Monday, July 8, 2013

The Little Things

I know that it has been a long time since my last post.  I suppose that a lot has happened since I last posted! Some great news was that in the month after I had started eating gluten-free I lost 10 pounds!  Unfortunately, I think that I may have gained it back ;)  We don't own a scale, I just have the Wii Fit balance board if I want to check it at home, but that doesn't happen very often anymore.  I think that part of my problem was that I was eating more foods with fat and protein (like nuts and other grains) without doing the extra activity needed to put the protein to use in building up my muscles or to use up the calories from the fat right away.  I am hoping to keep going for walks and go rollerblading again.

Last week I went for 2 long walks, went kayaking, and rollerbladed 5.5 miles.  The night after I rollerbladed I got sick--puking for the first time in 11 years.  My stomach hasn't really been the same since and I have been very sensitive to sugar and sweet things with fake sugar in them.  Maybe it is a blessing in disguise!  I have already known that I am sensitive to sugar and other sweeteners but didn't really care.  Fortunately I want to stop feeling sick, so hopefully I can keep on track with eating sweet things in moderation.

It seems that my health is dependent upon the little things.  Physically I need nine--yes nine!--hours of sleep every night to function well.  I apparently need to moderate my intake of sweets as well as choosing to not eat gluten.  I also need to be active, both in little every day tasks and in going for walks, rollerblading, kayaking, and things like that.  If I don't do those things it is evident in my health.  I get sick, I gain weight, I am exhausted all the time, I am forgetful, I am crabby, etc.  I think my mental health is dependent upon some physical things too, interestingly enough.  I can't think well if I am too tired or I physically don't feel well.  My emotional and spiritual health especially are dependent upon my relationship with the Lord.  In my mind and heart I know when I am not healthy emotionally or spiritually and I even know what would help bring me back to being healthy--spending time with Jesus.  Now don't get me wrong, it's not like I just spend time with Jesus and everything is fixed and all my problems are gone.  It's  more like...I spend time with Him and I am able to think more clearly.  My priorities are realigned with what is really important and I am often able to see things in a different perspective than before.  Sometimes I also just have a sense of peace that would otherwise be unattainable in such a circumstance--the peace that surpasses all understanding.

With all of these things it seems like I could write a list of rules and things that I "should" do.  It would be so easy to do that but I know that I would find myself breaking all of these rules all the time.  Instead I want to make these things become my lifestyle.  I want to be constantly in an active relationship with Jesus and be doing other things to keep myself healthy.  I want to set a good example for those around me, including my sisters and any children Josh and I may have in the future.  Not that they must attain whatever standard I have set, but that they may see my life and the goodness in it that comes from Jesus (for from God comes all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding) and want it! That's the way that I want to live my life.  That people can see Jesus in all the little things in my life and want Him.

1 comment:

  1. I like it. I like it a lot! I especially like how you are "able to think more clearly" after spending time with the Bible and God. Isn't that a blessing? And I also really like how you are trying to incorporate new habits into your life; that's what makes life changes stick! Go Courtney, go!

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