Live Like There’s No Tomorrow

It’s hard to know what this really means until you have time to sit back, relax and think about it.

But why would we? We are always busy. Tomorrow always comes whether we think about it or not. We live our life looking forward to what’s in store in the future that today was just a means to get there. But each day that we think this way, the present will always be taken for granted.

What if there is no tomorrow? What if your tomorrows are limited? Are you happy how you spent today?

Yes, we should always think ahead. Look forward to tomorrows. But never take today for granted. Are you happy on how you are spending your today? Did you prioritize what is important? Did you tell the people you love how you feel for them? Did you feel good on how you treated others?

The question you have to ask before beginning your day is ‘what do i want to do that will make me happy?’ The goal is not for others to be happy. The goal is what will make you happy. If helping others or being good to others make you happy, perhaps that is the route. If serving your self makes you happy, then do that.

Start thinking about today when you wake. Do not look thing is restrospect at night. Do not sit back at night to think if you’ve done what you think you were supposed to do today. There is nothing you can do to change what has been done. The moment you wake up, utter a little prayer of thanks and start doing things that will make you happy. Live in the present. Do not waste your day. Plan that at the end of the day, you only feel a sense of accomplishment instead of frustration or regret.

Just think. If tomorrow never came, were you at least happy with what you did today?

One Year Into The Pandemic

It has been a year since the global pandemic was declared.

I remember hearing it at work. I did pause for a second to think of what it meant. I had a quick brush in nursing school of what pandemic meant but I never really thought I would see it in a lifetime. It is as abstract as utopia. The word exists but it might never be realized. 

Well, last year, it did.

I went home. Still uncertain of what it meant. We still got dressed and excitedly got ready for the Oilers game we were about to see that night. We got into our usual club seats and enjoyed the first period. During the intermission, we met up with our friends who were also there to watch the game.

Because we check our phone a lot, we saw on Twitter that NBA declared their season over. Nobody is allowed to play that night and for the rest of the season. We all looked at each other. “Is this the last hockey game then?” We all wondered.

I went back to my seat. More uncertain and more unnerved. I am in a building with 17,000 people and it suddenly felt unsafe. What if I get covid-19 here? We enjoyed the rest of the night but the anxiety lingered on.

The next day, work was slower than usual. My coworkers and I chatted a lot on what it meant. Emails and new protocols started pouring in. Every hour it changed. Everyday, there was a new protocol. School was cancelled following that weekend. The streets were less busy. Work became slower and most of my patients were scared to venture out. There were news of fights at the grocery stores and panic buying. There were ridiculous hoarding of toilet papers. The worst of humankind started showing itself. Life, as we know it, was never ever the same.

I feared more than most people. As a nurse, though I worked at outpatient clinic was scary. I could be redeployed, I was told. I could be sent to the front lines and care for covid-19 patients. Countries panicked. Elderlies died and health care workers suffered. The world broke down and the pandemic, politicized. 

There were good things and mostly bad things during the long drawn out year. The first two weeks felt like a whole year. The whole year felt like a lifetime. We relied more on technology. We learned to isolate ourselves. I was grateful I get to go to work and see other people. It quickly dawned upon me that though I love solitude, I need other people in my life. 

Healthwise, it was also a bad and good year. I had gallstones that gave me excruciating pain everyday. I was lucky to get a surgery even if surgeries were halted. My doctor discovered a lump on my left breast and I had to get mammogram, ultrasound and a biopsy. Nothing serious came out of that but I need to watch it. I lost the unnecessary weight and have valued exercise and homemade food. 

The new normal is online. I have watched two funerals of loved ones who passed away and weddings of my two siblings on line. It was weird and surreal. But I am happy that life still goes on despite it being non-traditional. Things have to happen. We cannot just wait forever.

There’s some hope this year when vaccines are made available. I am patiently waiting for my turn but I am not in a rush. I am okay with social distancing and wearing mask. I am just excited for life to get better again. For more things to be open.

For life to be more normal again. 

Before 37

July!

 

Bummer that this year, I will not be able to plan a trip to celebrate my birthday. It is not a milestone birthday so it is not a big deal but it would have been great to getaway for awhile. After what has transpired this year, we all could use some break. I could use a break. It has been a trying year.

 

I decided to channel my energy to new hobbies and habits.

 

Cooking.  I have been doing more home cooking and my current favorite is Thai food! It seems intimidating at first but once I bought the ingredients and watched few youtube videos, I was able to make pad thai and panang curry (twice!). I am also liking spicy food now. Cooking is no longer a chore. It is something I enjoy doing.

 

Biking. I finally know how to ride a bike! I have been out and biked few blocks from home. Though I have not been biking everyday, I am feeling more confident everytime I ride. I have yet to learn how to be on the road ( I am biking on sidewalks!) and summon more willpower to ride at least 10 minutes everyday.  I intend to get my money’s worth on my new bike before the summer ends. 🙂

 

Workout. Lastly, I have been working out everyday. I bought a rower last year and have used it few times. Last month, I started using the rower right after work and it became a habit. It was a good de-stresser and mood uplifter. Today is Day 24 of doing rower workout. Every 10 days, I increase the repetitions and intensity. I also added exercises for my legs and abs.  I feel more energetic and stronger but weight-wise, the number has not moved. I set a weight goal and intend to see flat abs again (or a silhouette of it. I haven’t seen it in 12 years!) I only have 10 more pounds to lose and I am hoping to lose it before the end of month. Ambitious dream, yes. But not impossible.  Some might say, it is not about the weight and I wholeheartedly agree. But I am trying to lose it in a healthy way so I think I am on the right track. Whether I attain goal or not, I will be happy knowing I tried. It is better to set the bar high and try.  The real challenge would be keeping it off and maintaining the healthy lifestyle.

 

(Secretly, I am also hoping that when it is okay to travel again, I would want a vacation by the beach and fit in my bathing suit nicely.  🙂

 

How’s your July going?

 

 

 

Bike Riding Progress

 

Early Saturday morning, I scouted the small parking lot across our building and when there were only two cars parked, I put on my helmet and hauled my bike. D agreed to come with me for supervision.

 

I was doing okay with biking straight. I felt my body was more relaxed and I can feel the wind in my hair. My palms were less sweaty and my body less wiggly. It was still a challenge to turn. I was scared I was over turning and few times, I almost fell. Until I fell.

 

I fell,  not because I was too fast. I was trying to turn but didn’t think I was going to make it without hitting the fence so I hit the brakes. I did not collide into the fence but as I stepped down to feel the ground, my left ankle rolled, I was in pain and fell to my side. It was stupid way to fall, I know. My immediate thought was, gross, I have dirt on my back, shorts and hand. Did anyone see me fall? My pride was hurt. Then my left hand hurt too cause I tried to break my fall. D came running and was not sure what happened. I laughed. Then I was less scared after that.

 

I tried to turn few more times and couldn’t do it. I can turn clockwise but not counter clockwise. D could see my frustration.  I told him I cannot do it because it feels awkward. I feel like I am losing control of the bike and I am turning too fast. He said I was not even going that fast. Maybe the momentum is not enough. Tried few more turns and I still couldn’t do it. D said my arm goes to the right direction but my body goes the other way.

 

It was like a eureka moment. Am I supposed to lean my body? He laughed. Yes, he said. I should be one with the bike. He said he told me that tip on the first day he was teaching me. Well, first of all, there were so many things I needed to pay attention the first time I was taught so I will not remember everything. Second, that is why I need practice. Third, this is why I need supervision of someone who knows how to bike. To point out what I need to improve on.

 

I tried again. I pedalled, drove straight, coasted (I didn’t know I am not supposed to be pedalling all the time. I can relax to get a feel of the bike!) and as I turned, I moved my body slightly to the direction of the turn I am supposed to take. And guess what? I made the turn that I had been trying to do the whole morning! Then I kept doing it over and over again. It got easier. So is that all that I was missing? With that in mind, I was holding the handlebars less tight, my grip more relaxed and my body less rigid. I was not scared of falling anymore. Towards the end, I had the courage to go to the alley and went around half the block. I reached the side walk and got off the bike.

 

D asked why I stopped. I am not supposed to ride on the side walk, right? D took the bike and went for a ride around the block.

 

I stood at the parking lot, smiling, feeling accomplished.  I know it isn’t much and I have yet to learn more but I will get there. One lesson at a time. I am just happy that I am feeling that I am improving and I have less fear.

 

 

Btw, the helmet I got is super nice and I feel that when I have it on, I have more confidence. Is that weird? I got a Thousand helmet. Though it is does not have MIPS, I have read good reviews about it. I also know that I will just be a recreational bike rider so I don’t really need a heavy duty bike helmet (yet).

 

I need more practice. I wish it would stop raining or threatening to rain so I can go out this week.

Biking for Beginners

My bike arrived on Wednesday and I was excited! This is it! I wanted to ride it right away and planned to not quit until I could ride it well.

 

I underestimated how difficult it was. I practiced at our patio but it was not big enough. I’d pedal then hit the break prematurely because I didn’t want to crash on our railings. Our patio is about 200 sq feet and it was not enough space to ride in momentum. I struggled with my balance. I was scared of crashing, falling or getting hurt.

 

I wanted the seat lower so I do not have to tiptoe. D was hesitant but he adjusted the seat down for me but not too much. He said it will give me knee pain. After 5 minutes in the patio, we moved to the open parking lot in my building. Twice, we stopped because there were people parking. I was embarassed that someone would see me struggling.  Though there are cars parked, it was wide enough to manuever and it was slightly slanted. It gave me a chance to practice with more speed but I struggled with the uphill because I was knock-kneed. I also struggled doing turns. I am scared of falling down because I angle the handle bars to much when I needed to turn. There were few times when I jumped off the bike instead of hitting the brakes. It was an instinct but I got scratched at the back of my leg from the pedal. Ugh. Cannot really avoid pain.

 

After about 20 minutes of trying (and D taking his turn on riding the bike), I was able to do a full loop of the parking lot without stopping. I felt accomplished! I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks! D took a video and I laughed  watching how wiggly my upper body was. He said I was too tensed. Of course I am! It is after all my first time to ride a bike again after almost 29 years. The fear is real when you learn to ride as an adult.

 

I tried to google tips on how I can stop my upper body from wiggling. Alas, no tips.  I need to relax more. Maybe I need more space. I have to keep practicing to get better. (If I find something helpful, I will share. For the benefit of adults like me, who is just learning how to ride a bike).

 

My helmet came today and putting it on made me feel confident. I am planning to practice on a wider space early tomorrow morning so there are less cars and less eyes watching.

 

Hopefully, before my birthday, I will be biking confidently on a bike lane or better, to work.

 

Wish me luck!

 

June 2020

I just lost my grandma. The only living grandparent I have is gone. She was 93, turning 94 next month. One would say, she’s lived long, it’s her time. That does not give any comfort at all. It means nothing to me who knows she is gone forever. I will never see her again, talk to her again or even write to her again.

 

Gone. Forever.

 

Is there a manual for grief? Something or someone who knows how to make the pain and sadness go away right after it happens? There might be some ways to cope but there has never been anything that can just magically make things alright right away. This is the hardest part. The unexplainable and unfathomable pain of losing someone. I cried on and off the whole day yesterday. My eyes and heart are tired.

 

My dad’s mom passed away in 2017 and now, I am reminded of that feeling again. It is unbelievable to feel that same grief again.  No matter how it is expected for someone, especially an older loved one, it does not ease the pain when it happens.

 

Worst part is that I can’t be with family because of travel restrictions. This pandemic has even made grieving worse. I cannot hug my mom who is a million times more in pain than I am. She lost her only living parent.  This is when she needs her children the most. This is when living halfway around the world sucks.

 

When I talk to family online, I try my best to be strong and I try not to cry. When I am alone, that’s when it gets me. I appreciated that I was home alone during the day yesterday and had time to just cry. I needed the time alone. I needed to cry my heartache out.

 

My grandma was a remarkable woman. She and my grandpa raised 10 kids and was a high school principal. They had a farm and raised cows, chickens, turkeys and geese. They had a big paved front yard where we played. I always looked forward to Easter holidays. It was a tradition that most of her children (some lived in the US) and grandchildren came to stay in their house for the week. They had a big house with seven bedrooms. The family that arrives first gets the dibs on those rooms. All of the grandchildren (there were about 12 of us who are close in ages) slept in a big mat in the living room. When we were little, everyone ate at the same time. The adults at the dining table and children on the little table. When we became teenagers, we all ate in the dining table, but in two batches. She never missed church. She was always in her Sunday best.

They eventually migrated to California. She and my grandpa worked part-time at the hotel where they lived. I wrote her letters because my mom told us to. Then I eventually just started writing her because I wanted to. She would send cards back and told me that she appreciated the letters. They came home every few years and we’d still have the big get together with the whole family at the family house.

 

I ask questions but I don’t really want an answer. The answer will not make a difference. Right now, there is no answer or statement good enough to make the grief go away. I just want to ask, to voice out, to question, to be angry at something that is really hard to accept.  Even reassurances that ‘things will be okay’ means nothing. When you just lost someone, all you know is you lost someone.

 

I wish to wake up and not feel the loss anymore. Even I cannot process what I need to do to get over it. I know it will get better.

 

I love you Lola.

 

I am hoping today is a better day.

It’s Like Riding A Bike

After the last entry, I figured I should discuss something light.

 

Remember what they say whenever they remind you that you will remember something easily. ‘It’s like riding a bike’ they say. I never reference to that because I do not know how to ride a bike.

 

When I was nine,  my cousins and I sneaked out of the house one summer day, headed to the plaza and took turns learning how to ride a bike. I skinned my knees and that was the end of that.

 

I never had desire to learn how to ride a bike again. The pain must have been really bad and I said to myself I could go on through life without knowing how to.  I can remember one event where I pedalled a bike with a side car. That was only other time in my adult life that I rode a bicycle again (does that count?) and it was a no brainer because I didn’t need to balance. I am not athletic,  my balance sucks, I am scared to get hurt and I don’t mind commuting. I live in a city where it snows almost 8 months a year. Why would I need one?

 

Now, I have been considering it seriously. I ride the LRT to work and I am lucky that with stay at home orders, we could easily social distance. But if classes start and commuters increase, the train will be packed again and I would be anxious of being too close to other people. This made me think that maybe, I should reconsider. I have no car and not planning to buy one, so a bicycle will be a good investment. Not to mention it will benefit me physically.

 

I talked to coworkers about bikes and there’s a lot to learn. I got good advice from someone who knows about bikes. I am really glad I asked.  I was recommended not to buy cheap. I agree. Good bikes would have good resell value.

 

At the moment, I am reading as much as I can about bikes, will sought my courage to learn how to ride (yes, I am anxious! What if i get run over?) and search for that good first bike soon.

 

Maybe, this old dog can learn new tricks.

 

(Will check in later if I push this idea thru.)

 

How about you? Do you own a bike? Any advice for me?

 

New Normal

I just read my last entry. It was written a year ago.

 

I cannot summarize how the last 12 months was. The last three months was life changing for me and I might have to spend the next two days writing about it. What I can tell you, and you already know, is that the world has been changed forever. Our lives are different now and it will not go back to ‘how it used to be’ anytime soon.

 

I did not even imagine seeing it in my lifetime. A pandemic that has affected the whole world. No country was immune. No one felt safe. A virus just terrorized the human existence. At first, it sounded like a movie plot. A script that will never exist in real life. An exaggerated depiction of how a disease can threaten everyone. Now, all I hear, read and see on the news is how many people are sick, dying and suffering. There are millions of people laid off from work and everything, except for essential services was shut down at one point. There is cohesiveness and then discord. There is a lot of confusion and anger. The world tries to celebrate the little wins they could muster from the current situation. It has been surreal that this is the world we live in now. If you have seen the movie ‘Contagion’, it is pretty close to where we are now. It’s just that we are still in the middle of the movie. No vaccine has been developed yet. No one is safe yet but there are ways to protect one’s self and each other. Physical distancing, hand hygiene, self isolating if you have symptoms and getting tested.

 

The virus (Covid-19) had been affecting other countries since January but they just imposed rules here in March after WHO declared it a pandemic. We all watched on TV how it first affected Asia, then Europe and finally, it came to America. They asked all Canadians to come back home, closed the borders, non essential travels were banned, businesses closed and most people who were not laid off, are working from home. They closed schools, parks, gyms, malls, salons and  most hotels. Hospital and long term care visitors are banned. Restaurants eventually closed and started offering just delivery or curbside pickups. Only grocery stores, drugstores and stores with essential products are open. Not much people are driving anymore and traffic is almost non existent. No parties, concerts, sports or even religious gatherings.  People lost loved ones and even young people got sick. No one is safe from this virus.

 

The first few days crawled and everyone was in a state of shock and anxiety. The news was filled with reports of deaths and details of suffering. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world already died from this virus. I feel for those who have lost a loved one. Millions of people are infected. Millions of people were laid off work and are in financial limbo. In a matter of days, the world was changed and unrecognizable. Surreal was the word. Suddenly, life is uncertain. Everyone wished it was just a bad dream that would go away if we just slept long enough.

 

Going out seems strange now if you don’t have a purpose. I only go out to go to work and to get our groceries. Seeing a stranger on the street warrants a physical distance and if they get too close, it is acceptable to turn away like they are going to infect you with something. Wearing face masks is normal. Carrying hand sanitizers make you feel safe. Cash, in most establishments, are not accepted.

 

Even work is not the same anymore. We have to go through screening everyday before work and a round colored sticky on our ID is a proof that we have been screened. No in clinic appointments not unless it is really necessary. We are to wear mask all the time while seeing patients. We are told to social distance. No sharing of food. Stagger breaks to lessen amount of people in the lunchroom. I go home straight away and put my clothes in the laundry. I wash my hands so much that my skin is cracked and dry.

 

I work in healthcare and have worked in units with flu outbreaks in the past. This is different. It is a hundredth fold scarier. We increased our sanitation practice to the point of being OCD. My coworkers and I could not stop talking about it and encouraging each other helped alleviate some of the anxiety. There were a lot of emails and protocols changed few times a day. It was almost hard to keep up. I had to evaluate my health everyday and even a slightest tickle in my throat panics me. I don’t want to get sick or worse, pass it on to my patients. I want to protect them because they are more vulnerable. I am grateful that my immune system was good since October last year and I feel that changing diet and lifestyle in February made a big difference.

 

I was scared. I think about my patients and I can imagine that their anxiety is worse than mine. I have to be brave and do as much as I can. I have a duty to do and patients to protect. It makes me angry when I read news about healthcare workers getting sick or dying because of lack of PPE or governments failing them. It angers me when people dismiss it as ‘you signed up for this’. No healthcare worker signed up to die. Yes, there are hazards of the job and possibility of getting sick. We have been trained to take care of patients while also protecting ourselves. We did not sign up to get sick or die because of lack of PPE or lack of support from the system. Don’t get me wrong. Healthcare workers are being appreciated and supported by people immensely right now. But more than applause or recognition, we need tools to protect us so we can do our jobs properly and help more sick people. More than being called a hero, healthcare workers wants a safe working environment.

 

Though it has been the worst that everyone else have experienced, there were few good things that will not remain unnoticed.  People are more considerate of each other. It took this pandemic for people to appreciate frontline workers (not just nurses, doctors and hospital workers, but also cleaners, grocery store employees, cashiers, bus and truck drivers and everyone who, by chance or by choice are still doing their jobs despite the risks of being out and exposed to people). People are donating and helping those who have less. Everyone started cooking, baking and making their own breads at home. People realized they do not need luxury to survive. There is less pollution, Mother Earth got a little break.  Birthday parties are out, birthday parades are in. People are practicing good hygiene. Friends and families are connecting more via internet, chats and social media. They are checking up on each other and stepped up to help those who need it.

 

Families are spending more time together. I have heard a lot of complaint or funny anecdotes on this new normal. Some do not know how to be a parent and some kids are adjusting to having more time with their parents now. It is an adjustment and a test. But children will remember this when they grow old. When i was a kid, I was happier when I saw more of my dad who used to work even on weekends. My dad (who is back home) tells me that with the stay at home orders, he gets to eat and workout together with his grandkids (they live with them). He says it was like how it used to when we were little. I can tell that he too, misses spending time with the family now that we are all geographically apart.  These and much more positive came out of this pandemic. Good lessons that I hope could stay with us even when the pandemic is over.

 

Though far from perfect, Canada is trying very hard to protect everyone. I am grateful that their priority is saving lives instead of just saying, ‘oh well, some of us are going to die anyway’. Our leaders are listening to the medical experts and most Canadians are cooperating. It is not possible to prevent deaths but staying at home would slow down hospitalizations and infection which in turn would not overwhelm the health care system. Hospitalized people can get treated and will be given the fighting chance to recover. This will help prevent more deaths as much as we could. Yes, there is dismay and opposition with rules and changes, but most people listened. I know some of the assistance is not enough but the government is trying. We all wish for speedy and perfect solution but that is not possible.

 

If Covid-19 is slowing down, it is because of collective effort of everyone.  No role is small. If the only thing you can do is stay at home or wear a mask when you are out, it matters. If you don’t have a mask but you are conscious of physical distancing, you are helping. If you are reminding someone to wash their hands, that is a good deed. If you are connecting with friends or family, keep it up.

 

For now, this situation seems endless. Beyond the virus, there will be a long term impact.  Be optimistic. Let us not lose hope. Let us keep doing our part. I also ask myself if things will go back to how it was or what will I do when this pandemic is over. There is no answer. The morbidity and mortality are still high and this can go on. Some countries have flattened the curve and some countries are getting hit hard. There might be a second wave. There is no vaccine available yet. Nothing is certain for now.  It is hard to imagine how next year is going to be, let alone the next month.

 

We just have to live one day at a time for now.

 

Please take care and stay safe.

May 2019

Okay, I have not written anything in this blog for almost six months! What can I say? Life happens! Oh well, it is a lame excuse but this year had been hectic. Work is busy, as usual but I still love it very much. I have also been trying to improve myself physically and mentally. And as usual, I have set some more goals for myself this year.

If you have read my past posts, you know that I always start something and end up not finishing them. It’s not for the lack of trying. I get side tracked sometimes. But I will keep trying.

Tidying Up:

Have you watched Mari Kondo’s Netflix show? One day, we binged watched it and it was a good show. I was shocked with how much people hoard. Then I realized that in a smaller scale, I am too! Few weeks later, I read her book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and halfway through reading, I got inspired. I was surprised by how I could not wait to apply what I was learning. I gave a heads up to the people in the house that I will be tidying up using KonMari method. It was their warning that if they want to keep their things, it should not be in the communal area because I will be cleaning.

Like Mari Kondo suggested, start in the morning. On the day I said I was cleaning, I woke up at 8am. I started with my clothes. It was difficult. I am not going to lie about that. KonMari method did not tell me to put them if I have to decide which ones to keep, but I did. It slowed me down but I am glad I did. There were some clothes that I wanted to keep but after seeing that they are too tight or did not look right anymore, I had to give it away.

I started in the bedroom. Then the living room. I thought the books would be a struggle. But it wasn’t. When I got the hang of separating what I need, wanted and what to keep, it was easy to ‘thank’ the item and placed them in the bag for donation or disposal. D helped. He sorted his own clothes. He sorted his hats and shoes. He learned how to fold. He was the arm that carried most of the garbage out of the house. He entertained me when the work seemed endless. He took me out for lunch because there was no time to cook. The house was in total mess because it got cleaned. In total, I spent 5 days clearing every nook and cranny of my tiny two bedroom place. I have zero regret spending all my free time doing it. It was worth every second that I did it.

I thought the first couple that appeared on the Netflix show was exaggerating when they said Mari Kondo’s help ‘changed their lives’. I had to experience it to know what they mean. It changed my life. My condo feels brighter, lighter and happier. I can fully open my closet door without bumping into things, it is easier to find clothes and I only have things that I need.

I have gotten into the habit of cleaning, tidying up everyday and it does not even feel like it is a chore. I am a changed person. I used to hate cleaning even as kid. Now, it is like second nature. It totally was life changing. It is a little funny but I did not know how big the impact of tidying is on our life. I also realized the impact of consumerism in my life. I sort of asked myself, how much did it cost me to acquire things that I did not really need? Or did I have to purchase something that was good for a single use? Now, I know to be careful when I purchase something.

Reading:

I am still trying to do my one book a week. Some weeks more successful than others. But for sure, I have read more books than I have last year.

Health: On April 28, I started a 30 day challenge. Goal: Lose 10 lbs, gain some muscle and strenght by working out.

I am not really restricting diet to a certain food group to be more realistic. I will just eat normally. I have noticed that when I do diet based weight loss journey, I end up gaining some weight back after I return to normal food. It is not sustainable. Right now, I still indulge in some junk food. I know it is best to eat clean but it is hard to sustain that. So I figured, I will eat what I want but I will workout.

So this time, I made my own workout routine and I am physically active the whole day. No excuses. And when I mean no excuses, I did not let my colds/cough stop me from working out. Yeah, day 3 and I had sore throat. SMH. I still have cough right now but I know virus is supposed to be self-limiting. It should go away soon.

I decided on a 30 day challenge so that I have an attainable goal in realistic time. I am hoping that it will stick as a habit and I could continue it throughout my lifetime.

So far, I still feel okay with this challenge. Day 7 and I feel good. I know most people will say do not weigh yourself, it is not the best measure. I know it isn’t. But I am still measuring it weekly so I know if I am on the right track. This week, I like what the scale says. I will make sure I write on this blog on May 28 to let you know the result.

Misc:

There are two more things that I should take seriously. I need to edit the story that I have written a long time ago and continue writing my book. I know I said no excuses. I have to commit to doing it soon. Hopefully I can start this week.

That’s all for now. How’s your year been?

Update: Week 5

Week 5 Update

1. Book – In keeping with the Halloween last week, I read Roald Dahl’s ‘The Witches’. It was a fun read. I am not really into horror movies/books and that’s all that my faint heart can take (lol). I remember watching the movie version of it when I was a child. It was not that scary, it was just gross seeing the women start peeling themselves to reveal their true witchy selves. I also read Sophie Kinsella’s ‘My(not so) Perfect Life’. The story was pretty straightforward. A woman who wanted to work in London, ready to forget that she was a country girl. Then she wouldn’t get a break, tough boss, falls for a handsome guy who turns to be a partner of the firm she worked then she gets fired. All the while, she was pretending on her Instagram that things are great and like all of us, would just post the great stuff and not the bad ones. I will not speak about the book in detail but it was a fun read. I wish it had more depth or twist. It was alright.

2. Screen time – 5 hours and 15 mins. I spent more time on the social media last week than the last few weeks. I have a feeling that this week wouldn’t be any less. We are going for a trip.

3. Move goal – I have increased to 850 move goals and i am doing two 8fit workouts a night. It is not as hard anymore to do workouts.

4. Diet – Still same weight, still eating regular food. It feels good not to be restrained. 🙂

5. Sleep – This is a work in progress. It will be the toughest challenge.