Challenge 33: Nourish

Nourishing Mind, Body and Soul

Mind 

Classwork (this is in bold because it's a focus point for the challenge, a point where when things get into conflict -- and they always do at some point, because that's life for you -- I can touch back to what is central) 

I'm enrolled in an independent study and an online class this term. At this point, I only have the papers left, but that's a huge piece (in the case of the independent study, it's the only piece.)

• Posting on Tuesday for the Comparative Urbanism Class
• Paper 1 for Comparative Urbanism
• Paper 2 for Comparative Urbanism
• Paper for Identity, Politics and Power in the 20th Century 

Body

Nightly sleep 

I need to take care of myself by making certain I'm getting enough rest. If I'm worn out and exhausted, I can't be a good student / parent / friend. I need to be in bed no later than 9 p.m. I am hoping the meditation routine will dovetail with this.

Nightly Floss Routine - this only takes seconds, so it's not as though it is really hard or anything. I have floss and coconut oil  for oil pulling next to the toothpaste now, so it's kind of inevitable.

Soul 

Daily mindfulness

Daily quiet time

Nightly Meditation and reading of Faith & Practice

Weekly meetings & Connections

• Women's Meeting Monday
• Home Group Meeting Tuesday
• Letters Wednesday
• Therapy Thursday
• Sponsor Meeting Friday
• Home Group Meeting Saturday
• Friends Meeting Sunday 
• Radio Interview / Essay weekly

Bonus:

Financial Planning with the attorney

Financial worry is soul-crushing. I recently read a report on the effects of poverty sapping nearly an entire standard deviation from a person's intelligence, and I can completely believe that. The mental peace that will come from financial clarity is huge.

Also, a weekly budget meeting with my partner -- Sunday

Challenge 32: Bloom

Bloom

My challenges are usually about measuring what I am going to do, and that’s all good.

But this time I’m doing something a little different -- I’m going to report on what I do.

I’m not interested in giving myself grief or being all judgey -- I’m interested in seeing what I do that is on-target, a check-in to see where I am at the habit level. I have a suspicion that it’s lots higher than I am giving myself credit for.

So this time around, I am celebrating my successes. I’m looking forward to seeing how I’m doing with physical and emotional wellness, educational balance, and financial fitness. (See what I did there? That’s a 3+1 old school formula.)

Challenge 31: Frost

Frost, or Isa, the Rune of Ice

Attention to small things gives us real results in large things.
This is my Why, and the Tao is my Way. The Rune Isa indicates stillness and reinforcement, a great theme for me this round.
I'm going with a 3x5 (+1) for this, three goals with five elements each plus one life goal.

1. Act (daily elements) - keeping in action to sustain the healthy foundation. Improvements are bonus, a happy accident of continued use over time.
   1. Morning walk -- 20 minutes
   2. Steam room and sauna meditation -- 20 minutes
   3. Hydrate -- 2+ litres throughout the day
   4. Sleep - 9p.m. to 5 a.m.
   5. Journal
2. Connect (daily elements) -- nurture and be nurtured by my community
   1. Meetings daily
   2. Call Paula daily
   3. Call Vivian daily
   4. Friends group weekly
   5. Monthly newsletter thought of the day
3. Sustain (weekly / monthly elements)- these are the things that keep me centered and whole, no matter what life throws at me. And trust me, life has a wicked curve ball these days.
   1. Katrina - weekly therapy
   2. Greg - weekly acupuncture
   3. Sunday - weekly reset routine
   4. Erin - monthly yoga therapy
   5. Candy - monthly hair appointment
4. Freedom -- leveling up on financial freedom is a huge deal for a reason. It takes a lot of willpower over time, but it reaps long lasting rewards.
   1. Assess the landscape -- so much has changed since October that it needs a thorough reevaluation (Week 0-1)
   2. Plan (Week 2-3)
   3. Execute (Week 4)
      1. Weekly
      2. Monthly
      3. One-offs

Challenge 30: Returning to the Root

16: Returning to the root

Be completely empty.
Be perfectly serene.
The ten thousand things arise together;
in their arising is their return.
Now they flower,
and flowering
sink homeward,
returning to the root.

The return to the root
is peace.
Peace: to accept what must be.
to know what endures.
In that knowledge is wisdom.
Without it, ruin, disorder.

To know what endures
is to be openhearted,
magnanimous,
regal,
blessed,
following the Tao,
the way that endures forever.
The body comes to its ending,
but there is nothing to fear.

Ice

Heidi’s Yuletide 2016 Challenge

The Big Why

Attention to small things gives us real results in large things.
This is my Why, and the Tao is my Way.

Objectives: What I Want

1. A peaceful mind. I value balance in all things, but especially in my heart and mind. Peace of mind vanquishes all.
2. A healthy body.
3. Happy family time.
4. A clean and orderly home.

Activities: What I’m Willing to do

1. Attitude Awareness and Adjustment:
   1. Read the Tao daily, preferably with my partner, sharing our thoughts on the passage of the day.
   2. Go to work with a positive attitude, grateful wherever and whenever possible
   3. Sauna meditation daily
2. Take care of the body that I have been given:
   1. Physical workout once a week
   2. Maintain a restful and restorative sleep schedule
      8+ hours, with a gentle buffer for falling asleep and waking up
   3. Make time for activities that help
      1. Walking
      2. Acupuncture
      3. Therapy
      4. Yoga Therapy
3. Play with Vivian
4. Uphold the house system in place with love and care
   1. Clothing set out each week
   2. Dinner prepared and dishes washed with love and mindfulness.

This morning at the gym, after walking a mile and a half, the number was 24. With a 7.5 pound weight in each hand, I did 24 each of inclined twisted sit ups, skullcrushers, twisted archers, squats, and swimmers press. Then a minute-plus plank was followed by ten minutes in the steam room and five minutes in the sauna before heading off to the meeting of the day.

Lots of walking and lifting courtesy of a book sale.

Life is good.

Measurements

Weight: 135.9
Waist: 29.25
Abdomen: 34.25
Hip: 37.25
Upper arm: 11
Neck: 15
Wrist: 6.25
Thigh: 21.25
Calf: 13
Forearm: 8.25

Body fat: 23.4