Well, we got to see a pretty cool sunset last night!
I asked Eric if I could take him on a date last night…
‘Can I take you on a date tonight?’ *grin*
‘Why do I feel like this is a trick…?’
He knows me too well, my friends….too well.
He reluctantly agreed to go on a run with me, so I threw on my gear and sat at my desk until he was ready. He has been working on renos in the basement this week, so the fact that he agreed to a run was nothing short of a miracle. We didn’t have time to work on the food photography collage, but I will be updating tonight or tomorrow on it!
I pumped myself up by listening to ‘Magic’ by B.o.B- my newest favourite running song!
You have to fake it til you make it, especially for evening runs!
I really wasn’t that excited, I just pretended I was! Seemed to work.
Did you know that smiling- even when you aren’t happy- increases the release of endorphins in your brain? When you are unhappy, the simple act of smiling can help you feel better!
Before we left it looked like this….
2 miles into the run it looked like this…
The sun was a blazin’! I had one of those zen + oohhhhh + ahhhhh moments for a brief 10 seconds as I watched the sunset. It was beautiful. Just as quickly as it came, it was gone and I was back to huffing and puffing and hauling my butt up the crazy hills. I take what I can get.
By the way, I am still LOVING my Pearl Izumi running hat! It is the best hat I have ever run in. It is mesh, so it breathes and I swear it keeps me cooler than my previous hat did.
The run:
- Distance: 3 miles
- Time: 27:01 mins
- Avg pace: 8:59 min/mile
Mile splits:
- Mile 1: 9:24 (warm-up)
- Mile 2: 8:56 (pick-up)
- Mile 3: 8:39 (in the groove)
After returning, I made a Post-run Juice. It is an all veggie juice packed with nutrients and just a pinch of sea salt to replenish what was lost during exercise.
It is sooooo good. Like V8 only much tastier and fresher!
Athlete’s Vegetable Juice
Ingredients:
- 3 tomatoes
- 4-5 romaine lettuce leaves
- 1/3 English cucumber
- 1 stalk celery
- 1/3 of a small beet
- 2 medium carrots
- 1 clove garlic (optional)
- 1 pinch of sea salt
Directions: Juice the vegetables and pour into a large glass. Add a pinch of sea salt and stir well. Serves 1.
This morning I made Raspberry Vegan Overnight Oats!
Unfortunately, raspberries in a banana soft serve are quite sour tasting (at least mine were). I think the only thing that saved this was that my banana was very ripe (hence, sweet) before freezing.
For the VOO I used: 2 tbsp chia seeds, 1/3 cup oats, 1 cup Almond milk, 1/4 scoop Amazing Grass chocolate powder.
Deelish!
Some overflowage, of course!
The ‘hat’: 1/2 tsp Unsweetened coconut, 1/2 tsp cacao nibs, and 2 raspberries.
So refreshing on this hot morning!
Eat Pray Love Quote #3
[For the previous two discussions, see the bottom of my quotes page.]
I have another favourite quote from EPL that I wanted to share with you this morning! On page 54, Elizabeth talks about how she spoke with a comforting presence when she was deep in her depression. She would sit on the bathroom floor at 3 in the morning and ask for help or she would scribble her thoughts in a notebook in Rome.
She writes: “This is what I find myself writing to myself on the page: ‘I’m here. I love you. I don’t care if you need to stay up crying all night long. I will stay with you…There is nothing you can ever do to lose my love. I am stronger than Depression and I am braver than Loneliness and nothing will ever exhaust me.’
Tonight, this strange interior gesture of friendship- the lending of a hand from me to myself– reminds me of something that happened to me in New York City. I walked into an office building and dashed into the elevator. As I rushed in, I caught an unexpected glimpse of myself in the mirror. In that moment my brain did an odd thing- it fired off this split-second message: ‘Hey! You know her! That’s a friend of yours!” And I actually ran forward toward my own reflection with a smile, ready to welcome that girl whose name I had lost but whose face was so familiar. In a flash instant, of course, I realized my mistake and laughed in embarrassment at my almost doglike confusion over how a mirror works. But for some reason that incident comes to mind again tonight during my sadness in Rome and I find myself writing this comforting reminder at the bottom of the page:
Never forget that once upon a time, in an unguarded moment, you recognized yourself as a friend.”
This story in the book and most notably the quote at the end really hit home with me for a few reasons.
Firstly, that whole embarrassing mirror experience has happened to me (thank goodness I am not the only one!!). I actually remember when it happened to me because I was in university at the time and I considered myself the enemy. I remember seeing ‘a friend’s reflection’ in the window of a store and I had that same gut reaction as Elizabeth did. I remember feeling a sinking feeling when I realized it was ‘just me’ in the reflection and that sense of happiness faded quickly. As I recognized myself, I remember saying something negative about myself almost immediately, when just before, I had seen a beautiful, smiling friend looking at me.
Reading this passage in the book made me sad for that experience that I had, but it also made me happy that I no longer get that sinking feeling when I see my reflection in a window or mirror. I see a friend looking back at me, and for years this wasn’t the case. This only changed when I started treating myself like a friend instead of some annoying pest that was constantly screwing up her life and doing everything imperfectly. Make no mistake, our thoughts define how we perceive the world, including ourselves.
I think this quote is so powerful and I almost did a dance when I read it over: “Never forget that once upon a time, in an unguarded moment, you recognized yourself as a friend.” I think this shows that when we leave our negative thoughts out of the picture and let our instincts take over, we will find that we love ourselves and that we see ourselves as a friend. Only when we let the negative thoughts ‘win’ do we start to entertain the thought that we are something else other than a friend.
Some questions today…Do you consider yourself a friend? Can you relate to the experience that Elizabeth had in the mirror? Have you ever had a shift in how you perceive yourself over the years?
The sunset shots are gorgeous.
I definitely have shifted on how I see myself. I have never really had low self esteem, but as I’ve got older I’ve seen the beauty in things I didn’t notice when I was younger. I’m much more confident too.
It took me a really long time to realize that I was the *only* person in the world I can fully control and be dependent on, and that I had to stop being my own worst enemy and become my own best friend. I used to be very self-destructive, I turned everything inward and always tried to hurt myself. I can’t do that anymore -I trained myself out of it by thinking “Well is this something you would ever do to another person?” Why am I not deserving of the same care, love, and respect from myself that I always give to others? Ever since I had that revelation I am no longer at war with myself, and I think me, myself, and I are becoming the best of friends.
Ilana- I like the way you ask yourself to give the same care & respect you give to others
I talk to myself a lot- whenever I think something negative I let the friendly part of me get in a good response. I can really recognize a change so I decided to do it with all aspects of my life. “I can’t write this memo, I don’t know what I’m doing” is responded to with “yes you can, just try you hardest. don’t be afraid to ask questions.” Not only has this helped me be happier w/ me but its giving me more confidence at work & school :)
Jen your self talk sounds alot like mine — negative thoughts start creeping and then I have to have a conversation with myself about why I am capable. It definitely helps build my confidence up!
what great words to hear! Thanks for sharing…
Did you put garlic in yours?? I HATE veggie juice with garlic. Blech!
Agreed! Drinking garlic sounds like something you do to gain access to a secret society!
I didn’t use garlic, but my friend swears by it in her veggie juice which is why I included it in the recipe as optional. =)
Mmmmm…homemade v8 juice is such a great idea!
I have caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror or store window before and thought, “Oh, she looks nice” before I realized it was me– and I would almost NEVER think that about myself consciously. I almost always find something to criticize or pick at about myself, and rarely just think, “Hey, you look really pretty.” Just goes to show how down we can get on ourselves, when, if we could be objective about the whole thing, we might realize that, all in all, we’re doing okay!
Ahhh, I’ve done this too!! Isn’t it stupid that when we think it’s someone else we can admit that the reflection is pretty, thin, nicely dressed, whatever? But as soon as I know it’s me, I laugh and immediately put myself down.
I did that on vacation a few years ago and it often stands out in my mind. I glanced at a half-mirror on a busy street and thought, “whose skinny legs are those?” before I realized I was looking at my own legs. It was surreal and such a clear reminder about how critical of myself I can be if I don’t keep an eye on it.
I like your hat!
I think my perception of myself is in constant motion. Not necessarily negative, but always changing. I like to think I have a positive outlook on life as a whole and that generally flows into how I perceive myself. Love life, love yourself!
I really need to pick up this book!
For years I have thought badly about myself, thought I was lesser than others, and had constant negative thoughts about myself. Just in the past year I have started to look at myself as I would look at a friend. I am so hard on myself and yet I would never say those mean things to anyone else. Why do I treat myself, my own body, my own mind in such a negative way?
Lately I have stopped some of those negative thoughts and I have to keep reminding myself that I am a person of value. Lately when I catch myself in the mirror I do not immediately think negative thoughts — I am proud of myself and proud of what I have accomplished.
In a way it is comforting to know that I am not the only one who has had these feelings, but at the same time, it is sad because I would never wish this on anyone. We can all only move forward and strive to do better. I feel I have made leaps and bounds in the past few months and I have great hope for the future. I will be my own best friend.
I can’t say I’ve had that same experience but boy have I changed the way I perceive myself over the last couple of years. I used to think I was worthless, a failure and wouldn’t amount to anything. But as I’ve started to take charge of my life I realize that all of this couldn’t be further from the truth. I had absolutely no PROOF that I was worthless or a failure. The only proof I had was that I was afraid. Afraid of life and the risks it takes to create a life that I want and DESERVE. It’s been a long trek and I still have days where I have to remind myself that I’m worth the extra time and effort but I am 100% happier than I was back then.
Yum, those always look so pretty. I wish I could learn to enjoy overnight oats. I do need to get a food processor asap. So I can make veggie burgers, soft serve, and all kinds of other things.
Oh goodness, that passage always makes me tear up a bit. I don’t even know why; it’s just SO beautiful. In the past, I’ve mostly focused on: “I’m here. I love you. I don’t care if you need to stay up crying all night long. I will stay with you…” etc. because I’ve been there before (haven’t we all?) and, whether you believe in God or another higher being, those words are very comforting and I’ve felt that “presence” before as well. BTW, I’m loving the Eat, Pray, Love discussions we’ve all been participating in! :)
for the longest time i considered myself my own best enemy…and i really believed it to be true. it’s amazing how an eating disorder can pit you against not only yourself, but the people who truly love you. i love this quote, and i think more than anything it rings true in the note she writes to herself…”I am here” is 3 simple words and one of the most profound things i’ve read in a long time.
thank you :)
Angela,
I finished EPL in June and I loved Bali the best, even though I have a passion for Italy as well. The book left me with a longing to get to “know myself” (still weird to say considering I’m only 26) deeper. Maybe someday I can explore this level of letting go and finding peace.
P.S.I love your blog!! You are beautiful!
What camera/lenses do you use? Do you use a micro lens for most of your close ups?? (I have a canon but my lenses kinda stink. :)
we have the canon Speedlite 430 EXII external flash. I also use a Canon 50 mm 1.4 macro lens. The camera is a Canon 30D :)
Awww, this post made me cry…(hormonal much, lol?) But I’m not really hormonal, so it must be real!
This hits home, because we need to be kind to ourselves, not criticize or pick at ourselves incessantly, which is what I tend to do. I’m becoming kinder to myself as I get older, and learning to age gracefully, having just turned 40.
I think that thinking of ourselves as a friend, rather than enemy can go a long way.
I have never thought of it like that but that really is one of the best things we can do – treat ourselves like a valued friend. Would we tell our friends they look fat or ugly or need to change X about themselves? NO! We need to extend that same respect to the only friend that will always be with us. We can’t get rid of ourselves so we must embrace ourselves. I am loving the things you are sharing from this book!
Angela, I have to admit that I got teary-eyed when I read this. I know the mirror situation all too well, but for a long time I was plagued by very negative thoughts when I saw the “other person.” I would mentally criticize her without even meaning to: “look at that posture! what is she WEARING?” and then after realizing the girl was ME… I would feel immensely guilty about my criticisms, and even worse about myself. The thought cycle fed into itself, and it took years to break. I think the concept of recognizing yourself as a friend is so powerful, and it’s a beautiful thing when we can do that.
I also love the Eat, Pray, Love discussion everyone is having. I hadn’t been very interested in the book before, but now that you’re posting the excerpts and engaging your readers, I can’t wait to check it out. Thank you!
This post could not come at a better time. I am having a terrible day at work and went into the bathroom to almost cry. Yet when I look in the mirror I know I am stronger than these people and that I will not let them get to me. I feel lost in my job right now but if I treat myself like a friend and not get mad at myself for not knowing what to do at 33 yrs old, then I will be okay. Thank you for this post. Love the EPL discussions. One of my favorite books and you are making me want to re-read it!
Your feelings about work sound just like mine. You’re not alone in that! I love that you looked in the mirror and were able to tell yourself how much stronger you are than those people who are making you feel like crap. This is exactly what I need to do next time I feel like I can’t hack it. Thanks! :-) You’ll get through it, just keep on loving you!
Thanks Katie! We will get through work – at least it’s almost the weekend!
I love that book more and more as you re-read it :)
What a beautiful quote. I absolutely cannot wait to read this book.
I am lucky enough to call myself a friend, but of course there were times when I didn’t. I hated my legs, my stomach, the way I couldn’t make decisions, my uncertainty. And I criticized myself often. After getting over this and becoming friends with myself, I now look back in awe at that old person. Of course we weren’t friends. You’d never tell your best friend that she had short fat legs! You’d never tell her to give up. You’d encourage her to take a risk, do what’s right, live a a little. And that’s what I do today. I treat myself how I treat my best friend. I am encouraging, forgiving, and most of all, respectful of myself.
You make me want to buy that book and I never had interest in it before. I guess I didn’t really know what it was about.
In that moment my brain did an odd thing- it fired off this split-second message: ‘Hey! You know her! That’s a friend of yours!” And I actually ran forward toward my own reflection with a smile, ready to welcome that girl whose name I had lost but whose face was so familiar.
So beautiful. I also liked what you said–when you realized it was you, you thought something negative, when just a few seconds before–you saw a beauitful friend.
I wish we could see ourselves all the time how others see us. As beautiful.
That’s a really interesting question and a hard one to answer. I think I want to be a friend to myself but sometimes I could do a better job of it. I put a lot of effort into my friendships with other people and should make that time and effort for me. Thanks for giving me that to think about.