I’m very excited to be partnering with the good folks over at Puritan’s Pride in accepting their One Small Change challenge: to make one very personal (yet simple) change toward healthier living and then committing myself to remain accountable by posting my progress in a three-part blog series, throughout the month.
In my first post (Step #1 – The Brain Dump), I started by cleaning out the most cluttered area in the house, my head. In my second post (Step #2 – Permission To Take a Break), I recorded a couple of break-reminders and set them as notifications, throughout the day.
Finishing up this blog series, I was really hoping to share with you some awesome progress in meeting my goals of walking every day and to make time to do things that quiet the mind…but, I can’t…not exactly, anyway.
Life threw our family some curve balls, the last couple of weeks: my brother was admitted into the hospital for complications due to emergency surgery the week before. So, I spent most of my time driving to and from their house (they about 90 minutes away) and helping to take care of his MIL (she lives with them) which meant more sitting, because she is an awesome storyteller.
I know, I know, taking time out to walk (at least 20 minutes, every day) should NOT be so gosh-darned difficult. On the other hand, mental and emotional stress can be downright debilitating. All I wanted to do was get home and crawl next to whoever was on the couch at the time.
The following week, my girls and I registered for a walk to help raise money for cancer research. So, my being able to finish the 3.5 miles, and then another mile and half for good measure, and still be able to stand the next day, made up for it, BIGTIME!!!
A few days later, I took my SIL to the hospital for a lumpectomy.
The last few weeks have been hard, watching my loved ones fight for their lives, I just wish there was something more I could do to take their pain away or, at the very least, help make things easier. Besides drive, sit and wait.
So, yeah, the thing about slowing down, easier said than done, right?!? I couldn’t imagine myself a very good example for my kids, either.
Until they got home from school this past Friday, dropped their books down in the corner of the playroom, announced how happy they were to be home, curled up on the couch and took the longest nap in forever.
Here’s the really surprising part: I curled up next to my youngest and listened to her deep breaths, as she softly exhaled into my ear and quieted my mind into one of the deepest sleeps I’ve ever had. I plan to make it a Friday afternoon tradition.
Now, it’s your turn!!! What inspires you to try something new?
Small changes in your life can improve your well-being. Puritan’s Pride wants to help. Pledge today, enter the sweepstakes to win $2,000 and prizes to help you stick to it.
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Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Puritan’s Pride. The opinions and text are all mine.