Happy New Year!
I am not a New Years person. I am generally one who hunkers down and is in bed before midnight and have never been one for resolutions. But this year I'm doing things differently*.
Last year was a tough year. I think for most people. I'm not sure what it was, but it felt like a year of a lot of change. And I think it was tough because coping with change is tough. In global ways with the #metoo movement gaining momentum sparking friction in gender politics and in local ways via Grace Millane's murder making more Kiwis aware of our atrocious rates of violence**.
On a personal level 2018 brought many changes too. It was a year of conflict, and a year where I had
no choice but to learn how to manage conflict differently. That it's just not possible to please everyone all the time. That sometimes it is best to just put your energy where it is needed most, where it most resonates with your values. That choices come at a cost but that cost is necessary. I learned conflict is part of life and I have to learn to live with it rather than let my fear of it consume me.
Most folk know endo, when I was diagnosed
with adenomyosis I had never heard of it before.
2018 also brought me new health diagnoses which, whilst not a total shock, have been a struggle to come to terms with. I have been reluctant to make the changes necessary to best manage myself due to no reason other than choosing to prioritise short term happiness over long term wellness. Whilst I think this is an understandable response, it was certainly not the best response in terms of health.
And when my mental health started to fall by the wayside, an understandable result of processing such big changes, I had to make sacrifices in my art practice to get my health back on track. This meant opting out putting on an exhibition of recent work. It was a difficult decision to make, but definitely the best decision***. In spite of all these changes and health crises I still managed to write one short story a month as I set out to do at the beginning of the year. And I managed to get one of those stories published.
So while 2018 was a hard year, it was a productive year. It was a year with a steep learning curve. It was a year of struggle precisely because it was a year of change. And change is hard for all of us. But change is important. 2018 taught me that even though I might not feel like it, I can be quite resistant to change - both positive and negative. For 2019 to be a better year I need to stop resisting. I need to start to work within the change.
And quite simply, when I weigh up the importance of all the facets of my life the two most important things are my family and my health. And without my health, I cannot do what is best for my family. So this years focus will be my health. It feels weird not having an art project to work on, but I have to shift my thinking and view my health as one of my projects.
I also have to do this slowly. I have a tendency to run gung-ho into projects and plans and then lose steam shortly after starting. This needs to be different. This needs to be a sustainable plan for life.
So, simply, my plan is this: to put in place three small things every six weeks that will be beneficial to my health. Six weeks so I can focus on just those things. Six weeks so I can build a habit and maintain those habits before I begin working on forming new ones. Six focused weeks of small changes.
To start with I am doing the following:
LOVE this yoghurt!
So far I've maintained this change for a week. I've managed this by doing things I know will work for me. I changed up my breakfast from GF toast with ridiculous toppings to muesli with probiotic yoghurt and fruit (currently blueberries - thank you Summer!) which also gets me a headstart on the 5+ quota. To increase my vege intake in other areas I've started making a simple carrot and lentil soup, and when I feel hungry I just have half a cup of that which contains about two servings of veges. And I have started trying to have an afternoon fruit snack - I am better at doing this when I'm at work. Just that gives me 4 serves before dinner.
It's a huge change for me. But by just making little tweaks it's achievable which means it's hopefully a change I can maintain. It's only been a week but I have managed to do these three small things every day. And that's because they are just three, simple things.
And I already feel better! Eating more fruit and veg plus drinking more water has helped me be a bit more regular in the poop department which in turn, takes the pressure of my painful lady organs.
On the tail of a tough 2018, I think making three small changes to better your life is not a bad idea. It might not be 5+ a day for you, it might be about watching less Netflix or reading more books. But if you do want to try my delicious carrot soup (because it is super delicious) I have the recipe below for you. Like the rest of this years plan, it is very simple.
Carrot and Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
A sprinkle of chili flakes
1Tbsp olive oil
300g grated carrot (about 3 large carrots)
3/8 of a cup of lentils (I use red but brown is better on your tummy)
500mls vege stock (I use Massels, vegan and gluten free)
1/4 cup of milk or coconut milk
Directions:
1) Heat a large pan to a medium high heat. Add the cumin seeds, turmeric and chili flakes and toast until fragrant (about 1 minute). Add the oil and ginger and cook a further minute until you can smell the ginger.
2) Add the grated carrots and lentils and stir through until coated in the spice mix.
3) Add the stock and simmer on medium low for about 15 minutes until the lentils are soft.
4) Take off the heat and stir through the milk. Let cool for about 15 minutes
5) Blend (I use a stick mixer) then season to taste.
This makes about 750mls of soup, so about 6 half cup serves of soup.
* Not the New Years Eve part. A last minute invite meant I did attend a party (next door), but due to codeine was drunk after just two large glasses of wine, so went home around 8pm, ate toasted sandwiches and was asleep by 10pm. Great way to miss out on all the fireworks.
** It still saddens me that a foreign, white, pretty, privileged girl had to die before this happened given that this happens to women here on the reg but hey, if it helps change our culture of violence I'll take it.
*** I was struggling with basic social interactions at that time. The thought of hosting people that were assessing my work was definitely not something I could have managed well.
**** GF toast with mustard, cheese and cucumber
I am not a New Years person. I am generally one who hunkers down and is in bed before midnight and have never been one for resolutions. But this year I'm doing things differently*.
The metoo movement has actually been around for more than ten years now.
It was the Weinstein allegations and Hollywood that popularised it last year.
It was the Weinstein allegations and Hollywood that popularised it last year.
Last year was a tough year. I think for most people. I'm not sure what it was, but it felt like a year of a lot of change. And I think it was tough because coping with change is tough. In global ways with the #metoo movement gaining momentum sparking friction in gender politics and in local ways via Grace Millane's murder making more Kiwis aware of our atrocious rates of violence**.
On a personal level 2018 brought many changes too. It was a year of conflict, and a year where I had
no choice but to learn how to manage conflict differently. That it's just not possible to please everyone all the time. That sometimes it is best to just put your energy where it is needed most, where it most resonates with your values. That choices come at a cost but that cost is necessary. I learned conflict is part of life and I have to learn to live with it rather than let my fear of it consume me.
Most folk know endo, when I was diagnosed
with adenomyosis I had never heard of it before.
And when my mental health started to fall by the wayside, an understandable result of processing such big changes, I had to make sacrifices in my art practice to get my health back on track. This meant opting out putting on an exhibition of recent work. It was a difficult decision to make, but definitely the best decision***. In spite of all these changes and health crises I still managed to write one short story a month as I set out to do at the beginning of the year. And I managed to get one of those stories published.
So while 2018 was a hard year, it was a productive year. It was a year with a steep learning curve. It was a year of struggle precisely because it was a year of change. And change is hard for all of us. But change is important. 2018 taught me that even though I might not feel like it, I can be quite resistant to change - both positive and negative. For 2019 to be a better year I need to stop resisting. I need to start to work within the change.
I am so loving watching these two grow up.
I want to be here with them as long as possible.
And I need to do that simply.I want to be here with them as long as possible.
I also have to do this slowly. I have a tendency to run gung-ho into projects and plans and then lose steam shortly after starting. This needs to be different. This needs to be a sustainable plan for life.
So, simply, my plan is this: to put in place three small things every six weeks that will be beneficial to my health. Six weeks so I can focus on just those things. Six weeks so I can build a habit and maintain those habits before I begin working on forming new ones. Six focused weeks of small changes.
To start with I am doing the following:
- Eating a healthier breakfast
- Drinking plenty of water
- Eating 5 + a day every day
LOVE this yoghurt!
It's a huge change for me. But by just making little tweaks it's achievable which means it's hopefully a change I can maintain. It's only been a week but I have managed to do these three small things every day. And that's because they are just three, simple things.
And I already feel better! Eating more fruit and veg plus drinking more water has helped me be a bit more regular in the poop department which in turn, takes the pressure of my painful lady organs.
On the tail of a tough 2018, I think making three small changes to better your life is not a bad idea. It might not be 5+ a day for you, it might be about watching less Netflix or reading more books. But if you do want to try my delicious carrot soup (because it is super delicious) I have the recipe below for you. Like the rest of this years plan, it is very simple.
Carrot and Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
A sprinkle of chili flakes
1Tbsp olive oil
300g grated carrot (about 3 large carrots)
3/8 of a cup of lentils (I use red but brown is better on your tummy)
500mls vege stock (I use Massels, vegan and gluten free)
1/4 cup of milk or coconut milk
Directions:
1) Heat a large pan to a medium high heat. Add the cumin seeds, turmeric and chili flakes and toast until fragrant (about 1 minute). Add the oil and ginger and cook a further minute until you can smell the ginger.
2) Add the grated carrots and lentils and stir through until coated in the spice mix.
3) Add the stock and simmer on medium low for about 15 minutes until the lentils are soft.
4) Take off the heat and stir through the milk. Let cool for about 15 minutes
5) Blend (I use a stick mixer) then season to taste.
This makes about 750mls of soup, so about 6 half cup serves of soup.
* Not the New Years Eve part. A last minute invite meant I did attend a party (next door), but due to codeine was drunk after just two large glasses of wine, so went home around 8pm, ate toasted sandwiches and was asleep by 10pm. Great way to miss out on all the fireworks.
** It still saddens me that a foreign, white, pretty, privileged girl had to die before this happened given that this happens to women here on the reg but hey, if it helps change our culture of violence I'll take it.
*** I was struggling with basic social interactions at that time. The thought of hosting people that were assessing my work was definitely not something I could have managed well.
**** GF toast with mustard, cheese and cucumber
