Tea is the elixir of life – Lao Tzu
Dreary Saturday drinking home made ginger tea and watching Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. One of my favorite books andI adore the BBC mini series with Alec Guinness . I have April the giraffe streaming in the background. She still hasn’t had her calf but maybe this weekend. I discovered ginger tea when I was in Prague over the holidays. It was made from fresh sliced ginger and I couldn’t get enough ( Similar to the mint tea in Amsterdam. The best) . When I got home I started buying ginger root and making it myself. I find I need to add more ginger than suggested but not a big deal. In addition to being delicious, ginger tea and ginger in general is supposed to have other healing properties. It is thought to be good for soothing stomach ailments, reducing chest congestion, help relieve muscle aches and lessening cramps . I feel healthier already. there is something soothing and cozy about sipping tea on a lazy afternoon.
I am really enjoying this decision to make this a year of healing. My diet has remained very healthy with lots of smoothies and salads and almost no delivery of anything other than salads. I confess to some jelly beans though. Since my last update.
71 days in a row of language practice. German and French. I look forward to it now and try to do it in the morning before leaving for work . It’s still a short 10 minutes but I think that’s why its working
I finished my second book this year. I am the midst a John LeCarre obsession right now and loving it. the intricate nature of the plots keep me engrossed and eliminates distractions which helps to reduce stress a bit.
I am even watching Jeopardy on regular basis.
I have also kept up with the meditation. I my streak is 22 days in a row. I started a series for depression. Again, the shortchanged nature of this helps me do it. A year ago 10 minutes seemed to much, now again I a starting to look forward to it. Is it helping ? I don’t know. Am I a master of mindfulness able to tune out all distractions and focus on my breath? No. Have I been able to swipe the stressful thoughts away and become bastion of calm? Hell no! But, it’s not about perfection, it’s about practice. I have felt more connected spiritually some how. Which is good again. My issues with God have not gone away but I do feel like a part of of a big interconnected universe again.
The physical part I have struggled with. Even though I am only doing 10-15 minutes a day and have done 22 days in a row now it is still difficult. My body is resisting. I ache from the simplest things. I still ache just in general. Even my wrists and fingers hurt, not from the yoga, just cuz. My stamina has not improved. There are days where 5 minutes of child’s pose seems like it would be too much. When picking up dog poop seems like a major workout . You know something is wrong. Nevertheless, I have persisted ( couldn’t resist ). This is what motivates me to keep going. I know how badly I have let myself go. I am not just talking about weight gain which I won’t even get in to but physical health. I am at an age where if I don’t do something to reverse the decline it will only get harder to bounce back. I can’t give up.I need to be fit and heathy to do the travel I want to do in the future. Years ago I would have started a vigorous routine. That just won’t work now. I am still committed and still believe many steps and yoga are the right action but it is just going too slow for me.
So, all in all ,not perfection but progress. I am starting to sense motivation creeping back in to my spirit. My mind seems a little more clear and I have moments of not just remembering who I used to be but feeling it as well. I have been weepy over mom the last few days. I know it’s normal so I just let it happen. I do feel less a little less depressed but not less stressed. Again, baby steps.
