Shirley, Goodness and Mercy...and Aunt Stasia

With all the best intentions, my first week of preparation for the 5K revealed the need for refurbishment. My partially-met goal was a week of seafood and 50% raw plant-based food, for 2 meals a day. Coach Gayle and I had a conversation about this, creating a positive re-frame for the coming week. This led me to understand something about using different strengths to find success. In searching for inspiration, I found some wonderful support.

And so it happened, then, that I got up and went to the kitchen this morning to make seafood-based lunch. That’s exactly where I found the inspirational quartet of chefs, Shirley, Goodness, Mercy, and Aunt Stasia. We worked happily, preparing tuna salad, chopping crunchy raw veggies to mix in. We seasoned with vinegar. And so, we prepared the core of lunches for several days. No waiting until lunchtime when I’m too tired and too hungry to fix tuna salad. Because I had such lovely company, it was done, not with pain, but joy.

What different strengths did I use? I considered the VIA Signature Strengths found under the category of “Temperance: strengths that protect against excess.” I was surprised to find “Forgiveness and mercy” as the first on the list! Next came, of all things, “Humility,” then “Prudence” and “Self regulation.” But those two I expected.

Here’s what I learned. I’m angry and have some gaps in forgiveness that give me an appetite to get even!! I’m never full, as vengeance creates a hole in me. So, positively speaking, I can write the offender’s name in the center of a page, write some words describing the hurt right under the name, and enclose them all in a big circle. Next, I can draw 15 (!) circles around the center one, and fill them with the “Goodness” things about that person. Mercy plugs the hole, appetite-wise!

Humility comes next. I found that I have to be humble enough to bless me along with the food, not seeking lime-light, but rather being modest in receiving kind feelings about myself. This fills me up and makes portion control a non-issue. My real hunger is for “succor.” And that is exactly where Aunt Stasia re-enters the inspiration. She is my model of humility, but more so, the very one I think of first when I think of blessing me.
Surely (aka “Shirley”) goodness and mercy (...and Aunt Stasia) will follow me all the days of my life.

Progress

Dear Folks: Things are looking up. Here's a word of encouragement. Just returned from a fast weekend trip to Orlando. What's changed? Seems the JetBlue seats have gotten bigger and the seat belts are more generous. Oh wait: am I smaller around?

Well, last time visiting FL, in late April, I was using a little electric scooter chair to get around because I couldn't walk very well. I also needed a cane. Pain management was hit and miss, and I was eating "lefty." Every struggle issue of April past has improved. Rejoice, folks! Rejoice for us all! With your help, I'm walkin' around like a trooper. The secret? Same as yours: just keep swimming. Say, don't tire of your good work. Steady trembling knees. Strengthen weary hands.

How are you folks doing? Are you giving Team Nemo a try still? Send us all an encouraging word. The new school year has started. Lots of schedules have changed. But do let's try to make that goal and join each other in January. That will be a victory worth a medal, whether or not we cross anyone else's finish line.

Speaking of which, this weekend three of us reached an intermediate goal of significance to us: we are now light enough to ride a Segway! We had a short trial run. FUN!! It was a prize! Losing those particular "Segway pounds" meant so much. High 5s to the three riders in the wind!

Tell us, have you reached any special goals on your way to January's 5K? We could all use a good narrative from you.
With love and blessings,
Avec amour et joie,
V

More from Team Nemo

OK, Bloggers. Time to give high-fives and 3 cheers to those Bloggers out there who are training hard for Team Nemo and the Jan. 9th 5 K at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

First, special shout-out to a Gimpy Blogger who just keeps swimming to rehab a foot boo-boo so she can run the Marathon at Disney that weekend. Another big pat on the back goes out to two Bloggers who are training together every morning by walking for an hour, up and down a big hill!! They are braving all kinds of wild life to do so, including deer and wild turkeys. (Easy there, Tiny Mittens. I meant the fowl, not the adult beverage!) Another Blogger had been doing major strength training until the temperature soared, walking through the sand, taking some of her men-folk along, too! Cheers to you! By the way, she carries a big stick to help climb the dunes! Just amazing! Two other Bloggers are also training together, doing a version of The Biggest Loser boot camp at the gym at least two or three times a week. AND, glad to report, my heart rate walking on the treadmill is down from 164 bpm to a lovely 112 @ 3.0 mph!! Yay! So, I haven't heard lately from some of the other Nemo enthusiasts. How are you doing? We can do this together.

As you can guess, like Gimpy Blogger, I just keep swimming, with a bunch of treadmill-ing as well. I am going after C.R.P.S. symptoms with all my might, faithfully following my home physical rehab prescriptions. The knees and shoulder/neck are improving. The right hand is still a problem. But, at least I "don't have hooks," as a guidance counselor once told one of my handicapped students. (No kidding.) Talk about ultimate downward comparison!

If you are planning on joining those going down for the Marathon Weekend, (please do!), here's a web site you may want to check out. Those registering can also get room rates and a Parks ticket package as well. I understand some people plan to bring down playing cards for apres race gatherings. This could work.
http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/marathon/listing?name=MarathonEventListingPage

Jeannie has designed a really neat Team Nemo shirt, as you probably already know. Maybe she could send you the link.
We can do this!