August 2020 Self-Care Challenge!
 

Keep going with self-care! Anyone can join whenever!

I'm not doing so well with the meditating. I do a LOT of deep breathing as often as I think about it. That does have a calming effect.

I fell off with meditation too, but I treated myself to a year of the NY Times puzzle page. I do want to get back to the meditation though.

Last night a band was giving a concert in the park near me. I can hear from my backyard so I gave myself time to just sit and enjoy the music and the sounds of people having fun. I drove by on the way home and everyone was properly distanced in their little groups. It was so nice to see some food trucks and hot dog carts and people sitting in lawn chairs on the grass. My mayor has a strict "Okay we'll try it in a limited fashion, you screw it up and I'm shutting it down again." Love him.

I've been struggling to meditate for a long time. I know it has benefits that I need, but somehow have trouble.

Lately, my workaround is to call it 'breathing exercises' instead. Several times a day I do four or five rounds of the 4-7-8 type breathing. It makes a huge difference in my anxiety level.

Still haven't managed to return to a seated meditation practice though.

Anybody else found useful workarounds for resistant minds? I need to get back in the fitness groove. (Finally quit the gym. Couldn't see that I'd feel safe on a treadmill any time soon.)

I saw this video today and found it inspiring and motivating. I'm going to start a thread about it:

Your DNA is not your destiny

https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/video/p08...ial.link.email

:sun:

I now realize I ought to have started these in the "Challenges and Check-Ins" section. Oh well, maybe I'll remember next time... :)

That will be your first challenge for September. :D

I did get in a late night walk and I picked up some more books from the library. :D

:D

September is going to be extra challenging. I have an appt. to see about cataract surgery. Very anxious about that. :(

Wishing you well and a speedy recovery on your upcoming surgery.

I have decided to start using all of the fragrances and lotions I have daily. No more special occasions or only when I go to work. Every day I pick one to wear just for me to smell good.:D

I understand your anxiety re: surgery. However, I know several people who aced their cataract surgeries and some of them were much older than you are.

I hope all goes well in September!

Donna