Today I did well, I think. Usually on the first day of my period I don't feel like walking at all. I barely hit 2,000 steps for the day and spend most of the day sitting on the couch and only getting up to pee and release the ache from my pelvis... until I'm too tired to stand again. And the cycle repeats. It's usually only 2 days each (menstrual) month that I'm like this. So I'm glad that I felt like walking today.
(I appreciate we have people from a wide variety of backgrounds on here and that some of you may find it totally inappropriate that I write about my menstrual cycle. Others of you may find it just kind of weird and maybe others still may find it helpful, interesting or even liberating. Here in Australia I think it's becoming more acceptable to talk about our menstrual cycle online, especially in fitness contexts as it definitely influences our performance as female athletes. But many people still think it's totally weird. I am coming to believe that it's totally weird that we don't talk about it more. It affects our lives as women so very much. I don't think it's something that should be shamefully hidden away or talked about behind closed doors. I think the more we can talk about it, the more we can learn about it, the more we can understand it the better for everyone. Truly, everyone. Okay, back to the story).
In fact, I had a pretty good morning. I started by staying in bed late after a great, long night's sleep. And since I had no client sessions in my calendar I took my sweet ass time getting out of bed. Why not? Seemed like the most sensible thing to do as I wish to care for my body better than I ever have before.
I had 2 big glasses of warm water with L-Glutamine (that's helping to heal the tight junctions in the lining of my gut) and looked directly into the sun as it rose of the trees across the road. I let the sunlight warm my skin as it woke up my brain. And when I'd had enough sun, I sat in the shade of the curtain and did a meditation of sorts where I saw myself connected to the sky above and the earth below and saw myself full of light, before seeing that light expand out in all directions, reaching out to touch every person on the planet.
I did a small big of yoga. I did a few rounds of tapping (EFT) and once I was hungry, I ate breakfast and mused over the fact that my gluten free breakfast cereal is full of crap. Soon, it's going to go. Once we return from holidays I'll pick something that feels doable for this woman who does not consider herself a cook, and start making that for breakfast each morning until it feels normal and I no longer crave my sweetened, boxed cereal.
After brushing my teeth I managed to do one whole business task at my standing desk before the fatigue hit me. I think I managed to last a couple of hours. But then my second coffee was had sitting in front of Hive, and the rest of the day was on the couch, binging on anything I wanted to study. At the moment, that's mostly gut health.
And that pretty much summarises my day. After our walk we watched the last of, what is one of the most beautiful interviews I've ever heard; Rich Roll (plant based food and wellness advocate and endurance athlete) interviewing Tommy Rivs who is slowly recovering from a prolonged near death experience. I really hope I remember what Tommy shared for a very, very long time; it was profound.
If you want to learn lessons from someone who's seen what it's like on the other side, who has come back to his human life deeply appreciative of life and is deeply present, deeply humble and incredibly loving then search for the names of these two men and you'll no doubt find the (2 hour) interview. Play it in the background while you're doing something mindless. It may well change your life.
Photos by Brad. While I spotted new and gorgeous things again.
This was me on a different walk (hence the different outfit) but it's the same kitty cat that we passed again today who totally loves it when I give it lots of pats. I love it too.
And my watch, my proof. Thanks Garmin. You have, and continue to, serve me well.
I just finished a 1.5km walking that lasted about 0hh:25mm:52ss !
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