Morning!
Its been a doozy of a day.
I started off the day with a spin class, another great one! It was a little brutal getting up this morning, but I always feel reenergized after a morning sweat session.
Its fun when you get to class before everyone, but awkward when someone walks in and you’re taking a picture of your empty spin bike.
When I returned home, I instantly made another green juice to enjoy. I can’t get enough of these lately.
This one had
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 cup kale
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 a leftover carrot
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1/4 cup strawberries
- stevia
- 1 cup water
Planning, thinking, appointments, e-mails, laundry, basically crossing things off my to-do list. I wanted to get a bunch more accomplished, but time was just not on my side.
I swear we need more than 24 hours in a day, there is simply not enough time for everything I’d like to have done…or I just wish I didn’t need to sleep. That would make life easier.
Starbucks was much needed. Isn’t it always though? Enjoyed with a side of blogging
Americano saves the day.
I decided that once I got home I’d add some cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice for a nice autumn touch, did the trick.
A hearty lunch was needed to keep up my energy throughout the day.
Ezekiel bread topped with almond butter, an egg, and homemade blueberry jam. With a spinach salad on the side!
Eggs, almond butter, and jam is a weird, but delicious combination. For seriousness.
*******
Appreciation is something that is so overlooked in our society. It’s certainly easier for us to look at all the stuff we don’t have, or the body we wish we had, which only leads us into a negative spiral. Feeling unworthy is easier then working on our happiness.
How many times do we hear people talking down about themselves and their situations negatively. Getting mad about the fact they only ran three miles, feeling guilt from eating a slice of cake, or feeling they will be “happier” when they have a certain item in their lives.
[Source]
These things are a privilege for some other people. How does complaining about these things change your life for the better? It doesn’t make me feel better if I start complaining about these things, in fact, it makes me feel worse about myself.
What happens after we get these things, we usually replace them with the next thing that will “make us happy”. If we aren’t happy in our journey to to get what we want, we want be happy once we get there. And then this cycle continues.
When we lack appreciation, aren’t we just making those things so much worse for us to deal with. If we feel we are not getting enough from life, its easy to continue a “lacking mindset”.
We have the power to approach these situations with a positive attitude instead, showing up with intention, and appreciation. Shifting our energy and focus into the positive things happening in our lives. I can now look at my body and my life with more appreciation then I did before.
Choose self-acceptance, not self-loathing. We deserve self respect. Even if we aren’t aware now, we all have something to give in this life. Be grateful for what you have, even if it starts with focusing on the little things.
Tell me what you appreciate right now!
Any excited plans for the weekend?
Happy Friday! Hope everyone has an amazing day.
About Lisa
Love this post! I am defintiely suspect to not appreciating each moment simply for what it is! Right now I appreciate the quiet time I have at home with the puppy before heading into work!
Your puppy is the cutest thing ever!! Love that you have quiet time with the puppy beforehand:)
That homemade blueberry jam looks amazing!! Did you make it? If so, you should share the recipe!
Yes, I made it! I’ll definitely post the recipe soon!!
One thing that recovering from my ED really taught me was to appreciate every little thing, no matter how small it may seem, because those small things add up and make you realize how good life really is. I remember days in the depths of my illness where I barely had the strength to get out of bed, so now I can even see something as simple as that as a blessing. I think one of the biggest problems that we have with gratitude is not realizing what we have until we lose it. So you’re definitely right that stopping to think about and appreciate all of the small blessings in our life is something we have to consciously practice more often. Right now I’m grateful for being able to enjoy a quiet morning while sitting by the window with the sun shining on my face. It’s gonna be a good day
I totally agree! That’s one thing therapy and recovering made me realize as well. I think when you are that close to “deaths door” so to speak, it really makes you appreciate every moment.
And how great life really is! I remember the worst moments of my ED and I never want to go back there, it was just horrible.
I love mornings like that! Quiet mornings are great for reflecting!!
I always feel like I don’t appreciate all that I have. That is something I have been working on because I know I am so fortunate.
Its always something everyone can work on a bit, because a lot of us aren’t appreciative all the time, but at least if we realize all the blessings we have in our daily lives is just the start to appreciating more!
Your breakfast looks so good. I love eggs with toast and jam!!
Its such a great combo!
lovelovelove this post about appreciation! there is soo much to be thankful for without always asking for “more” – both from the standpoint of consumerism and body image.
right now I’m thankful for a body that can run. even if I don’t get a best time at my half marathon on sunday, I’m just going to enjoy it!
and I agree about sometimes wishing I didn’t have to sleep. I could be so productive!!
Definitely!
I am just thankful to wake up in my own comfy bed in the morning, and my ability to walk, drive, and do daily tasks!
Definitely enjoy the time running, because its such a blessing!
I appreciate you and your insightful posts! They always help me reevaluate my negative thoughts and behaviors. I’m excited to watch football with friends this weekend. Its my school’s first home game, and everyone gets super hype. Have a lovely weekend sweetheart
I hope you enjoyed your weekend!! Sounds like it would be a lot of fun!
I’m appreciative for my health right now. Health is everything!
I agree. Health is definitely everything!
GREAT post! I always have to remind myself that I have so much to be thankful for– clean water, a nice apartment, clothes, food etc. It can be so easy to overlook the simple things we take for granted!
I usually have to remind myself of these things too! I’m not trying every morning before I actually get up to take time and be appreciative of my life in general!
I appreciate my body! I appreciate being able to nurse my baby with my body. I appreciate having the energy and strength to walk everywhere I want to go.
My exciting plans for the weekend are to attend an attachment parenting meeting on Saturday and to attend church on Sunday with a potlatch brunch after. These are exciting for me because I’m stepping out of my comfort zone to be more social.
Stepping outside your comfort zone is always a good thing! I hope you had a great weekend!
Thank you! I did have a good weekend. We didn’t make it to the parenting meeting for various reasons but the church potlatch was great!
I love this post! I def learning to appreciate and respect my body! I’m also learning to be thankful for the little things in life that I usually look past! I have work stuff this weekend.
Yes, i feel the same here. We appreciate the healing too! Great post lIsa.
I feel the same as both you ladies:)
Learning to appreciate the small things in life we take for granted is so important!
Oh girl, you cracked me up with that paragraph under the pic of the spin bike<3.
You come up with so many insightful & thought provoking posts , and i really appreciate that
. I think a lot of people, myself definitely included, would be much happier ,& feel more fulfilled in day-to-day life ,if we focussed on the good, & spent less energy concentrating on the negatives. You are right , we all have things to be grateful for, even little stuff. Like my ability to read & write, and the bowl of super sweet, home-grown cherry tomatoes just dropped off to me by my Aunt.
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I heard through the grape-vine you're working on a hair post, Im SO looking forward to that! My horrid head of hair will *really* appreciate the advice of a gorgeous haired gal
Enjoy your weekend Lisa
Xxx
Ha ha. I’m too cool;)
Yes, I am working on that post!! It should be up sometime soon:)
What a great reminder on a Friday after a loooong week. I am appreciative of my health and that I have a good job… even if it does mean working some insane hours.
Those are great things to appreciate!
Right now, I’m appreciating the fact that i ate a lot of pie for dessert tonight and I actually don’t give a damn whatsoever. Clearly, I’ve come a long way in the last few years! When I was deep in my ED, I’d be freaking right out about now. So I’m appreciating my recovery and the fact that my ED no longer controls my life.
Good for you! Its awesome when we get over the “guilty feelings” that come from food. I don’t think its okay for us to feel guilt from any one food, and that is something I still need to work on!
So proud of you for that!
I’m so appreciative to have my daughters. They are the best little people ever. Love them SO much! Lovely post.
Awe, that’s beautiful!!! Love your appreciation towards your daughters!
AHh love this Lisa, thank you for writing such a post and reminding me of what I need to think of! I was feeling bad for myself earlier today for a number of reasons.. but then thinking about the good things, stuff that I appreciate, would have helped me out of the funk… must remember for next time
Awe, no problem Tessa:)
I love reading your positive posts like this- it makes my day! There are so many things that I take for granted on a daily basis but I’ve really been trying to appreciate the little things more often. We’re all SO blessed.
I’m glad you had another great spin class! I’m taking one tomorrow morning with my friend (who’s never taken spin!) and I can’t wait. I know it’s going to kick our butts but hopefully she enjoys it. (:
Have a beautiful weekend!
Exactly!
Oh spin is so much fun!! I hope you enjoyed it and I hope your friend did too!
I totally think the egg, AB, and blueberry jam combo sounds TO DIE FOR!!! Did you put the sandwich together and eat it like that or did you keep it open-faced? I’d be tempted to do both!
I smiled when I read that spin bike thing. You’re too funny. Yeahhh I’ve been caught taking pics at the gym plenty. Always awkward. I either say nothing or frantically say “I’M A BLOGGER!”
It is delicious! Yep! I ate it all together!!
Its great both ways though:)
Ha ha, I hate getting caught taking pictures. I usually yell the same thing to try and recover…it doesn’t usually work though.
nobody ever believes me when i say how good eggs & pb/ab are! they’re one of my top combos! one time i made my brother an egg, pb & bacon sandwich and he wanted to die he thought it was so disgusting – i was ilke FINE BY ME i’ll have it hahha
Right! Its such a tasty combo! I love it.
Ha ha, thats awesome.
I appreciate YOU! Love this. It’s so true. People tend to focus on the negative and try to nit pick everything instead of simply appreciating the exact moment they’re in. Engaging in the present and really meditating on how special that is…is key for me. There is nothing like being in love with life.
Exactly! We definitely relate so much in this topic!
That ezekiel bread with PB and jam looks so delicious and yummy!
It’s good:)
At the end of a spin class the other day, I took a picture with my phone of the bike, and the person sitting next to me said, “hey, that’s a good idea!” I think they thought I was trying to track my stats on the little screen or something LOL
Ha ha. That’s hilarious!
I love this message, Lisa! I completely agree with you—I think we spend far too much time focusing on the future, rather than taking time to savor simple pleasures in the present. I believe that making the most of RIGHT NOW—truly *appreciating* what we have in THIS moment—is what creates a satisfying, happy and fulfilling life! Much easier said than done, but reminders like this are so helpful! <3 <3 <3
Your egg/almond butter/jam sandwich looks so good! I still need to try this combination!
Hope you've had a wonderful weekend, lovely! Love and miss you! <3 xoxo
Yes, definitely!!
I used to always worry and put far too much focus in the future, and just wasted DAYS because I wasn’t focusing on the present, and being appreciative for what I had.
You have to try the combo, its so good!
Miss you too friend!!xox