Lots and lots of stress surrounding me right now. I and my co-workers need to get through the next 10 days and then we should get a little relief. It is a challenge to deal with this day after day, along with the extra work that comes with it. I’ve had nights when I wake up around 2:30-3:00 a.m. to use the rest room and stress-motivated thinking intrudes. This creates insomnia and I’m fortunate if I fall back asleep before 4:30 a.m.
The situation caused some strain between a co-worker and me in which we definitely did not communicate well and got into a pattern of escalating tension. Thankfully, I thought to reach out to her on Friday with a verbal olive branch. I said that we had not had the most shining week and that it definitely was not representative of how we usually work together. I owned my part in it and asked her if we could take a couple of steps back and regroup. I’m happy to say that she received the outreach in the spirit with which I intended. She agreed with me and together we agreed that we’d meet again on Monday and resolve the rest of the situation. I had the best two nights sleep that I’ve had since returning from my trip to Vegas.
Yikes. I never posted here that I was going to Vegas, did I? I went out to the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention to hang out with friends, see Vegas for the first time in 47 years, and have some fun. It was indeed fun, although somewhat exhausting. I was happy to be there and also happy to get home.
Unfortunately, I was not good with my food plan while away. This convention does not supply many meals and there wasn’t enough time during the day to sit down and have meals at the restaurants, not to mention the big expense since Vegas is not cheap. I ended up consuming too many carbs, too much sugar, a few drinks. Blech.
However, I am committed. It’s been hard to get back on track, but I’m being kind and loving to myself and making the effort step by step, day by day. From mid-week to now I’ve done much better with cutting out the junk carbs. I’m still struggling a little to totally give up white sugar, but I’ve made some improvement there, too. I’ve stopped bringing it into the house and am building up my resolve to say no to it when it crosses my path elsewhere.
I’m also getting back into my exercise routine. I’ve recovered almost 100% from that injury. We walked a lot while in Vegas and I did get up one morning and workout at the gym. Last week, I returned to rowing classes and Tai Chi. I paid attention to my body and found the balance between getting benefit from the rowing workout and overdoing it. I felt the trouble spot start to twinge during one of the workouts so I backed off a little. I also didn’t do three classes. This week, I’ll try going back to three classes and see how it feels, but I won’t go crazy like I’m a hepped up wonder woman. I’m also paying attention to the recommendations of my massage therapist — more hydration and stretching before the workout and making sure I stretch after the exercise sessions. If I want to continue to improve my physical conditioning, I also have to proceed in an orderly, step by step fashion, instead of trying to jump over several steps and rush my body before it’s ready.
Class by class, workout by workout, walk by walk, Tai Chi routine by routine — it’s all positive progress.
Each time I don’t give in to cravings, whenever I say no to a compulsive urge to eat, when I turn away from a junk carb or sugary treat, I am taking the steps that I need to in order to continue to recover and live a healthy life.
Weighty Matters 
Just a quick note re: communication. If you follow astrology at all, the planet Mercury will be entering a “retrograde” on April 28th. Mercury influences all kinds of communication, and during a retrograde things can get squirrely. Just take a deep breath and know this too shall pass. Some folks notice a shadow effect the week before a retrograde begins, as well as the week after. Luckily the retrograde ends pretty soon, May 22nd. Other planetary retrogrades are longer.
Kim, it’s so funny. I don’t follow astrological things much – except for Mercury in retrograde. I can almost always feel when it’s about to happen and then verify it. I know I’ve had a head start on it this time around. Thanks!