The Friday List (nice things you’ve done for yourself this week)
As I mentioned on Tuesday Book Club day, I was totally inspired by Julia Cameron’s latest book, The Writing Diet, to rethink some of my choices. The main one being the massive eating of sugar, which I have enjoyed on an ever-increasing basis since about a year ago. Somehow that felt like the right medicine at the time.
But reading the testimonials of people who got off of it–how much clearer their thinking was, how much more energy they had, etc.–I decided to take myself off that particular drug for a while and see how I felt. So I’ve pretty much been sugar-free this whole week, with the possible exception of that special heaping load of chocolate and whipped cream I had for Valentine’s Day dinner last night. And that felt particularly worth it.
And the truth is I have felt A LOT better. The fog has cleared from my brain. I’m not jonesin’ for chocolate every five minutes. I think I’ve even been sleeping better.
Will I do it forever? Can’t say. I think I could be mostly sugar-free, with exceptions for special occasions if I felt like it. I tend to get so strict and bullying about things like this, pretty soon I’m doing everything in my power to rebel. Apparently I don’t like being told what to do, even when it’s by myself. But if the issue is feeling better, then I can do this for a long, long time–because I value my thinking, and having a clear head is worth giving up sweets for.
So that’s my nice thing, although I’m sure some of you think it’s heresy and not a nice thing at all. You know me–always willing to experiment on myself. And so far, now that I’m past those first difficult three or four days, it actually feels normal not to feed myself a steady dose of uppers in the form of Cadbury bars. And even though I had a crazily decadent dessert last night, I don’t feel the need to have more today. I just prefer the way I feel without.
How about you guys? What nice things have you been trying out for yourselves this week?
Technorati Tags: The Friday List, Self-Kindness, Self-Care, Self-Pampering, Julia Cameron, The Writing Diet
February 15th, 2008 at 5:49 am
“Apparently I don’t like being told what to do, even when it’s by myself.” LOL.
Yup, that’s me, too.
My nice thing: I allowed myself to write whatever I felt like—no boundaries. I made myself laugh. After the tight focus of revisions, it felt great to just let it fly!
February 15th, 2008 at 6:19 am
My nice thing is that I began the book and my morning pages. And I am so with you on feeling better with less sugar! I do love it, and it is my self-medicating drug of choice, but I do feel more ME when I’m not under the influence.
The Writing Diet is an excellent book. Me likey.
I also treated myself to a new, clean blog template and it makes me feel happy and less mind cluttered when I view it.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:55 am
My nice thing will be jumping into the Atlantic Ocean tomorrow. Oh wait, that sounds awful…
I guess we’ll just say my nice thing is trying something new (14th Annual Sea Isle City Polar Bear Plunge) and listening to some good YA books on the way there.
And my anti-spam word is “snow.” Yikes!
February 15th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Molly, you’re joking, right? Because last I checked you were sane.
Heather, I’m glad you like that book, too! And I love your new blog template–very sleek. It’s nice to freshen things up every now and then. (Not that I’ll be getting rid of little Bear’s puppy head any time soon.)
Sara, I’m truly psyched about what you told me (off-blog, secret chat) you’re experimenting with writing these days. WAY out there, which is what creativity is all about. I’m so glad you’re given yourself the go-ahead to write wild for a while.
February 15th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Good for you Robin! I really should do that with coke! O_O I drink way to much! though I have been trying to drink less and it’s going pretty goot! This week I got lindor truffles for valentines day! ^^ hehe and got my new sweep book but now I wont be able to get another one till the end of the month when the next to in the covers i have come out! o_o and I’m already almost done with it! then we were GOING to go to this really fun thing where we dress up in old time clothes and go have a ball only we’re five minutes into driving when we find out it’s canceled do to rain! O_O HARSH! and I was so exited! now I’m all dissapointment! story of my life! lol nah jk jk but it’s a total bummer!
February 16th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Since you(r site) weren’t here yesterday, I think today still qualifies as Friday! (And it was very frustrating being able to read only the teaser from your entry too.)
It’s been an awful week here, but then yesterday afternoon was just wonderful. My sister was here for a few days and we went together to our local yarn shop. I told her I really needed to be indulged and the form that was to take was her letting me buy her some gorgeous yarn to make something for herself. (She never knits for herself.) When I told her about my response to my friend Maggie’s dying last month (getting super-nice yellow yarn for my sweetie’s mum’s fingerless mittens), she understood immediately. The women who own the shop are the nicest people you could hope to meet, and they were lovely about helping her decide on a colour for a hat - eventually she got baby llama yarn, beautiful blue (and a fair trade project as well!) She’d never worn a hat, though it’s very cold in the west of Ireland, just because she didn’t think anything would suit her. We had her try on my beret and it looked great on her, so I did the pattern up for her to take home.
It was just a fabulous afternoon. One of those moments of grace that just seem to happen out of the blue…
(Oh, and I’m fine with just being wrong about Austenland!)
February 16th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
My nice thing is hanging at my sister’s house this weekend and finding a good way to pass that most hateful of holidays, Valentine’s Day. A friend and I watched The Jane Austen Book Club and Becoming Jane. Both movies are really good and somehow made being single of Valentine’s Day not so bad after all.
February 16th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Well, since your blog was down, Robin, I can answer on a Saturday!
Nice thing: I stayed home sick when I was sick, instead of propping myself up with drugs and teaching impaired. It was really nice to spend the day on the couch and rest. And, I think I am now less sick because of it.
Congrats on weaning yourself from the sugar, Robin! Good job
February 16th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I’m drowning in chocolate sugar right now. Three bags of dark chocolate from hubby, two half-priced Russell Stover heart boxes purchased Friday just because, and then a friend brought over a freshly baked turtle chocolate cake as a thank-you for some favors we’d done for her. Sheesh. I’m dyin’ here.
Nice thing was dining at an Italian restaurant with hubby last night. We had such a sweet, peaceful, romantic dinner without the kids. (: A plus was that my parents were here to babysit for free, and his parents sent cash so we ate for free. Awesome!
February 17th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Dylan, bummer that the ball got cancelled! That sounded like such fun! Maybe it will be rescheduled and you can dress up after all.
Lady S, I’m SO glad your sister showed up and made everything better. Just shows what one person’s personal sunshine can do to lighten someone’s gloom. I love stories like that. Carry on!
Katie Sis, I feel for you on the single-on-Valentine’s-Day thing. The first time I ever had a boyfriend on V Day was when I started dating my future husband, well into my late twenties. Which must be why I married him–he showed up for that most important holiday. Sounds like you handled it well, though, with the proper dose of chick flickery. I still have to see Becoming Jane. Worth it?
Kelly, sorry you were sick, but congratulations on treating yourself to some care. And not spreading the germs around to everyone else. Hope you got in some reading or movies while you were down. And thanks for your encouragement on the sugar-free thing, but (cough) it’s possible I’m drinking a Starbucks decaf mocha right now. It’s possible.
Kelley, what a sweet husband you have! Chocolate AND a romantic dinner? Whoo-hoo! He must like you quite a bit (as well as love you)!
February 17th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Total bummer! But we ended up having a great day anyways! We saw Jumper and Spiderwich chronicals so it was all goot! I realy hope it does!
February 19th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I did it, Robin! I copied you and got my copy of the Julia Cameron book in UPS today… plus my hard copy of A,V,M.
February 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Yay, Katie! Hope you like it.
A,V,M?
Oh, now I get it–Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Nice!