2015 In Review

So I made it another year. Hooray!

In every good New Year's blog, I'm going to tell you the Top 10 things that happened this year.

1. I made it to my 1-year work anniversary at Best Buy.
2. I became a runner…ish. I completed three 5ks.
3. I lost a bunch of weight.
4. I lost some important people in my life - both my death and distance.
5. I moved into an apartment alone. The first time I've lived alone in 24 years. It is awesome.
6. I bought a car.
7. I got a nephew.

8. I traveled on both the east and west coasts.
9. I went through my first real breakup.
10. I celebrated  my Golden Birthday.

As you can see, not all of them were great. Actually, I would say a fourth of my year was me breaking down, figuring out the next step, and praying that I make it out alive.

And, I did. Hooray!

I'm so thankful for all my friends and family that stuck it out with me.
Here's to a great 2016.

~T

Part Two: Mental Health

It's Mental Health time - Part Two of how to reach overall health.

I just need a disclaimer - I'm no expert on this part either.
As a matter of fact, I'm probably overly emotional. A "high feeler" as some would say.

Mental health is so complex - anything can shift your view on life.
- a bad eating day
- a bad work day
- a bad customer service day
- a terrible email reply
- a day you're bloated
- a day you're tired

You get my point.

But my four ways to maintain my mental health are relatively simple...or so one would think.
All throughout my life, I've struggled with each part of these.

First, my church puts it in good perspective, you need four to seven like-minded people to hang out with. Now, that's not saying you should dismiss any acquaintances, anybody who needs a friend, or hanging out with people.

What it does mean, is you need find four to seven friends that you can turn to about anything.
Your work struggles.
Your boy struggles.
Your mom struggles.
Your work successes.
Your boy happiness.
Your mom love.

I have found this helps the most, because you can bounce ideas off of them.
These should be friends that tell you exactly what's up.
"Don't go back to your ex."
"Don't eat that piece of pizza"
"Come drink some wine with me."
They're also friends that know exactly when you need a hug.

The next two go hand in hand.
Me Time and God Time.
Those two independent times will leave you refreshed and redefined.
You can evaluate where you're struggling and spend time talking to the One who totally gets you.
You will be able to find the pearls of solitude and peace that being with people just can't give you.
Even as an extrovert, I find it extremely important to have that time.
Even if it's sitting with a glass of wine and a book or in a coffee shop with your Bible.
Get off your phone and get your thoughts together.

My final point is to learn.
Read, read to learn.
Travel, travel to explore.
Do something that will make you grow as a person.

When I first moved to the Twin Cities two and a half years ago, I was so naive. I had no clue how to get from point A to point B. I didn't know there were restaurants here and no where else. I had no clue that getting four miles across the city could take up to 45 minutes in the morning.

But I read up on the city. I joined a church, I joined Facebook groups, I joined social groups, I went with friends and networked. And I learned. Then I was able to navigate.

Ask anyone. The person I was two and a half years ago is definitely not the person I am today. It's part of maturing and growing. It's learning.

This winter, this has been by most unhealthy part.
But I'm working on it. Especially the Me/God Time.
It's a process.

<3XOT

Part One: Physical Health

As promised, to myself, I am going to break down the different kinds of health that you need to keep your body completely healthy.

I just need to put a disclaimer in here that I'm by no means a professional or good at any of it.
But I want to be, and that's what matters.

If you missed the word vomit blog that I posted at 2am the other, you can read it here.

So because I'm not mentally stable by any means this week, we're not going to start with that one.
Hello Holidays!!
Let's go with the physical health portion.

For me, there are two things that make up physical health: Food and exercise.
It has been nearly six weeks since I started my adventure into clean eating and strength training thank to Arbonne, Almond Buttered Abs, and my adventure partner ;)

First, I started the Arbonne 28-day Clean Eating Challenge.
It has been almost 6-weeks since I've had gluten, dairy, refined sugars, or fruit.
And that's ok, in that time I've lost all my cravings and have no desire to eat poorly again.

Let me take that back, I do want a cheeseburger - and I got one this weekend.
But I know how food fuels my body now and so I'm going to use that red meat, carbs and fat to power my workout Sunday morning before church.

Ok, so that's the thing. It's not about taking things out of my diet, it's about eating things that serve me. And that's step one to physical health.
You've got to put food in that will give you fuel.
You've got to put food in that's not processed or fake.
You've got to put your mind to it, suck it up, and just do it.

Secondly, I've started working out.
Like über working out.
I have friends with 6-packs. Both guys and girls.
Ok ok, it's not about the look, but it's fun to work towards.

My big goal is to run a marathon.
Probably like next year.
Which means I need to continue to train.
Grow muscles, grow endurance, burn the crazy.

What that is going to entail is a lot of obsession.
Not eating the same things at Christmas.
Working out each day I get the chance.
And when people scoff at me or tell me it'll never last, I must keep my chin up, run to my support system and use it as a time to reach my goals.

When it comes to obsession, I'm sure it seems a little unhealthy.
So am I harming myself by obsessing…I'm not sure...

Then I was running and was playing the Substance Church podcast from "Healthy Holiday" and part one was about how to worship God with your body.
That He actually asks up and shows us the way to worship through fitness.
And that you need a few good friends to push you to worship through fitness.
Listen to it here.

It's been an amazing journey over the past six weeks.
No matter how many waves of health I've gone through, this journey has been tremendously different than any of the others.
I'm hoping to keep this up.
With some good food and good support.

<3XOT

Overall Health - Can I Really Be Superwoman?

You know when you have a million things on your mind?
And you have a million things on your to do list?
And you have a bunch of people relying on you?

How do you do it all?
How do you become superwoman?

You take care of yourself.
You take care of your physical health.
You take care of your mental health.
You take care of your spiritual health.

I look back at last week and I sing "This Girl is on Fire" at the top of my lungs. My week consisted of coordinating for a Sunday shoot, prepping for youth group, connecting with friends, working out as often as I can, heading to Duluth for a film festival (and back the same day), and doing a Christmas bar crawl. Among other things.

This week, I ended up losing five more pounds, even though my cleanse is over.
That's the physical health.
I have continued to follow *most of* the rules. I have been eating nighttime snacks and my portion sizes haven't been that great, but I'm continuing to put wonderful foods in my body. And that has allowed me to do wonderful things.

Then, I took the ultimate physical health healing.
I went to my old Landlady, the sweetest woman in all the Twin Cities.
She adjusted me, massaged my knots, and guided me through some relaxing acupuncture.
You can find out more here.

It was a two hour session, where I was there.
No phone, no television, no computer. I was there.
My body was healed from the strain I've been putting on it, both physically and mentally.
My body had a chance to refresh.
Dr. Heidi taught me how and why my muscles felt the way they did and guided me through.

Which helps after weeks like this:
Where it seems like sometimes I'm running out of time.
Like sometimes I'm giving only 90% to someone or splitting my time unfairly.
Like sometimes I'm going to run out of time, or literally run around like a chicken with my head cut off.

The part of the week that I love the most is my connection with friends and loved ones.
That's the mental health.
My friends encourage me. They fight for me. They comfort me. They love me.
My friends help me process what's happening in my life - the good, the bad, the ugly.
My friends make me go out on pub crawls and dance like no one's watching.
My friends give me good food, good times, and good company.

I have heard some great sermons over the last couple weeks that remind me it's ok to not be superwoman and that it doesn't all happen at the same time.
That's the spiritual health.
I also have wonderful people in my life.
People who remind me that God is bigger than any of my tasks.
And I have prayer.
That reminds me that there is someone out there that is so much bigger than I am and has all my goals, to-do lists, projects, meetings, appointments, financials, plans, in His hands.

I'm still busy. I'm still running. I'm still to-do-ing.
But I'm taking care of myself.
I am Superwoman.

<3XOT

PS: I'll be breaking down each of these categories and sharing material that helps us all lead a healthier life!