Hello friend!
Welcome to the 23rd issue of Inward Ventures, my weekly share of what Iām working on and fiddling around with. I share thoughts and ideas I come across in my continuing quest for self-improvement, productivity, and education for myself and my coaching clients. I strive to excel in my writing, creativity, and, well⦠LIFE. Thanks for being here. Ok, letās get down to brass tacks.
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This morning, a funny thought came to me as I was journaling about how I am always recharging SOMETHING.
Between my Oura ring, whoop band, Garmin watch, cell phone, earbuds, kindle, I am constantly plugging SOMETHING in to restore its battery.
When I travel, I have a little bag that is JUST for my electronics. I place all my power cords and cables in there. I never have to rummage through my suitcase looking for a specific charger; I go right to my Kiki bag, pictured below.
If youāre not familiar with Kikiās Delivery Service, shame on you LOL j/k but only a little. Read about it here, and more on the director, the famed Miyazaki here. Do yourself a solid, watch this little gem! Itās uplifting and fun, many messages peppered into the storyline. Kiki is yet another little girl idol of mine, next to Astrid Lindgrenās Pippi Longstocking, Ogden Nashās Isabel, and Lois Lenskiās Judy Drummond.
IF Nina were reading this, which I know she isnāt, sheād gasp, THATāS NOT YOUR BAG, THATāS MINE! I am ahem, *borrowing* it while she is temporarily indisposed for the next six years with the United States Navy. Thatās how Iām reframing my possession of it, anyway. LOL
Who moved my cheese?
Many things need attention and monitoring, assessing how low the battery is and how long I can make it stretch. I can have 5% battery on my kindle, and itās no big deal. The same amount on my phone? Gah, no way! Wait, who moved my charger?!
I began wondering about my own battery for my internal operating system and recharging that.
I quickly realized that only considering sleep as a form of powering up was short-sighted and incomplete.
I wrote down a list of things that deplete me and run down my battery. I love lists if you havenāt figured that out! Itās not comprehensive, and not all of them are āBADā - like exercise, traveling, coffee. Iām just acknowledging that they take energy out of me.
exercise
gossip
news (tv and radio)
coffee (over 2 cups)
Diet soda (I have a diet soda addiction that I am finally addressing, I am down to just having one if I go out to eat. My rationale for it depleting me is that I could be drinking water instead)
negative self-talk
sugar/candy
traveling
being around clutter (my own or others)
Drama (again, my own or others)
Plugging in
What recharges me?
meditation
dog walks
10 min walks after lunch
stretching (post-workout or coaching session)
binaural beats music
dancing to fun music (see videos below)
afternoon tea (not just drinking it, I have a quiet little ritual that I like engaging in. I recently started having afternoon tea with my father-in-law, and what a joy that is to prepare and savor a nice cuppa for both of us.
having my desk fountain running - I find the sound of running water very soothing
gratitude list
puttering around with my houseplants and flowers
brushing my animals - I have 2 cats and 2 dogs ~ its a rescue animal shelter over here! Even 3 minutes is deeply relaxing, backed up by science. I sit on the floor with [INSERT PET NAME HERE] and using one hand to brush and the other to stroke and massage.
Setting my intentions as Iām switching tasks.
Epsom baths
sauna Best investment, hands down; the Clearlight infrared sauna I bought 5 years ago
Get your nerd on with Dr. Rhonda Patrick below; she explains in detail the many bennies of sauna use at her blog, foundmyfitness.com š§
My new musical love, Dua Lipa š
What SEEMS like recharging but is really draining? š
Mindless scrolling on my phone
Calling a friend to vent (complain/bitch) itās one thing to ask for advice or opinions, quite another to cry/stomp ābout the same ole/same ole.
Having conversations with certain folks who favor small talk focused on doom and gloom
Writing stuff like this! my journal and gratitude lists fill me up, but āwork writingā is honestly draining.
In the 3 writing groups and courses I am involved in, a perennial hot topic is self-care. The creative process is def not wine and roses; itās depleting. Iāve come to accept that itās not a weakness to crave some comfort after a huge mental output. I DO deserve a break, but candy or diet soda isnāt the answer.
More fun music
I recently decided to resume my long-standing monthly massages and found Kim Stacy, the best massage therapist outside of NJ (if youāre in North Jersey, Rose Collins is your girl, I will hook you up!) Iāve had regular bodywork for years, and her touch is extraordinary! I struggled to remember my last bodywork sessionāMay 2018 after some thought. I stopped them when my mother died 3 years ago; I hadnāt made that connection until last week when I was on the table.
I could get all deep about how that probably isnāt a coincidence, but Iāll spare you. LOL, letās say I decided that I needed to resume this recovery mode for both my physical and emotional health.
Where yāat?
Where are you with your various forms of recharging and recovery?
Iāll encourage you to spend some time considering the how, when, and where you get depleted and then restored.
Certain people or projects, situations, or circumstances can be uplifting or draining.
We donāt always get to choose those things, making it even more important to recognize the drain and remedy it regularly, not waiting till our battery reads 1%, and then we take HAPHAZARD ACTION.
I saved the best one for last š¾š
Random
My fatherās anniversary is quickly approaching. šš¼ Hereās a shadow box highlighting some of his Masters Running accomplishments. And a funny framed picture of us, before one of the several Ridgewood 10Ks we ran together. Thereās a pretty leaf I brought home from a walk and lacquered. I thought Iād put coins or rings in it, but its too fragile for that task. I decided to place it there to see it every day as a reminder of:
the daily beauty around me
the fragility of life
preserving moments in time, like the boxes and the leaf, serve as steadying anchors.
~ Thanks for being one of my anchors, Daddy ~
Whatcha got for me? Please hit reply or comment below; Iāll gladly respond in more detail. As always, I promise I will do whatever I can to be there for you and to support you. HIT.ME.UP. I mean it! š
Need an accountability partner? Writing (or working out or WHATEVER?) lemme know š I trade daily word counts; itās quick, fun, and motivating, I promise!
As always, THANK YOU ~ for reading, sharing, and commenting.
xoxo
Aileen
Been thinking about you all day and then I got this email. ā¤ļø