Skating Uphill - October 2019

Living a Healthy Lifestyle

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#BeCreative and Leading a Healthy Lifestyle
is an oxymoron, right? Well, No!!
– The Uphill Skater –



I have been advocating a healthy lifestyle in this column for years, and I hope you understand that creativity, newness and imagination are not only a part of a good health formula, but essential to the whole picture. Having the same old thoughts, the same old food boredom and the same old drudgery of a daily routine are not only sworn enemies of creativity, but also of good mental and physical health, too.

How can we avoid the unimaginative rut and use creativity to work toward being our best selves? I tend to substitute, or define the word creative in two ways: I like to use the words change and imagine.

With that in mind, let’s look at some things
that are very easy to change...

Let’s start with breakfast: I am in the fruit, yogurt and mixed nuts rut, which is healthy, but sometimes dairy isn’t great every day. I read many magazines and watch food shows on TV, so I know avocado toast is now the new good-for-you, go-to breakfast. A slice of Dave’s Killer Bread™ (60 calories, thin sliced with 21 whole grains) half a mashed avocado, topped with half a hard-boiled egg is an instant rut breaker. If you use your imagination, you can change it up by adding a spoonful of mango salsa or sliced tomatoes or black olives on top and now you are in creative breakfast heaven, with the rest of the boiled egg and avocado as a start for lunch.

Ready to create a new style: I just went on a girl’s trip shopping excursion thinking about spending lots of dollars for new fall fashions. You guessed it, change is good, but why not mix and match, or more to the point, re-mix and don’t match your wardrobe?

I, like you, have more than one pair of black pants. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but this fall consider changing up what you pair with them? Wear a blouse with a Tee-shirt or tank. Tie a scarf around your waist, or better yet, make a bandoleer over your shoulder and tie it at your waist. Hang a big piece of chunky jewelry artistically on your pocketbook instead of around your neck. Wear an earring, bracelet or ring on a big chain. Wrap and re-wrap beads into a bracelet. Put a scarf or long chain in the loops of your jeans and tuck in all around. Take a look in your closet not with the intention of getting organized, but to reimagine your fashion statement.

Look at your total surroundings?
I have written several times about how your surroundings are a vital part of your total health and mental attitude. One of the definitions for the word create is to change, so what can be changed? The quickest way to lighten, brighten and change the mood is a coat of paint, giving you a big bang for your buck.

New furniture is always fun, but if you’re on a budget, it may not be feasible right now. No worries, there are plenty of free and fun things to do. Move the furniture around, take the bedspread out of the guest room and put it on your bed, using it as a start for your new bedroom look. Download pictures from your phone gallery and send them to the corner drug store for development. Then go out and buy decorative frames and you’ll have a super start. Many stores also have cute throw pillows galore, which does the trick on adding a new splash of color or whimsy. Don’t be afraid to #Becreative!

Imagine the possibilities:
We now have shown ourselves that there are options to get out of your ruts and drudgeries just by adding a little creative change. Create and imagine both lead to the greatest challenge, which can be summed up in one word: RETHINK! Try looking at something from a new perspective.
Look for a different solution to an old problem. Re-evaluate a toxic friend or companion. Return those new size 8 pants you bought purposely too small, and just get the size 10. Breathe…it’s easier in the 10s! Getting a new hairstyle is a good idea for fall, or maybe change up your color. Let your hairstylist move you forward and lift your look.

Finally, here is a challenge for you: Try looking at something from another person’s point of view. The old “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” saying still has a lot of merit. It may be hard to do in today’s polarized world, but #becreative means just that—try to see things through another person’s eyes. Listen more than you talk, and maybe the other person will do the same.

What a concept!!  Love, Judith

Visit www.skatinguphill.com blog for new recipes, daily thoughts and décor ideas.
Also find reprints of Pink articles and shared comments. Blogging is fun and easy.
Look at my blog and maybe you will want to try it yourself!

Judith Lawrenson is a former Hilton Head Island resident who has a huge heart and is loved by all who meet her. She has served and volunteered with numerous charitable organizations while living in the Lowcontry making an impact wherever she went. She and her husband recently moved to the wild hills of West Virginia to be closer to grandchildren. Judith is an avid sailor, a retired reading resource specialist, and a children's TV host whose local show originated from the Boys and girls Club. Judith is also a long time seeker of healthy, happy living and a lifestyle dedicated to service to others balanced with love of God and love of self. Check out her BLOG www.skatinguphill.com for fun info, recipes and nutrition ideas, current updates on nearly everything in the world, and lots of comments and opinions.

 

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