Monday, April 30, 2012

Local Happenins

Ah yes, in the midst of finals, and feeling a little bit crazy. Ok, very crazy. Today we presented our research we have been doing at the local elementary school here in Swannanoa. We implemented a fitness program into a school that barely has time for recess. We used Dr. Toni Yancey's program called Instant Recess. Great success! Check it out here: http://www.toniyancey.com/IR_Book.html.

After a very stressful day, I took my dog out to the woods. It was so beautiful out, and I was so grateful that I had the ambition to make it out to the trees and flowers. It made a huge difference in my mood, and I had a surge of faith that I could make it through the next few weeks. Also, this package arrived today from my mother. How does she know I needed organic lollypops and ayurvedic tea?!

Feist plays in Asheville on Wednesday. Very excited to go hear some beautiful music. I also signed up for twitter! I don't know exactly how it works but follow me on it!

Below is also a photo of Mamacitas, the best burrito in town. On Thursday it was Dine Out for Life, the Asheville benefit for people living with AIDS. Awesome benefit, awesome food.




Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Earth Day Asheville, Illness, and more!

It is always a little bit funny to write a health blog when I am sick at home. Well, these things happen, and I think it is the universe telling me to slow down... so far down that I am in bed all day. This might also be called "running yourself into the ground." Lesson learned (for now). A neighbor commented today about how fast I walk my dog. "The city still thrives within my bones," I told him. But I think the message is clear about my pace. I quicken it when I am nervous or stressed. As the end of the semester rolls around, and my decision to stay in Asheville to complete an internship with WNC Magazine takes root, I notice my fear of being alone. I notice that when I am not with my boyfriend, I feel like I need to do EVERYTHING humanly possible... working out, finishing schoolwork, getting work done, taking on more jobs, taking care of siva (my dog), going to soccer, spending time in the sun... yes the list goes on.

But Saturday afternoon was so much fun. I spent the day in Asheville with some of my closest friends (and probably half of my college) at Earth Day downtown Asheville. It felt like summer was really starting. The festivals, the excitement, the dancing. It was all lovely. Monday was a reality check as my illness started to swell (2 hours of playing soccer in ice cold rain will do that) and my end of semester course work became real as my to do list grew. I tried to do so much yesterday and then BAM stuck in bed.






As my best friend who lives in Hawaii says, "Keep paddlin through the waves." True that.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

You are a real Winner!

Today I woke up in San Diego. So lovely! The weather is gorgeous, and I am more than grateful to have a week off from school to attend the Art and Science of Health Promotion Conference. Spending time with my brothers (and their wonderful partners) proves to be an inspiring and healing experience. Funny how that is, when I think about all those years of bickering as young'uns. We've grown closer over the years, though I never thought it would happen when I was 13.
I've been thinking about wisdom with age and experience. We think we know how the world works when we are 16. I remember believing it to be about competition. I had to be better and prettier than anyone else. It was a losing battle. But every girl I knew was competing, and every girl thought she was losing. How can we win in a society that is so damn judgmental? This is when my feet step onto my mat. Letting go of that competitive streak (that is sometimes beneficial in certain situations) helps relieve the stress that builds when we are constantly comparing ourselves to other people. Being with family, with my brothers who have known me for all my 24 years, helps me to accept who I am today. Especially because they have seen me through my many phases. And they love me through it all.

Tip of the Week: Take a moment to notice where you are competitive in your life. Clothing? Being thin? Strength? Intelligence? Then take a deep breath to acknowledge that, and perhaps make a commitment for the next hour to not be like that.