Tag Archives: self care

10-Day Reboot: Amy’s Day 2

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Amy Casual headshot

by Amy Chibib

Super Bowl Sunday! Lets the Re-Boot Begin!

blob-3This was my first official day to commit myself to the challenge. I started the day with the warm lemon water and Apple Cider Vinegar. It definitely helps get me going without the caffeine. I am enjoying the Dandy Blend which is the closest thing I have found to a coffee replacement! My go-to smoothie is what I started the day with and it keeps me going all morning – Blueberries, Kale/Spinach, coconut milk, almond butter & Vega protein powder.

blob-2I did feel a slight headache, but as I kept moving and went for a run around Town Lake, the sluggish feeling went away! I was re-energized after the run and was excited to experiment with some new appetizers I was preparing for the Super Bowl game.

 

 

blob-1My game time meal and appetizers included: Roasted Veggies – These were delicious and a perfect snack! I cut up cauliflower, broccoli, beets, mixed colored carrots, and kale then sprinkled with a little olive oil, salt/pepper, garlic & turmeric. I placed in the oven to roast. Super easy and even my teenage boys were enjoying it! Mushroom caps – stuffed with Italian turkey sausage and sauerkraut. These were simple and delicious baked in the oven – without breading or cheese they were still yummy and satisfying. Raw veggies and olives with Hummus was simple and easy. Last, I made a big pot of homemade tortilla soup – sautéed chicken with onions, garlic, peppers, Rotel, vegetable broth and seasoning. It was warm and tasty! All this made for a Re-boot friendly evening! The only temptation was the brownies a Mom brought over for the boys – difficult to pass on those! It was a fun evening and I was still able to get to bed by 10:30 without checking my emails or social media!

It is still early in the Re-boot so my primary goal is staying off caffeine and chocolate! And continue to add in the self-care with more Epsom salt baths. Also, practicing the habit of journaling – noting what works for my body.

Aspects of the Reboot I’m looking forward to enjoying the most: The awareness, acceptance, slowing down and paying attention. Making notes about how I am feeling and a journal of what I’ve eaten. Since October, I have been working to combat a recent discovery that I have Hashimotos (Autoimmune) thyroid condition that had been giving my digestion some serious issues leading up to the Holidays. It is getting better and better the cleaner I eat. I hope to use this journaling to continue to learn more about what effects my body so that I will have sustainable energy and overall health!

Something I’ve learned about myself: I am hard on myself – I tend to be quick to criticize myself for not doing better. So I am learning to be kinder and gentler to myself!

Most difficult part: will be to continue to stay off coffee in the morning!

Quality of Sleep: I typically don’t have issues falling asleep – it is feeling energized and rested when I awake that I am looking forward to being more consistent with the healthier habits I incorporate.

blob-5Energy & Mood: Sunday was honestly my first committed day! It was a fun and busy day which helped and I realize how much the exercise helps to relieve missing the caffeine.

Spiritual Practice: This is a space that I find throughout my day! I usually end my day with a quick read of something inspiring and before getting out of bed in the morning say a few words of gratitude and appreciation for the day ahead!

Why We Need to Take A Break

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feb5_2017

Point to Ponder:
Do you give yourself the necessary breaks that you need?

iGnite Neissa

by Neissa Brown Springmann

“Sometimes a break from your routine is the very thing you need.” Is that the truth or what?! Being one week removed from iGnite’s Re-New Year Rise & Shine Retreat in San Diego, although I was technically working and the retreat was a whopping thirty minutes from my home, it hit the spot. Of course I love my family and my life, but I just needed to step away from my day to day responsibilities and immerse myself into a new scene. As always, I returned home more patient, grateful, loving and passionate. Not to sound cliche, but I was rejuvenated, had a renewed energy and sense of self.

What I find over and over again (yes–it’s the definition of insanity-ugh) is when I neglect my physical, mental and spiritual needs, I quickly reach my tipping point and I don’t like who I become. As I’ve mentioned in previous journals, I have a skin crawling experience and I get resentful and very unpleasant….and to be even more honest, I get mean. I become quick tempered, yell, have very little to no patience and am no fun to be around. Everything becomes a struggle and in all facets, not only am I not myself, but I am a fraction of my best.

Sure, I could blame my husband’s work schedule, as him being gone often and us living so far from family makes taking regular time for me more difficult to coordinate, however this is on me. I know this about myself. In order to get the necessary breaks that allow me to be my best, I must schedule time for me and do so without any guilt. This doesn’t have to be a four day retreat or anything expensive or elaborate–it just needs to be a few hours away from my children, my computer, my phone, my house and my regular commitments.

My good friend and iGnite member Catherine Sanderson recently sent me an excellent article written by holistic health coach, Ashley Berry titled “Why Self Care Isn’t Weak”.  In it, Ashley writes about her journey with healing her sick body, but she also speaks directly to our great need for holistic (mind, body, spirit) well being, including rest, rejuvenation and caring for our whole selves–something that I believe every woman needs encouragement and support to do and regularly practice.

Finally, I encourage you to read Ashley’s entire article, but for starters, below is an excerpt and great reminder of our female tendencies and how and why we need to shift. Also, because you have your calendar out and are scheduling time for you (wink wink hint hint) be sure to secure July 28 – August 2 for the iGnite Summer Escape, an exhilarating, exciting, and empowering girlfriend getaway and break from your summer and life routine. Location with all details coming soon!

If you look at the animal kingdom, you’ll see that all creatures from birds to mammals and even insects practice self-care instinctually. When they’re sick, they eat plants that heal them. When they’re tired or injured, they rest. If they’re social animals, they seek connection when they need it. But somewhere along the way in our evolution as a species, we learned how to override the needs of our bodies and minds, and eventually even built a culture around doing just that. Almost everywhere we turn, there’s some sort of messaging that encourages us to push ourselves to our limits, to hustle, to grind, to work hard, and to play even harder. But where does rest factor into this equation? At what point did self-care get deemed self-indulgent?

Most of us know that our greatest wealth is health. There’s no amount of money that can buy happiness if we’re suffering mentally or physically, and yet, social pressures, both implicit and explicit, make it incredibly challenging to make choices that support our well being. We forgo using our sick days. We pull the long hours, fueled by sugar and coffee. We sweep our mounting stress levels under the rug with alcohol or food.

We use busyness to avoid being present with ourselves because if we stopped and stood still, we might feel the full weight of the overwhelm we’ve created in our own lives.

So the question is, how do we shift? How do we grab the reins and steer our culture to a place that is more supportive of our most basic needs?

By honing in on one person, one choice, one small, revolutionary act at a time. We all have the opportunity to look at our own lives and get honest about the ways in which we are not caring for ourselves. We can start conversations that promote awareness of the importance of both mental and physical health. We can model unapologetic self-care, and in doing so, give permission to those around us to do the same.

Action Item:
Pause and identify where you are not caring of yourself and then start making plans and schedule important time for you.

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12-Day Reboot: Susan’s Day 7

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Susan P

by Susan Palombo

This is my fourth reboot and each of them has been different for me.  Although at this point, my diet is almost identical to this program, I don’t adhere to it that strictly at a business conference or a friend’s house for dinner when I’m not rebooting.   I continue to reboot because I love the reminder to take care of ourselves and to spend two weeks of concentration on our health.  I loved the quote on the cover, “The greatest gift you can give others is your best self,” by Joseph J. Sweere.  This time, as some of you know, I literally enrolled my husband, John, into the process.  My daughter, Megan, participated last time when she was living with us.  So my husband has certainly heard about the reboot and benefitted (sometimes an unwilling participant) from the healthy meals!  But he attended the kick off breakfast and WF tour so he has a much deeper understanding of iGnite and the philosophy and purpose around the reboot.  He now understands why we all like iGnite so much.  Mission accomplished on that!  (Success is a core value, of course!)

I am enjoying the spiritual and personal empowerment themes that were added this year.  And writing this blog for iGnite was certainly a gentle nudge to get me towards the back of the manual and to do some of the values work. Even though I have done things like that many times before, I really thought that was helpful.  (learning and growing is one of my values.)

img_4603So for Sunday, I woke up rested with a good 8 hours of sleep!  I made my hot lemon water and drank that along with a Tbsp of the ACV.   Then I took our Golden Retriever, Wall-e, out for the first walk of the day.  When I returned, I caught up on the news with a small portion of img_4604cooked steel cut oats. Since it was Sunday and iGnite didn’t have any classes, I went to a new studio and had a pilates/barre class.  Then my husband joined me for a small ball class.  The instructor provided an experiential tutorial on how to massage and break up your fascia (myofascial release techniques) for better body img_4621health and healing.   We learned something and our feet, calves, hams, back muscles feel much better! (Cue img_4626another value—learning and health).  After our class, we came home and I made a yummy brunch of the eggs baked in avocado.  I added some shredded cabbage and kale salad with sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and coconut flakes to our plate along with some salsa without sugar (very hard to find!). 

After our yummy brunch, John enjoyed football and I took a img_4632nice walk/run around downtown. (another value emerges on my lovely Sunday—that of vitality).  I visited the Capitol, and enjoyed the fullsizerender-216Pecan Street Festival, among other highlights.  Then I did some cooking for our 23-year-old twins who came over for dinner.  We had the Spaghetti squash with meat balls, some Brussel sprouts, and sweet potato chips.  Since they love left overs to img_4558take home, I also prepared the roasted chicken which they took home and we will have it tomorrow!  We did open a bottle of red wine and I admit to having a nice glass which was my first divergence from the Rx but it was very tasty!  Since I arise at 4:45 a.m., I dashed off this blog, watched 60 minutes, and jumped into bed to hopefully get 6.5 hours of sleep!

The parts I have incorporated into my life:  At this point, my diet is almost identical to this program. When I’m not on the reboot, I don’t adhere to it that strictly if I am at a business conference or a friend’s house for dinner but when I can control my food prep, this is how I eat.   I continue to reboot because I love the reminder to take care of ourselves and to spend two weeks of concentration on my health.  I loved the quote on the cover, “The greatest gift you can give others is your best self,” by Joseph J Sweere. 

Tips and Tricks that have helped me:  The meal plans helped this time.  But I still find each time and periodically, I have to restock and reorganize my pantry & fridge so that I have quick and convenient access to all of my favorite healthy fats, Omega 3s, etc.  so I regularly make small containers of shredded coconut, various nuts, ground flax seed, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, dried fruits, etc.  That make putting together a smoothie or a nutritious and delicious salad, quick and painless.

The most difficult parts:  I love a glass of iced green tea in the afternoon and I completely miss my corn tortillas (both soft and crunchy) which is used to contain many snacks and meals.

The most enjoyable parts:  In earlier reboots, I really fought the body brushing and Epsom Salt baths.  I have since really learned to love this wonderful treat.  It is a terrific cure for sore and aching muscles. I think the best thing is that I feel really full of energy after about the first day and a half.  It is much more fun to do this reboot with a family member or close friend you see often.

What I have learned about myself from the reboots:  Quite a lot actually.  I wrote a year or so ago my discovery of a dairy allergy as the cause/major contributor to life-long Eczema.  This has also reinforced that I am very disciplined and can initiate healthy changes and still enjoy life.  I do not feel deprived.  I have also learned about how important it is to take time for yourself to slow down, relax, recharge and replenish.  I was never good about taking the time to do that and in the last couple of years, I do dedicate time each and every day just to my health and well-being.  I am a happier and more balanced person.  (I do struggle with that since one of my core values is excellence.)

12-Day Reboot: Amy’s Day 4

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Amy Casual headshot

by Amy Chibib

Woohoo – It’s Friday! This is my favorite day of the week. I think that is because I feel a big sense of accomplishment. Also knowing that the weekend is ahead that usually brings a more relaxed routine, freedom and fun! Can you hear some of my core values in there? I hope each of you have had an insightful week focusing a little more on care for yourself. Paying attention to how your body feels, what your Spirit is gently calling to you, and what is the mindset or thinking that is filling your days? These are all excellent clues to guide you in making the most of the process.
I must admit I am NOT following the cleanse completely. I gave myself permission to take the parts of the reboot that I knew I could handle. Which is taking a “vacation” from the white processed carbs, corn, dairy, soy, artificial sweeteners, and most sugars, alcohol, and the social media turn off. The best part, I have been adding in some of the rich nourishing practices this week and thoroughly enjoying it! I hope that each of you have tuned in to what you need – I believe we are all intuitively wise beyond measure and by plugging into your guidance system, many issues will melt away – even in the fog of caffeine deprivation – haha! I enjoy this Re-boot because it is such a great reminder that these are habits I can carry forward for healthier daily living. Here is quick synopsis of my routine this week:
img_2252-1Start my mornings with a gentle harp ringing from my alarm – Yes, I still need the cue to open my sleepy eyes at 6:30am. Yet I feel refreshed and before I move – I always give a quick thank you for this day and grateful for what is to come. I am always eager to make my French press coffee – it is a process in itself and a ritual I am choosing to keep – for now. Heating the water in a kettle – which I use the warm water to first mix my lemon/ACV water. It actually gives me the boost I need as I go get changed for the morning. Nice surprise! I may be able to give up the coffee after all – we’ll see 😉
img_22438:00am – Once drop offs are complete and before I hit the trail for my run – I choose the quick breakfast of oatmeal in almond milk that has soaked overnight. It is delicious and perfect with a touch of cinnamon and walnuts. I get my 4 mile run in and on these mornings feel mentally clear and ready to start the day (a testament to the cardiovascular workout)!

By 10:30 – I make a small smoothie – Blueberries, Kale, Almond milk, ice. This fills me until later lunch.
img_2253-11:30: I grab the deli sliced Rotisserie chicken (it is delicious from Trader Joes) top a field greens salad with a few olives and a hard-boiled egg & drizzle a tsp of olive oil. Very satisfying and filling!
Snack – 4/5:00 – I usually grab a handful of nuts or red peppers in hummus
Dinner – 7:00pm – Grilled chicken has been a favorite this week. With broccoli & peppers and tossed spinach salad.
I keep my meals very simple but love sitting down to eat with my two teenage boys who are ravenous! I don’t have to think too much or spend much time preparing or following recipes. (More clues to my value system 😉 )
Aspects of the Reboot I’ve enjoyed the most:  The awareness, acceptance, slowing down and paying attention. Making notes about how I am feeling and a journal of what I’ve eaten. I recognize trends and appreciate the extra thoughtfulness I am brining to my day and evening.
Something I’ve learned about myself: No judgement, giving myself permission I can choose only the parts that I can handle. There has been freedom in that but also a great sense of compassion and appreciation with no judgement. I don’t have to do this perfectly – there is so much richness in each element. I am taking that into my parenting and work.
Most difficult part:  It was probably the decision to say it’s ok that I don’t follow it perfectly. I have not added the Epsom Salt Bath but would like to give it a try. The other challenge is probably turning off my device long before I crawl into bed. That is a commitment I am working on!
Quality of Sleep: I have the gift of being able to sleep – there has only been a handful of times in my life that I have struggled with sleep and I feel for those that have difficulty falling or staying asleep. However, I do notice increased energy waking up in the morning which speaks to the quality of sleep I am getting with cleaner eating habits!

Energy & Mood:  Monday was not easy and even though I still had a small amount of coffee – I felt exceptionally tired and low energy. But with every day that passed this week, I have gotten better and better!

img_2254Spiritual Practice: My practice is to always read faith filled, meditative quality books before I drift off to sleep. I fall asleep with prayer and wake to a similar prayer full of gratefulness. Any moments in the day – I touch base. I’ve noticed especially in the car in this crazy Austin traffic – I ask for a little patience and take a deep breathe!

Bedside is my library of reads – I usually don’t get too far before I’m out!  I recommend Radical Acceptance – the message is beautiful and after each chapter has a guided meditation.

12-Day Reboot: Neissa’s Day 1

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Neissa Brown Springmann

by Neissa 

I start the morning off with my hot lemon water which is when I include my TBSP of apple cider vinegar and a dash of Cayenne pepper. I also fill up my Yeti cup first thing and start chipping away at my 1/2 body weight in ounces of water.

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I love the avocado boat breakfast but wanted to spice them up with some salsa. It is very filling!


For lunch I made our “wanna be” wundershowzen. My original creation didn’t taste as good as I had hoped so I added two dates and that completely did the trick!

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I found these coconut rolled dates at one of the organic grocery stores in San Deigo.  They are a the perfect sweet treat and they are very satisfying!

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I really enjoyed the roasted chicken, quinoa and asparagus. I found it to be very satisfying and even better–simple!

Aspects of the Reboot I’ve found the most difficult:  Always, always, always, eliminating caffeine is very difficult, along with the 24 hour headache that proceeds it. 

Aspects of the Re-boot I’ve enjoyed the most:  Slowing down, making sleep a priority and simplifying my meals.

Something I’ve learned about myself during the Reboot:  As long as I get to bed early enough, I don’t have to use an alarm clock to wake up. It’s great!

Tips & tricks that have helped me:  Rather than use caffeine for an energy boost, drinking lots of water gives me the boost I need, or if I can, I’ll shut my eyes for 15 minutes for a quick power nap.

The most difficult part:  Making time for an Epsom Salt bath

The intention I am focusing on most this re-boot: To slow down, be still and listen and enjoy 12 days of self-care.

img_8522Quality of sleep? Excellent! To help with sound sleep and relaxation, I purchased this lavender roll on aromatherapy roll at Sprouts. I put it on my pillows. It smells so good and I slept great!

Energy level and mood during the day?  With yesterday being day one and with no caffeine, I was extremely tired and lethargic. But because I’ve Re-Booted before, I know this is just part of the process and it will get better! 

Spiritual aspect I’ve included:  I’m trying to give myself the grace to slow down and not be so frantic throughout the day, as well as to stop for fifteen minutes or so to breathe, pray, and/or read something that feeds my spirit.   Also, each night before bed I pray and one of the things I ask God to do is to wake me when He is ready for me to wake.  This gives me great peace and comfort that I will rise when my body is fully ready and He is ready for me to start my day. 

10 Day Re-boot: Kellie’s Day 8

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iGnite 10 Day Body Reboot

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by Kellie Strickland

After a stressful last couple months with buying a new house I knew I needed some serious changes in my daily routine. I was stress eating, binging on TV all night, and breaking out like crazy. Let me give you some perspective on just how far down this hole I had gone. Every night on my way home from the new house I would inevitably have forgotten to eat dinner so I would stop by P. Terry’s which was conveniently right on my way home and get a cheeseburger then I would proceed to go home and eat some ice cream straight out of the carton. I’m not talking about those cute Ben & Jerry’s pints of Chunky Monkey. I’m talking the full on, half gallon Blue Bell carton sitting in my lap while I watch TV. This brings me to my unhealthy habit of falling asleep to the TV. I don’t even know how I got into this habit or when it got so bad, but I was to the point to where I HAD to watch Friends when I was in bed. I needed the soothing voices of Monica and Rachel to lull me to sleep. Last, and most annoying in my eyes, was the fact that my face was breaking out worse than when I was 13. I felt like my pimples had pimples. This is to give you ladies a good idea of where I was going into the Re-Boot.

 

7th Street Hill-1

7th Street Hill

I started my Monday with my usual 6AM class with Molly. She had floated the idea last week that we were going to have an entire class at the 7th Street Hill (Note the capitalization. The 7th Street Hill deserves the respect of being a proper noun) and boy did she make good on her promise. Life was so much simpler before I knew this hill existed. After five trips up the hill sprinting (I use “sprinting” loosely as I can barely make it to the top of the hill in what would be considered one step above a walk) and some circuit training, I checked “Exercise” off my Re-Boot list so exhausted yet happy as always to have woken up and started my day there.

 

The Judging Lemons

The Judging Lemons

Full disclosure … I hate lemon water. Let me take that one step further, I hate lemon in any of my drinks. It’s weird and un-American on some level I’m sure, but I just can’t do it. I tried the warm lemon water on the first day of the Re-Boot and not a day since. Give me half a bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar and oil pulling over lemon water any day. I have the lemons in a bowl in my kitchen and they judge me every morning that I don’t pack one to take to work with the rest of my food. Well judge away lemons, I will not force drink you.

 

Dog Walking

Taking my dog on a walk during my lunch break

I went home for lunch today to check on my sweet dog who has not been adjusting to the move from New York to Texas well, let alone the move to the new house over the weekend. We went for a walk around the block and played fetch in the huge backyard that I hope he grows to love. I packed myself a quick salad and headed back to the office. A big challenge for me has been the packing of the food. I am incredibly unorganized and hate the prepping that goes into most healthy diets. I have really struggled with getting things together for work in order to get all the meals in so I have ended up having three meals and done more snacking in between (gluten-free delicious snacks that I never knew exists until this week), but I have YET to drive through any fast food place and I have stayed away from all desserts.

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Salad for lunch at work

Espom Salt Romance

My favorite part — the Epsom salt baths

Without a doubt, my favorite part of the Re-Boot has been the Epsom salt baths. Let me put this out there that I am not a bath person at all. I haven’t taken one since I don’t know when and the thought just skeeves me out. I gave it a go and my life will never be the same. Granted, I put the water on way too hot the first time, scalded myself and only lasted about 15 minutes and sweat poured down my face but when I got out, I fell asleep almost immediately (Your hold on my sleep ends now Chandler Bing!) and my knees that always give me problems felt amazing during my run the next day. I have gotten the water to a manageable level and I am loving this time to myself where there is nothing else to do but relax so this was naturally the perfect way to end my Monday.

 

All-in-all this Re-Boot has been the perfect thing my life needed at the perfect time.

Forever Forward, Never Back

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iGnite - go forward, never back

Point to Ponder:
Do you ever find yourself living in the past?

by Neissa Brown Springmann

by Neissa Brown Springmann

From September 3 through last Tuesday, September 15, I’ve had company staying with my family. Knowing that I was in a new city with children while my husband Russell was traveling, my father, stepmom, mother and sister all made special plans to come out and be with me on and around my birthday. And, unbeknownst to me, my dad, who is a total worker-bee and can’t sit still unless he’s quickly eating or watching a sporting event, had a specific agenda: to help get us out of boxes and settled into our new house. A.k.a. WORK!

It was wonderful to see my family, and I was so thankful to have them, but by Tuesday I was eager to get the kids and I back to a routine (a.k.a. CONTROL!). The time for exercise, uninterrupted time, responding to thirteen days worth of email and an opportunity to tackle my ever-growing personal and professional to-do list had finally come, and after dropping my children Durant and Malaine off at pre-school on Tuesday, it was MY time!

I planned to take a quick walk around the neighborhood near the kids’ preschool and then go to a yoga class. It was sprinkling outside, but the idea of walking in a light rain sounded delicious. Just before heading off, a dear friend called so I grabbed my phone to walk and talk.

The friend asked how I was doing with our recent move, and I told him I was struggling. I expressed that I was not questioning God’s plan, however the greatest challenge has been adjusting to no longer having an amazing community of family, friends, and support (CONTROL). And, having felt so purpose-filled in Austin, I was struggling with finding my purpose in San Diego, which was why I was clinging to my life in Austin. He listened intently and having moved a lot himself, he validated my feelings and gave me some helpful advice: take baby steps forward, take care of me, and don’t compare my life in San Diego to my life in Austin. It was a new time and I needed to work on slowing my brain down and releasing my expectations. I agreed with everything he suggested, and I proudly told him that today was the day that I was going to focus on Neissa — hence the walk and yoga class.

During my walk, the sprinkle turned into a solid rain—so much so that my eyes burned from the little bit of eyeliner I was wearing. I was totally fine with this because I had clothes to change into, it was MY DAY, and San Diego needs the rain. So, within twenty-five minutes I was back at my car to grab my yoga mat and a change of clothes when I realized my worst nightmare — my purse, wallet, and work bag with computer, day planner, mail, and work notebooks were all gone. They had been stolen! My driver’s license, expired passport, credit cards, check books….gone. It was ALL gone, including MY DAY! “My day” quickly turned into the misery of filing police reports, canceling bank accounts and credit cards, calling pawn shops and driving around with the hope of finding my things lying around the area.

As you would expect, “the day of me” and getting anything on my to-do list accomplished was no longer an option. I won’t bore you with the un-fun details of trying to get an California driver’s license when you have no form of ID except a paper copy of an expired driver’s license, a paper copy of your birth certificate and a Costco card, but what I do want to share is what I learned through the process, as I think it can be universally applied. I’ve had to find reason and some glimpse of positivity in this incredibly frustrating experience. Ultimately, I think it relates to our ability to shine throughout life, as I wrote about a couple weeks ago in It’s Time to Turn On Your Shine.

4 Things I’ve Learned the Hard Way:

  1. For starters, my work, technology and to-do lists have been and are my idols. They give me purpose and security and keep me distracted. Upon realizing that all of my things were taken, it became absolutely clear that God was telling me to let go, trust in Him and let Him take over. Do I think He made this happen? Of course not. Bad things happen to good people every single second of the day, but He knows that I am feeling completely out of control and have been clinging to every thing that makes me feel safe and secure. I shine when I find comfort, hope and security in God rather than things.
  2. Second, while it is a terrible and sad inconvenience, it’s actually nice to have my to-do list stolen! For the first time ever, I’m not busying myself with it and frantically trying to find time on my computer so I can respond to emails. And, you know what? Life is going on! I actually thought I was that important! Yes, I am skimming email on my phone, but I’m not checking email on my phone and computer. It’s actually liberating! Will I get another computer? Of course, and I pray I can recover everything I lost. But for the first time, I am giving myself a real break– because I don’t have any other choice. My poor kids actually get a focused mom. I shine when I am a present mom, wife, friend and person.
  3. Third, you must keep moving to survive. Always go forward, never back. I actually wrote down this quote weeks ago in a notebook…that was of course stolen from my work bag. I heard the words from the goofy kid movie “Shark Boy,” and for weeks I’ve thought about how perfect the advice is for our move from Austin to San Diego, and most recently, how I’ll deal with recovering my stolen items…and really for any of us who struggle with living in the past or comparing our present to our past! As for my recent move, it’s critical that I stop looking back and comparing my life in Austin to my life in San Diego. My spirit will not survive if I continue to do this. I have to move forward every day. Regarding my stolen possessions, I so badly want to live in the past and cry over what happened, dwell on it and talk about how unfair it is, but again, I won’t survive by doing that. I have to move forward, take baby steps and make progress in the recovery process. What’s done is done. I can’t change it and there’s no looking back. Just as with life in general, our past does not define us! Thank goodness we have evolved and aren’t the same people we once were. Most importantly, we will not survive nor thrive unless we focus on our future and on becoming who we need to become and are created to become. Our past has been given to us for memory’s sake and to give us wisdom — but not to live in. Sometimes our past can motivate us, but too often we get stuck in it and are unable to move forward and appreciate what we have right now. For women specifically, we are usually desperate to be the same weight as we were pre-children, on our wedding day or at some point when we were younger. I get that, but that’s no way to live and thrive. I think we would be better served and our bodies would respond in the ways we are hoping for if we treated it with more appreciation and gratitude. We beat ourselves up — thinking we need to look how we used to look. That is torture, and the antidote is to always look forward. We shine when we give thanks and appreciate what we have.
  4. Last, within one hour of the theft, iGnite leaders and dear friends Kathleen Parker and Catherine Sanderson randomly called. It was so comforting and calming to hear their voices. Then, I immediately texted the iGnite Team, informed them of what happened and asked for their love and prayers. Knowing they were praying and sending me love made a significant difference in my attitude and spirit. I knew this before, and I continue to be reminded of the importance of community. You can’t have enough community and supportive friends. We shine in community and are #strongertogetHER!

Action Item:
Remind yourself that your past has been given to your for memory’s sake and to give you wisdom — but not to live in. Look forward only. Appreciate and be present in the now.

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10-Day Reboot: Kathy’s Day 3

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by Kathy Huffaker

by Kathy Huffaker

Day 3: Best one yet!

Aspect of the Re-Boot I’m enjoying the most?  I really enjoy the sense of focus that the Re-Boot brings me. I’m focused not only on what I put in my mouth but my exercise, my sleep and general self-care with the body scrubbing and the Epsom salt baths.

The lemon and apple cider vinegar go down easier in a little passion tea!

The lemon and apple cider vinegar go down easier in a little passion tea!

Aspect of the Re-Boot I’m finding the most difficult?  I think the hardest part for me is waking up to the thought of warm lemon water instead of hot coffee with cream!

Quality of last night’s sleep?  My first night’s sleep on the Re-Boot was so short and not very satisfying. However, last night I slept well and woke up refreshed. I think it’s because I made a concerted effort to go to bed earlier and turn off the technology.

Breakfast of Paleo pumpkin muffin and 5 minute Oatmeal Power Bowl (1/2 recipe) with blackberries

Breakfast of Paleo pumpkin muffin and 5 minute Oatmeal Power Bowl (1/2 recipe) with blackberries

Energy level and mood during the day?  Today I felt energized and happy, until I took an Epsom salt bath in the late afternoon. All my energy was gone! Luckily, I was able to just lay down for a few minutes! From now on I will take my baths before bed.

Cravings? As always, I crave sugar! But I have learned from past Re-Boots to be prepared with things like the Peppermint Brownie Bites (from the recipes), dates and flavored dried plums to satisfy the sweet tooth.

Lunch of this wonderful salad from Trader Joes

Lunch of this wonderful salad from Trader Joe’s

Tips that help me: I make a batch of the Detox salad (it makes a ton so share half with a friend!) and Paleo Pumpkin Muffins to have on hand for quick breakfast, snack or lunch when I’m too busy to prepare a whole meal. Both are very satisfying! Being prepared keeps me on track.

Butterflied Herb Chicken Breast, Crispy Mashed Potatoes with Avocado Garlic Aioli and roasted vegetables for dinner. Even my boys liked these recipes!

Butterflied Herb Chicken Breast, Crispy Mashed Potatoes with Avocado Garlic Aioli and roasted vegetables for dinner. Even my boys liked these recipes!

I Love Myself Enough to…

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Loving Yourself & Others, Part III

“Today I will be ME-SPONSIBLE. The act of being responsible for me, for the benefit of my health, happiness and well-being”
(Anonymous)

Point to Ponder:
Do your daily decisions and actions benefit your health, happiness and well-being or are they based on doing what you “should do” or caring for the needs of others only?

by Neissa Brown Springmann

by Neissa Brown Springmann

Last week while having a conversation with one of our members in class she let me know that she would not be participating in our upcoming Body Re-boot. She explained that she has a lot going on in her life and she recognized that participating in our Re-boot would have the opposite effect on her: it would add stress to her life rather than reduce stress.

Even though I personally created our Re-boot and believe it’s a non-extreme and practical way to de-stress the body, mind and spirit, learn about yourself and focus on self-care for ten days, I love her “Me-sponsible” decision because she is doing what is best for her, right now.  She is being realistic about where she is in her life and that even participating in something as healthy as our re-boot would not serve her at this time and would cause stress. To me, her mindset is beautiful, healthy and is the perfect example of self-love, which is something I struggle with because I feel like “I should” always be striving to do more, be more, more…more…more!!!!

I’m working on resisting the “I shoulds” — the high expectations that I’ve created for myself and my life — and am working on accepting and embracing the Yin and Yang, which Cary so eloquently articulated in her article last week. Along those similar lines, during mine and Russell’s wedding ten years ago, the minister preached on the ebb and flow that occurs during marriage, and how important it is to go with the flow and ride the high and low waves rather than resist them or throw in the towel. The ideas of yin/yang and ebb-and-flow seem easy enough in theory, but the “I shoulds” that continuously run through my head as well as comparing myself to yesterday is the ten ton stress gorilla that sits on my back and the result is very often self-disappointment, guilt and feeling like a fraud.

When I explained this mental dilemma to my business coach and iGnite member Martha Lynn, she advised that I needed to master saying ‘yes’ to myself, which — because life doesn’t come in a predictable square box — looks different every single day, She also suggested that I begin requesting what I need, such as, let Russell know that once a week I need a 30-minute bubble bath so please take care of the children for me so I can have this time for myself. I’ve already tried and of course he said “sure”, thought my natural instinct is to take responsibility for everyone else and neglect something I need, love and want.

All and all, even though it doesn’t always feel like it, we are the captains of our ship, and with that comes great “ME-sponsibility” to listen to our body, our mind, and our spirit and love ourselves enough to know when to push, rest, indulge, focus, play, be still, say “yes” and say “no.” As referenced above, it also means asking for the things we need and want. For women, I think this is extremely challenging because we all feel immense responsibility for so many people and things, so loving ourselves and our ever-changing needs enough is very difficult, but doing so is essential and will give us the opportunity to participate in the yin, yang and ebb and flow of life, which ultimately means saying “yes” to our health, happiness and well-being and therefore being able to authentically say “yes” more often and to the people we love.

Action Item:
Be ME-SPONSIBLE and love yourself enough to be flexible in your daily actions, honor where you are and give yourself what you need to be your best.

Rest, Relax and Enjoy the Quiet

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“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”
– Eleanor Brownn

Point to Ponder:
Is your brain spinning and thinking about all there is to do and make happen in 2015?

by Neissa Brown Springmann

by Neissa Brown Springmann

Prior to having children, Christmas wore me out. I’ve always burned the candle at both ends to get things just right, but now that I have small children I feel completely beaten down! I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, because I loved and am loving every minute of it, but despite feeling exhausted and knowing that I need some rest and chill time, I am still fighting the urge to go, accomplish and begin my 2015 list.

I have two conversations playing out in my head, much like in the cartoons where the devil is on one shoulder and an angel is on the other. The devil is telling me “you didn’t do enough in 2014 and you need to get your lazy rear moving because you are losing time and getting behind- 2015 is only days away and you need to do better!!” Then, the angel, of course the voice of calm and reason is saying, “rest your body, mind and spirit because there will be plenty of time to achieve. 2015 will be healthier and happier on a full tank.” Despite that real mental and spiritual battle, I know I need to let the voice of calm and reason win. And with the weather being dreary, I do feel as if it’s God’s gift, telling us to rest, relax and enjoy the quiet because it’s only a matter of time before life will get busy again and demand more from us.

So with 2015 on the horizon and the temptation to do better and more, I encourage you to join me and first take full advantage of this quiet time, while also taking the quote above and the following quote to heart: “Fatigue is the common enemy of us all — so slow down, rest up, replenish and refill.” (Jeffrey R. Holland). Then, starting next Sunday and throughout January we will provide you with several opportunities to create an intentional, meaningful and fulfilling year.  It’s going to be great, so rest up and recharge!

Action Item:
Avoid the urge to accomplish and allow your body, mind and spirit to rest, relax and rejuvenate. It’s only a matter of time before life will get busy again and demand much more of you.