L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 43
October 1, 2012
October 01st, 2012
What's another excuse?
"I just like food."
Well, so do I. Food is delicious. But try this: take one small bite of your favorite bad-for-you food, and spend thirty seconds savoring it. I've tried this with MSG-laden foods, and they don't taste so good after the first second or so. But real food continues to taste good after it's been your mouth. Like roast beef. You can chew on one bite to get every ounce of flavor out of it, and it'll take a good long while. Try eating slowly like that for one full meal, and see how fast you feel full.
"I just like food."
Well, so do I. Food is delicious. But try this: take one small bite of your favorite bad-for-you food, and spend thirty seconds savoring it. I've tried this with MSG-laden foods, and they don't taste so good after the first second or so. But real food continues to taste good after it's been your mouth. Like roast beef. You can chew on one bite to get every ounce of flavor out of it, and it'll take a good long while. Try eating slowly like that for one full meal, and see how fast you feel full.
September 30, 2012
September 30th, 2012
Healing.
It's something I think everyone has sought at one time or another, whether it be for the mind or the body. To heal, you must typically first admit that there was an injury of some kind. At that point, it's best to know what kind of injury it is. Once you know that, you should clean the wound, and bind it up to protect it. This is standard procedure for most minor cuts and injuries. Identify it, clean if necessary, and then protect from further injury.
I think the same should be done for many emotional or mental hurts. Identify why you hurt, cleanse the wound from dangerous thoughts, and then protect from further injury.
But, just like physical wounds, there comes a time when the bandages have to be removed. Are you going to be stronger for your pain, or are you going to let it slow you down while you baby it? You should be gentle at first, of course. But babying it can be counterproductive. Let yourself breathe, and build up strength again. There will come a day when it doesn't hurt you anymore.
It's something I think everyone has sought at one time or another, whether it be for the mind or the body. To heal, you must typically first admit that there was an injury of some kind. At that point, it's best to know what kind of injury it is. Once you know that, you should clean the wound, and bind it up to protect it. This is standard procedure for most minor cuts and injuries. Identify it, clean if necessary, and then protect from further injury.
I think the same should be done for many emotional or mental hurts. Identify why you hurt, cleanse the wound from dangerous thoughts, and then protect from further injury.
But, just like physical wounds, there comes a time when the bandages have to be removed. Are you going to be stronger for your pain, or are you going to let it slow you down while you baby it? You should be gentle at first, of course. But babying it can be counterproductive. Let yourself breathe, and build up strength again. There will come a day when it doesn't hurt you anymore.
September 29, 2012
September 29th, 2012
There was an angry-looking hedgehog waddling toward the tree. Beenie backed away from the package as Troy hid behind an upraised root; all that could be seen of him was his shivering tail.
"Why?" Beenie asked.
"It doesn't belong to you, and it's none of your business." The hedgehog was now scanning the forest, as though looking for something. Then, as if satisfied there was nothing there, he continued forward to the tree.
"I just wanted to know what was in it," said Beenie.
"Well that's none of your business," the hedgehog said, walking to stand between Beenie and the wrapped package. "Now get out of here before you get into trouble. It doesn't concern you."
"Why would we get into trouble?" Beenie asked at once.
"Beenie," Troy moaned from behind the tree root. "Stop bugging him."
"But I want-"
"This doesn't concern you, and you'd do well to forget all of this ever happened," the hedgehog said stubbornly. Then he scooped the package up in his mouth, and waddled off as fast as his legs could go.
"Why?" Beenie asked.
"It doesn't belong to you, and it's none of your business." The hedgehog was now scanning the forest, as though looking for something. Then, as if satisfied there was nothing there, he continued forward to the tree.
"I just wanted to know what was in it," said Beenie.
"Well that's none of your business," the hedgehog said, walking to stand between Beenie and the wrapped package. "Now get out of here before you get into trouble. It doesn't concern you."
"Why would we get into trouble?" Beenie asked at once.
"Beenie," Troy moaned from behind the tree root. "Stop bugging him."
"But I want-"
"This doesn't concern you, and you'd do well to forget all of this ever happened," the hedgehog said stubbornly. Then he scooped the package up in his mouth, and waddled off as fast as his legs could go.
September 28, 2012
September 28th, 2012
For some reason, my page views dipped really low yesterday. Lower than they've been in months, and I don't know why. I saw the graph, and, I'll admit it! I kinda did this. For someone who rejoiced over hitting forty-plus for the past week, seeing a single digit was depressing.
But I'll try for fifty next week, to make up for it! It's a single setback, only for a day, and I've almost hit forty today already, so I shouldn't complain. Right? Right! I'd compare it to an author getting their first one-star review. "Whyyyyy?" But then the next five-star comes along and you're over the moon again. (Did I mention being over the moon is fun?)
But I'll try for fifty next week, to make up for it! It's a single setback, only for a day, and I've almost hit forty today already, so I shouldn't complain. Right? Right! I'd compare it to an author getting their first one-star review. "Whyyyyy?" But then the next five-star comes along and you're over the moon again. (Did I mention being over the moon is fun?)
September 27, 2012
September 27th, 2012
I started working at the family business the other day. And Kym has an intriguing love/hate relationship with the place. On one hand, she has no idea what she's doing. On the other, she's around people, and she's discovered she likes that. But then again, she hates making mistakes in front of other people.
It's quite unfortunate, then, that her supervisors (mister older cousin and uncle) decided that she knew enough to be left alone. Half an hour later, the store was full of customers that were asking questions - and she was hiding behind the desk, looking rather like a deer in the headlights of a speeding car, and contemplating whether she should sit tight or make a run for it. She could have hugged the life out of them when they came back in time to rescue her.
It's quite unfortunate, then, that her supervisors (mister older cousin and uncle) decided that she knew enough to be left alone. Half an hour later, the store was full of customers that were asking questions - and she was hiding behind the desk, looking rather like a deer in the headlights of a speeding car, and contemplating whether she should sit tight or make a run for it. She could have hugged the life out of them when they came back in time to rescue her.
September 26, 2012
September 26th, 2012
On to another excuse!
"I never lose any weight when I do that."
My response: Your goal is not to lose weight. Did you get that? Read it again. Your goal is to be healthier, not skinny. A lot of the time, skinny is a side effect. But don't expect it, or you might be disappointed. Especially if you expect it after two weeks. That's unrealistic and unhealthy. Set goals like eating two more servings of veggies every day for a week. It's easy to add one or two servings. Like having a big bowl of salad, two cups of broccoli, a cup of radishes or a handful of carrots...and no, fast food fries don't count (unless they're apple fries). But try it. It's easy!
"I never lose any weight when I do that."
My response: Your goal is not to lose weight. Did you get that? Read it again. Your goal is to be healthier, not skinny. A lot of the time, skinny is a side effect. But don't expect it, or you might be disappointed. Especially if you expect it after two weeks. That's unrealistic and unhealthy. Set goals like eating two more servings of veggies every day for a week. It's easy to add one or two servings. Like having a big bowl of salad, two cups of broccoli, a cup of radishes or a handful of carrots...and no, fast food fries don't count (unless they're apple fries). But try it. It's easy!
September 25, 2012
September 25th, 2012
Me vs. Deer
Me - 0
Deer - 1
I thought I was pretty smart the day I ripped up my carrots and put them in buckets five feet from our door. The deer don't usually come that close; screeching people fly out of that door. So I thought my carrots were safe.
How wrong I was.
Those pesky carrot-eaters went up, bold as brass, and ate the tops off those carrots! Less than five feet from the house!
But I've got their number. My cousin has hated deer ever since one totaled his car last winter. I told him he could have them if he came to get them. The last time they ate my carrots he rhapsodized about how he'd like to get an uzi machine gun. This is the cousin who rolls down his car windows and yells 'VENISON!' at any deer he sees. Perfect carrot protector, yes?
Me - 0
Deer - 1
I thought I was pretty smart the day I ripped up my carrots and put them in buckets five feet from our door. The deer don't usually come that close; screeching people fly out of that door. So I thought my carrots were safe.
How wrong I was.
Those pesky carrot-eaters went up, bold as brass, and ate the tops off those carrots! Less than five feet from the house!
But I've got their number. My cousin has hated deer ever since one totaled his car last winter. I told him he could have them if he came to get them. The last time they ate my carrots he rhapsodized about how he'd like to get an uzi machine gun. This is the cousin who rolls down his car windows and yells 'VENISON!' at any deer he sees. Perfect carrot protector, yes?
September 24, 2012
September 24th, 2012
Health is something very important. Repeat after me: VERY IMPORTANT!
Let's look at a few of the most common excuses for not getting healthier, shall we? I want you to be healthy and happy.
"I'm too tired." (I've used this one.)
My response? I'm sorry you're tired. But you're never going to get less tired if you don't do anything about it. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So, what you're doing right now is obviously not helping you. Right? So get up and walk for five minutes. It's easy, and it's fun if you do it outdoors.
Let's look at a few of the most common excuses for not getting healthier, shall we? I want you to be healthy and happy.
"I'm too tired." (I've used this one.)
My response? I'm sorry you're tired. But you're never going to get less tired if you don't do anything about it. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So, what you're doing right now is obviously not helping you. Right? So get up and walk for five minutes. It's easy, and it's fun if you do it outdoors.
September 23, 2012
September 23rd, 2012
September is a busy month for my family. My grandparents own a music store, and run an instrument rental program. In September, all the band students go back to school, and need instruments, books, and various other items.
I had a trial by fire this week. I was put into the store with minimal knowledge of how to write up a rental contract, no clue where the instruments were, and four extremely busy family members - one of whom knew less than I did. Thankfully, I didn't make too many blunders, or any big ones. But that busy day, and the few that followed, put me in mind of something I heard.
The strongest steel goes through the hottest fire. The day-to-day difficulties we experience, and win through, are strengthening us with every crushing blow. How hot is your fire?
I had a trial by fire this week. I was put into the store with minimal knowledge of how to write up a rental contract, no clue where the instruments were, and four extremely busy family members - one of whom knew less than I did. Thankfully, I didn't make too many blunders, or any big ones. But that busy day, and the few that followed, put me in mind of something I heard.
The strongest steel goes through the hottest fire. The day-to-day difficulties we experience, and win through, are strengthening us with every crushing blow. How hot is your fire?
September 22, 2012
September 22nd, 2012
After lunch, Troy's mother went back to her house in the tree, and left Beenie and Troy to their own devices. As soon as the older squirrel was out of earshot, Beenie turned to Troy.
"I want to see what that hedgehog hid," she said. She fluttered her wings, and flew off toward the tree.
"Beenie, wait! What about what mom said?" Troy called, scurrying to catch up with her.
"She's not my mom," Beenie said. "And besides, if there's nothing to worry about, there's nothing to hurt, either."
"Oh." Troy had caught up to her now, and didn't seem able to think of another reason not to go. So he went with her as she flew up to the tree, and then whirled around it, searching among the roots for the package.
When she saw it, she reached out to pick it up and look at it.
"Stop!" The voice was unfamiliar, and sounded angry. Beenie spun around. "Don't you dare touch that!"
"I want to see what that hedgehog hid," she said. She fluttered her wings, and flew off toward the tree.
"Beenie, wait! What about what mom said?" Troy called, scurrying to catch up with her.
"She's not my mom," Beenie said. "And besides, if there's nothing to worry about, there's nothing to hurt, either."
"Oh." Troy had caught up to her now, and didn't seem able to think of another reason not to go. So he went with her as she flew up to the tree, and then whirled around it, searching among the roots for the package.
When she saw it, she reached out to pick it up and look at it.
"Stop!" The voice was unfamiliar, and sounded angry. Beenie spun around. "Don't you dare touch that!"
