Getting My Groove Back

 

Wise words.  Good plan.  Great reminder.  And this works in BOTH directions.  "Little" matters when repeated.

I finished The Queen's Gambit (Netflix).  It was excellent.  I'm not starting anything new until I do some book reading again.  I've said before, lots of reading = feeling awesome.  Lots of TV = feeling like a slug.  Balance for TV is a must when I'm feeling low.  I made progress on The Tender Land (William Kent Krueger) -- about halfway and it's a good story.  It's absolutely a book you want to pick back up and continue reading.  Maybe I WILL finish it by Sunday (?!)

Jen Hatmaker's new bookclub box arrived.  I'm saving it until I finish January's book.  It's a fun gift to open and I get excited about the new title.  P.S.  I'll read this straight away so I'm not "pressured" for February's meeting.

I ordered wedding earrings from BHLDN (Anthropologie's wedding line) where I bought my new dress.  The store is called Beholden -- learned this thanks to my college roommate.  The name is the word with no vowels.  I don't get the point of it, except to make you feel like you're in a secret club if you understand it.  Nothing says the name -- only initials and "Anthropologie presents ... BHLDN."  When you know, you know and now I know (!!)  I'll show a picture when they come.  It's a bit pricey, but I like them and I'll wear them other places (unlike the other ones I was considering).  I had it gift wrapped for $3 because it felt like a nice gift for me.

That's a little bit of getting my groove back.  Focus on little pleasures and little bits of fun that aren't about eating unhealthy.  My "treats" are too many junk food related things again -- cheese sticks, yogurt bars, GF sweets, etc.  (See quote above -- I'm moving into repeat territory too much on this habit.)  When I look for treats outside of food, the need for food treats disappears.  Not just lessens, it really goes away.  I'm on the hunt for little fun things again. 

I got a very nice response from my former life coach.  She "heard" me and explained she dropped the ball on ending our relationship respectfully.  She's sending me a video message.  Letting go is HARD, but this feels like the push I needed to move on.  Even good things complete and come to an end.  

UPDATE:  It was a voice message instead and just reiterated the email.  It is what it is ... I was expecting a little more, but you know what they say about expectations ...

So ... drum roll ... I've decided to join Self-Coaching Scholars with Brooke Castillo.  It's monthly and I'm making no commitment for how long I stay, but I'm curious to try it.  $300/month.  Weekly 20 minute one-to-one coaching from different peeps, live coaching sessions, library of lots of things, workbooks, lessons.  Lots of bang for the buck -- if it's what I need.  I've been curious for a longtime.  I know Brooke is having a different "moment" right now, but I'm curious enough and it feels exciting to be coached in a different way.

I've spend this year focused inward on what I want, how I want to show up in this new stage of my life, what are my new goals ... all the things.  It's time to tip back into more action -- moving the balance needle a little.  Brooke is the queen introspection ACTION.  It seems like a good fit for my next steps.  My plan is to join for April -- possibly March, but my focus is on other things until the wedding so I think a little break until April is best.

Moving back to total decaf espresso is HARD too -- only because I like a particular bean brand that's caffeinated.  I'm on the hunt for a decaf I like as well.  Starbucks raised prices again and it feel ridiculous for me to go there.  I don't go often during the pandemic, but I don't want to add that back when this is over.  I'm determined to find "my brand" and I'll make the hunt fun.  I ordered a new one on Amazon.  It's decaffeinated with water (no chemicals), sourced well and the company explains the storage at Amazon.  It gets great reviews.  I STILL have a lingering headache which could well be from lack of caffeine.  I expect both caffeine and hormone issues to be over by the weekend -- yea!

Hubby is coming home late today.  He decided enough was enough sitting alone in an office.  

He's going to spend a lot more time at home and I don't think he'll work a lot longer.  I'm ready to redo my office and take the bed out to make a sitting room.  I need THAT kind of a space -- the kind where you can shut a door and have quiet.  I'm going to start looking for an oversized chair or loveseat next month.  I'm starting to lean toward a loveseat because dogs will want to cuddle.

Speaking of dogs.  Mine are jelly filled bundles.  It's time for Coby to find a home and for us to take a break.  Monti doesn't love having another dog all the time and he's my priority.  I think we're going to foster less because of that.  It makes me sad, but I can't have him stressed -- that's not fair to my sweet boy.

In quick wedding news, my mother is NOT coming.  She was snarky about everything (of course) and that disappointed my son  -- she's a real piece of work.  I'm used to her ways, my kids aren't.  I hate that she hurt him.

That's all from here.  Have a good day and stay well.  Later gators.