Monday, February 25
10:55 p.m.
I started getting congested last night. I realized that stress was the direct link to my issues with congestion. My nose started off runny, and then I got slightly congested – not nearly as bad as I used to get. When I got in bed, I sensed I wasn’t going to sleep without a decongestant. So, I put on a Breathe Right Nose Strip across the bridge of my nose, I swallowed a Claritan-D, and I fell asleep.
Here’s the deal. I learned that I must not handle any money matters in the evening. I need to make it a priority to end my day in a stress-free environment, allowing myself to wind down in peace and tranquility. I will not pay bills or balance my checkbook in the evenings from here on out, but will limit this activity to mid-morning and mid-day.
I woke up around 6:00 a.m. and my kitty, Capri, got up and came in closer, snuggling up against me, her little head purring under my neck. I smiled and fell back asleep, clear. I realized that simple things, like the loving purrs of my sweet cat, were enough to keep me happy. I found if I focused in on moments like that, the pains and stresses of everyday life would not get me down. My shoulders relaxed, my nasal passages opened and I slept until my alarm went off at 7:45 a.m.
I meditated for fifteen minutes and then stretched. Baby steps for me. I don’t think I’ll get to two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, but my goal is to eventually meditate for an hour in the morning and an hour at night. As for my fifteen minutes in, I felt great. Afterwards, I ate a small container of all-natural, low fat yogurt, one gluten-free banana waffle, and a small glass of organic orange juice. I took my one-a-day vitamin and then I went upstairs to shower, get dressed and I felt ready to take on the work day.
I had a moderately stressful day of meeting deadlines for work but managed to get through the day feeling positive, and breathing clear. I had a couple healthy snacks – an organic banana in the morning and an organic apple in the evening, and a healthy lunch of white bean soup, a couple gluten-free crackers, and a bottle of Vitamin Water. It is so important to eat a healthy diet, to get plenty of sleep, to make time to meditate, to take supplements, to stretch and get exercise, to get up several times during the day to move and get the blood flowing in order to obtain a well-balanced life.
After work I put on my workout clothes and Shadow was sitting outside my front door. I administered in her ears the mite and flea drops. Then, as I walked to the gym she followed me. It was cute. We walked together for about two or three blocks. She was slow and looked tired. I didn’t want her to have to wait for me while I was at the gym, so, I turned around and walked her back to her little shelter by my door. I worried about her because her dark gray-black coat blended in too well with the road. I thought I might need to get her a reflective collar. Back at my home, I went inside and brought out a fresh bowl of water. Then, I went on my way to the gym and got in a good 45 minute cardio workout. When I got back home she was gone.
I made myself a lovely dinner of Porcini and Chantrelle mushroom risotto, broccolini with olive oil and fresh lemon juice, sauteed with pine nuts and garlic cloves, and then heirloom green, yellow and orange-red grape tomatoes slightly cooked in olive oil. It was delicious. I had a cup of Yogi tea Indian spice (with lots of spicy cardamom) after dinner with a gluten-free shortbread cookie with pecans and chocolate chunks. I was happy.
