Slow down...you're moving too fast!

My basement "toy" tree.

Hello Everyone. I'ts getting a little old hearing me apologize for the lapses in my posts. Like any habit, if you don't work at it continuously, it falls by the wayside. The blogs I follow are in a sense my lifeline. When I lose that connection, I find my thoughts and actions can get lost too. I vow to not lose that connection with you. It's sometimes a long lapse until we meet again, but we will always meet again through our words.

I have been following everyone and I apologize that I don't take the time to comment. Does anyone know how you can comment when you are using the google reader? That's a very efficient way to catch up, but I haven't figured out how to comment without going to each blog directly. Let me know if you know.

So the holidays are almost here. Things are busy and hectic for everyone. That's a broken record of what I hear every time you run into someone. You know I always start decorating and shopping the 1st of November, but yet I too always seem frazzled. This year I feel alittle calmer. Here are some of the reasons why.

I started taking a boot camp the week of Thanksgiving. It's a kind of cool concept where a group of us are in a large room with rubber floor. We all go at our own pace and follow the exercises written on a huge whiteboard for different circuits.

There is loud, thumping, energizing music and everything is timed. When the timer says stop, you move to the next thing. It's not easy, but it's something new and I really enjoy it. I did one 45 minute class the first week, and 2 the second. And I was sore......really, really sore. Muscles I didn't know were there hurt. I'm not a newbiee as far as execising goes, and I have always done cardio and weights. This was more full body resistance stuff and very little equipment ( except for that medicine ball we had to throw at the wall and catch....oh and those ropes hanging from the ceiling that we had to do pull ups on. Take a look at this vidio clip to get an idea.


So I did three of these classes over two weeks and then really started having pain in my knee, hip, behind my knee. These are nagging pains that I have had over the last year even before boot camp. Finally I  saw an orthopedic surgeon. He took some fluid off my knee, diagnosed me with a torn hamstring and told me to stay off of it for a week and then come back.

Two weeks before Christmas is hardly the time to be off your feet. My schedule is busy and I don't have time for this. But out come the crutches and I followed orders. When my life was forced to slow down, I remarkable became more calm as well. You don't know me personally, but if you did, you would know that I talk fast, I walk fast, I jump from activity to activity, I stand to eat many of my meals,  and often have many things going on at once. If you open the dictionary to multitasker my photo would be there.

 I have often wanted to be the type to take some time out and sit and read a book or just relax. I can't relax until everything is done, and as we know, it's never done. Well you may know that studies are showing that multitaskers don't really accomplish any more than the person who takes on one thing and completes it before moving on to the next. Really?? I thought folding laundry, cooking dinner, reading a blog, doing some office work while texting my son, is a very productive way to function!! Who knew that if I gave my undivided attention to one thing, I may feel calmer and get more done.

But that's what happened. I figured out ways to do things and stay off my feet. I got up here and there to get a cup of tea or make something to eat, but really tried to sit back down and ice my leg as quickly as possible. I even looked forward to getting back to my little loveseat, candle burning, books on the coffee table, leg propped up.

I found ways to get things done. I sat at a low card table and wrapped most of my gifts in my basement. With a glass of wine, the fireplace burning and the tree lit, I really enjoyed it, and got to watch a few favorite tv shows as well. I don't go down my basement much, and rarely start the fireplace down there. It's fully finished and very cozy. It was a nice change of pace.

I got out my recipe files and my binders, and organized things for Christmas Eve (dinner for 12,) and Christmas day (dinner for 26.) I made my lists and felt very calm as I orchestrated what I needed to do in my head. I have kept a detailed binder since I've been married of every major party, dinner, and family event. It includes who came, what I served, how much was leftover, or all gone, what was popular and what wasn't. It sounds like a lot of work, but I bet you already do this in some form when you are preparing for a big dinner or party. Most people just don't keep their lists and don't make a follow up note after the party. It is the most helpful thing I've done, and I'm always encouraging everyone to do it. I can look in my binder, see how big my turkeys we had last year ( two 18 lbers), who brought the ham ( my sister-in-law), and how many bottles of wine we drank ( alot!). I can see what time I told everyone to come, my dinner timeline ( turkey out at 5) and if we really need all those desserts ( NO! Always too many!)I even spent a good part of the day going over my Belly Fat Cure printouts and recipes just to refresh things.

I saw the Dr. yesterday and he started me on some steroids for the pain. He said I can walk about freely now, but it still hurts, so I'm still trying to build some time into my day to ice and relax. Yesterday I found myself back to my crazy self. I keep reminding myself of what I learned last week. Stop, breathe, relax, focus. It will all get done. It always does!

I will post once more before Christmas ( took some photos of the house decorated), but just wanted to tell you all that I'm thinking of you and hope you are finding some moments for yourself this holiday season. Sending hugs and love! XO

PS: Really loving my thought for the day below!

Thought for the day: " Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you." author unknown.