Yesterday I had the oh-so-glamourous task of taking my car to be serviced. Alan’s car needed service, too, so we made a day of it. The mechanic is in “the big city” as we like to call it, so I packed us a lunch to eat while we walked around town and waited for the cars to be done.
I layered a green salad with leftover beet burgers, avocado, tempeh and goji berries. Here’s mine close up:
We also had mandarin oranges and leftover berry-delicious smoothie for dessert. Alan was nice enough to carry the food bag around until we got hungry:
I enjoyed taking a day off from the gym and having a break from my normal routine. While the original plan was to eat outside, the wind was cold so we camped inside Peet’s Coffee to eat:
Nobody seemed to mind us eating there and we bought drinks afterwards to help warm up. I had a peppermint tea and the shop got really quiet and kind of peaceful:
As I took a break from my normal exercise and study schedule, I got to thinking about how I am usually so hard on myself about taking time to enjoy life. I seem to work from one deadline to the next without always taking time off to relax. I’ve been thinking about this for a few days, really, and wondering why I push myself so hard sometimes? Unfortunately, I think this type of attitude works against me sometimes in terms of food because I find myself rewarding myself with food rather than taking time throughout the day to be kind to myself.
I seem to have a hard time finding that grey area between being perfect and imperfect. I’ve also noticed recently that I’ve started eating again when I’m not hungry, but more because it’s time to eat or the food just seems like it would taste good. The fear of not eating when I’m supposed to or feeling any type of hunger is in many ways like the fear of being idle that I will become bored, inefficient or not achieve my goals.
Does any of this sound familiar to you? Please tell me I am not the only one who struggles with taking care of myself?
Have a great Friday and I’ll be back tomorrow with a weekly wrap-up and maybe some more thoughts on this subject. 
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I definitely struggle with taking care of myself ALL THE TIME. I have been thinking about this a lot lately (maybe there’s something in the air?) as well. I’ve been thinking lately about how I’ve been pushing my body but not taking care of it and how that’s not sustainable in the long term. Also, I definitely fear getting/being hungry and will eat when I’m not to make sure it doesn’t happen. You are definitely NOT the only one who struggles with this!
Hi Liz! While I’m grateful that I’m not the only one who feels this way, it’s also kind of sad that we as women don’t care for ourselves as much as we care for others. What the heck!?! I think getting in touch with our hunger is really, really scary, especially if you’ve ever used food for comfort (and, really, who hasn’t done this). I’ve considered doing a juice fast or even skipping a meal to experience the feeling of hunger, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to try something like that. Food for thought (sorry about the pun).
Carrie, I do too! For me it’s more about making time for my own needs…getting exercise or time to do the art that renews my soul. I make my needs a priority quite often but feel terribly guilty about it. By coincidence (or maybe not!) I listened to this interview today. It’s more oriented to mothers but I think anyone can appreciate some important messages…
http://www.mappgathering.com/reneetrudeau/
Hi Rita, so nice to hear from you. I downloaded the link you sent to my iPod and will listen to it soon. I think it is perhaps a common occurrence for women to take better care of others than themselves, and I can feel myself doing it, but sometimes don’t know how to “fix” it. I’m hopeful that recognizing this trend is a first step and I’ve made some changes that will help prioritize my needs so I continue to feel balanced and restored. Have a great weekend and thanks again for the comment.
Carrie, you are definitely not the only one who feels this way. I do too!
You accomplish so much and you remind me of myself. If I sit down for awhile just to rest, I feel like I’m being lazy and I give myself a hard time. Sometimes I am able to remember that if I’d only treat myself as compassionately as I try to treat others (or as compassionately as I feel towards animals), I’d be a whole lot more at peace. And when I do that, life is so much better. Yoga has taught me a lot about this. (Oh, that reminds me! I just finished a program called ’40 Days to Revolution’) at my yoga studio and they asked me to write about my experience. I talk about compassion there a little: http://www.threedogyoga.com/category/forty-days).
Take care of yourself, Carrie. You’re perfect just as you are!
- Gina
Hi Gina, thanks so much for the note and for including the link to your writings. I absolutely love your intention to “find joy and be joy.” I just had a conversation with a friend this morning who said she is more compassionate to others than to herself and that rings true for me, too. I am starting to realize that I am more than my accomplishments and that I am perfect (or as close as I’m gonna get) just as I am right now. Thank you so much for your kind words, Gina, I really needed to hear what you wrote.
I am so glad you posted this. I was wondering if the beet burgers would be good the next day or so. I make a falafel that I cook on Sunday and pack in lunch in a fat free pita with veggies and it is wonderful. I am just thrilled to know I can do the same with this. I do struggle with the all or nothing attitude. If I am not 100 % perfect, I falter with my eating. I’ve been struggling for months now, but have recently begun to get a handle on things. I realize it is time to love me and to enjoy life. Before my father died in April, he asked me to be happy. So that is what I’ve been working on.
Hi Paula, thanks for the comment. I love your leftover burger in a pita idea. Yum! The advice from your dad was simple yet very powerful. I think finding happiness in everyday life is probably something a lot of us could work on.
I decided in my late teens that life wasn’t worth it unless I enjoyed the experience of it all – the moment, compassion, love, sharing, laughing and yes, even delicious vegan food! It changed my life to start to feel empowered about living instead of guilty or the constant second guessing. I still am overly hard on myself especially when it comes to nutrition and eating. I struggle at times, but I try to get p
back to my bliss zone where I feel at peace. My husband, cats, nature and biking have all really helped me with that, but I know it comes from within more than anything.
Remember you hold the key to your own happiness! Take care
Thanks for the honest comments, VeganPossum. Of course I identify with what you said, especially finding peace with your husband and cats.
But seriously, you are so right that each of us is responsible for our own happiness. I choose to be happy!!!
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