12,000 Moves

Another sunrise from the kitchen. This is the only time we saw hints of the sun today.

Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states.

~ Carol Welch

Just before the rains came.

Back in October, I purchased a MOVband.  Have you heard of the MOVband?  I hadn’t until my oldest son mentioned it during one of our weekly phone calls.  He got his at work as part of an exercise challenge.  The company, MOVABLE, is located in northeast Ohio (not far from where I used to live), so they got that going for them.  And the band itself, an activity tracker, is reasonably priced, unlike some other activity monitors.

The ups and downs

My goal has been 12,000 moves a day.  Some days I get there (and beyond) with no trouble.  Other days, I barely make it half way.  (We’re not going to discuss those really low dips that make it appear that I didn’t move at all except to say I was sitting in the car, riding out to the Bogs to celebrate an early Christmas with family.)  Now that I’ve had plenty of time (more than enough!) to use the MOVband and get to know what my usual movements are, it’s time to meet my goal on a daily basis, and then start increasing my moves.

12,000 moves is approximately 5 miles a day which, it happens, is the same as the 10,000 steps we’re all told we should be aiming for every day.  It should be mentioned that the MOV band isn’t perfect.  For instance, it doesn’t register my bicycle rides (I’ve tried putting it in my pocket and on my ankle and no luck so far).  It doesn’t register things I do that don’t involve waving my arms around (push-ups are a good example).  What it does register, big time, is when I prepare food.  All that slicing, dicing, and chopping add up to a lot of moves.  So, is it accurate?  Probably not.  However, it does give me a good idea of how much I’m moving each day, and that is extremely helpful.

Window on a rainy day

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.

~ Plato

Since my birthday, I’ve been making plans for a year-long health challenge.  I would have started the entire program by now, but had to wait for the kitchen to be finished.  It’s difficult to cook healthful meals when you don’t have a kitchen to cook in.  Finally, I do have a kitchen, and a lovely kitchen it is, too.

In addition to having a lovely kitchen, I was given some gifts at Christmas that will help me along the way.  One of those things, something you’ve already seen, is a Masala Dabba, an Indian spice container.  If you have ever done any kind of vegetarian and vegan cooking, you know that spices play a huge role in creating good flavors.  (I find that to be true when it comes to cooking with meat, too, but I don’t like the flavor of most meats and so, I end up using a lot of herbs and spices to cover up the meat taste.)  I’ve been cooking a lot of Indian or Indian-inspired dishes over the past few years, and I was thrilled to get a Masala Dabba.

Oak and pine

The second really useful gift I received was Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s new cookbook, Isa Does It: Amazingly Easy, Wildly Delicious Vegan Recipes for Every Day of the Week.  I’ve already made three of the recipes in the book, and OMG, they are awesomeness on a plate and/or in a bowl.

I’ve started projects like this before, with plans made, and goals set.  I make a little progress each time, and then I start again, saying that this time I will reach my goal.  This time around, I’m not set on a goal.  Instead, I’m set on how I feel each day.  What can I do to make myself feel good today?  It’s as simple as that.  I don’t need a to-do list.  I just need to do, because I already know what to do, what makes me feel good on all levels.  I’m off to a good start by reestablishing the Morning Routine (yoga, meditation, journal writing, exercise of some kind). The Morning Routine is the best way for me to start my day (even on those days when I don’t feel like doing it or have to shorten it somewhat).

The platform and bench in the rain

In other news…

It’s raining here today so construction work has come to a standstill until Sunday when the sun is supposed to come back and things will dry out.  It’s nice to have a quiet day without trucks roaring in the driveway or people sawing and hammering.  The mason is scheduled to come by sometime on Sunday, and start laying the bricks for the foundation.  After that, they’ll start framing things out.  That’s the part I’m looking forward to because I’ll be able to see what the final product will look like.

M and I will be doing all the finishing touches (installing the flooring and lighting, the painting, etc.).  We’re still bouncing around color ideas.  We will also have to decide on furniture.  As you might recall, this house is smaller than our previous home, and we have too much (of just about everything!).  Whatever doesn’t fit comfortably in the new rooms, and hasn’t been slated for or already moved to another room, will have to go.

Misty in the marsh

I reckon that’s it from me and from the Wabi-Sabi Ranch for today.  Thank you for visiting.  Do you have any plans for the weekend?  Or are you the spontaneous type, waiting to see what comes up?  Sunday looks like it will be nice enough for a trip to the beach or maybe to one of the nearby parks for a hike.  Hopefully I can take the new camera out for a spin.

Fruitful

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂