GRATITUDE: Grateful for time spent with Tina, Meghan, and Samantha this morning over tea. Still feels a little surface level conversations though…maybe I need to do one on one walks with them to get to know them better…anyhow I’m making efforts to stay connected and keep building friendships despite volunteering less and being present at the kids’ school less. In some respects I feel guilty about this, but on the other hand I’m very happy I have taken a concerted effort to keep devoting time to my own self improvement whether via fitness, mental well being, nourishing us with real food, listening and learning through podcasts/books…it feels good to do something for myself that hopefully will benefit longevity and life happiness.

FOCUS: Cleaned off a shelf today…now it’s all in a bag with no where to go…the jars are all too big for their future location (the ironing board cupboard).

INSPIRATION: Drawing a blank today in this respect…feeling tired since going to bed after 11 last night getting only 6 hours sleep.

GRATITUDE: For a husband who knows how to balance home projects, family time, and being lazy on a Monday holiday; who will play with my hair while watching tv and walk and do exercises first thing in the morning on his day off because as he said, “Priorities.”

FOCUS: Today was all about grouting the kitchen backsplash…2 years behind schedule but who’s counting?

INSPIRATION: To remembering that some things take time, and not forgetting that one cannot predict the bumps in the road that will stall, detour, redirect one’s life. Sometimes putting family and mental well being and healing physical well being must come first…hm, scratch that…not sometimes. All times.

GRATITUDE: For a late Saturday night watching a movie with Eric with our first drink since Xmas with my brother. Woke up a little slower this morning as a result but was still able to get a lovely walk for bagel sandwiches and coffee/card game date with the kids and Eric. Eric and I went on a morning walk afterwards. It was a beautiful morning and I got a yoga workout in, 15 min but intensity level 3. Evidence I’m getting stronger? We lunched and I had a brief hour of errands with the kids-pet store (resisted the kittens), Trader Joe’s for mochi treats, dropped an Amaryllis for Tom to watch as it grows and brings something to look forward to. Continued watching Lost and enthusiastically watched more of TabiEats on YouTube to learn about Tokyo street foods. Family cooking night to make tacos together, followed by butter mochi cake and more Lost and a round of Doomlings. Thankful for the the relaxing yet seemingly fulfilling family day.

FOCUS: Tomorrow we intend to do some work on the kitchen (finally) after our morning routines and exercises. Kitchen counter has been cleared and yoga mat already set out so no excuses.

INSIPRATION: It appears I’m on the right track for getting more sleep which likely is helping to get stronger in so many ways…it’s definitely hard work to go to bed so early though and not just spend the time coming out. Speaking of which, it’s getting late.

GRATITUDE: Surprised to have spontaneously woken up at 5:12 this morning, but grateful for it to be Saturday and allowed myself to sleep in till just past 7.

FOCUS: 156 days till Japan!!!!

INSPIRATION: おかげさまで　

Reminder to do a morning brunch date with Eric someday at Backhaus.

GRATITUDE: Thankful for the extra little bit of sleep from 5:20-6 this morning and the slight flexibility of Friday schedule. Skipped yoga, but still got in the upper body exercises and a nice walk through San Mateo Park neighborhood to drop off books to a friend.

FOCUS: Feeling the need to purge and clean the shelves of unnecessary things. Also feeling validation for starting this 1 hour earlier morning routine after listening to I think it’s chapter 6 of “Think Like a Monk”. Wish I had the actual book to mark the very simple meditations and breathing exercises he lays out to practice.

INSPIRATION: I’m glad I switched books and gave up on the one that wasn’t inspiring me last week regardless of already having been many hours into it. A good reminder that sometimes you just need to pivot when things aren’t providing the expected results or what you may need in a particular moment.

GRATITUDE: Found a small sliver of alley this morning…reminded me of a time when I was enamored by interstitial spaces and the in between. I guess I find myself metaphorically in one of those spaces now…in between weak and strong.

FOCUS: Trying to transition to becoming a yoga/strength train/run/walk first thing in the morning before taking care of anything else for anyone else. I am definitely not feeling as weak and feeble and incapacitated like I did one year ago. I’m trying. I feel like if I can push through and stay consistent it may actually be possible to work through the tightness/pain and that there is hope of making it go away altogether. It’s definitely different than before and I’ve felt it changing over the last few months, movement and stretching has been the key.

INSPIRATION: Felt compelled to try and make some egg bites after having them at Starbucks a few weeks ago. No dairy and not all the extra preservative junk but I think I overcooked them or the silicone bottoms got too hot on the cookie sheet. Good first attempt, will try again.

GRATITUDE: Thankful for my legs and body this morning getting me through a 1-1/2 mile jog in the drizzle before a spontaneous coffee date with Erin and Julissa at Maison Alyzee.

FOCUS: Spent much time exploring what lay outside of Osaka, mainly Koyasan.

INSPIRATION: The new rowing machine arrived today. Feeling motivated to put it together and put it to use this weekend!

GRATITUDE: Neglected a few other high priority items on my list today to sit down and try to start some serious Japan planning…grateful for the ability to do this but also increasingly nervous about how little I know…

FOCUS: Waking up at 5:20am is not easy, but I can do it. Notes for some structure in this new stretch/strength routine-

Monday: Yoga/Lower body/Walk

Tuesday: Yoga/Upper body/Walk

Wednesday: Yoga/Run

Thursday: Yoga/Lower body/Walk

Friday: Yoga/Upper body/Walk

Saturday: Yoga/Run/Jumprope

Sunday: Rest

It may sound like a lot on paper, but I’m aiming for just 20 min max yoga/strength routines with low intensities for now until I can build up a better baseline. After looking at this, probably should do some dedicated core but if conscious I can choose this with the yoga. Will need to see how 7 minute workouts can be incorporated or not lost altogether.

INSPIRATION: Learned about a place called Okunoin at Koyasan/Mount Koya. Not only is it the sacred place where one of the original shingon Buddhist founder is laid to rest but the entire cemetery is straight out of something from Kubo and the Two Strings. Read it was also possible to stay at the temple and participate in eating a Buddhist meal…

Possible idea for changes/additions to daily journaling.