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| Love Does // Bob Goff |
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
// but this morning there's a calm I can't explain.
Sometimes, it's nice to work the late shift. Not always. I like my productive work mornings followed by happy hour or dinner with friends. But I do enjoy sleeping in occasionally. I wake up to the sound of yard work outside of my window and roll out of bed and saunter around the apartment in my pajamas for a few hours. I might read a little or watch a missed episode of something. There is certainly almost always coffee involved - this morning it's Coconut Mocha. (Note to self: buy more of this.) I never bring laundry into my wandering mornings because it's my least favorite thing.
Today, I baked tofu and for a delicious lunch of kale, brussels sprouts, red onion, and mixed brown rice with a healthy pour of sriacha and sweet chili sauce. That's how you know it's going to be a good day. Actually, you REALLY know it's going to be a good day when you have brownies in the oven before 9am. They were vegan until I threw in dark chocolate chips for good measure.
So, yeah, I was vegan for two weeks. Let me tell you about that.
Why did I do it? Just to know what it's like. There's no better way to understand someone's lifestyle than to live it. You know, walk a mile in their shoes and all that jazz. Was it hard? Heck yes! Did it make me feel good? Heck yes! I lost six pounds and gained confidence in my ability to follow through on funny little challenges I set up for myself. Will I stay vegan? No. I don't have a good reason to. I'm not convicted about using animals for food - even when I was vegetarian it didn't really phase me. I think that I learned a lot about what I am putting into my body - what's good/wholesome and what's less than zero on the nutritious scale. (That's not to say I didn't eat crap. I had Sour Patch Kids for lunch at the movies one day and french fries for dinner another.) But I believe this experience is going to make me think a lot about my options and what the pros/cons are of what I'm eating. I felt pretty fantastic all 14 days. I didn't NEED a lot of caffeine despite my lack of sleep. And I was never ever hungry.
You learn something from all experiences. I can also tell you the BBQ pork nacho experience I had at lunch yesterday was amazing. Perhaps I am a riddle.
While I'm here, let me tell you how lucky I am in life right now. You know those moments when you stop and think about your life and there is not much else you could wish for besides making your first million or winning the lottery? That's where I am. There is a lot of uncertainty rolling in over the next few months, but nothing deliberate planning and learning cannot overcome.
Do you feel lucky right now? Or are you struggling? I'd like to know if you'd like to share.
One thing I am absolutely going to try to do right now is pare down my Google Reader (hello, love) subscriptions and read those that inspire me to be inspired here and in life. I miss Links I Love! Don't you?
I love Sabrina Ward Harrison. I need to own a piece of her work.
Oh and I love this as well:
Well, ok then, it's time to be (more) productive. I'll be in Charlotte the next two days for Dave Matthews Band and IKEA! Eep! So, until next time... xo.
Sometimes, it's nice to work the late shift. Not always. I like my productive work mornings followed by happy hour or dinner with friends. But I do enjoy sleeping in occasionally. I wake up to the sound of yard work outside of my window and roll out of bed and saunter around the apartment in my pajamas for a few hours. I might read a little or watch a missed episode of something. There is certainly almost always coffee involved - this morning it's Coconut Mocha. (Note to self: buy more of this.) I never bring laundry into my wandering mornings because it's my least favorite thing.
Today, I baked tofu and for a delicious lunch of kale, brussels sprouts, red onion, and mixed brown rice with a healthy pour of sriacha and sweet chili sauce. That's how you know it's going to be a good day. Actually, you REALLY know it's going to be a good day when you have brownies in the oven before 9am. They were vegan until I threw in dark chocolate chips for good measure.
So, yeah, I was vegan for two weeks. Let me tell you about that.
Why did I do it? Just to know what it's like. There's no better way to understand someone's lifestyle than to live it. You know, walk a mile in their shoes and all that jazz. Was it hard? Heck yes! Did it make me feel good? Heck yes! I lost six pounds and gained confidence in my ability to follow through on funny little challenges I set up for myself. Will I stay vegan? No. I don't have a good reason to. I'm not convicted about using animals for food - even when I was vegetarian it didn't really phase me. I think that I learned a lot about what I am putting into my body - what's good/wholesome and what's less than zero on the nutritious scale. (That's not to say I didn't eat crap. I had Sour Patch Kids for lunch at the movies one day and french fries for dinner another.) But I believe this experience is going to make me think a lot about my options and what the pros/cons are of what I'm eating. I felt pretty fantastic all 14 days. I didn't NEED a lot of caffeine despite my lack of sleep. And I was never ever hungry.
You learn something from all experiences. I can also tell you the BBQ pork nacho experience I had at lunch yesterday was amazing. Perhaps I am a riddle.
While I'm here, let me tell you how lucky I am in life right now. You know those moments when you stop and think about your life and there is not much else you could wish for besides making your first million or winning the lottery? That's where I am. There is a lot of uncertainty rolling in over the next few months, but nothing deliberate planning and learning cannot overcome.
Do you feel lucky right now? Or are you struggling? I'd like to know if you'd like to share.
One thing I am absolutely going to try to do right now is pare down my Google Reader (hello, love) subscriptions and read those that inspire me to be inspired here and in life. I miss Links I Love! Don't you?
I love Sabrina Ward Harrison. I need to own a piece of her work.
Oh and I love this as well:
Well, ok then, it's time to be (more) productive. I'll be in Charlotte the next two days for Dave Matthews Band and IKEA! Eep! So, until next time... xo.
Friday, May 11, 2012
I've been MIA for a month, then I come back and blogger is totally different. Nbd. BIG DEAL. Meh.
I'm honestly not sure why I haven't been writing. Maybe I've had writer's block. Blogger's block.
The easiest way to play catch up is to tell you that life is so good and so "this is real life" all at the same time. For ever simple task, there is a difficult chore that follows alongside. For every great happiness, there is a tragedy. For every new love, there is a heartbreak. For every great win, there is a bigger loss. This means two things: perspective and limbo.
Perspective is what really bring beauty into our lives because how can we know how sweet it is without a little bitter? Limbo is just uncertainty of a new adventure - being unwilling to step foot because you're never sure what's going to follow or it's going to effect your status quo. I suppose limbo could also be described as fear or cautiousness. I think it's different for every person.
In other less thought provoking news, I'm on day five of "operation let's be vegan". WHY ARE YOU BEING VEGAN? YOU LOVE CHEESE! Ah. Good question! I'm glad that you asked. Honestly, I like to give myself little challenges, just to see if I can do them, even if they seem silly. I'm weird. I know. Also, I just want to know what it's like - how do vegans live? What are their struggles? How does veganism make my body feel? The best way to find answers to your questions besides asking is to just do. So, welcome to "operation let's be vegan". I miss bacon, cheese and Chickfila. But I like making creative food options for myself and trying new things. I like my energy level. And I like the questions it provokes from people - I'm always up for a good conversation!
Also, let's see, I've been to Columbia twice this week for work. Hi, traveling for work! You're fun! And that's good since I might be doing it more with a new career experience I will be beginning for my job! So, that means work is going well. That means work is challenging and engaging and I like where I am and what I do. I have great aspirations to move forward, but where I am is good for right now.
Driving to Columbia gave me time to catch up on my Joy the Baker Podcasts. Nerd Alert. I was a month behind in my episodes, much like I am with reading all of my blogs. Nerd Fail. A few episodes back, they asked us to blog our five favorite things right now and since I forfeited that opportunity then, I have decided to take it now. Here we go:
1. Coconut. In all it's various forms. I'm serious.
2. Norah Jones new album // Little Broken Hearts.
3. Days off spent at the beach with people I adore.
4. My iPhone - esp, Instagram, Clear, and Spotify.
5. SoCal. I think about going back all the time.
I thought I would have a longer list or that it would be easier with me to come up with, but no. Weird. Anyway, I feel like that's enough rambling for now. It's good to be back and hopefully I'll feel inspiration sooner rather than later next time.
xo.
I'm honestly not sure why I haven't been writing. Maybe I've had writer's block. Blogger's block.
The easiest way to play catch up is to tell you that life is so good and so "this is real life" all at the same time. For ever simple task, there is a difficult chore that follows alongside. For every great happiness, there is a tragedy. For every new love, there is a heartbreak. For every great win, there is a bigger loss. This means two things: perspective and limbo.Perspective is what really bring beauty into our lives because how can we know how sweet it is without a little bitter? Limbo is just uncertainty of a new adventure - being unwilling to step foot because you're never sure what's going to follow or it's going to effect your status quo. I suppose limbo could also be described as fear or cautiousness. I think it's different for every person.
In other less thought provoking news, I'm on day five of "operation let's be vegan". WHY ARE YOU BEING VEGAN? YOU LOVE CHEESE! Ah. Good question! I'm glad that you asked. Honestly, I like to give myself little challenges, just to see if I can do them, even if they seem silly. I'm weird. I know. Also, I just want to know what it's like - how do vegans live? What are their struggles? How does veganism make my body feel? The best way to find answers to your questions besides asking is to just do. So, welcome to "operation let's be vegan". I miss bacon, cheese and Chickfila. But I like making creative food options for myself and trying new things. I like my energy level. And I like the questions it provokes from people - I'm always up for a good conversation!
Also, let's see, I've been to Columbia twice this week for work. Hi, traveling for work! You're fun! And that's good since I might be doing it more with a new career experience I will be beginning for my job! So, that means work is going well. That means work is challenging and engaging and I like where I am and what I do. I have great aspirations to move forward, but where I am is good for right now.
Driving to Columbia gave me time to catch up on my Joy the Baker Podcasts. Nerd Alert. I was a month behind in my episodes, much like I am with reading all of my blogs. Nerd Fail. A few episodes back, they asked us to blog our five favorite things right now and since I forfeited that opportunity then, I have decided to take it now. Here we go:
1. Coconut. In all it's various forms. I'm serious.
2. Norah Jones new album // Little Broken Hearts.
3. Days off spent at the beach with people I adore.
4. My iPhone - esp, Instagram, Clear, and Spotify.
5. SoCal. I think about going back all the time.
I thought I would have a longer list or that it would be easier with me to come up with, but no. Weird. Anyway, I feel like that's enough rambling for now. It's good to be back and hopefully I'll feel inspiration sooner rather than later next time.
xo.
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