Lazy Sunday

I was outside earlier, but now it's too hot. 

Looks like I have competition for my patio chair. 

:-)

librarianintx

 

The Vow on HBO, and cults

https://www.hbo.com/the-vow

If you haven't seen the first episode, you might want to stop reading, because there are spoilers. 

I have been fascinated by cults for years. 

How do people caught up in a cult? 

Don't they realize what they're getting into? 

What I'm learning though, is that people are lured into cults because they often have a very positive message. Cults start off as communities that appeal to lonely, vulnerable people, people who want to better themselves and be a part of a group that is doing great work for society. 

Jim Jones' People Temple looked fantastic on the surface - a utopian society where people of all races came together to take care of each other, help the poor, and fight racism and bigotry. 

NXIVM, the organization profiled in the Vow, lured people who were interested in self-empowerment and overcoming fears that held them back from living their best life. Individuals could rise in the ranks and recruitment was a big way to do that. Although it turned out to be a pyramid scheme and sex cult for it's leader, the first episode of the documentary showed how happy people were initially, as they learned how to be their best selves and found a community of like-minded people who encouraged and celebrated their every success and emotional breakthrough. 

I think I could have been very susceptible to a cult at certain times in my life. I have struggled with fears, self-empowerment, and the definition of success, and I have also searched for a community where I feel I truly belong. An organization like NXIVM would have been highly attractive to me. 

The first episode of the Vow was very good, and I am quite interested in the rest of the series. I also watched the Lifetime movie Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother's Fight to Save Her Daughter, about Catherine Oxenberg and her daughter India. 

librarianintx

"Living Under the Threat" - Mindfulness / Meditation apps

 Here are a few mindfulness / meditation apps.

They should be available for both iOS and Android devices:

Headspace

My Life

Insight Timer - free

Calm 

Buddhify

10% Happier

Headspace is not free. Most of the others have both free and paid subscriptions.

Also, both Alexa and Google Home offer free daily meditations.

Mindfulness and meditation take time to adjust to. Don't give up if you can't the hang of it right away. Be patient with yourself. 

Benefits of meditation:

Reduces stress and anxiety

Improves sleep

May improve cognition and memory

May be linked to other health benefits:

Lowering blood pressure

Reducing risk of stroke

Reducing risk of heart disease

librarianintx

 

 

"Living Under the Threat" - A Luxury of the Pandemic

I have a few luxuries because of the pandemic. 

Lack of a commute is a big one.

Ability to set my work hours throughout the day is another.

I used to wake up at 5:40 am, and had to be ready to leave my apartment by 6:45.

Now I wake up around 7:30, shower around 8, walk, and usually start work between 9-9:30.

I stay in bed, drifting, relaxing, enjoying the comfort that laying down affords my body - no aches or pains in my legs, my back, my neck. I know once I get up I won't be this comfortable for the rest of the day.

I feel guilty for the luxury of that time and that comfort - but I take advantage of it every single day.

I am grateful for those moments of rest, of freedom. My pain is not immense by any means, but it's still not easy.

It doesn't feel right to have luxuries during a pandemic, but I do. 

And I am appreciative.

librarianintx

Turning a Rough Morning Better

When you wake up feeling worn out...

You don't know if you can do your morning walk...

You not only walk...

You take the more arduous route.

And then you sweep into the apartment belting out Cher's "Stronger," surprising your roommate and making you both laugh.

That's two ways to make a rough morning better:

Do something you didn't think you could manage (taking a walk)

Do something you really shouldn't do (sing in the presence of anyone, especially your roommate who IS a singer)

😁

librarianintx

Better Today

Two fruits today

One vegetable

Almost 32 ounces of water

All my medicines and supplements

Exercises, including a quick morning walk

And ready for bed shortly after 11

So today was better than yesterday.

Maybe tomorrow will be even better than today.

That is what I strive for.

librarianintx

One More Exercise Update

A surprising update...

I just performed an unassisted bicep curl with my LEFT arm!!

My left hand might be slightly stronger, but my left arm is not. I haven't been working out as consistently with my arms as I have with my legs, but I have never been able to do a bicep curl with a one pound weight with my left arm. I've had to hold the little barbell with both hands to do a curl with my left hand.

And then tonight - I did it!

Not once - but FOUR times!!

I was tired tonight.

I almost skipped the arm exercises.

You never know when you're going to be able to do something that you previously had been unable to do.

Keep trying.

Don't. Give. Up.

Life can surprise you.

librarianintx

"Living Under the Threat" - new exercise classes

This week I tried TWO new exercise classes by Zoom.

The first is called "Osteo Strong" - a free class from Ballet Austin.

The second is from an organization called Angel Eyes Fitness and Nutrition, based in Georgia.

Both classes turned out to be too difficult for me.

Too much cardio

Too much work with weights

Too long in duration

They were just more than I could do.

But in both cases I didn't quit.

I stayed for the hour both times, and I did as much as I could do.

I may not attend these classes every week.

The Osteo Strong one is during work time, so that's a complication.

But I may do them every once in awhile.

I can take what I've learned in these classes and incorporate those moves into my evolving routine.

And I will continue to look for more classes.

I felt disappointed after the first class.

But not after the second.
Because I understand that I have health conditions, and I'm not going to be able to keep up with a regular exercise class, even ones that are designed for older persons, or people with disabilities.

I have to go at my own pace, and be happy with what I can do.

Any movement is good.

I also have to understand that in doing these classes, I can improve.

If I don't try, if I just say "I can't do it," then I won't have any possibility of improving my balance or gaining bone or muscle strength.

Confucius said, "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."

librarianintx

"Living Under the Threat" - this past week

Today is August 1st, and I'm setting a new goal for the month:

Blog at least 15 times

Not necessarily 15 days

Just 15 blog posts

Goals are important.

So here is blog #1.

I think I had a small milestone this past week.

Or maybe it isn't so small.

Anyway...

I walked every weekday this work week...

OUTSIDE

and

BEFORE work!

I consider that an achievement.

I'm not promising I can do it every week.

But I was able to do it this week.

I knew I was doing something good for my physical and emotional health.

And that made me happy.

librarianintx