Story time…last week I was fortunate to have a night out with my daughter and her boyfriend. We had a nice dinner, then headed to the Kings game. We parked in probably one of the last parking spots on the top of the parking garage. We were trying to hurry to get to the arena on time. The elevator door was closing and I ‘ran’ to try and catch it. Well, the pro’s and con’s of being very diligent with my pre-surgery physical therapy (I have a complete ACL tear), I have glimpses of where I forget my knee doesn’t work the way it should because I’m truly feeling pretty darn good. I use the term ‘run’ very loosely, let’s just say I took off a little too quickly. I’m sure it didn’t look much better than Phoebe from Friends (face in palm). I instantly remembered that I can’t move like that just yet. I was so uncomfortable at the game and it just progressively got worse.
I was up just about all night in an incredible amount of non-stop pain. I woke up in the same state. I cancelled my entire day (which was a huge bummer, I had fun plans), but knew I needed to rest and get my head screwed on straight. I also have quite a bit on my plate and I’m sure that contributed to the terrible pain I was feeling. I was trying to remain positive, took a few naps and after the second one, I was actually able to walk. I decided to hit the gym and get my PT in. I kept rubbing my knee and was trying to remain as positive as I could – sounds silly, but I DO think it helps. A little positive self-talk goes a long way.
By late the following day, I was moving and not in constant pain. It honestly felt like a bit of a miracle with how much pain I had been in…I wasn’t at a 10, but darn close. I attribute the quick bounce back to a handful of things. I’ve taken my PT seriously – I’m doing PT for my back and my knee and it’s made a huge difference in how I feel. I’ve also been trying to clean up my diet. I will share below some of the healthier alternatives I’ve been stocking my pantry with. I’m focusing on eating more whole foods and if I want a snack, I want it to be cleaner and healthier. Look, I’m not going crazy and giving up my popcorn and an occasional Reese’s, but I just want to make healthier choices. It truly just makes me feel better – mentally AND physically.
I’ve also been very consistent with my morning journaling. I write in two journals – one is my manifestation journal and the other is more of a gratitude journal. This process literally takes me 5-10 minutes MAX, but it’s such a great way to start the day. I also do a 5 minute or less guided meditation. Lastly, I make my bed. These small things in the morning really help my mindset for the day.
Here are some of my latest ‘healthier’ food finds.
I now have every one of these items above on auto-delivery. If I need a chocolate fix, those chocolate chunks are so good, and you only need a few to satisfy your sweet tooth. The faro cups were a pleasant surprise. I’ve only tried one so far and it was delicious and super filling. Add a little chicken or salmon – yummo! My son and I both really like the granola and heavenly hunks. Fun fact for those of you with a gluten intolerance, most of these items are gluten free. I use Thrive market, but you can find these items at most grocery stores.
I realize I always have a long way of getting to my point…make the small changes, focus on what matters most in your life, choose a healthy lifestyle, surround yourself with those that motivate and lift you up. Once you start to see and feel results, you won’t want to take your foot off the gas pedal. You will turn the small things into bigger things. Your 10 minute workout will become 30, you won’t reach for that sugary treat, you won’t engage in conversations that don’t serve you. I’m not saying I don’t have bad days, I’m human…but I have a toolbelt of things that I KNOW work for ME to get my mind and body on track to feel the best I can. What’s in your toolbelt?
This is what works for me and I’ve had many years of trial and error. I do believe in starting with small habits and truly you will feel a shift and want to keep going and increase the time or amount of things that make you feel better and bring you joy. Keep searching until you find what works for YOUR mind, body and soul. Every day is a gift and we need to treat it as such. Go smell some fresh flowers, buy yourself flowers or buy some for someone else. I’m currently in Las Vegas for a conference, so I’m loving all of the gorgeous flower arrangements in the hotel. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference. Cheers!
P.S. I finished reading Let Them and it was good and I love the theory behind it, but my favorite so far is the Secret to Love, Health & Money. I just picked up The Power, which is also in the Secret series. Loving it so far – SO many powerful nuggets of just good stuff.
