Note to Self: Older is Happier

I had time to flip through a magazine yesterday when I was in the hair salon. This title grabbed me.

Note to Self: Older is Happier

"Though we as a society extol the years of early adulthood, research studies have demonstrated that younger adults are not as happy as adults in their older years. In later years, the horizon of time has shifted…"

I was called for my appointment before I finished copying the entire quote, but it went on to say that as we get older, we tend to live in the present more than at any time in our lives. When we're young, we often press to the future so hard that we miss things. When we're very old, we tend to live in the past. But right now, I'm in the middle, and I can savor the present. I suppose I haven't totally embraced the whole concept yet in that I take ridiculous pleasure in the fact that I "just" qualify as those in later years. Since my grandmother is 101, I fugure I "just" arrived at middle age at 50. I am encouraged with the thought that I have lots of happiness ahead.

If you want the quote verbatim, it's in September Songs: The Good News about Marriage in the Later Years by Maggie Scarf which will be released Sept. 4.

In the Slow Lane

I have lived this week in slow motion. A whole new experience for me. The school buses are running… the stores are full of people realizing that hurricane season is just really getting cranked up…the discipline of fall schedules is kicking up in August (the new September). And I have wanted to sleep and read. I do have to work, and I’ve been going through the motions without my usual energy.

I could possibly attribute the lassitude to hormones. Mine are doing some wacky things for sure. It may have something to do with a very quiet house, with Cupcake’s bedroom empty for the first time in 18 years.

I pulled out a book this morning that Uncommon Blonde gave me in the week before her wedding. Quite timely, since we are just a week away from favorite son’s wedding. There are lots of snippets that are bursting with encouragement and wisdom. You should gift yourself with this book:
Put On Your Dancin’ Shoes
Proverbs and Promises for Women Who Want to Live Well

It says to savor the present moment. I will. Today I will do good to myself and to others. I get to go get my hair cut and highlighted this morning. That’s doing good to myself. I will trust the opportunity to do good to others will present itself and that I will have eyes to see. I know my energy will return. In the meantime, I’ll slow dance slowly.

Today's snippet from this book is on Success .

When asked to name his greatest accomplishment in life,
he replied: “My children still come home to see me. “
-Former President George H. W. Bush

Wogging - The New Rage in Fitness

I have a confession. I have been talking about my struggle with regular exercise and have mentioned I run. I have used the word "run" loosely and need to clarify. I actually am a dedicated wogger. When I read that term on Linda's site I thought "My stars, that's a perfect description of what I do!" Linda picked up the term from… well, you know how things go around in the blogosphere. Just so you know I’m not fooling myself. But, hey, it gets the job done.

I'll be wogging this weekend up and down stairs as we move Cupcake to Tallahassee to start college.

I listen to K-Love streaming radio alot when I'm working online and this week Sherry was attending a Boo-Hoo Breakfast after dropping her baby off at kindergarten. What a concept - but I'm not sure that we need any help with the tear mechanism. I cry when the National Anthem plays. I'd better not go to a Boo Hoo Breakfast.

Rebel with a Cause

There’s a rebel hiding in me. My mother could testify to this for sure. I’m sure my husband could also add a testimony or ten. I rebel selectively, and one thing I tend to rebel over is the medical system. This is a good and a bad thing. Let me explain.

The rebellion is seated in the fact that I think our culture deifies doctors. As in we tend to think they are all knowing, all powerful and hold our lives in their hands. Furthermore, doctors are trained to think linear. Western medicine primarily provides answers along the lines of drugs and surgery. I have a problem with this. Don’t get me wrong, I respect doctors and their education and there are times when I will run to them immediately (i.e. broken bones and such). I also think that in our lawsuit-happy culture, our medical system orders all kinds of tests that cost a gazillion dollars and are preventing the doctor from getting sued, rather than helping me toward better health.

I also think that each of is given wisdom from God as to what our body needs. Of course actually listening is the challenge. I also believe that many answers are found in methods that other cultures tuned into centuries ago, like chiropractic, homeopathy, nutrition and herbs. All that said, I resist conventional health paths. I’m either an intellectual or fruitcake, depending on your perspective.

Bear with me, I’m getting to the story.

When my sibling was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago, I was told to immediately go have a very unpleasant screening procedure. Didn’t go. Moffat Cancer Center contacted me to participate in a study that was designed to motivate siblings of people with colon cancer. I participated in the study to get the $50 gift card but didn’t go. All along, I told family and medical folks I would go when everyone is supposed to go, when I turn 50.

Yesterday, I went. It wasn’t quite as bad as the procrastination had built it up to be. And it did cost a gazillion dollars, which I would have loved to spend on something pleasant. But I’m so glad it’s behind me now. My rebellion was temporarily tethered. I am super thankful that I got an absolutely clean bill of health and attribute that to God, not anything I’ve done. In parting, the doctor said, “I’ll see you back in 5 years.” And I’m, thinking, “You better make that 10.” Snicker.

Victorious

I am really enjoying the Olympics on television. I find the stories of the athletes truly inspiring. I am energized by their commitment. Someone sent me this Godtube clip this week that portrays an amazing story, set to a beautiful song.

A son asked his father, Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?
The father who, despite having a heart condition, says "Yes."

They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying "Yes" to his son's request of going through the race together.

One day, the son asked his father, Dad, let's join the Ironman together. To which, his father said "Yes" too. For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island. Father and son went on to complete the race together.
View the race:

Saturday Stirrings

This weight watcher's recipe is a hit at my house - even with two guys who like hearty meals that don't smack of reduced fat. (They don't know it's a weight watcher's recipe!)
Of course, I was disappointed that the "pie" is a bit of a misnomer. (No crunchy, buttery pie crust here, but then it wouldn't be mexican either) But it's very tasty. I got it from someone else and it's from the Core plan, so I don't know the points.

Fiesta Tamale Pie in a Pan

Ingredients
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 1/4 cups cold water, with 2 chicken bouillon cubes ( you could probably use stock instead)
1 lb 93% lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
4 teaspoons canola oil
3 teaspoons chili powder
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 dash pepper
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (10 ounce) can Mexican-style tomatoes (Ro-tel brand works)
1 (16 ounce) can whole no-sugar-added kernel corn (with juice)
1 (16 ounce) can dark no-sugar-added kidney beans
1 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350*.
2. Combine cornmeal, water and chicken bouillon in a medium saucepan; whisk or stir constantly over medium heat until slightly thickened.
3. Spread in a 9 X 13-inch baking pan, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
4. In a large skillet, brown beef, onion, green pepper, and canola oil.
5. Add chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper, and stir well.
6. Add tomato paste, Ro-Tel, corn, and kidney beans, and mix well.
7. Spread mixture evenly over the cornmeal mixture and top with 1 cup shredded fat free cheddar cheese (Can substitute soy cheese).
Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

For more recipes, visit Carol's site for Saturday Stirrings. Better yet, link up one of your favorites.
Recipes that someone has made are far better than a test from a recipe book, in my opinion.

Too Hot to Handle

I have to admit, I’m not one to love exercise. Yes, it makes me feel better AFTER I do it. And yes, I usually discipline myself to do it because I have to. I have been trying to increase my exercise to an hour a day to facilitate my weight loss goals.

However, yesterday was bad. I didn’t eat breakfast because I kept thinking I was going to run early. Well, I didn’t get out the door until almost 10 AM, with 97% humidity and nearly 90 degree heat. To make matters worse, the demon dogs were out and to top it all off, there was a crew of prison inmates working on the road. I guess I got overheated or something, as I felt totally drained for hours. Really yucky, as a matter of fact.

I realized that something had to change, so this morning I was out the door by 7. The demon dogs were penned up and the prisoners were not working. It was only 87% humidity this morning with a cool 81 degrees. But I need a “Plan B’ for days when I can’t run. I want to buy a fun DVD that inspires me to exercise in the living room. Though I love group classes, the gym is simply too far for me to go and I won’t do it on a regular basis. Any DVD suggestions?