half-way up the mountain

Posted by Melissa Baumgart

Before the breakdown on the mountain.

I woke up this morning feeling renewed and motivated, sort of.  I described it to Amy as the feeling I had of being half-way up that mountain when we were backpacking. Tears and mosquitoes covering my face, the weight of my backpack feeling heavier and heavier with each sob, the mountain steep ahead of me and nightfall quickly upon me...I HAD to keep going.  I had to find something inside of me to overcome my intense desire to give up.  Life has felt dark the past couple days, mostly my own negative thoughts and perceptions being the ever growing steep mountain terrain ahead.  Today I will find that small bit of strength inside to keep going, to change my attitude and keep on climbing out of the darkness.

Healthival Update:

I started my Healthival a little early, so I'm a few weeks in.  The first two weeks, I went to yoga 4 days each week.  It felt good to be back, sweating in the heat, stretching my body and my mind.  Even just typing that makes me realize how much I'm missing it since I have not been to practice for over a week.  Tomorrow I will return to yoga and my intention is to go at least 4 times a week for the rest of Healthival, and through February, until our 30 day challenge in March. 

I have been keeping up with Paleo, mostly. 

I drink half and half in my coffee every morning, because duh...to me, it's not worth drinking without half and half.  I keep a half gallon in the fridge, and I'm the only coffee drinker in my house.  I once quit coffee for a couple months and when I went back I decided I would never make that mistake again. 

I was out on Sunday night and was offered pizza.  I declined.  After a drink at this amazing little speakeasy style bar in Belltown, Bathtub Gin, I decided to indulge in what was touted by my date as "the best pizza in Seattle" at Rocco's.  It was a delicious slice...crispy crust and light sauce, but I still prefer the atmosphere and spicy NY slice at Big Mario's in Capitol Hill.  I didn't feel guilty at all for going off paleo for that slice. 

I've also decided that I'm calling corn a vegetable, and damn it, I can eat popcorn!  Amy told me last night that corn isn't a vegetable, it's a grain.  (I looked it up and the UC Cooperative says that it is classified by botanists as a fruit.)  I still feel crushed by that news.  My whole childhood I was taught that corn was a vegetable, and in fact, for kids it is often a favorite.  Chosen to be eaten first above green veggie counterparts like broccoli and spinach.  Oh well.