Red Wine and Advertising

I decided to bite the bullet and invest in some better workout clothing.  I won’t mention that it was randomly hailing in Maine, in April, or that the cobblestone streets in the Old Port are a pain in the ass on my tires, but I will mention how awkward the experience was for me.  First, this was what greeted me as I stood in said hail:

i don’t believe your use of “namaste” in this instance.

I waited 20 minutes for the damn store to open.  Side note: They are only open from 11-5pm.  How the hell do they get a lunch break too?? The work ethic here is outstanding.  After spending the quickest $90 of my life on a shirt and sports bra, and being treated like an outsider by the lemmings in the lululemon, I was on my way.  When I told Brad how the ladies treated me in the store, he suggested I should not have purchased anything at all.  We would return, all dressed up, the next day with shopping bags, circa 1990.  “You guys work on commission right? Big mistake, huge.”  I don’t know what it is about a really attractive man quoting Pretty Woman, but damn that was hot. 

I found a local studio that has the class I have been curious to take.  It’s called barre. (I stole this next sentence off the website I cited a moment ago) ”The barre method is influenced by classical ballet barre technique, Pilates, yoga, and orthopedic exercises.”  I took it Saturday and loved it.  Aside from the fact I need a LOT of work on my flexibility, upper arm strength and abs, I think I did pretty good for my first time.  I’ll return- as my abs are killing me right now. I’ve been told that’s a good thing- by people with stomach muscles.  I will note that I was happy to be acquainted with the instructor, Kristy.  She is sweet and friendly and attends the Catapult events.  She is all those qualities, that is, until she starts class. She turned into a drill instructor in about two seconds!  I’m not knocking her though, trust me, she makes you work your butt off, as you’re too scared to let her down! 

After class I was feeling extra “health conscious” (and obviously I looked it with my new duds and ”I totally just worked out” hair) and took a trip to the local health food store.  The staff was very friendly and helpful, alas, they could tell I was a rookie.  I guess I didn’t fool them.

It is expensive to be healthy! Total bill: $64 for the following ingredients: cacao powder, organic natural honey (this item the sales girl laughed at because how can honey NOT be organic?), raw ground almonds, raw unsweetened coconut flakes, Celtic sea salt and a Kombucha.

I was having my brakes replaced, so I had my mother’s car for the morning.  I could either go home and wait for Brad to follow me to return the car, or I could make my mother smile by watching her choir practice- then make her take me home.  I decided to watch mom sing.  I was excited to see she took my advice and bought a new pair of jeans.  She looked great, actually.  And she informed me that a family friend, Cathy, advised her never to leave the house without a pair of “bling” on (mom went with a multi colored necklace).  So, she had bling, new jeans and a smile.  She’d never looked better to me.  When we got home, of course, I locked myself out.  Times like these I love NH (I lived on the 20th floor of a highrise in Chicago), as I left a window unlocked. Problem solved. 

Getting back to my day of health, I decided to make these.  It’s a little expensive and messy, but worth it in the end.  Ingredients listed above, aside from the drink.

#organic.

 You basically mix everything together, except for the coconut, getting your hands a wonderful shade of dark brown.  You put them into little balls (hehe) and then roll them into the coconut, covering them.  It suggests to put them in the freezer, but I think they were fine as they were.  You can do what you like. 

End result:

brad liked them. success!

 Cool thing about these truffles is that you look like you’re a gourmet cook, while you actually only need the skills of a 2 year old with play-doh. 

So, I will give this healthy thing a try for a little while.  Who’s with me?  #healthyliving

I have a new outlook on life. I’m going to learn to let things go, look on the bright side, and most importantly: learn that other people’s problems are not my own! I will not internalize and take personal the actions of other people. I will learn to take a deep breath. I will learn the following phrase: “It’s not about me!” After all, it’s really not. Maybe my new outlook is simply just removing emotion and replacing it with logic? Whatever it is, I’m in for the long haul.

I have had a tendency to let the problems and actions of other people affect my spirit, energy level and mindset. It would encompass me. No more! I will learn to take time for myself, not internalize everything and take space when needed. Even typing this out right now feels fantastic. Here’s to a healthy mindset for 2013! Will I still be a good listener and friend, of course, but once the conversation is done- as is my thinking on the matter.

Already challenging me on this personal achievement? You’re not the first. While in a meeting this morning, I told a colleague my new outlook. His response? “$5 and you are back to your old self by Friday.” Wrong you are, my friend! The funny thing is, I didn’t even think I was that negative of a person. Most people who know me would say I am friendly and happy all the time. People who really know me might say I am sarcastic, self conscious and too damn sensitive.

Curious as to what magical straw broke this camel’s back (me being the camel)? Okay, I’ll explain. Besides the recent actions of positivity by a certain company president, teaching me that there are still GOOD people in the world, there is even more. While in the gym this weekend, a woman who had obviously never seen a gym before approached me by the stationary bikes. She was unsure how to use it and didn’t understand what this machine (obviously created for torture) was at all. After a horribly failed-effort attempt by a very young gym employee to teach her the proper usage, I decided to help her. Why the hell not? I started by giving her a little shit (aka “harm time”) for wearing jeans (lightheartedly, of course), followed by “you have to actually sit on it for it to work.” It was long, and I won’t go into detail of how disappointed I was with the gym staff – and their lack of care whether or not this lady figured it out. All in all, she got on and started pedaling. After about 1 minute I could tell she was frustrated and didn’t understand how pedaling, but going nowhere, could possibly be good for her- because it hurt and was making her sweat. I decided to help some more. “It’s all in your head. I’m not a doctor, but the human body can withstand it. You can do this.” Then she started spouting about how all she could think of was having to walk to the car, her doctors appointment the next day, her errands, etc. I found myself frustrated at HER lack of self confidence. Why on earth should I be frustrated for someone else’s troubles whom I don’t even know? And why doesn’t she believe in herself? I found myself saying out-loud, “It’s all in your head! Your only fighting with yourself! You can do this!” Who did I think was I, Tony Robbins?! Where was this coming from? Regardless of where it came from, I took the advice within myself like I was breathing fresh air for the first time.

Inside thought: Gee Katie, you should probably listen to your own damn advice.

i challenge you to make your life a masterpiece. i challenge you to join the ranks of those people who live what they teach, who walk their talk. -tony robbins.

And so it begins.