Hummingbird Update

 

They’re back! This morning three of them came to the feeder. I know it’s getting close to them migrating south for the winter, but I’m happy to enjoy their last days here. 

Gravity

 As much as we like to think that we are in control, the reality is that there are many factors that we have no control over. 

The other day I found my hummingbird feeder laying on the ground covered in ants. The command hook it was attached to have slowly lost its grip, and gravity had done its due. 

I picked it up, brushed off the ants, and made some more hummingbird syrup. Except when I attempted to hang it back up I realized that it was leaking. Something had broken in the fall, and I knew I needed to purchase a new feeder. 

I had to wait until later the next day to make a trip to Tractor Supply to pick one up. The next day I hung up the new feeder and waited for the hummingbirds to return. 

Sadly, I didn’t see any birds and wondered if they would return? Eventually I saw two come close to the feeder but then flyoff. So far they have not returned to feed. 

Are they hesitant to try out the new feeder? Did they think the food source was gone since it was missing for a day? At this point I have no real answers, but am holding out hope that they will eventually come back. 

What I do know is that when it comes to nature I have no real control. I know that it was getting closer to having to take down the feeder as the hummingbirds begin their migration in early fall. I knew that I would certainly miss them, but would look forward to their return next spring. 

As much as we like to think we are in control there really are some things that are out of our hands. 

Update: The new feeder fell down twice in less than 24 hours so I returned it to Tractor Supply, and bought the original feeder from Walmart. It’s hanging outside now, but so far no hummingbirds. I’ll let you know if any return to feed. I did see two hummingbirds fly by to check out the first replacement feeder, but they did not stop. 

Problem/Solution

The other day I was listening to Dave Ramsey, and he pointed out that, “You are the problem, and you are the solution.” 

This hit me like ton of bricks. Generally my actions and reactions cause the “problems” in my life. And remarkably choosing a different action or reaction could be the “solution.”

What do I actually have control over in my life? If a thought comes to mind, guess what I can choose to change my thought patterns. If my actions don’t result in the desired results I can try something different. 

My problem has been out of control eating and weight gain. My solution is to use my WW app to get back on track. I’ve had three good days so far. Sometimes for me that’s all it takes to get the ball rolling. 

I know that attending live WW meetings is not realistic for me, but there is no reason I can’t join a virtual meeting. The problem isn’t not knowing what to do, the problem is actually following through. 

I know that a month from now I could be stuck exactly where I am now, or up another pound or two, or down to my desired weight. I really don’t have that much to lose. 

So I’m going to grab onto the power of problem/solution, take the bull by the horns as they say and get ready for day four. 

What problem are you causing, and how can you be the solution?

 

Change Your State

 Dr. Edie asks, “Have you ever had this feeling that you’re just living the same day over and over again?”

If this is true it’s based on the fact that you keep repeating the same thoughts. These thoughts create similar feelings, and you are caught in a loop of thoughts and actions. 

Remarkably, though, all of this is within your control. Just yesterday as I drove to babysit my grandson I heard Dave Ramsey say, “You are the problem, you are the solution.”

These thoughts that you refuse to let go of, these thoughts that you cling to all determine how you approach life based on the feelings they produce. But if you begin to rework those thought, new feelings will emerge, and this will result in a fresh state of mind. 

How could you challenge yourself to shake things up? Why remain the problem when you have control over the solution. I have found in the past that when I have control over my eating I feel more fulfilled in other areas of my life. 

I’m not so down on myself, and take pride in knowing that I can do hard things. This often opens the door to me trying other new things. 

Changing your thoughts results in changing your actions which then may set in motion environmental changes which all results in changing your state of mind. 

What changes do you need to make?

Change Your Environment

 

According to Dr. Edie Wadsworth, podcaster of House of Joy, “A different environment is a different way of seeing things.” 

Changing your environment can lead to big changes. I’ve noticed over the years that traveling to new places often results in a new perspective on life. My trip to Boston in 1976 totally changed the trajectory of my life. A recent trip to Florida brought to my attention something that was holding me back. 

However, it’s not always realistic to pack up and move to a completely new place just to initiate change. Sometimes it’s as simple as rearranging something in your home to make things work more efficiently.

Last year for my birthday I asked for a small portable desk to set up in the guest room. Although, I loved having a room designated for guests, it really didn’t  get that much use. I set up an area to do crafts and write with a beautiful view of the front of our property. By changing the environment I’ve spent more time doing things I enjoy. 

Probably my biggest challenge with environment is a place that we call Snack Central. We have a large walk-in pantry that holds most of our groceries, but I keep snacks in a smaller cabinet closer to the living room. I fill it with snacks I know my grandsons love, however it’s close proximity to tv watching makes it a little too easy for me to snack. 

I have moved some of those snacks back to the larger pantry, and that has helped some. Of course, not bringing them into the house in the first place makes the most sense. 

Sometimes when things become automatic, and we do them by default due to the ruts we have formed in our brain we need to shake things up. Take some time to do a walk through in your house, and see what you might be able to adjust to make it easier to accomplish the goals you have set.

How could you change your environment to help facilitate change in your life?

Change Your Actions

 The tie between thoughts and actions is that by changing our thoughts to a more positive or compassionate spin we can become more motivated to change our actions. 

Continuing to do the same thing repeatedly, and expecting different results is as they say the definition of insanity. 

For me actions are the harder part of the deal. I’m more comfortable in my head, and have a tendency of getting caught in a thought loop. Even though, I may know what to do I’m not quick to act upon it. 

I use the excuse of not being highly goal oriented, and shy away from the accountability that comes with setting measurable goals. I’m an all or nothing kind of person so I’m not drawn toward small goals. Even though, I know from multitudes of research small goals can add up over time to success. My habit is to power through until I can no longer. 

As I think about why I am so hesitant to act I have to wonder if I allow my thoughts to sabotage my good intentions. I’ve never been highly competitive, and I wonder if that has more to do with sitting on the sidelines to avoid failure, humiliation and embarrassment.

You know nothing ventured, nothing gained, but nothing hurt along the way. 

As I’ve reviewed my thoughts about weight loss I wonder what small action I could put in place to get the ball rolling as they say. Rather than step on the scale very first thing each morning( which generally sets the mood for the day) maybe I should take the actions of Weight Watchers where we only weighed in weekly. 

Rather than trying to figure out what to eat in the afternoon maybe I should come up with an action that would take my mind off of eating. To be honest I can’t say I’m actually starving, I’m probably more bored than anything. 

And also I think I need to take better action on getting the proper amount of protein (which I’m finding is easier said than done). By eating enough protein you end up more satiated, and don’t find yourself craving sugar and carbs between meals. 

I used to think I was a real loser when it came to self-control until I made the connection between eating protein and feeling full longer. 

So if I’m wanting to get different results, I need to change my actions. I need to make a list of possible, realistic actions that can catapult me out of my rut. 

Next I’ll be exploring how changing your environment can lead you in a new direction. 

Change Your Thoughts

 Dr. Edie Wadsworth, creator of Life Mentoring School, writes and speaks about changing your thoughts as a way to get the life you want. 

She implores us to take ownership of those thoughts, and to then change the thoughts that hold us back. 

As I mentioned before, “A rut is a well worn path. We form ruts in our brains and they become our default thinking.”

As I thought about my ruts I knew I needed to identify what I was actually thinking and feeling when it came to my weight?  What emotions were I covering up out of shame for having them?

Using an emotions wheel to help me name them, I made a list of what I had been feeling. Included in that list were things like discouraged, ashamed, guilty, disappointed, tired, unmotivated, frustrated and finally helpless. I wonder if any of you have ever felt this “weigh” when it comes to your weight journey?

Then I used a technique that Dr. Edie uses called Of Course… What this entails is taking each emotion and pairing the words “of course” with it. This enables you to name the feeling without judgement. 

Of course you feel discouraged. Who wouldn’t feel this way? It’s a way of being kind to yourself, and giving you a glimmer of hope that you are not so unusual in the way you feel. 

After naming each emotion, and then stating “of course,” you need to just sit with that emotion for a while. Let it resonate, but don’t try to fix it at that moment. There will be time for that later. The idea is to stop beating yourself up for how you feel, or more importantly stop suppressing how you feel. 

Now getting back to the idea of changing your thoughts. You have to realize that you are stuck in a thought pattern. Because you have thought this way for so long your brain just continues to think the same way. Remember it likes to conserve energy. 

Keep reminding yourself that, “I have the choice to think this way or not.”

Wadsworth reminds us time and time again that, “When we change our thoughts we change our feelings.” It’s important to acknowledge our emotions, and allow those emotions to pass through us like the waves of the ocean. Sometimes they come in crashing hard, but they always return peacefully back to the sea.

Next let’s address how changing our actions can help us out of our ruts. 

Ruts vs Routine

 I’ve written about ruts before because I have a tendency to fall into them. My need for order and routine often results in doing the same thing over and over again. And you know what they say about doing that and expecting different results…

As it turns out ruts become paths in your brain which just makes life easier. It takes less energy, and really no decision making to keep following the same path. Now most of the time I think about ruts having to do with the familiar path I take each day I babysit my grandson. 

However, I’ve been struggling once again with weight gain, and I’ve come to the realization that I am in a rut, and just like a rut in the road I’m pretty much stuck. Every morning I weigh myself to see if I’m good or bad. As I get ready for the day, I review in my head the possible approved meals for breakfast and lunch. And then come around 1:00 I’m completely off the rails eating whatever I can rustle up in the pantry or fridge. Of course, then I feel like the biggest loser, but not in the weight world. I give up, usually eat a pretty normal dinner, and have something later to tide me over until morning. All the while feeling pretty down on myself. 

And guess what? The whole thing starts over again the next morning when my feet hit the scale. Needless to say, at this point I’m feeling pretty bad. I’ve lost and regained weight so many times in my life it’s feeling pretty hopeless, and my motivation to do it again is less and less. 

As I was reading a blog post by Edie Wadsworth( Life{in}grace) entitled How to Get Out of Your Rut I learned several things. Dr. Edie has a way of putting things in perspective that can help you live the life you really want to live. She begins by reminding us that, “Ruts are really ruts in your thoughts.” She’s really big on connecting our thoughts to our feelings and actions. 

In other words if I can change my thoughts, I can change my actions. And remarkably I actually am in control of my thoughts and have the power to change them. We have to make a conscious choice to think the way we want to. 

Wadsworth lists four things to facilitate getting out of your rut:

Change your thoughts

Change your actions

Change your environment 

Change your state

 As I begin to change my thoughts I will begin to take new actions, and consider ways to change my environment. This should result in a change of state. Let’s get to investigating my thoughts. 

New Favorite Snack

 I recently came across a new snack which I’ve become obsessed with.  Years ago when I did Weight Watcher I remember them telling us that if we paired a fruit with a protein that would make for a more satisfying  snack. 

In doing so I’ve paired my apple with almonds, cheese sticks, turkey sticks and peanut butter. These were good, but this new snack beats them all. 

All you have to do is mix about two big dollops of non-fat plain Greek yogurt ( My favorite is the H‑E‑B brand) with about two teaspoons (more if you like) of powdered PB2, plus a drizzle of raw honey, and a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips. (I’m thinking about trying the Lilly’s brand next time.) Add a shake of cinnamon. 

Stir this all together, cut your apples into thin slices and enjoy. You get the crunch of the apple, the sweetness of honey, a slight peanut butter flavor and a hint of chocolate with each bite. 

Yummy! 

Do you have any protein snacks that you enjoy?

Excitement

 I’ve been giving some thought to emotions lately. As I pondered “excitement” I realized that I rarely found myself excited anymore about much of  anything. I guess my adult sensibilities have gotten in the way. That actually made me feel sad. As I pondered my  three year old grandson and how he responds to excitement I couldn’t help but feel envious. 

When he gets excited he balls up his hands into two little fists, holds them both close to his chest right under his chin and squeals with delight.

I’ve been emulating him just in fun  because I think it’s so darn cute. But now I realize that maybe looking at the world through his eyes with childlike wonder might help reawaken my own excitement gene. When I follow his lead and mimic his excitement pose I do find myself feeling more excited. 

It wasn’t too long ago that we arrived home after a 4th of July fireworks show( which I must say got pretty exciting at the end) and as we entered through our gate we were welcomed by a flash of white. Along side our son-in-laws six black cows was a tiny white calf. Totally unexpected! 

Now we were caught quite off guard since Will had told us that the mommas would be calving in September. Right before we had left for the firework show Chuck had thought he saw something down in the pasture. We looked again and didn’t see anything thinking maybe he’d seen a coyote or a wild hog. 

I must say coming upon this unexpected surprise was quite exciting. That and the fact that it was pure white, considering it’s momma and the five other cows were jet black. The contrast made it even more special. 

I was giddy when I called Will to let him know about the new arrival. He was perplexed as well about the timing of it all. Just this morning as I left I couldn’t help but smile when I saw the little white bull. He’s so darn cute! Maybe being excited has more to do with being open to excitement, and responding to it like a three year old!

The Olympics

 

The grandsons spent the night this past weekend, and in honor of the Olympics we held our own event. 

Prior to hosting I ordered a set of medals and inflatable torches. I already had a set of mini American flags. At Walmart I picked up a portable corn hole game and some orange field cones to set up some races. I covered a paper towel roll with black construction paper for a baton.  I purchased a package of golden Oreos and fruit roll ups to make an Olympic snack.

Chuck suggested having some Gatorade on hand for hydration. I asked Brittany to dress the boys in red, white and blue and downloaded the Star Spangled Banner and an opening song (NFL football) to be played on Chuck’s stereo speaker. 

I also happened to have three step stools that were perfect for awarding the medals. I found a Pinterest craft that we made after fixing our snack. All in all the preparations were a lot of fun as we anticipated the games. 

Now I must admit when you add a three year old in the mix everything did

 not go smooth as silk, but what the heck, a good time was had by all!