Aug 21
Family & FIT | Debbie Hatch
In his “defense”, it WAS Christmas. <3
“I’ve been doing well on my nutrition but I’m going out to eat with my family on Saturday. I’m worried about it. How can I stay on track?”
First.
*** Enjoy time with your family. ***
Talk. Laugh. Don’t worry too much about the food. Now, that doesn’t mean every time you eat outside your home, it has to be a free-for-all, stuff yourself to the point of being uncomfortable, see how many calories you can eat, event.
A few days ago I stopped at The Barn Door Restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. I was not with family or 
friends. It was just me – but I eat the same way regardless. This is not advice. It’s also not preaching. It’s merely an example of what I do 95% of the time.
1. I started with a glass of water, and I also ordered one of unsweetened tea.
2. I got a salad to start. I try to take in multiple servings of veggies every day. A salad is a quick and easy way for me to do that. I go light on the dressing, if I use any at all. Lucky for me I love the taste of fresh veggies!!! Here their house was a “Green Goddess” dressing which was a Cucumber Garlic. It was delicious. 
3. They brought rolls to the table. While not as much as I used to, I do still love fresh (warm) bread so I ate half a roll, with butter, along with my salad. Eating the rest – or more than one would not have made it taste any better.
4. I ordered the bacon wrapped filet (the smallest they offer is 8 ounces – that’s actually two servings of meat) so I cut it in half as soon as it was delivered to the table. I substituted zucchini for the potato. Not because “potatoes are bad”. Not because “carbs are bad”. It had been a travel day for me and I’d spent most of the day sitting on the plane or in the car. I didn’t want or need the additional carbs (veggies are carbs, the 1/2 roll I ate is carbs, the croutons, etc) for that level of activity. The meal also came with a vegetable – I picked green beans. I split the veggies in half too and brought 4 oz of steak, zucchini and green beans with me for the next day’s lunch.
5. The steak was served on top of half a slice of bread – which absorbs the grease and drippings. I did not eat that. See #4 above. Just because the restaurant chooses to serve something doesn’t mean I have to eat it. 
I left satiated and happy. I wasn’t stuffed. I didn’t eat more than my body wanted just because it was sat in front of me. I also didn’t starve myself or leave feeling, “I wish I had just ordered this or that.”
Let me know if you have any questions or need suggestions.
Jul 30
Family & FIT | Debbie Hatch
I bought both of these bars, to throw in my suitcase, the other day. Both boast 20 grams of protein on the label.
At 2.47 ounces, the EAS bar is slightly larger but the 2.12 ounce Quest bar prominently advertises “Only 2 he sugar” and “Gluten fee” – buzz words in today’s market.
You don’t “need” either. When I work with health & fitness clients, my plans always include this paragraph:
Protein bars should be used for the emergency “I’m running really late, starving, and don’t have a lot of options” moments but whole food is always best. Ditto protein powders. They’re an excellent way to get nutrients and add protein (especially post workout) but try to focus on food.
About these two bars. The EAS is 280 calories with 11 grams of fat and 29 carbs, as well as 14 grams of sugar and 220 milligrams of sodium. This Quest is 200 calories with 9 grams of fat, 21 carbs, 2 grams of sugar and 200 mg sodium. For most of us, these would (or at the most, should) be meal replacements, not just a “snack” on the way out of the gym, to immediately be followed up with a full meal.
The currently very popular Oh Yeah! bars stand on level ground with the EAS and Quest: about 20 grams of protein, 7-9 fat, and 21-24 carbs. Let’s look at some of the others in these vending machines. None are “bad” – I just want you to be aware of the differences.
LaraBars are much smaller; only 60 – 75% of the others. Heavily advertised with all of the marketable terms: “Kosher. Vegan. Non-GMO. Soy-Free. Dairy Free. Gluten Free.”
If these things are important or necessary to you (and for some, they are), that’s great. For most of us, though, these are not actually requirements but merely words that we think make the product “healthy” or “better for us”.
These small bars have about the same amount of calories and carbs but they have 10 grams of fat and only 4 grams of protein. Again, let me emphasize the fact that I’m not saying they’re “bad” but they most certainly are also NOT protein bars.
Cliff Bars are another popular choice and I’ve seen these in several locations.
One bar equals 240 calories with only 3.5 grams of fat but only 9 grams of protein, a whopping 45 grams of carbohydrates and 3 different types of added sugar. Call it an energy bar, please, not a protein bar.
Tiger’s Milk was one of the first protein bars, first introduced in the 60s, but it’s still hanging around. At half the size of my Quest bar, it contains 145 calories with 8 grams of fat, and only 6 of protein. High fructose corn syrup is the first ingredient; followed by peanut butter and then corn syrup. There are numerous bars with twice the protein and better ingredients and taste.
Make whole food your priority. Keep the bars for your “emergency stash” – like your suitcase, purse, or desk drawer. Please read your labels, and let me know if you have any questions or need help.
<3
Jul 09
Let me begin by giving you a little background. I sat down to write this about 2 hours ago…..
PLAN A: I tried to attach an audio file I recorded in my car a couple of months ago. When I’m on the road, that’s typically the only place I find quiet time to think. It said exactly what’s on my mind. But the file was too big to attach. ((Editor’s note – of course it is attaching just fine now, after I’ve transcribed it and moved on…the audio file is being attached about 9 HOURS after I wrote this piece. Listen if you’d like. Read if you’d prefer))
PLAN B: I’ll just put it on You Tube and attach a link. You Tube won’t let me upload it because it’s just audio.
PLAN C: I’ll make a video. How hard could that be? Here I am 2 hours later, giving up.
And I’ve just realized, in the long run, that’s perfect!! It makes my point perfectly!
children. I was letting everyone know “I’m here! I will be the best of the best – at everything! No matter the cost.”
In my 40s I really became super energized, exercised all the time and began competing. I won several
trophies – never the big prize but I certainly did okay for myself.
Our – male and female – hormones are decreasing as we’re no longer in our child bearing years. We’re tapering off.
At this point we have a choice.
We can decide to just sit in the chair from here on out and let life happen to us.”
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May 08
Family & F.I.T. | Debbie Hatch
As a public speaker, I have been on the road an average of 200 days a year for the past twelve years. Unlike many business travelers, I go out into the local area.
Albuquerque, NM
I see the sites. I check out restaurants, gyms, and local parks. I drive a motorcycle (my own and, very occasionally I’ll rent one on the road). I run in the woods and hike
Northfield, VT
mountain trails. I try new things. I go new places, even in different countries.
How incredibly sad. But it won’t go that way. It doesn’t. I am going “out there”. I am experiencing life, fully and with a ton of passion. I will NOT. I refuse…. to just sit in my safe little hotel, work on my computer, and look at the world through the window.
Dublin, Ireland
Linville, NC
FEAR is False Events Appearing Real.
Moab, UT
For example, I have a fear of heights. Or rather – that’s what I used to call it. Now I call it a fear of falling because that’s really what it is. I’ve been on a lot of high places. Have I fallen? Only that time I jumped out of the bungee bucket…….. [THAT was brave – and also more than a little crazy]….and I intentionally did that.
Salem, VA
Hot air balloon (yup…afraid of heights!) Woodstock, VA
“I could never” though is a story and it may be on perpetual repeat in your head.
In the woods, alone, outside Concord, NH
Oh ya? Watch this!
I haven’t done it yet but I am willing to learn, and give it a try.
May 02
Family & F.I.T. | Debbie Hatch
Two different people asked me the same question today. “How do you make time for yourself? I’m struggling. It seems like somebody always needs something more (and more and more and more) from me.”
![FullSizeRender[3]](https://i0.wp.com/familynfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/FullSizeRender3.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
Apr 11
Family & F.I.T. | Debbie Hatch
Do you get headaches at “that” time of the month? I never used to but as I’ve gotten older, they’ve developed and will typically last for a full three days before dissipating. It’s annoying and frustrating, especially given my travel schedule. I don’t have the ability to call in sick and I can tell you this: traveling or teaching with a splitting headache is not a good time. Even if you don’t have my schedule, headaches can disrupt your sleep, work, and relationships. There can be a number of reasons why we get these monthly headaches and I want to share this synopsis of an article written and published by the Women’s Health Network.
Headaches can be caused by hormonal, adrenal, or thyroid imbalance.
HORMONAL IMBALANCE: “We know that headaches can often arise during periods of shifting hormones, including the days leading up to your menstrual period, or the time leading up to menopause. Generally speaking, hormonal headaches occur due to imbalanced levels between estrogen and progesterone. This is why many women notice headaches right before their periods when progesterone naturally dips.
Progesterone can also drop during perimenopause (the period leading up to menopause) making some women, who have never experienced menstrual headaches, to suddenly begin experiencing them.”
ADRENAL IMBALANCE: “If your headaches arise with the onset of stress or after a sugar/caffeine ‘crash’, that might indicated an adrenal imbalance. It’s extremely common for women with adrenal imbalance to get in the habit of using sugar and caffeine to spark the energy they need to get through the day. This vicious circle can leave the body depleted and cause headaches. Adrenal headaches may also come with other symptoms like light-headedness upon standing, fatigue, or salt cravings.”
THYROID IMBALANCE: “If you’ve recently noticed that you have chronic headaches or migraines, they could be related to a thyroid imbalance. Daily persistent headaches related to thyroid tend to bother both sides of the head and have a pressing or tightening quality. They generally aren’t made worse by physical activity, but can be aggravated by intense light or sound. You may find that your thyroid-related headaches occur in conjunction with cold intolerance, skin issues, loss of energy, constipation, and/or fluid retention.”
Figure it out. Instead of (or maybe even in addition to, for a little while) merely popping Ibuprofen or Excedrin, for the rest of your life, the best thing you can do to try to figure out your headaches, is to buy a notebook and begin tracking them. Write down all of the details: When did you get the headache? What did you eat just prior to the headache starting? What was your stress level on that day/time? How much sleep did you have the night before? How much coffee and/or sugar prior to? After tracking for a while, you may see patterns emerge. It’s helpful to share this information with your doctor too. Best case scenario, you can determine why you’re getting the headaches and find a solution for relieving, and possibly preventing, them.”
Find someone to help you. My primary care provider had no answers for me, and refused to approve me for lab work or thyroid testing. I paid, out of my own pocket, for the tests and a private doctor.
In the meantime, please remember, “If you develop a serious and sudden headache that feels unbearable, check with your doctor right away, as this can be a sign of a serious health issue.”
Apr 06
Family & F.I.T. | Debbie Hatch
The Russell Islands are comprised of two small islands, and several islets, in the Central Province of Solomon Islands. They are located just over 29 miles northwest of Guadalcanal. This was our first stop.
Travel Log: Day 5 Russell Islands
The anchor dropped at 0109. Man it was loud! I had a tough time getting back to sleep and we finally just gave up at 0340 and got out of bed. Upstairs I made coffee, journaled, and looked at dive books. Brent studied the SI map which read, “there are 4,000 species of fish and 400 variety of coral here. It is the amazon of the ocean not yet discovered by mainstream tourism.”
The first dive brief was scheduled for 0745. Everyone on deck was dressed in 3-5 mm wetsuits, some with hoods and gloves. They carried tons of stuff with them. One of the divers even had the equivalent of a purse hooked to the front of her BC. What to heck? Brent and I showed up in our bathing suits. We had nothing extra except the camera. “Are you guys diving?” Yes. “Are you getting dressed?” We are dressed. “You’re going like that?” Yes. Why?
What are you talking about? I’ll be fine without a wetsuit. Let me on the boat.
The water was 86 degrees at depth!! Over the course of the week I had a couple of stings and scraps but I dove in a bikini (and nothing more) every single day. It was perfect. Comically we both recovered gear from the divers who carried so much. I rescued one guys Go Pro when he jumped in and dropped it. Brent found one of the divers’ knives at depth. Simple. Easy. Utilitarian. That’s us 🙂
Dive #1: Kovilok Bay. 88 feet for 58 minutes. It was nice to be in the water but the dive itself was nothing to brag about. This was a check dive where the dive masters could make sure everyone was comfortable under the water, and informally assess everyone’s level.
Dive #2: Leru Cut. 92 feet for 52 minutes. This was beautiful. After the cut, there was a nice wall. It’s positively amazing just how sharply the coral falls in the deep blue! Rick says it’s thousands of feet deep here. Lots of sea fans with a light current. Some Christmas tree and soft corals but the highlite was large schools of barracuda and jack.
If you’d like the full effect, here’s a link to the above video.
Dive #3: Custom Cave. 66 feet for 69 minutes. Brent had a headache and sat this one out so I dove by myself after following Rick through the cave. The sun streaking down from above, casting shadows in the water, was beautiful. Great coral growth with TONS of fish! I loved the schools of silver sides – who are there one minute and then turn and seem to disappear, the next. As I began to swim up for my safety stop, I saw 3 very large bump head wrasse.
Dive #4: Mirror Pond. 69 feet for 32 minutes. We swam under the island and came up inside a cave pond. Brent and I were the last to surface and were, consequently, the furthest back. I spotted a salt water crocodile on top of the rocks. (We didn’t personally get video or pictures but this link will show you a nice video of what they look like). He was 6-8 feet long and only the two of us saw it. We were told that if we saw one in the water to stay submerged. They can’t see as well underwater as they can topside. I was also cautioned not to come up outside of certain areas (where our tenders would drive the crocodiles off) during night dives.
Later, Sam told me the crocs don’t grow very large because, “they have occasionally bitten a local spearfisherman, and/or children. The locals kill them.” Makes sense!
After the pond, we swam through some positively phenomenal coral gardens and along another steep wall. Schools of jacks and the other fish. Barracuda, parrot fish, pancake triggers, and carpet anemones. Everything was perfect until we got to a corner of the wall. The current REALLY picked up – without warning. It was so strong that I had grabbed onto a piece of coral and was still being ripped away. Brent decided we should surface. While we were the first back to the boat, shortly other divers started to come up. Not only had they been caught in the current (the strongest that Sam, the Bilikiki owner, has seen here) but several were also caught in a downdraft. That means you’re being sucked down – one lady went from 10 to 29 feet in the time it took her to take one breathe. Not fun.
After the last two dives, locals paddled out in hand-hewn canoes to sell us fresh fruit (pineapples, mango, watermelon) and vegetables (endive, green beans, greens and egg plant). Once at our boat, the men dropped the women off in our dive boats so that they could complete the trading.
In the meantime, the men and many of the children paddled back a little ways. THAT was amazing to see and it led to some great conversations as well. June (a 68 year old woman who was here with her husband – she snorkeled but doesn’t dive) and I talked about how little we really need to live and enjoy life. We talked about the locals and the fact that with their boats, families, very little money, and some food, they are happy. I won’t say it was life changing but it was most certainly life enhancing. The irony is how much money we (how much people DO) paid to get back to basics.
Everyone opted out of the night dive.
Apr 05
Family & F.I.T. | Debbie Hatch
Have you ever experienced foreboding joy? You know, that sense when everything is going great, you had better watch out. You can’t let yourself feel too happy. You need to be prepared and on guard. Things are too good. Something bad is about to happen at any moment.
I first heard the term in my on-going Brene Brown, Strong Rising, mindset course. Twenty years prior to this class, I remember experiencing foreboding joy. I didn’t know what it was called at the time. We had left Maine for the first time and were living in Texas. Brent was going to school, the kids were enrolled in day camp, and I had nothing to do for the first time in my life. It was unsettling. We had family game nights each evening. We laughed, played, and simply enjoyed each other’s company. We shared stories of cacti and scorpions. We wore trash bags to a rodeo in the a thundershower. We ate ice cream, frequently; watched small planes fly, and learned that running to the oil well you could see might mean you’d be running for ten miles. Life was fantastic!!!
I worried, constantly. 
I knew something bad was going to happen. I didn’t know what or when but things were too good. Something bad always happened. I pushed the thoughts away until they started manifesting themselves as nightmares while I slept.
Over the years, I’ve really worked on eliminating this. It does nothing for me – worry or not, what is going to happen is going to happen. By worrying when nothing was happening, I was not allowing myself to feel joy in the moment. Little by little, I’ve gotten better but, sometimes I still have to consciously think about it.
This was the case as we headed to vacation. This trip had been planned for a decade. We were super excited! We’ve both dove around 300 dives. But….on the flight from Fiji to Guadalcanal, I thought, “I’m excited but also quite anxious. I feel worried and nervous – not about anything in particular. Just overall.” I talked to Brent about it and he reassured me everything would be fine but said he felt the foreboding joy too. Neither of us could quite put our finger on it. It got worse for Brent through the first day of diving. Once I got in the water, it got much better for me. By day two, it was gone.
The trip was positively amazing and I’m so glad we didn’t spend any more time allowing worry to steal our happiness in the moment.
Travel Log: Day 4 Guadalcanal
The van picked us up from the airport and our guide, Leonard, his teeth stained red from betel juice, gushed about his homeland. The Solomon Islands is an island nation located in the southwest Pacific, 1,500 miles west of Fiji and 1,200 miles northeast of Australia.
Leonard shared bits and pieces of information as we drove from Honiara to the dive boat, and beamed as he told us how proud “everyone” was of their tiny rugby team making the World cup. I noticed trash, the price of gas ($6.57 / liter) ramshackle buildings, and people, every where. The city of Honiara did not seem like a place I would care to spend much time and it must have showed on my face because, again, Brent reassured me. “I’m sure you’re wondering what I got you into. Don’t worry.”
I wasn’t worried but I WAS trying to take everything in! This is a 3rd world country where people are merely trying to survive. I wondered how many tribes lived here, what it was like during WWII, and what the people’s life expectancy is currently (the answer is 67). It is important to note that as time went on, we were told by multiple people not to judge the SIs by Honiara. It is not indicative of the small island villages. After having visited several of the villages, myself, I whole-heartedly agree!
We arrived at the dock and were shuttled to the dive boat (mv Bilikiki – a 125 ft long ship with 24 ft beam and 10 ensuite cabins) where we met Chaba (originally from Hungary) and his wife Daniella (originally from Venezuela); dive masters and managers of the Bilikiki for the past four years. There was just enough time to settle in and unpack before we left the harbor at 1830.
We consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have been joined by:
Meeting people like this was icing on the cake. I loved their passion; the stories of success for “just” following a personal dream; and the shared experiences. I felt it ignite my own passion….for life.
Tomorrow, we dive.
Mar 30
Family & F.I.T. | Debbie Hatch
A friend sent me the recipe for these Bailey’s pudding cups, several weeks ago and challenged me to “fix it”. This happens frequently.
The request usually means, “lower the fat, sugar, and calories please.”
And, I usually do it. I’ve “fixed” a few recipes in my day, and I made these Bailey pudding cups too. Mine weren’t as pretty – for sure!
The difference is 773 fewer calories. 47 fewer carbs, 73 less grams of fat, and 3 less of protein; and my recipe is below.
BUT…………
BUT……………..
BUT…………………
I NEED TO CLARIFY A FEW THINGS!
===> Here’s what I believe.
I believe in nutrition for life. I believe in eating from all of the food groups. MOSTLY unprocessed whole foods. Protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats (e.g. nuts, avocado) with treats occasionally mixed in. I don’t believe we should feel guilty about what we eat: and I don’t believe that food should be used as a reward (“hooray, I exercised today, now I can eat cake”) NOR as a punishment (“I haven’t been exercising, now I have to eat a plain green salad”).
I don’t believe in die-ts. I’ve tried them all!!!! Low fat, low carb, pure paleo, grapefruit diet, skim milk diet, and my favorite (the Suzy Q, nicotine and caffeine diet). I lost weight on every one of them. I also got sick on a couple. NONE of them allowed me to achieve sustainable weight lose. NONE of them made me healthier.
Are Suzy Q’s “bad”? No. Do Suzy Q’s provide sound high-quality nutrition? NO!
===> Here’s what I want you to know about the recipes I “fix”.
I want you to know that we can change recipes to make them more macro friendly. Even little changes (for example, using Oreo thins [100 calories, 19 cabs, 2 fat] instead of 5 Oreos [267 calories, 42 carbs, 12 fat] like the original recipe calls for; or switching from full fat whipping cream [555 calories, 59 fat] to lite whipped cream [40 calories, 2 fat].) That’s easy – those little swaps are awesome and you can make a huge change by just implementing such seemingly small things into your recipes and daily nutritional habits.
———-
Here’s where I feel I’m not adequately making my point.
———-
===> You really need to understand this, too.
I believe in focusing on what you’re trying to do (lose fat, gain weight, gain muscle, become more fit, get stronger, decrease your medication, become more mobile) and eating accordingly. If you want a 1,143 calorie dessert…. have it, because making a lower calorie version (for most people) won’t satiate the craving anyway. Don’t stress about it. Don’t worry about it. Don’t feel guilty about it.
But (and this is a big one!) you must also be willing to accept responsibility for your choice. The fact is, we CANNOT routinely have a dessert that takes up 75% of our daily calorie allowance and expect to be successful at reaching our goals. We just can’t. That’s not realistic and it’s not possible.
If you’re susceptible to cravings because you see 1,000 new recipes in your FB/Instagram feed every day, try decreasing the temptation.
You are doing nothing but making yourself miserable by looking at these things and thinking, “Oh. I would love to have that!!!! But, I can’t. Trust me, I get it. I sooooooo get it. When I was competing regularly, the food porn on my Pinterest was excessive. There were so many things I “couldn’t have” that all I did was look at pictures of food, look at recipes, and dream about the things that I wanted. I was miserable. Seriously, what does seeing those posts every day do for you? Other than make you want that food……..
Most food photos don’t come with a warning label, but should!
Pinterest and Google are going to be right there. When you’re actually getting ready to make something, or in the mood to try a new recipe, go look for one THEN.
Before you salivate over every delicious recipe that comes across your field of vision (there are a LOT!!!!!!!!!! Again, trust me, I know.), spend ten minutes thinking.
Mar 28
Debbie Hatch | Family & F.I.T.
Time is an illusion.
Before you shake your head, close this tab, and start thinking I’ve completely lost my mind, hear me out.
It’s such a weird thing, isn’t it? I have been back in the United States for four days. Four days…and yet it feels like four months! Part of that, no doubt, is working through an 18-hour time zone difference and three days of hormonal headaches but time is like that anyway.
When we’re waiting for something special, time seems to drag. We wait. We wish time away. We want it to be “that” day right now. When something special has happened, though; the day has finally come, and gone, time seems to race by without allowing so much as a moment for reflection! I clearly remember my children being two and four; I remember conversations we had and things we giggled about. Factually, they’re both in their thirties with children and lives of their own.
Tomorrow is too late and yesterday is gone.
That’s not just a euphemism.
It’s a reality. How many things have you planned to do “tomorrow” that you’ve never actually gotten around to doing? How many yesterdays have passed?
Getting shots before travel.
My transition to “real life” after my three week vacation has been difficult, at best. To be sure, it wasn’t you’re “traditional” vacation. Two of the three countries we visited are considered to be “third world”. Poverty and disease are real issues. The order of the day is survival – in the very real sense. I didn’t come back to the US thinking “Wow. We’re incredibly fortunate.” To be honest, I already knew that.
No. I came back thinking, “the amount of stuff we have, the amount of time we spend hustling for no reason, the amount of time we waste on stuff that doesn’t matter, and the amount of time we stress over pointless crap, is absolutely ridiculous.” I can see how going from vacation to these revelations could seem a big jump so maybe it’s best if I start at the beginning.
Travel Log: Days 1-3
We started by spending three days in Fiji, a small island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We didn’t visit the “real” Fiji though. We stayed at an Americanized resort on Denarau Island; we had internet, top-notch restaurants and amenities. The lesson didn’t start here but the story did. These are notes from my journal, as they were written originally.
“It’s so weird that after I shared pictures of Brent and I at the gym this morning, I received several messages telling me I should ‘just enjoy my vacation’. That I ‘shouldn’t worry about working out’.
When did enjoying vacation, life, or anything else for that matter, become synonymous with doing absolutely nothing? When did “having a good time” mean stuffing myself with food and drink while lounging in a lawn chair?
To be certain, many of our fellow travelers seem perfectly content in that mode: moving from their beds in the morning to sitting at breakfast. They didn’t even enjoy the short stroll along the ocean. Rather, they summoned the on-duty golf cart to pick them up and shuttle them about. After breakfast, it was back to the golf cart, back to the room to prepare for a full day of sitting in a chaise lounge by the pool; having food and drinks delivered chair-side. Dinner was provided via shuttle service and after sitting there, it was time to retire to their suites for television and bed.
I have zero judgment for these people. Zero. I mean that.
Gorgeous! But I have no desire to just sit here for 12 hours.
But that, to me, doesn’t sound like a good time. It sounds incredibly boring.
It’s odd to me that because I didn’t have a completely sedentary vacation, some assume I didn’t enjoy myself. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
In my typical day-to-day, I’m working. All day. I get up around 5 or 530 and go to bed around 1030 or 1100. I’m tired. When I’m working, bombarded with commitments, and stressed, at the end of the day it’s easy to feel like just collapsing. More often than I care to admit, I don’t want to (in fact, it feels like I can’t) think. I don’t want to do anything. I don’t want to talk to anyone. I just want to sit. Quietly.
During vacation, I’ve gotten up at 330 in the morning but I’ve also been in bed by 8. This has changed my interaction with the day entirely. I wake up full of energy. I have meditation time. That word’s been over-used and misunderstood for a very long time. Meditation is merely reflection. Quiet time. Thinking. I write during that time. (In fact, it’s 6 a.m. and I’ve already been up for 2 ½ hours).
Just before sunrise I walk the beach. Not power-walking. Just a casual, slow, relaxing stroll. Once Brent wakes up, we’ll walk just over a quarter mile to the small gym. We’ve been working out together for 20 minutes, walking back, and showering before we walk to breakfast.
We went scuba diving; walked a couple of miles to town for coffee and lunch each day; did stand-up paddle boarding. We read. We relaxed. Every evening, we walked the mile and a half from one end of the beach to the other, and back, while enjoying the sunset…and we napped. Brent in the air-conditioned room and me in the outdoor hammock. It was amazing to have that time and simply rest, caressed by warm ocean breezes. I ate…I had a little Fijian bread pudding for breakfast each day (in addition to fresh fruit, eggs and/or sliced turkey).
I didn’t deprive myself but…
I did reaffirm that when left to my natural devices – no commitments, no responsibility, no appointments, no time to be anywhere specific – my mind and body love to exercise. Not because I have to but because it feels good.”
