Monday, May 26, 2014

A matter of timing

I'm a list maker from way back. It gives me a feeling of control - even though I know I actually have very little. On my electronic calendar I have lists of things to do each day, from exercise to writing to paperwork. I delete them as I do them or as I realize they're not going to happen today.

Significant happenings sometimes occur without a calendar entry. They are not matters of scheduling but of timing. They come upon me; I am the recipient rather than the initiator. Here are a few examples from just this week:

1. For the last year most of my clothes have been about five pounds too small. I knew it was due at least partly to daily mochas and the evening bowls of ice cream my husband Art and I enjoyed. But there were other food diversions - wrapped candies in bowls, peanut butter sandwiches, bars of dark chocolate. I considered a diet but didn't have much interest - just a low-grade dissatisfaction with myself.

Then, on May 1, a Facebook friend posted that everyone at her workplace was going without sugar for the month of May, and did anyone want to join them? It was 7:30 a.m. when I read the post. At 7:32 I responded, "I'm in." That was even before I told Art, who is both the shopper and the cook. He's a good sport, though, and within two days he'd brought home extra fresh fruits and vegetables. I switched from a mocha in the morning to a latte, from ice cream in the evening to fruit smoothies.

The first five days were hard. I told my Facebook friend I resented her for suggesting we go without sugar! After that it got easier. There are so many things I can eat: omelets with spinach and mushrooms over avocado slices, popcorn, baked potatoes with butter, nuts, salads, oatmeal with fresh berries. I'm now on Day 25 of no sugar. Today Art and I went to a potluck and someone had made a cheesecake. I LOVE cheesecake. We calculated one and a half tablespoons of sugar in each slice. I passed on the cheesecake.

This doesn't feel like a diet. It feels like a different way of eating. And today I noticed my jeans and T-shirt are looser. I've decided to continue without the sugar after May to see whether I lose weight or inches eating like this. I would like to enlarge my wearable wardrobe. I'd also like to have a Body Mass Index under 30. It would be a good feeling to say "I'm overweight, but I'm no longer obese." My friend's Facebook post came at just the right time.

2. My sister and her husband have moved to our area for new jobs, and they have been living in their motorhome on our property for nearly two weeks. We have abided by the "neighbors sharing a plot of land" concept. We have discovered, rather to our surprise, that we all benefit from each other's talents. I would never have imagined I'd be living so close to my sister. I left home for college when she was 11. This is a good time for us to share our lives.

3. This month I wrote a short piece about a conversation between a 14-year-old girl and her grandmother and, at the suggestion of members of my writers' group, submitted it for publication. It was accepted. My first! It's called "Grandma Speaks". I'll post a link to the online site when it's published. Again, a matter of timing. It was just making a decision to put my writing out there rather than storing it on my computer.

4. Two small group travel possibilities have come up for next year. One is a vehicle-supported hike on the Camino de Santiago in Spain - a trip I've thought about taking for years. The other is a 17-day trip with friends to Italy I hadn't considered until I received a copy of the itinerary. Time will tell on these.

5. I've been attending a local church for almost a year. After our trip to Kenya last May I realized we're all in this together and I wanted to be part of a group of like-minded people. I've decided to join the church and will be meeting with the minister this week to talk about what part I can play in the community. It's clear to me this is a matter of Timing.

My to-do list didn't include any of these things. Isn't that wonderful?

10 comments:

Tom said...

A piece published? Sweet! Yes, make sure to post the link so we can read it.

DJan said...

You are a very good writer, Linda, so I'm not surprised, but I agree with Tom: please be sure to give us the link when it's published. And congratulations on that weight loss. I don't eat sugar either, and it makes a big difference. :-)

Travels with Emma said...

Sometimes, timing certainly trumps lists.

Lester said...

You've found some goals! Congratulation on the acceptance.

Would you consider a link on your blogroll to my blog?
http://retiredgrump.blogspot.com/

DDD said...

I am so HAPPY for your loss.
Please keep us posted. Glad you and sis get along great!

Arkansas Patti said...

You are not only losing weight but are gaining health. Keep up the great eating.
Congrats big time on being published. Please do let us know the link.

Dee said...

Dear Linda, your May is a perfect example of going with the flow and of living the moment. Thank you for sharing. Peace.

Katherine Jenkins said...

Hello! Hope you are well. I too went without sugar for a long period of time and your blog post reminds me that I'd like to do this again. I felt so good during that time. I also went without grains and coffee.

Anonymous said...

Good job on giving up sugar. It becomes easier with time. I turn down almost all food that is offered to me when I am away from home. Makes a huge difference in how one's clothes fit and how one feels.

Glad to hear you are joining a church. I grew up in church and have been a member of our church for 39 years. God has planted and kept me there for a purpose. You will find yours, likewise.

wheels4me said...

Congratulations on a month without sugar and for getting to spend lots of time with your sister. It will be great weather for sitting on chairs in the garden. Enjoy!