What has changed in 100 posts?
May 24th, 2008 by katesaltfleet
This is my one hundredth post, and I have been giving it some thought for a few days now. The by-line of this blog is “Improving my life one habit at a time”, so maybe time for some reflection on what has changed?
A journey not a destination
I don’t know where this originally came from, but I suspect it is one of those “Confucius he say…” quotations. This blog is definitely a journey and sometimes I feel like I am losing my way with it. When I think about it though, the meandering path of life is most interesting when we just experience it rather that try to micro-manage every single possible outcome. Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t take responsibility for our actions, far from it. And having direction in life helps you to decide which path to choose. What I mean is that you have to get to a point where if there is something you can do, do it, but if you can’t, then don’t worry!
Positive and lasting changes I have made since I began this blog have been:
Starting and sticking to an exercise regime.
Since January when I did the New Year thing of joining the gym, I’ve kept at it. I have juggled my routine around quite a bit, at the moment I am doing two exercise classes a week plus an extra gym session on a Sunday morning. I also try to get out for a walk most lunchtimes, and sitting in the park watching the world go by is like a little oasis of calm away from my computer screen and trying to help everyone who comes in through the door at all hours of the day. I am now a Volunteer Walk Leader and am involved with organising staff walks every week as part of our Health and Wellbeing scheme at work. Not only has this had the obvious physical benefits, but I’ve got to know other members of staff that I wouldn’t otherwise.
Cleansing
Last October I did a colon cleanse. Suffice it to say that it was an interesting experience to say the least. However, for me it wasn’t a question of crash diet, lose a few pounds, then go back to eating rubbish. After the cleanse, I couldn’t face eating meat any more. I had considered going veggie in a vague kind of way for a few months prior to the cleanse, but I resisted, mainly due to what I considered the “hassle”. Truth be known, it was more that I felt that people would think I was weird. Then I woke up to myself and realised that whatever you do, there will always be someone who has something to say, so let them say it and move on! Sticks and stones and all that.
I did quite a lot of research into how meat goes from being part of a cow to a burger. I didn’t want to go and watch the Viva videos, but part of me had to know the truth. Ignorance is not bliss. It hurt me a lot to watch some of the scenes of animal slaughter, and I had to turn away, but I had to know how these animals were killed in order to provide people with a short term pleasure. I didn’t want to be a part of it any more. I feel like the truth, though hard to take, has set me free from these scenes of torture. It isn’t about feeling smug or morally superior to anybody, I just feel like a burden has been lifted from me in that none of that is in my name.
I want my life to be a force for good in the world, in whatever small way it can. I hope that doesn’t sound too pompous! By removing flesh from my plate, I feel that veg*ism is congruent with that. It doesn’t make sense to me to sponsor an industry which profits from suffering.
Works in progress
I am still baby stepping in trying to clutter clear my house and keep it clean. I go through periods of doing the Flylady system and then getting overwhelmed with it. It does work, but you really have to take it slow or you burn out. This has been a useful lesson to me. However, I did unsubscribe from the emails - there were just too many and it was starting to drive me crazy!
Relaxation and meditation - I seriously need to get in touch with my inner self, I don’t know whether this is due to the cleansing of body leading towards a cleansing of the soul?
Developing compassion - I find it easy to be compassionate towards animals and people facing suffering and injustice when they are on the pages of Amnesty magazine or on the Viva website, but the people I deal with every day can really try my patience. I am working on trying to see things from their point of view and sending caring vibes to them, tough when sometimes they don’t seem to want to help themselves and just moan on to me. This seems to me to be the biggest challenge of all, putting my ideals into practice in everyday situations.
Where next?
Just keep on keeping on. It’s all anyone can do. The blog has been an interesting journey, and I’m sure will continue to be so. I just want to say thank you those of you who read, comment and write other blogs (you know who you are ;)) which have helped inspire me on this journey. I couldn’t have got this far without you.
Good overview! I’m enjoying following your journey, and I also unsubscribed from Flylady’s emails after a few days, they were making my blood pressure sky-rocket
My dad has worked with farmers his whole life, and part of his knowledge is what happens at the butchery — he says many of the things that happen there and the “treatment” of the cows are ghastly over-exaggerated. The media and Oprah will listen to the green-gooders, but how come no one wants to listen to the farmers anymore?!
@ HPP Cheers to you!
@ Copley - I’ve never been called a green-gooder before, thanks! I just watched the videos and made up my own mind. The scenes seemed real enough to me. I understand that not everyone wants to go down the veg*n path, but for me it is the right thing to do.
Hello My Lovely,
Empathy is quite a skill to learn and then to apply regularly in everyday work. I love the deep hole analogy… will waffle it at you sometime.
There’s no such thing as an unbiased perspective when it comes to emotive issues, such as slaughter for food. Viva’s lens is not something I am comfortable with, however a suggestion that all is painless and lovely as is sometimes spouted by slaughterhouses is clearly wrong also.
If you would rather not eat meat then simply do not.
If you would rather not eat animal based products then simply do not.
If you would rather not wear animal based products then simply do not.
We all have a perspective. We all have the right to an opinion. It’s about our expectations of others to conform to our stance that tends to lead to tension.
x
Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation
Anyway … nice blog to visit.
cheers, Threw!
“Improving my life one habit at a time.” What a wonderful sentiment. I usually try to do everything at once and wind up with a mess on my hands.
I agree with your sentiments about removing the flesh from your plate. I also agree with Hannah, that we all have the right to make our own choices. However, those choices should be informed choices. I think too many of us simply eat meat because we don’t know there’s anything else to eat. When we first became vegan, our friends and family woefully asked, “but what will you eat?” as if animal product needed to be the center of the plate. I admit, I was rather stressed feeding us for our first few months. Now it’s natural and the thought of eating meat is something I can’t stomach (pun intended).
Jane of VeganBits.com