Category: blog

What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?

I am an early riser. I was never that way, but after being in the workforce and commuting to work early, my body now has a time clock for early rising.

I don’t think it makes me healthy or wise it only makes me long for my bed every morning.

I rise at 4 am. and do my devotions, exercise, and then jump in the shower. I get breakfast, and if I have time before I rush out of the house, I play with my dogs.

I can’t sleep for more than six hours 30 minutes. If I get seven, I am doing well. I get in bed at about nine or nine thirty. I try to shut my thinking off, but my mind is still going on overtime.

On my days off, I do my regular six hours, then stay in bed to add more to my sleep. Most days it works great, and I get up refreshed. I usually can’t go over seven hours. I get headaches and feel foggy.

But I take naps in the middle of the day to recharge my mind and body.

What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?

There’s nothing like a good afternoon nap to fire up those little gray cells. We work hard, and we play hard at times the body needs to slow down and take a break. If I could take a quick nap after eating lunch or on the train ride home, that helps me to feel relaxed and comfortable.

In the morning, I need to stretch, or my body starts to protest. A good stretch not only rebalances my body and stretches my muscles. It helps to soothe me so I can walk and run with ease.

I also take time to dream. Day dreaming can be so peaceful leaving a smile on my face because I am in control of my situations. That is cool.

When I do these things, they make me mindful of my blessings, and I give thanks to the Lord.

What are you most excited about for the future?

My goal is to live well in the future. 

What I consider well is having good health, financial freedom, and companionship because I need some socialization and finally a life that pleases the Lord.

I don’t think I need to expand on what I just wrote. It is as simple as can be.

How do you express your gratitude?

I like to say my thanks to a person I know has shown me kindness. Sometimes a simple thanks is not always enough, so I my send them a note or give them a simple gift. The gift does not have to be expensive it could be as simple as a coffee and a sinfully good pastry. Yum.

Mostly, I bring them up in my prayers and ask the Lord for a special blessing for them.

When I think back on acts of kindness in my life, I remember that person or the act itself because I may not know who did what for me. When I remember, I smile, and I give thanks for that moment.

Have you ever had surgery? What for?

It was my day off, and I was just hanging out watching the morning news when things started looking wavy. I blinked several times, but nothing went back to normal.

I was petrified.

Long story short, I had a retina problem that had to get fixed. Again, what did that mean? Was I going blind?

No.

They fixed me up, and now I am better. Several appointments and follow-ups later, my eyes are good and getting stronger.

After a lot of prayers and walking by faith, I can say thank the Lord

What are your daily habits?

Wake up and thank God I am alive and doing well.

Pray and read my Bible. Exercise, then jump into the shower. Get ready for work if it is a week day.

Yes, my life is as dull as dish water, but little or no events are all good to me. Moving on autopilot is okay too.

After work, I return home to play with my puppies. So much energy, yikes!!!

They help me to relax after a long, hard day at work.

Another habit I am trying to cultivate is taking time to be mindful and just shut every thought down and sit quietly, taking deep breaths. It also helps me to relax.

Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

To have a sustainable lifestyle, I believe it is best to begin with me.

Life is so fleeting. As the Bible says, it is like a flower that blooms and then withers away; it is, at best, very brief.

Nevertheless, a sustainable life should be a life well lived.

Exercising to maintain a healthy body and eating right is important.

Taking time out of my schedule can be difficult, but if I work at it, chipping away even 10 minutes in the morning with mobility stretches, then in the evening, some cardio or weight training it all adds up. Little increments every day make a big difference.

I try to eat right by adding vegetables into my meals, even at breakfast. Mostly, I drink more water every day. Water is so important for the body. It helps to flush all the toxins out of the body, helping to keep the body health.

I try to get a good night’s sleep, but that is a challenge at times. But I am working on it. When I get less than six hours, it becomes hard to concentrate at work and to pay attention. My responses are not as sharp as they should be.

I try to learn something all the time. I love learning it works my brain, so I read and take art courses online.

Finally, I spend time with the Lord every day. In quiet time, I read His word and get my instructions for the day from him. He is my counselor, where I pour out my thoughts and all that is in my heart. He speaks to me deep in my soul, and He sustains me throughout the day. He is my guide and protector. Without Him, a sustainable life is impossible for me.

What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?

My sister makes a great creme brulee. So good.

I love the presentation in a cute ramenkin container with the top slightly charred from the mini torch. I could see her firing up the torch, then putting it over the surface of the custard with the sugar just waiting to be singed. It is cool to see the sugar bubble up from the heat and hear the slight crackling sound of the crust carmelizing and hardening.

Then, when the top is solid, I take a dessert spoon and break the hardened top. It is like breaking a thin surface of ice.

I press down past the broken chars of sweet caramel and dip into the rich creamy custard.

I lift it to my mouth and devour it morsel. As the rich cream hits my tongue, the smoothness of the sweet velvety cream coupled with a hard bit of caramel top is joyful.

She does a good job with the custard because it is not eggy tasting but smooth, like creamy fresh homemade vanilla ice cream but not vanilla ice cream but with the same richness.

This is one of my favorite desserts. Unfortunately, that sister of mine has not made it in years.