I am currently drinking 3 litres a day (except yesterday I had only 2), and I am loving the new alkalized water that I’ve been drinking too. The machine you seen in my earlier posts (Day 9) was actually a friend of mine’s water machine. I was getting water from him this past week of my water challenge, while mine was on order. It should be arriving any day now. I’m excited about its arrival for two reason: 1) water straight from the machine not only tastes different than when kept in a bottle, it’s also more alive and more beneficial to the body, 2) I want to do an experiment with the water to test storing the water in a plastic bottle versus a glass one…and how long the water actually lasts in there! If I come out with the same results that I did last time, it may shock you.

My detox program is also well underway. So far I’m on Day 8 of 15 for the Colon Cleanse portion of it. I’ve been eating more fruits and veggies, and have stayed away from all meats as suggested. I don’t generally drink alcohol and never drink coffee, so that hasn’t been a problem. I have noticed some interesting things side effects though. Keep in mind, as with any detox program things are liable to get worse before they get better, simply because the toxic crap that’s been inside for so long is trying to find its way out. So the things I’ve been noticing are: night time cold sweats, day time hot flashes (no, it can’t be menopause yet I’m far too young for that!), increased energy, lost weight (although that was never the goal) …and man do I ever have the weirdest looking stuff come out the “end zone”! Nothing like I’ve seen in the videos I’ve found online though. So no, the aliens have not yet landed. YET. It’s weird to say this, but I’m actually excited for it. Who knew that detoxing could be so entertaining?

Tomorrow I’m slated for physio again. I got injured the last time I trained with someone, so I am hoping to clear up this leg/knee issue soon. I can’t wait to get back to training (with a new trainer) and get me some muscles. There’s gonna be a mean set of pipes on this chica! KER-POW!

Finally, to keep in line with the detox theme this month, I’ve got something really cool slated for tomorrow that I can’t wait to share with you. It’s going to be good, so stay tuned!

Day 14: A Woman's Worth (Part 2)

Every once in a while I receive an email, note or message worth passing along to others. I recently received one of those that I found rather appropriate considering yesterday’s topic, and wanted to share that with you today.

Before I share it with you though, I want to say this…in case you are thinking it, I am not a feminist.  When I speak about “worth” I am not just speaking to women. I do not believe that women are better or worth more than men. I also do not believe that men are better or worth more than women either. Through my eyes, we all bleed red, which means I don’t actually see in the context of sex, race, religion, or the like. I never have. What I see is another human being. So, as much as there are women of worth, there are men of worth too. And just as often that I come across women who are under appreciated and mistreated, so too do I find the same in men. I hear and see it all the time. Whether you know it or not, we are more similar than we are different. Underneath it all, we all have the same basic wants and needs – to be seen for who we are, to be valued, to be understood, to love and be loved. Without the last of these, we would perish.

So when I write about worth, I am speaking to all. I find it unfortunate that, whether it is a man or a woman, there are those among us who don’t actually see themselves for who they REALLY are, don’t understand their own value, or even KNOW their own worth. Perhaps that’s you. If it is, then I’m writing this for you.  And in case you are one of those people who say “I know” to everything, I say…do you really? Do you “know” your worth…or do you knoooooow your worth? Hear the difference? Is it a knowing from your mind or from your body? Do you think about it or do you feel it? These are two VERY different things, and if you think you know, you don’t. If we did knooooow, we’d treat ourselves better, and in turn treat each other better. Instead, we undermine ourselves, usually in small ways, which we don’t even recognize. So when I talk about worth, I’m talking about finding what’s already there and owning it within ourselves first. Get to know who you truly are. See your greatness. Acknowledge your own worth. Then recognize those SAME values within OTHERS around you, and watch your world change. But don’t take my word for it, try it out for yourself and see. The truth is there if you’re willing to be open to it.

So, to quote Oprah, “what do I knoooow for sure”?

That I AM a Woman of Worth…and I see nothing less in you.

I AM A WOMAN OF WORTH

My worthiness is inherent, infinite and persevering -

it is my natural state.
My value is a reflection of who I am -

and I am magnificent.
And...who I am always makes a difference,

because I MATTER.

I am successful -

because I come from my true power, which lies within.
I lead through inspiration -

from quiet acts of kindness, to leading a nation.
I am empowered -

I make choices from the clarity of my heart, mind and spirit.
I am abundant -

as I manifest my success from the core of my true essence.
I cherish my relationships -

they are part of what makes me strong.
I am a Human Being -

as my BEing is of far more significance than my DOing.
 I play, laugh, and bring beauty and light into the world -

I am RADIANT.

At times I despair and I weep, when I feel the pain

of a world that has momentarily gone mad.
Yet even when I tremble through a dark night of the soul,

I renew my faith and my courage in a single heartbeat

because my spirit is indomitable.I FEEL and I CARE and I am passionately ALIVE,

with a heart as open as the Universe.

I AM A WOMAN OF WORTH, AND I AM GLORIOUS.

(The Women of Worth Credo by Christine Awram, Founder, WOW 2010)

Day 13: A Woman's Worth

There will be days when I write in humor and jest, and there will be days when I don’t, where I will write with a more serious introspection instead. You will get the full spectrum of me throughout the year, and today you will be getting the latter.

Last night I made you aware of my lack of sleep and nocturnal habits, so today after work I did something about it. I took a “time out” for me to sleep for a couple hours in the Zen peace of my own massage studio, and do what I tell everybody else who comes to see me “to let go and get away from it all.” I did exactly that, and it was the best, most peaceful and restful sleep I have had in a long while. All thoughts, feelings, stress, and the like disappeared in the candlelight as soon as my head hit the pillow and my body melted into the heated table. Why I don’t do this more often I don’t know. but I think I will from now on. It’s pretty heavenly.

Today’s topic is a rather large one, “A Woman’s Worth”, and in no way can be reduced to a single blog posting on it. To do so would be a massive injustice. As one of my Twitter followers says, “I don’t think there are words to describe a woman’s worth”, and I agree with him/her. So I’m just going to speak on a small portion of it that relates to something that happened today. I imagine this one might spark some controversy and conversations. Here it goes.

These days I find that I get tested on my commitments a lot, mostly in the area of relationships, and today was no exception. I have to admit, it’s tough with all the distractions. I get asked all the time for the “friends with benefits” package, to which I’ll always respond no. To me, that already tells me that they do not know the value of a woman, and I would be heading down a path of heartache I do not wish to travel. I’ve learned, and I’m much smarter than that. I know my value, and I know that I’m worth more than someone’s cheap sexual fix. No thanks, I’ll pass. I’m looking for a quality companion that reflects and compliments who I am. Someday, I WILL meet someone who understands what I’m talking about and who value themselves just as much.

That being said, these situations do allow me to get very clear and even more committed to what it is I want every single time. I love how the Universe puts distractions in the way to see how serious you are about your goal, often to see if you will settle for less and undermine your own worth. That’s my take on it anyway. It reminds me of a quote that goes a little something like this:

“Walls or obstacles weren’t put in the way to stop you from achieving your goal, they are there to see how bad you want that goal, and if you are willing to climb the wall to get it.”

Well, I’ve seen what’s on the other side, so I’m climbing. Up and over I go, and if I fall, I’ll get back up and do it again. I tell you, nothing can get in the way of a self-respecting woman geared with determination.

If you haven’t already heard the song “A Woman’s Worth” by Alicia Keys, I highly recommend giving it a listen. It talks about seeing the value in each other; to love, respect, and appreciate each other - and how when you do these things you can have everything…and if you don’t you will just as easily lose everything.

Here’s to hoping you find the “real man” …or “real woman” that you truly deserve. Enjoy the video.

"A Woman's Worth" by Alicia Keys

You could buy me diamonds, you could buy me pearls
Take me on a cruise around the world
Baby you know I'm worth it
Dinner lit by candles, run my bubble bath
Make love tenderly to last and last
Baby you know I'm worth it
Wanna please wanna keep wanna treat your woman right
Not just told but to show that you know she is worth your time
You will lose if you choose to refuse to put her first
She will if she can't find a man who knows her worth, mhmn

Cuz a real man knows a real woman when he sees her
And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her
And a real woman knows a real man always comes first
And a real man just can't deny a woman's worth

If you treat me fairly I'll give you all my goods
Treat you like a real woman should
Baby I know you're worth it
If you never play me, promise not to bluff
I'll hold you down when shit gets rough
Baby I know you're worth it
She rolls the mile makes you smile all the while being true
Don't take for granted the passion that she has for you
You will lose if you choose to refuse to put her first
She will if she can't find a man who knows her worth, oh

Cuz a real man knows a real woman when he sees her
And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her
And a real woman knows a real man always comes first
And a real man just can't deny a woman's worth

No need to read between the lines, spell it out for you
Just hear this song cuz you can't go wrong when you value
A woman, woman, woman, a woman's worth

Cuz a real man knows a real woman when he sees her
And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her
And a real woman knows a real man always comes first
And a real man just can't deny a woman's worth

Cuz a real man knows a real woman when he sees her
And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her
And a real woman knows a real man always comes first
And a real man just can't deny a woman's worth

Day 12: Sleep…Where Art Thou?

It’s now past 3am and I’m W-I-D-E awake. I guess you could say my sleep rhythms are slightly off… just a wee bit. Possible sarcasm? Maybe a little. A typically night for me would be around 3-5 hours of sleep per night, and sometimes only 2 hours on Monday nights. Crazy eh? I know. It’s a wonder that I even function at all. But I do. Surprisingly, I am still the same upbeat, positive, Zen-like me I’ve always been…who THANKFULLY still looks younger than what I should when sleep deprived. Although my roommates would contest to the latter on my REALLY sleepless days, with a “Wow, you look tired!”…their polite way of saying “Holy smokes Batman, you look like CRAP! Go to bed already!” They’re right of course. I’m really looking forward to when I tackle my sleep issue. It’s been a long time coming and, truthfully, I’d rather not look like I’ve been run over by a bus.

So tonight, I’m going to give you a quick update on how my program is going so far. I’ve successfully been drinking 3 liters of water per day, and have been for the last three days now. I’ve never done that before. In the past I’ve always had such a hard time drinking it, but with this new Alkalized water it seems to go down very easy. And it tastes really great!

Yesterday I mentioned that I started a colon cleanse detoxing program, to which I have successfully completed Day 5 of 30 days. So far so good! I’m excited to see what the next 10 days will be like, as tomorrow the program is kicked up a notch. Stay tuned for more info tomorrow!

Bon nuit.

Day 11: Don’t Take MY Word For It, I’m Full Of Sh*t. But Then Again, So Are You.

Let’s get down and dirty and straight to business. Let’s talk about what no one wants to talk about…your colon. More specifically, detoxing and colon cleansing.

Ewww... GROSS!!!

Maybe so, but it is ESSENTIAL to maintaining your health. So, over the next 30 days (well, 26 now actually…I started 4 days ago) I will be undergoing a complete colon cleanse to rid myself of built up toxins that have accumulated over the years. And if the testimonials I found are accurate, then I look forward to finding “aliens” come out my butt too. I’ll be sure to let you know if I find any, but you’ll just have to take my word for it, as I’m not about to take pictures. Sorry to disappoint. I will however be talking more about the importance of your intestinal and colon health though, as it is such an underrated topic, yet at the root of SO MANY dis-eases.

I know, it’s a shitty business but someone has to talk about it. Perhaps we could call it “housecleaning for your insides” with a side of jazz hands, wrap it in pretty bow, and add a Martha Stewart smile. Would that make you happy? You can be sure my dad would tell you, “same sh*t, different pile”. In this case, you can take that literally. So, whether you want to call it decluttering or detoxing, it boils down to the same thing, there’s still funky junk in your trunk.

Day 10: My Brothers Call Me “Special”, I Call Me “Unique”

One could say I have a healthy sense of humor, because I laugh at most everything and anything, and quite often it’s at my own expense. No seriously, you should hear the things that pass through my mind. I’ve got my own running commentary and peanut gallery going on in my brain when I let it go idle, or when I’m thinking about topics and funny titles for these posts. Oh how it makes me laugh! Often, literally, OUT LOUD…and often these are the titles I CAN’T post. HA! Thankfully my roommates are not home when I spontaneously burst out laughing, as they would probably think that I’m crazy and rethink my lease agreement. It’s the sinister Mr. Burns kind of laugh crossed with Count Dracula and Ernie, and it cracks me up even more every time I hear myself. Yes, I am THAT unique. If you haven’t already guessed it, I am my own entertainment…and now yours too I guess!  LOL

Get used to it - we’re both here for a while. Another 355 days to be exact.  ;-)

Ok, so today’s post was supposed to be a real gooder (yes I made that word up), but I’ve been having some issues with my internet tonight which means I couldn’t get to the proper information pre-post. Unfortunately that also means that you have to wait one more day until I tell you what I’m up to next. Sorry folks…the beauty of technology. We have a love hate relationship.

See you tomorrow!

Day 9: If You Are Already Thirsty, You’re Too Late

So a couple of days ago I was experiencing cotton ball and peanut butter mouth from being so badly dehydrated. How do I know that I am dehydrated? Easy, I have ALL the classic tell tale signs. The first being thirst. If you already feel thirsty, it’s too late, you are already dehydrated. The name of the game is prevention, drinking enough water BEFORE thirst sets in. This is why I set myself up with a schedule for drinking water, so I would REMEMBER to drink my quota…which I AM doing by the way! Three litres per day scheduled around meal times makes it very easy. YAY!

For those of you interested in knowing if you are dehydrated too, here are a few more tell tale signs:

1.       Dark or cloudy urine

2.       Dry mouth and/or thick tongue

3.       Dry and/or shriveled skin

4.       Fatigue and/or unexplained tiredness

5.       Chills

6.       Head rushes

7.       Muscle cramps

8.       Confusion

9.       Headaches that feel like a hangover

10.   Irritability and/or negative moods

The list is actually more extensive than this and varies depending on the level of dehydration you are experiencing, but I think you get the point. To remedy the situation it would appear that the most obvious and logical solution would be to JUST DRINK MORE WATER. Right?

Wrong.

You would think so, but that’s not entirely true. There’s actually more to it than that. When you become dehydrated you’re not only losing water you are also losing electrolytes – which you absolutely NEED for the chemical reactions to happen within your cells. The specific electrolytes needed for rehydration are sodium and potassium salts. Without the combination of water and these salts, it can lead to water intoxication and even death. Yes, I said death. You can ACTUALLY die from drinking too much water, and it’s because of the imbalance. Balance is the key, so replace your electrolytes. How? Well, here’s what I do. I take a little bit of sea salt after I drink some of my water. It’s so simple.

Salt you say? Isn’t that bad for you? Yes, if you are consuming the regular white over-processed and refined table salt kind. What you want is to get the natural or unrefined sea salts that still have the trace minerals in them. You can find them at any health conscious store. Remember, when choosing the right sea salt, stick to the pink and gray salts, like the Himalayan sea salts or the two I use pictured below:

Since starting my rehydration process (and it’s only been a few days now), I’ve already noticed some subtle differences. It amazes me just how much changing ONE thing can affect many things, and I look forward to the snowball health-effect and knocking more of the classic symptoms off my list. Cheers to that! *clink clink*

Stay tuned tomorrow for my next challenge, which will also be the funniest (and probably grossest) of them all I’m sure. Ciao for now!

Day 8: First step to Attracting Mr. Right…Stop Looking

You know what I love? Writing. I love writing like I love doing massage. Neither of which I even knew I liked before or even thought I was good at, and both stumbled upon by sheer accident when I was focusing on something else. It happened when I wasn’t looking. I believe Mr. Right will happen much the same way. When I’m not looking, and when I least expect it. BAM! WHOOP THERE IT IS! But for humor’s sake, let me share with you some of my “before” picture dating scene when I WAS actively looking. Hold onto your hats folks, it may blow you away.

So up until recently, I’ve spent a LOT of time LOOKING for “the One”. They say success is on the other side of failure, and sometimes you go through a lot of Mr. Wrong’s to get to Mr. Right. The thing about me is, I don’t give up easily and I refuse to quit. Learn what you can, from who you can, and move forward. My quest for love started on the playground, graduated to the notorious bar scene, travelled far and wide, sailed the seas, then back home to try the online thing. The stories I could tell you would probably make your eyes pop. Stupid funny and ridiculous mostly…and THOSE ones are mostly since I moved here to Vancouver. Funny that. The best of these stories though come from a well-known local dating site called POF…or as my girlfriends say Plenty of Freaks. To date here are my top six all time dating disaster favorites:

1.       The crazy foot fetish porn website guy

2.       The schizophrenic

3.       The Dr. Jekyll /Mr. Hyde - a total bong show. No, that’s not a typo

4.       The severely superstitious thought-I-did-voodoo guy (Umm…really?!? Wow. I’m about as harmless as a baby lamb, and if I DID have that sort of power I’d probably put it to productive use and try to score the lottery instead. Seriously. I laughed for DAYS.)

5.        The guy who recently made it on the late night news…police report

6.       …and finally, let’s not forget the guy who asked me if I’d sleep with a random dude for a million bucks. I said “No, I’m not for sale thanks”. He said, “Really? For a million bucks? I would sleep with him!” “How about that one then?” pointing to another dude. He was dead serious. To this I say, “Cheque please!”

The list is actually longer, but you get the point. Needless to say, that although the online scene certainly provided some interesting entertainment, I am no longer fishing. Actually, I think it’s best if I don’t look at all. I think it’s best if I focus on something else for a change - ME...and things I’m passionate about.  I wouldn’t be surprised that by doing what I love every day that it will just happen, naturally, without looking. Besides I’d rather stumble upon him by accident…like at a grocery store or something. When I tell my family this they laugh. I get comments like, “Where, the ‘Meat Market’…in the pepperoni and sausage aisle?” Ha…very funny guys. No. For some reason, I’ve always pictured meeting Mr. Right at the grocery store, in the dairy aisle, laughing over spilled milk. Sounds silly, I know. It would also be a bit tricky as I’m rarely there, and I very rarely drink milk. Ah well, one can dream!

Having said that, how much do you want to bet that someone’s going to follow me around with a litre of milk in their hands now? You know as well as I do that SOMEONE is going to do it. LOL

(And yes, just for the record, my family IS like that. Where do you think I get MY humor from?)

Day 7 – Cotton Balls & Peanut Butter

Today marks the ONE WEEK milestone into my one year life-makeover program. How exciting is that eh? So far so good!

In just a few days I’ve graduated myself from one litre of water per day to two litres per day. I’m working at a routine of downing half of it before I shower, half after, and always at least 20 minutes before I eat anything. I drink half of the second litre before my next meal, and then sip for the rest of the day. For those of you looking to shed some pounds, drinking water 20 minutes before meals is best for weight loss. It’s also advisable to NOT drink water DURING meals as it slows down the digestive process; best about an hour afterwards.

So I’ve been told many times over to never assume anything. Why? Because it makes an ass out of you and me (ASS-U-ME). However I think it’s fair to say that my water issue will take more than a day to correct considering that I’ve been this way for most of my life. To be honest, I’m not really sure how long this rehydration process will take, but I definitely don’t expect results overnight.  All I know is that for now I still feel like I’m chewing on cotton balls and peanut butter. LOL  

Today I’m going to keep this post short simply because I’ve got some AWESOME news tomorrow and a wicked line up of events for the next couple of months that you won’t want to miss. So stay tuned for the goods. Just like any great relationship, a little mystery is a good thing. ;)

Day 6: Proof that Mr. Right DOES Exist

*If you are a guy, you will DEFINITELY want to read this!*

I’m not sure if you already know this, so I’ll say it anyways, my posts go both ways. My blog is Bi. This blog is not JUST for women, it’s for men too. (And quite honestly, a smart man will pay extra attention if he wants to demystify the mind of a woman and finally understand what she wants in order to have a smoother sailing relationship. If you think about it I’m like an ace up your sleeve, as most people are looking for the same basic things). So whether you are looking to attract Mr. Right or Mrs. Right, the 365 day journey is still the same, and anything I write here applies to both. Capiche? Good.

 So I received a rather inspiring letter today that I can’t shake from my mind. It was a letter from an anonymous woman who has been following my blog, who also felt the need to share with me her story about love and finding her Mr. Right. She is a woman after my own heart. It was as if she took the thoughts in MY own mind of who I am, what I believe, and what I want in someone…and then penned them to paper. Perhaps she is a kindred spirit of some sort. I found her letter beautiful and moving and thus asked her if I could share it with all of you as a source of hope and inspiration…and knowing that all that we seek truly does exist. With her permission, I shall share it with you now. Enjoy!

“I read your blog, and saw all the pictures you had cut out and pasted as a poster of what your relationship will look like...and I thought of my own Mr. Right. I wasn't sure if I would ever find him. Like you, ideas of him have been in my heart and mind for what seems like an eternity. I knew he existed because I could feel him, and sometimes the aching pain I felt for someone I hadn’t even met yet was very confusing. Unfortunately, it has taken me 39 years to find out what love is all about, however if this is the road I had to take to get me to here then it was well worth the trip. My Mr. Right says the same thing. After my failed marriage, I knew I wasn't going to go through this again for just anyone. I was quite prepared to go through life alone just for the simple fact that I wasn't going to settle for second best. I knew what I wanted in a man. And I knew what I wanted in myself. It’s so easy to lose yourself when you are in a relationship. I have done it every time - except for this one! Instead of losing myself I feel like I am finding myself. I have always been independent. Since becoming single my independence has been more important to me than ever; to make it with or without having someone special in my life. Not to have someone COMPLETE me, but to have someone COMPLIMENT me. I am already complete. Don't confuse that statement. I am independent, and I am who I want to be with room for improvements and higher goals.

Nicole, the reason I am sharing this with you is for a couple of reasons. I am writing to you because you are on a journey as well and you get it. I am also writing to you because I know you can see my happiness, where others can't. I need to say it, write it, share it, so who better than you.

So why do I love my Mr. Right? That’s easy. He is my best friend. He is the person I share with. I can tell him anything and not be afraid - and he does the same with me. It’s easy and it’s natural. He makes me smile. He is not the reason for my smile, but he adds smiles to my face, and laughter in my life. He doesn't take away from me but gives to me, supports me, encourages me, and protects me. He is vulnerable, and gets scared, and he admits this even when he's scared to. You know, it’s harder to admit your fears to the person you are in the relationship with, which means he trusts me, the same as I trust him. I admire him for all that he has been through, and he is still working at being the best he can be. He is not afraid to dream, and has opened me up to thinking about dreams, whether it be accomplishments, travel, goals, what I want in this world and not being afraid to go out and get it.

We talk. We talk all the time, several times a day, about a lot of things and sometimes about nothing at all. But we never run out of things to talk about, and it always feels like it’s the best conversation I ever had.

He does the little things, you know, the little things you always want a guy to do, but they don't do. He does them without me asking, without a thought, out of the blue, for no reason at all except that he wants too because he cares and because he was thinking of me. It's those little surprises that give you new reasons to fall in love with the same person over and over again. It’s those moments that make something about every day special.  It’s those moments that make you realize and assure you that you have everything you asked for. When they do those little things, you automatically think “I love you.”

He lets me know that I am perfect, and yet knows my faults (even though I know I sometimes drive him crazy). He tests my boundaries, not for his own benefit but for me to widen mine - to not be afraid of new things.

He is thoughtful in all the right ways. How? I will tell you. From everything I've already said, to the other little things like buying me black licorice treats when he goes to the store, not because I asked, not because he likes them (because he doesn't…he thinks they are gross), but because he knows I do. It makes him happy to make me happy. And it tells me that he thinks about me. It’s the coming out of the convenience store with an ice cream surprise because he thought of me, because he wondered if I ever tried it before, because he is spoiling me. It’s the phone calls that I get, it’s the messages that he leaves saying “I just wanted to let you know I love you, or the phone call saying “I still remember our first kiss”. It’s the way our heart breaks when we have to say good-bye, not because I can't live without him but because I don't want to. It’s knowing that his presence makes the days of your life that much better even when things go wrong. It's knowing that you want to give him everything, and would give him everything and realizing that you aren't sacrificing yourself. Not giving so much that you have nothing left for yourself, because he gives it all back to you. It's the look in his eyes when he's looking at you, and all the things that he says and does that tells you that every word has meaning, and comes from his heart.

These guys really do exist Nicole, and yours is out there.”

Day 5: Dream Big, Think Small, Act Smaller

If I’m not mistaken (and please correct me if I’m wrong) I think it was Michael Gerber author of “The E-Myth” who said “Dream Big, Think Small, Act Smaller”. Now when I first heard the quote all I heard was “think small”, and in my brain that translated into BE small…meaning, be less than what we are. (In psychology, I did what we call "projecting" – attributing one’s OWN thoughts, feelings, or attitudes upon others). Yes, I honestly thought Mr. Gerber was off his rocker and wondered what the guy was smoking. For a brief moment, I actually thought that I was smarter than a millionaire. HA! Oh, how naïve. The joke was on me. In MY small-mindedness, I totally missed the message. Talk about being humbled. He was actually speaking about goal setting and how to successfully achieve them. Oops…my bad! Sorry Mr. Gerber.

Now seeing as Mr. Gerber might possibly know a thing or two more than me, I figure it might be a good idea to take his sage advice. Wouldn’t you agree? After all, what I was doing up until now obviously wasn’t working for me otherwise I wouldn’t be doing this challenge, right? Right.

So here’s the thing. Yesterday I proposed that I would drink more water. My goal is to drink 3 litres of water per day to get myself rehydrated. This water goal is a crucial element to my next health challenge starting on Monday, so I need to get on it. The problem with this goal is that, although it may seem minor to you, it seems rather big and daunting to me. Seriously, that seems like a lot of water to me!  What I do know, and what Mr. Gerber was saying, is that if I want to successfully achieve anything I need to break it down as far as possible and set incremental goals…take baby steps. So here is what I propose to do. I am going to start with drinking ONE litre of water per day, first thing in the morning, BEFORE I have breakfast. Every second day I will add another litre to be had BEFORE the next meal…until I reach my three litres. (To hold me accountable, feel free to ask me if I actually did follow through on it).  If I can set up a routine habit, I believe I’ll have a much higher rate of success. Today was a good day and I already hit my target. YAY ME!

Day #1 of water goal achieved. Check!

Day 4: Bottoms Up!

*Don’t miss my experiment at the end…it will shock you!*

Okie dokie, here we go! So this is day 4 of the 365 day challenge, which seems like such a long time but I know it will pass by quickly, as does every other year. Where does the time go? Anyway, let’s get this party started! Are you ready? Excited? I am.

Before I tell you what the first challenge is though, let me give you a very quick brief on my health history and why I chose this specific one to tackle FIRST.

I constantly suffer from dehydration, and have been since my early teens. The lack of hydration has affected my sleep, my ability to concentrate and focus, my energy levels, the clarity of my skin, extreme tension in my muscles, and ongoing digestive problems. It’s a long list. And although all I drink is water, it never seems to be enough and I could never figure out why.

So my first challenge for the year will be…drum roll please…drinking enough water! I know what you’re saying, “Really? Is that it? I waited for that? Boring. Didn’t you just say that you tried and it never seemed to be enough anyway?” If you weren’t thinking it, I would have been. lol

If you’re smart, you’d ask me why.

Why Nicole?

Well, let’s think about this for a minute, starting with the basics. You’ve probably heard the expression “we are what we eat”, and we now understand that change happens from the inside out right? Well, we are also what we drink. Did you know that (on average) the human body is composed of about 60% water, our brains 70%, our blood 80%, and our lungs 90%? I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking two things:

1)      That’s a lot of water…with a lot of influence over major things!

2)      If water composes that much of my body, brain and blood, what effect would a LACK of it do? (Well, actually I do know the answer to this one…I’m currently experiencing it.)

With these points in mind then, wouldn’t it make sense that if I wanted to make a big change in my health to start somewhere that would have the most impact? Yeah, I thought so.

So now you’re thinking “Ok, makes sense, but what about what you said about drinking it didn’t matter because it never seemed to be enough anyway?” Good question. Remember yesterday when I mentioned I met a “teacher”, someone with new information, teaching me what I don’t know I don’t know? Well, this is where things get interesting.

What I didn’t know was that not all water is created equally. There’s bottled water, tap water, well water, filtered water, distilled/purified water, etc…right? Well, did you also know that these water sources are acidic, and that drinking anything acidic is not only toxic for you, but also creating health problems? I didn’t. Did you also know that these water sources are not micro-clustered which means they are not bio-available? I didn’t. I didn’t even know what micro-clustered and bio-available meant! When I first met with this teacher, without saying anything he handed me a glass of water like any good host would to a guest. When I drank it however, I immediately noticed a difference. The water felt soft, like small silk molecules on my tongue. Never felt that before…it was both weird and cool at the same time. So I got curious. He explained that the water molecules are “micro-clustered” (made smaller) so that it is bio-available…which means that your body can actually ABSORB the water. Apparently the water from the other sources are macro-clustered (too big for our cells to absorb properly), which would explain why I always felt thirsty after drinking SOOO much water I thought my eyes would float. LOL  I tell ya, after years of not knowing what’s wrong, it sure was nice to have someone explain what the heck was going on!

Apparently the process was called ionization which also alkalized the water. So not only was it making the water small enough to absorb, but it was also at a neutral or alkaline pH level to match our own body’s natural pH level. How cool is that?

Here’s the thing about me though. I consider myself a healthy skeptic, which means I like to ask a LOT of questions and I like to test things out for myself instead of taking someone else’s word for it. So I did my own experiment.

I got a hold of an ionizing machine, tested the water myself, and took pictures to show you what I’m talking about. I figure it’s easier to show than tell. So I tested the tap water from my apartment, filtered water, and then the water from the machine. See for yourself the rainbow of results!

If you didn’t notice, the tap water fared the worst at a whopping pH of only 4…SUPER acidic. Not only does it look like pee, but can you imagine what it’s doing to your insides? Hmmm, I’ll pass thanks. The filtered water came in at about a 5/6…still acidic. The machine however, displayed an impressive 10! Perfect score. In case you didn’t know, our body’s natural pH level is slightly alkaline, between 7-8.

For those of you who are curious about the machine and interested in getting one for yourself like I did, I got it from www.alkalizeyou4life.com. I encourage you to take a peek and take a look for yourself. This is what it looks like:

I chose this one for many reasons, but the most important ones are:

1)      It’s more cost effective and is friendly on the wallet of consumers

2)      It’s a better quality and more natural filtration system

3)      It ionizes the water the way nature does it (not through electrically modifying it)

4)      It doesn’t waste water like the other machines do (I think conserving our water is not only a smart choice but a responsible one)

Ok folks, that’s it for me today. All this talk about water is making me thirsty. Bottoms up! 

Day 3: My Greatest Challenge

Day 3: My Greatest Challenge

What I don’t understand is why our education system spends more time teaching us irrelevant things than it does teaching us things we need and use every day. What do I mean? Basic life skills. I mean, things like communication and relationship skills, financial management, emotional intelligence, how to maintain a healthy body, and the like.  Take a look around, you don’t have to look far. The evidence of a failing system is all around. I mean seriously, do I care what the value of pie is? Unless it’s edible, not really.

So what does that have to do with my greatest challenge? Everything. I believe that education is the key to making informed decisions, and I wish someone would have taught me about the things that truly matter sooner. Without proper education, we don’t even know that we are not choosing what we should.

Huh?

Case in point -take our health for example. I bet you learned all the scientific stuff - the technical terms for different parts of the body, how the body functions, and the four major food groups. I also bet it went in one ear and out the other. Am I right? Thought so. So why is it that no one told us the value of health, how to actually achieve it, and then how to maintain it? Or is it just me that was never taught? Possibly, but I don’t think so. Sounds silly that we need to be taught how to eat and drink properly…the very basics of human survival. Fortunately though, there are those among us who have taken the initiative to educate themselves and then inform others. At a time when I needed health the most, I was lucky enough to stumble across some really invaluable information. I guess the saying is true, when the student is ready, the teacher appears.

So what did I learn? That THE most important thing in life is our health. Why? Because the quality of our health is what makes it possible to enjoy all other things that we strive for…INCLUDING attracting Mr. Right. Think about it. What good is money, relationships, career, etc. if you are not healthy enough to enjoy it? And what’s the one thing that most older people tell you they wish they had? Health. To understand its true value, ask someone who doesn’t have it, and ask them what they would give to have it back. The sad truth is that we take for granted what we do have until we no longer have it. Unfortunately, that was me. The value of my health didn’t even register in my mind until three months ago when I realized I no longer had it. My battery was low and I was running on empty. And it’s not like it happened overnight either, it’s been creeping up on me for years – lack of sleep, stress, major dehydration, not eating properly, digestive problems, low energy, burning the candle at both ends, not enough exercise (ok, so next to none!), et cetera. I was younger, didn’t care, and thought I would have my health forever. So I just never paid any attention to it - call it naivety I guess. Now, however, at the age of 30 my body has changed – noticeably. I’m not as invincible as I once thought I was, and so now spend more of my time and energy trying to regain my health back…which inevitably has led me to this blog.

Now here’s the thing. Health is a BIG topic, and my typical habit is to take on too much all at once and then fail miserably. I’ve done this enough times that I don’t think I need to repeat the lesson. I want to set myself up to succeed, so I’m going to take it slow, and work at this progressively. I figure if I ease into it, I’ll have an easier time accepting the changes and making good habits stick. I’ve done drastic cold turkey before…and it didn’t work all that well. So for those of you reading this who may also be experiencing some health challenges and are perhaps interested in making some changes to your health as well, I’ll be making this program really easy to follow along.

Wouldn’t it be cool if this became a collective thing and we were all living our best and healthiest lives possible? I think so.

Stay tuned tomorrow for what I’m going to tackle first!

Day 2: Mr. Right

It seems as though I’ve been looking for the elusive my whole life. You know what I’m talking about, “The One.” And if it weren’t for this nagging feeling which tells me he actually DOES exist I’d be apt to say he’s no more real than the tooth fairy or Santa Clause. Thankfully though, I still believe…and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s right around the corner. I feel like Edison about to discover the light bulb.

*Hands in the air*…   I BELIEVE!  

Truth of the matter is, I’ve been chasing boys since the first grade and could probably tell you who I liked for each one of those years too. (Crazy I know, but true). The journey to find love thus far has been akin to chasing the erratic flight of a butterfly or end of the rainbow…in sight but always out of reach. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized what I was doing wrong – well, a few things actually, but here are two main ones.

First, to catch a butterfly you must stop chasing it. Sounds counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? However, I swear to you, it does work. This is called “Attracting” Mr. Right, not “Chasing”, “Following” or “Stalking” Mr. Right. I’m not even joking when I say that THE DAY I declared (to myself) that I will be single for one year, I had a different guy ask me out every single day for one week…and all completely out of the blue. It was weird. I swear the Universe was testing me saying, “Are you sure this is what you want?” Yes Universe, I am sure. Unless he’s wearing really great cologne of course, then I turn into Scooby Doo following a Scooby snack. HA! Focus Nicole, focus.

Moving on.

Second, my scope was too broad and too general. What do I mean by that? I didn’t have focus. I knew I was looking for love, but had no idea of what that actually looked like. That’s like going to the ticket counter at the airport and saying “ticket please!”, and the lady says “where to?”, and you reply “I don’t know…somewhere warm?” Sounds silly doesn’t it. It’s no different than saying,

“Boyfriend please!”

“What are you looking for?”

“I don’t know…somebody.”

Now I would bet my bottom dollar that I’m not the only one who has done dating this way before –vague idea, unclear, undecided, and unsure. (I don’t do that now of course, I’m much more clued in and have the wisdom hairs to prove it). What baffles me even more though is how we put MORE time, thought and effort into buying the “right” SHOES for our evening outfit or CAR to drive than we do looking for who we want to spend our WHOLE LIVES with. Umm, I don’t know about you, but that sounds a little odd to me. Doesn’t that sound a little odd to you? I see you nodding your head. You know it’s true.

So here’s what I’ve done. Over the years I’ve compiled a list of what it is I am looking for – values, belief systems, interests, etc. I’ve consciously written about it AND I’ve even created a vision board strictly for relationships so that the qualities of what it is I am looking for are always at the top of my mind. There’s no question about it, I KNOW what I want, I am very clear about it…and I am willing to wait for it. Why? Because I know what I bring to the table, and I know that I’m worth it. Quite simple really.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so for the curious already asking me, here’s a sneak peak at my relationship Vision Board I did exactly one year ago:

If I had to put into words what it is I want here’s the long and short of it.

First and foremost, I’m looking for my best friend. Someone to live, laugh, and grow with; dream, love, and play with; connect, communicate, and cuddle with; share, feel, and click with; travel, explore, get lost with; cook, clean, and watch movies with; celebrate, make magic, and grow old with. Get the idea?

Now the qualities I look for are too many to list here, and I will probably post them later in the year when I revisit this topic. However, when I discussed relationships with my grandpa last year while out on a drive in the country, he gave me the best piece of advice which I’ll never forget. He told me “find someone who is passionate about their work.” Why? Because how they do one thing, is how they do EVERYTHING. And I have to agree with him on this one. My best relationships have always been with those who were very dedicated and passionate about what they do…just like I am with what I do. And truthfully, when I say it’s how they do everything, I mean EVERYTHING. *wink wink, nudge nudge…meow!* Just saying. LOL  ;)

Alright, that’s enough from me today. Stay tuned tomorrow as I start to tackle one of my greatest challenges. What is it? You’ll have to wait and see!

Day 1: Setting the Stage. Ready, Set…Blog!

First things first…HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!! I’ve been patiently waiting for this day to roll around as it sets the stage perfectly for what I’m about to accomplish. How? Let me explain:

1)      It’s a day dedicated to love…and well, point blank, that’s exactly what I’m looking for and what this blog is all about. Appropriate don’t you think?

2)      Today is a day where most people are expressing their love and appreciation towards the love of their life or someone whom they value other than themselves. But not I.  Today is the start of a new beginning, and I’m dedicating it to me. Today, I start by loving myself first. Sound cheesy? Perhaps, but keep reading to find out why it’s the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT KEY to finding Mr. Right. Have I got your attention yet? Good. Let’s get started then.

So in my first blog (January 21st), I told you my “why”, the motivating factors behind my blog. Well actually, there were three reasons why - to live a life of integrity, to attract Mr. Right, and to make a difference. If you haven't read it yet, I advise you to go do that so this challenge will make more sense to you. Today I want to share with you my goals that I have set for the next 365 days…the “what” that I intend to accomplish. Like I mentioned last post, this is no small endeavor…at least not for me. I’m looking at making a HUGE lifestyle change, a 180 degree paradigm shift. What does that mean you ask? It means I’m changing my story and turning things around in all areas of my life. Think of it as a “face-lift” minus the botox. The only difference being, I’ll actually be able to smile after. HA!

So here we go. The main categories I’ll be tackling this year are as follows:

1)      Health and Fitness – eat, drink, sleep, detox, and exercise…a complete body overhaul

2)       Career – get organized

3)      Finances – get control

4)      Personal –actually make time for me

5)      Relationships – drum roll please....saving the best for last…staying single for a whole year! (Yeah, I hear you…GOOD LUCK with that one! Lol)

Now I realize that this is a generalized list, however day by day I’ll focus in on a specific topic and what my goal is for that week. I’ll be updating my status each day either here or on my FaceBook Fan Page, so be sure to check out both to be in the know. My promise to you is to be completely open and authentic, genuine, in the moment, uncensored, and uncut…which is how I am anyway. And don’t worry, you’ll be plenty entertained. My life is anything but boring and could probably be featured on reality TV. (Oh, how I wish I were kidding!) Anyone who currently knows me knows that I could write a book on absurd things…ESPECIALLY in the dating world. Stay tuned for those stories…they belong in the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not library for sure. HA! Anyway, I hope you find these posts both inspirational and educational with a side dish of humor. And if you don’t have a funny bone, you might want to get one… or move on to the next blog. Some will love me, some won’t…I’m ok with both. Feedback always welcomed. J

So what does Mr. Right look like to me anyway…stay tuned tomorrow to find out! Ooooh the anticipation.

Ciao for now!