New Lyfe!

SO! Changing my life! I had an eye opening experience this weekend - went away, hung out with a lot of new people, and was a completely different person for a couple days. I realized I need to change. This, whatever I'm doing here, sucks. I realized, rather, realized again, that if I push myself into a uncomfortable situation, I usually have a great time. I am normal, I just don't most of the time.
So, I wanna change. Pushing myself into things is not my favorite, so I'm gonna do it slow. I figure, if I can work on my body, get that comfort and confidence with myself, it will carry over to my mental/social life.

SO MY PLAN:
Eating:
Get salads from whenever I go for lunch and dinner, yogurt parfait for breakfast. Fruit, veggies and hummus for snacks. NO COFFEE, NO CANDY.

Monday: yogurt parfait from yesterday. tea, take in mug. Stop at d.c. and get salad and snack. eat salad in logic. Eat snack in mythology. Stop at d.c. again for dinner salad.

Tuesday: Parfait from yesterday, tea. Stop at healthy living for healthy lunch, or salad at marche. Get salad for dinner and 2 parfaits. Eat dinner after plant bio.

Wednesday: repeat monday.

Thursday: Parfait from yesterday. After pottery, pick up lunch and dinner salad, one parfait.

Friday: repeat wed/mon - but eat during painting period in cyber cafe.

Saturday/Sunday: varies, get food at marche. parfait for monday.



Exercise:
Workout vids for 1 hr, one every morning.
Monday: yoga class.
Sunday: yoga class.
Swimming once a week: after pottery or after counseling.



Well, this plan's a work in progress. Like me!




Summer

Maine Farm

Just read the book "Maine Farm" by two lovely people whose names I can't remember - but their book had me in tears. The descriptions of their beautiful, simple, fulfilling life reminded me so much of my childhood and the kind of life that I would like to make for myself in the future - it was all too overwhelming. The photos were absolutely stunning and I could relate to every single one of them. Although I didn't grow up by the seacoast, the climate and everything is pretty much the same, so it leads to a very similar farming experience. I do think living by the Maine seacoast would have even more benefits simply because you would have all the resources (and beauty) of the sea at your front door; seaweed for fertilizer, seafood, beach plants for wild edibles, and most of all, you could SAIL! Maine is by far one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I can remember sailing around the Maine islands with my grandfather on his beautiful Concordia wooden sailboat, each island more beautiful than the next. Then, a couple of years later I did a sailing trip with some kids my age and visited an island that was one of the most captivating, beautiful, amazing places I ever seen in my entire life, the words I write cannot begin to express it's sheer... amzing-ness! Roque Island I believe it's called, and the whole thing's owned by a couple of wealthy blokes who have hired some nice people to build and take care of a farm there. When we rowed ashore, we saw beautiful ponies grazing in the beach grass right on the dunes. The island was enchanting, and totally sustainable, green, organic everything. They let us eat some of their carrots too. It was my dream for a while to pack up and work there... and that dream is starting to come back I think.
All I know is that I am goddamn sure looking forward to getting out of here for a while a starting something new.



-Summer

Being happy.

I found a wonderful wesite called "Zen Habits" and I really agree with all the stuff they say. One post is called "6 Practical and Powerful Ways to Overcome Depression"(link here). After I read it, I found myself thinking back to it all the time and realizing how true it is, and how these steps can, and have made my quality of life a lot better, even though I am not depressed. That's the best part; these steps are the universal way to improve quality of life in general, not just cure depression. And it really works.

I'll give you an overview:

1. Get outside
2. Aerobic Exercise
3. Omega-3 fatty acids (aka eat well)
4. Sleep
5. Socialize
6. WATCH YOUR THINKING!



This guy is a genius. Really guys, follow these steps and you will 100 times closer to The Good Life.


-Summer

I would be happy for the rest of my life if I lived here.

-Summer

Is there really a question?

-Summer

The Good Life

The Good Life, a phrase coined by Helen and Scott Nearing, the pioneers of the back-to-the-land movement. It means a life of happiness and self-fufillment. It can be argued that this is the goal of every person on the earth, to find happiness, and this might be true, but they often take the long way around and do wrong things to get there. And often never get there. But I firmly believe that true happiness and fulfillment comes from a life of simplicity, where one has time to focus on their soul, and really get to know their inner selves. It is only when you have find peace within yourself that you can find your place in the world and know your purpose.

Some examples of Good Lives:

The life of the Nearings themselves. Cannot get better than a farm in the woods to find peace. Many say going back to the land is more of a spiritual journey instead of a simple lifestyle change.

I would think it a blessing to be deserted on a beautiful, untouched tropical island, not corrupted by modern society and where you would be free to live a simple life, surrounded by breathtaking beauty everyday.

Frances Mayes' Bramasole... 

To live in Tuscany is one of my great dreams. I've spent many a day daydreaming over Frances Mayes books on her vibrant life in Tuscany. Tuscany has beauty, history, art, FOOD, and small farmhouses in the hills where one could plant a garden and be happy for the rest of their life. And being warmed by the Tuscan sun while pondering life... paradise.

With your girlfriends, living on your own terms in a little bungalow on the beach, while getting tanned, blond and buff at the same time...

Haha LET ME EXPLAIN - that shot of Sam riding her bike over the bridge to their adorable little trailer and boat, literally feet away from the ocean, I picture myself as her every time. 

Theres something about the beach...

On a different note...

Buddhists have a lot of great ideas... Zen, enlightenment, living in simplicity, and although I don't know a whole lot, it seems like a great life.

Aaaaaand my favorite book of all time: this life is the one for me, I mean it. Traveling the country, meditating, meeting new friends. The mountain him and Japhy climb, to them it is symbol of enlightenment, inner peace, everything I want to find. 

Not to mention, it sounds like they have great parties.

But the best life of all... is home.

Why is good food so hard to find on a college campus?
I guess nothing comes easy, you gotta work to make yourself better. Health is one of the best things to work on.
But what kind of place encourages eating of things that harm you, your body and mind? Why can't good food be more abundant....

Another point for the good life.

Words to Live By