Years ago I swore off making one single day the starting line for when to begin a new habit, or drop an old one.
I figure any day is fine. But as the new year approaches I can’t help thinking about what I want to do differently. How I want to evolve my mind, body and spirit.
For me, it’s an endless battle to be more patient.
With infuriating customer service, with my husband whose Maryland conversational cadence is slower than my New York vocal marathon.
I also need to interrupt less. This always enraged my father, and my husband isn’t a fan. He tells me to stop interrupting, I tell him to talk faster. This goes nowhere.
I also need to pare down (a little) of my wine-love. But I’m a hedonist, they’ll be no Dryuary (dry January) in this house.
Another of my goals is to drop two dress sizes.
This means at 57 the simple non-magical formula of eating fewer carbs, less sugar, lots of protein and minimal nighttime snacking. I already work out six days a week but as my daughter reminds me, “abs are made in the kitchen.” I bust my ass at the gym but my waistline doesn’t seem to notice.
I don’t weigh myself. Haven’t for decades. Women’s weight goes up and down with water gain and added muscle (men too). So the scale is an annoying stab in the back. It demotivates me and makes me want to kick the thing across the room.
Basically if I have to suck in my stomach to squeeze into my jeans, it’s time to lose weight.
For 2023 let me offer a suggestion.
Don’t make your resolutions big. Go for inches. Small strides. Work out one day a week, then two, then five. Cut out a little sugar, add more veggies and protein. Read more. Don’t make your goals feel impossible by day three.
Three things to add to 2023: Breast health, immune support, healthy boundaries
I’ve been studying what it takes to fix my mind and body for more than 20 years.
After I was misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia, had severe postpartum depression, anxiety and adrenal insufficiency, I took my health into my own hands. As of a Greece trip in 2019, I now have microscopic colitis. I’m working like a dog to get rid of it despite being told it’s autoimmune (Never goes away. Not on my watch. I’m getting rid of it).
My doctor is a holistic MD who preaches prevention and cure rather than just treating symptoms. We’re a team. She listens. She reminds that the body knows how to heal itself with the right help.
- I suggest women add breast thermography to their annual breast health plan. Inexpensive, painless, life saving.
- I also suggest everyone add Argentyn 23 to help their immune system. It’s a powerful safe antiviral and antibacterial small particle silver. My husband, daughter and I took it constantly during COVID (none of us got COVID). There’s peer-reviewed science behind small particle silver. I can’t sing it’s praises enough.
- Set personal boundaries and extricate yourself from toxic people. Mean, shitty people who don’t make you feel good about yourself, or people you don’t trust, don’t deserve your company.
How do you know who’s toxic and who you need to gently leave behind?
Ask yourself how you feel every time you’re around this person. Are they at least trying to get better? Are they self-aware? There’s your answer.
To a joyful, healthy happy 2023.
When street evangelists scream preach I just ignore. But this guy is interrupting people working out.
By Laura G Owens
On December 29, 2022
In Social Commentary
I saw a viral video years ago of a girl at my daughter’s college in tears because a kid with some Christian group, was screaming that she was a “whore” for the way she dressed.
Certain places on campus allow these sorts of public soap-boxes.
Me personally, I’d just tell the guy he was a bully, and that I’d worn my favorite short-shorts that day, which I believed were not REMOTELY-whorish.
And that I’ve never taken a single dime for sex. So “whore” is not quite accurate. Then I’d tell him he was an asshole, likely in need of getting laid. Then I’d smirk while he turned away from the girl and shamed me instead. Sacrificial lamb and all that.
But this poor girl was genuinely shaken. Slut-shamed on her way to class. Fortunately a few kids spoke up and rallied around her and gave her a hug.
Bullies always lose. Mello Jesus wins.
Does this really work? Bullying people towards God? Seems counterintuitive.
Dude, read the room, no one wants you screaming while they’re working out.
Is this need to YELL the Good News a sickness? I was a Methodist. I know the Good News.
And calling people sinners is a huge no for me.
This being “born” a sinner is weird.
Seriously when was a baby a sinner? In the womb she sucked in too much amniotic fluid?
I’m wildly flawed, but preach “sinner repent!” and we’ll have words. I hate guilt preaching. I makes me want to run away from God. (My God is very LGBTQ friendly, pro-choice and doesn’t support burning in hell for non-believers).
Listen, I don’t go to my gym and preach the word of my Unitarian Universalists while someone jams out on their cross trainer.
The gall of ANYONE to preach ANY religion AT people, astounds me. Which is I why I get giddy when LDS folks come to my door.
They smile, hand me a pamphlet, share the Word. I then kindly and gently (I swear) share my Word (Unitarian Universalist: Nutshell: We don’t care if you’re protestant, Catholic, pagan or an atheist. Just be loving compassionate and open-minded.
My favorite preaching is when religious folks want to tell me about preparing for the “end of times” so that I’m not Left Behind while the sinners burn.
Now THERE’s a super upbeat conversation at my doorstep.
If you want to share Jesus, please quietly hand out pamphlets, invite people to your church, start a blog.
I wish people would stop YELLING God AT people in public places.
Jesus was a gentle peaceful guy. He’s well-known. We’ll find him if we need him.
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