10 Things I Believe In

I think it's really important for people to have solid belief systems.  Being confident in what you believe in and what you stand for has a strong affect on your daily life.  It gives you the ability to more easily make decisions and it helps you learn more about who exactly you are . . . because I think everyone struggles with that at least a little bit.

So, that being said, here are ten things I believe in:

1.  Reading . . . reading reading reading.  I could say it over a million times.  Ever since I learned how to read, it's been one of my favorite activities to partake in.  I honestly don't even know how to respond to people when they say things like "I hate reading", or "I don't read".  Actually I just usually want to ask, "wtf is wrong with you????!"  But alas, I refrain.  I must admit, the older I get the more busy I get the more tired I am and the less I read.  I've been making more of a conscious effort to fit more reading time into my schedule, though.  So many good things can come from it!

(Infographic found here)

2.  Driving with the windows down and singing really, really loud.  Unless you're my mother. Then it's just embarrassing.  But let's be real.  Doing this never fails to cheer you up or make you feel better or give you a laugh, etc.  What harm can be done?  This was most definitely a prominent activity of my teenage years but I will not deny that it still happens . . . on a sort of frequent basis.  No shame here.

3.  Indulging in your comfort foods.  Okay, so I try not to get carried away with this one (and I suggest you don't either unless your comfort food is kale), but I totally think everyone should allow themselves a chocolate bar late at night or a slice of pizza for breakfast every once in awhile.  

4.  Health and fitness.  I know, I know, this ever so slightly contrasts with number three of my list, but it's still something I believe in!  I really never cared about health or fitness until after I had Ari.  My nine months of pregnancy basically consisted of eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, whilst sitting in front of the TV.  There was also a lot of sleeping involved.  Having a bun in the oven is hard work, man.  However, after Ari was born, I was so absolutely, ridiculously out of shape that it was disgusting.  I lost the 60 pounds I put on (yes, 60 whole pounds -- and I weigh about 120 normally) within the first six months, but I could barely walk up stairs without getting winded.  I think Ari was about a year old when I made a New Year's Resolution (something I really never do) to start working out and to start paying attention to my eating habits.  I have my good times and I have my bad times, but overall I have come a long ways from where I was.  

5.  Terrible jokes.  I am totally one of those people who laughs for way too long at the stupidest jokes.  They are my favorite!  I should create a journal full of them so that when I start having dinner parties (because I plan to start having dinner parties) I can get it out and tell people amazing jokes. 

For example: 

Q:  What does a nosy pepper do?   

A:  Gets jalapeño business

HILARIOUS RIGHT?

6.  Doing what you want to do.  So this one seems fairly straightforward, doesn't it?  Well, I suppose it is.  But I feel like it deserves mentioning because I think a lot of people don't actually do what they want to do.  I think that many people are either afraid of what other people will think or how they'll react, or what will happen if they do something out of their comfort zone.  Mr. Twain once wisely said, "Why not go out on a limb?  That's where the fruit is."  Truth.  Don't be scared to branch out and do whatever it may be that you want to do, even if it seems like the craziest, most far-fetched idea ever . . . Unless it involves hurting other people, then maybe you shouldn't.

7.   Traveling.  Alright, I'll admit this one isn't too creative.  And that it can also be not very doable when you're low on expendable income or free time or whatever.  But honestly, if you have the chance, do it.  I have a friend right now who's traveling in Europe for about six months.  On his own.  And he's like 22.  SO JEALOUS.  Now that I have a kid and am unable to up and leave whenever I please, every time I have friends who talk to me about maybe doing this or that, I tell them that they absolutely should go.  And also, one day, I'm going to quit my job and travel the world and take photos and see cool people and animals.

8.  Starting sentences with "and" and "but".  HUGE no-no according to English teachers around the world (at least to all the ones during my 13 years of Catholic schooling).  However, I think it can really emphasize an idea or point, and as much of a grammar-Nazi as I am, by all means, break the rules and start a sentence with "and" or "but".  I bet you'll feel better after.

9.  Working hard.   Sometimes, on days when you're really tired or really bummed out about something, having to work hard can suck.  In my opinion though, when you work hard doing something you (at least somewhat) enjoy, it can be very gratifying.  It gives you a sense of accomplishment and makes you feel productive.  I went through a period of unemployment this past winter (and it kept snowing and snowing and snowing), and I just felt very trapped and bored.  Working hard doesn't necessarily mean at a job, either.  It can be working hard on your hobbies or working hard to learn something new, etc.  

10.  Being nice.  Sounds simple.  Isn't always that easy.  But if everyone could just try really hard to be nice to each other, there would probably be a lot more rainbows and butterflies and unicorns, etcetera, in the world, and less anger and fighting.

What are some things you believe in?

-teddy x  

Biking in Belgium

Since the beginning of May, I've been doing fitness classes through my work four days a week, almost religiously. Monday I do spin, Tuesday is bootcamp, Wednesday yoga (or spin if I'm feeling like a heavier workout), and Thursday is bootcamp again.

Well, since I got back from the UK, I've been severely lacking motivation to keep up with these. I reaaaaally did NOT want to go to spin class today, but my lovely co-worker Marcia conned me into going by saying she'd come to bootcamp with me tomorrow (which I've been begging her to do for two months).

I really don't know much about the Tour de France except that it's a massive bike ride with loads of people and it seems to last forever. So I went into spin today and the instructor was like, "we're going to Europe today." So naturally my ears immediately perked up and I'm interested now because that's where I'd like to be.

She went on to say that the Tour de France started July 5 and today they're in Ypres, Belgium, heading towards Arenberg-Porte du Hainaut in France. Aaaand then she said she mapped out the route they're on and that we were going to cover the same route in our ride... All 95 miles of it, or whatever.

Of course she shortened it up so we could do it in our 45 minute class but still, it was kinda cool. We started in Ypres and went over all the cobblestone patches (by adding resistance... surely nothing compared to actually being in Ypres, but still a challenge) the Tour de France bicyclists had to go through and made our way to France.

 Our spinning room probably isn't as pretty as Belgium or France...

Jeannette, the instructor, really had it all planned out. I wasn't just impressed with the effort she went to to get the mapping and routing accurate, but she also had a European playlist set up. Honestly music can make or break a class like that.

It ended up being a pretty good class. I managed to peddle through a whole 17 miles, despite not having wanted to even go. Hoping I can keep up the motivation to get full-swing back into my classes.

Something Jeannette said to us in the middle of a big hill was, "how you do one thing, is how you do everything." So... I'll leave you with that to ponder.

-teddy x