Year Two, Day 86: Ike Box

Day 6 of my "happiness way":

"The way to happiness:

Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry.

Live simply, expect little, give much.

Fill your life with love.

Scatter sunshine.

Forget self, think of others.

Do as you would be done by.

Try this for a week and you will be surprised".

~The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale, 1952

My new office: Ike Box Brewing Community, Salem, Oregon

I have discovered a new office! I am in Salem today. I usually arrive quite hungry and head for the Indian buffet near the Amtrak station. But in honoring my quest for self improvement, which includes more sensible eating, I ate yogurt on the bus ride down.

Divinely yummy yogurt. "NOOSA" lemon yogurt. It is whole milk and incredibly satisfying. Not to mention yummy!

I guess I already said that.

http://www.noosayoghurt.com/product/lemon/

Anyway, I arrived in Salem feeling peaceful and not at all hungry! It was a first. I hardly knew what to do with myself. So I walked. I headed downtown. I had heard there was a little coffee shop with WiFi. My plan was to have a cup of tea, read and blog. Then go to cafe Yumm for lunch before teaching.

I have found a wonderful thinking place at One Box. Lovely old building, dark, cool and spacious inside. High ceilings, wooden tables. Perfect!

I nearly finished The Power of Positive Thinking. Only two more chapters to go. I am seriously thinking about buying a dozen of these books, used in paperback and giving t them to family and friends. I have highlighted, underlined and starred a good quarter of the book!

I had a lovely tofu bento at Cafe Yumm.

Overall, a very peaceful and successful day in this thing called life!

Happy Wednesday!

Comments

Year Four, Day 328: Success at Last!! This is What I Do

Hello My Long Lost Friends! Or, perhaps it was I who was lost? And now I think I am beginning to find myself! Under layers of fat, and self loathing! How's that for an opening line! Or perhaps the title of a novel: Layers of Fat and Self-Loathing! Today I stepped on the scale. I am weighing myself every morning these days. I was shocked! I told my partner the scale must be broken! Yesterday I weight 186. Today 185! I have been on a strict intermittent fast for the past 10 weeks. I have officially lost 12 pounds! And the best news is I think I not only can stick to this way of eating, I am actually beginning to really enjoy it! And look how far I've come! I've been writing since May 12, 2015. Over 8 years now! I know this blog post says Year Four, Day 328, but there have been many pauses in blogging. For instance, when I am not pleased with progress or simply have no words! I was 53 when I first began blogging. I am now 61. I honestly feel better than I did 8 years

Year Four, Day 335: "Crisis Fatigue"

Hello Friends! I have missed you! I have been so utterly exhausted and downright depressed, that I couldn't summon enough energy to even lift my fingers to this computer keyboard to write. Apparently there is a mental disorder for people going through crises. Crises such as pandemics, systemic racism, political division, unemployment, police brutality, civil unrest.... It's called "crisis fatigue". When humans are presented with a threat, adrenaline is released to give us quick energy. This is called the "fight or flight syndrome". But when threats are overwhelming, and perceivably continuous, like this year, it overwhelms the system. People can feel numb, depressed, anxious and irritable. Yup. That's me. I guess I'm quite normal after all! I found an interesting article that describes crisis fatigue, especially in relation to current events. But it doesn't really address how to take care of ourselves during these unsettling times!

Year Four, Day 247: What Happened in Vegas...

Expectations can be brutal. Especially when reality dashes them against the rocky shores of our souls. How's that for an opening line? I was so excited about my recent trip to Las Vegas. I haven't travelled anywhere in so long. I do believe I have been bit by the travel bug. I want the freedom to go places I have never been, see things I have never seen and experience life as a stellar adventure! My kids are young adults with families of their own. I have my role as Zma, as Teacher Zita. But I am on a quest to find Zita. She's hidden someone deep inside. Covered in layers. Like an onion. I like the onion analogy. Notice the outermost layer of an onion - dry and papery. As you peel off layers, the inside is juicy and sweet. I have paid my dues of sacrifice, shame and self deprivation. What I want now is to embrace the life I have remaining. Have you seen the life pie chart? I don't know where I read this, but it stuck with me. Draw a circle. And then divide it i

Soul Runnings

Search This Blog