Lauren vs. Stress Is A Constant Battle That I Often Lose

I never knew just how stressed-out I could be until I started teaching...

Some would argue

(including myself)

that I have always had the "stress-ball" personality trait. 

Examples?

#1 
Not being able to sleep for months my first year at Tennessee because I was so worried 

about not performing to standards and losing my rowing scholarship.

(Of course, this did not happen. In fact, I was on a full ride after that 

very year because I HAD surpassed my own goals - good girl, Lo)

#2 
Living abroad and not having any money - hah! 

Now that WAS stressful!

I remember being able to only afford chocolate and bread 

for weeks...
And of course, my roommates would make these Suisse meals that
smelt  AMAZING - ugh!

But I had too much pride to ask for a small helping

or show just how hungry I was.

In the end, it all worked out.

I  found a job (my first teaching job actually)

and fell in love with work, which helped me stay overseas longer than expected!

(And it might have helped that I had an awesome man friend at the time

and an amazing rowing club that I adored!)

#3
 Rowing for the National Team. 
As FUN and EXCITING as it was, it stressed the HECK out of me.

From making weight to thinking about the hard workouts to come.

Of course, when you get on the water that all falls to the wayside 
and the thrill of the boat moving was enough for me 
(let alone the INCREDIBLE teammates and coaches that surrounded me)
but 

MAN - OH - MAN

the build up of STRESS that I created - Sheeeesh.

(And in truth, I was never very good at doing one thing at a time so I liked

to work on the side, or volunteer, or take courses at Uni...)

But those were all for GOOD reasons.

Why am I still such a stress-ball?
***
No kids.
No health issues.
No debt.
No rashes...yet.
***

I dunno.

Will get back to you when I know.

Until then...this might be insightful:

I went to the supermarket this morning. I was really hungry.

What do I want for breakfast? Salty? Sweet?

Something light and quick or something filling?

Eggs and toast, maybe with an avocado sliced on top? Bean tacos? A cup of coffee and a hearty cookie? A muffin? Maybe chai and fruit!

I really, really want something, but I don’t know what.

A woman is standing in front of me drinking a chocolate protein drink. I ask her if it’s good.

"It’s the most delicious protein shake I’ve ever had", she says.

I grab one, open it and take a big slug. As a food lover, I never would have thought “I want a protein shake” but it’s creamy and thick and satisfying and I feel like my whole body is thanking me for choosing just what I needed.

This is what life is like.

I don’t know what I want.

Instead of feeling angst about this, which makes me feel inadequate, nervous, fearful, stressed, closed off, I have learned that not knowing what I want is a gift, not a curse.

It keeps me receptive, open and ready to welcome the perfect thing.

Written by: Dushka Zapata

https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-most-memorable-cultural-shock/answer/Dushka-Zapata

To sum up?
(How do I continue to NOT feed this stress-ball personality trait?)

1. Drink coffee.

2. Colour more often.

3. Drink more PINK lemonade 

(both alcoholic and non-alcoholic - HAH!)

Remember to play ~ MUD is a great TOOL for play.

(Just saying)

Or...perhaps just play dress-up more?

(Clearly, I should have been a doctor!)

Did I mention drink a LOT of coffee?
That always helps my DE-stress.

GOOD PLAN LAUREN!

P.S.
Any suggestions, comments, advice, or complaints are welcome!

Constant Motion = Potentially BETTER Thinking (I need all the help I can get)

Science FACT.
(And perhap the answer as to why I 
have to go for a run and/or exercise
when stressed or need time to think)

When we run or do exercise, 
we actually think more clearly.

TRUE STORY.

From the Magazine "Scientific America" the research suggests that,

Research shows that when we exercise, blood pressure and blood flow increase everywhere in the body, including the brain. More blood means more energy and oxygen, which makes our brain perform better.

Another explanation for why working up a sweat enhances our mental capacity is that the hippocampus, a part of the brain critical for learning and memory, is highly active during exercise. When the neurons in this structure rev up, research shows that our cognitive function improves. For instance, studies in mice have revealed that running enhances spatial learning. Other recent work indicates that aerobic exercise can actually reverse hippocampal shrinkage, which occurs naturally with age, and consequently boost memory in older adults. Yet another study found that students who exercise perform better on tests than their less athletic peers.

So...anyone want to go for run?
I need to clear my head and get over this jetlag-drunk-feeling.

Argh.

Yup - I Face PLANT Like Everyone (harrrrd)

So, I did something stupid.

Really stupid.

I ran without shoes and destroyed my feet.

Wait...what!?! 

Will you at least let me explain myself?

I can feel your judgments already.

Sigh*

It happened yesterday.

I wanted to "ride" up this hill on my new-amazing

bike and so BOOM!

Had the whole thing planned out!

Had my water bottles?

Check.

Had my bike?

Check.

Had my PUMP-IT-UP-MUSIC and PODCASTS?

Check.

But I had a bit of riding to do before I got there and so when I finally did get there...

....my legs would not go.

WHAAAAAAAAAT???

Okay-okay, explain yourself Lauren.

In other words?

Explanations that could be used as evidence to support my failed attempt:

1. Being out of shape

(Ummm, yeah. Most likely. Hate to say it but this gurrrl 

is still trying to find her biking legs - argh!)

or 

2. Falling halfway up the mountain because I tried to "clip-out"

(Bad move, DO NOT clip-out on a steep hill,

just keep going!!!)

or 

3. Road block in my head and had TOTALLY

psyched myself out.

(Which happens to most people, especially this guy!)

So what is a girl to do?

What would YOU do?

More importantly, what would RHIANNON do?

RUN IT OF COURSE! Why?

I was so angry.

So disappointed in myself.

So upset that I would not get to climb this amazing HILL!

I MEAN COME'ON!!!!!

So, I problem solved.

I found a place for my bike at the side of the road.

I took off my biking shoes.

Got my music pumping.

Picked a number I liked, which was four. Clearly.

(Because that is a great number and one of my favourites)

And decided to run all the way up and down that hill,

not stopping until I was finished the job.

Boom.

However, 

there was one thing I kinda over-looked.

While I was repeating a quote that I had heard in a great book called,

"Born to Run"

“Think Easy, Light, Smooth, and Fast. You start with easy, because if that’s all you get, that’s not so bad. Then work on light. Make it effortless, like you don’t give a shit how high the hill is or how far you’ve got to go. When you’ve practiced that so long that you forget you’re practicing, you work on making it smooooooth. You won’t have to worry about the last one – you get those three, and you’ll be fast.” 

  

Quote is from a man named Caballo Blanco

My feet were getting absolutely destroyed and 

so big and mushy that

I thought 

(while making the hour long ride home after the run)

 that I should cut those blister open and let them breath, right?

NO!

Never a good idea Lauren!

Leave blisters alone when they are one

the bottom of your feet!

ESPECIALLY WITHIN HOURS OF GETTING THEM!

Argh.

And so, that was dumb.

A stupid self-diagnosis and/or surgery gone WRONG!

And the result?

Far too painful.

Normally I would say stupid things like, 

no pain no grain,

or

hurt so good,

or

Love it, HECK YEAH!!!

But

Traveling with sore feet is the worst.

And airports are CRAP when you have to walk a lot

and have REALLY-REALLY sore feet.

Double Argh.

Shall we review?

I battled the beast and lost harrrd.

BIT-THE DUST.

Calder Road, you win.

I lost.

Good fight.

YOU WIN!!!

Until we meet again.

SO...YEAH.

I Always "TRY" and Listen To My Tea

Sometimes, I don't need any advice at all.

I just listen to my tea...and smile.

Last real night in Canada.

Sigh*

Spoiled ROTTEN!!!!

LAST Tip for Dummies: How to NOT Miss Someone: Lesson 5 (FINALLY)

Missing a person(s) is never any fun.

TIP #5.

Exercise the power of positive thinking!!!

Example?

Ugh.

Do I have to take the baby for another walk?

Sigh*

Well, at least if I get hungry I can nibble on this delicious,

tender, little-packed-with-protein thigh.

SCRUMPTIOUS!!!

Need another example?

When you are looking at something?

A banana?

Your bike?

The hair on your own face?

Try to appreciate and notice the little things.

(a.k.a. all those little details that we NEVER really spend

time looking at...appreciate those imperfections)

Taken at an art gallery in Istanbul, last summer.

Almost missed the details because I was too "busy" trying to 

RUSH through all the different exhibits - hah!

Another example you say?

Well, how many times have you HAD to work when the sky

is bright blue and the sun is shining high?

It sucks.

It sucks balls.

So why not pick a CUTE, COMFY, COZY area to work 

with some green around you?

And for my final example of positive thinking 

helping you NOT miss people(s)

(Because let me tell you IT SUCKS to miss people when

you are actually with PEOPLE you love)

Double Sigh*

When with a bunch of kids in the forest, remember to look...

...UP!!!!!

Because you can MISS things when you don't look up!!!

That concludes my silly-tips from Lozzalu.

FREE OF CHARGE.

SO...yeah.

Back to normal life blogging.

HAH.

Tips for Dummies: How to NOT Miss Someone: Lesson 4

Missing a person(s) is never any fun.

TIP #4.

Surround yourself with people under the age of 7 years old.

(Preferably as MANY as possible)

WHY?

Because those little farts 

will keep you BUSY all day and all night!!!

Example?

It starts with a SLIP and SLIDE...

Which then turns into MUD slide....argh!

(Psssst - notice where that cute little skirt is from!?!?)

The deer didn't even like the mud, 

she sat FAR-FAR away from the "Mud-slide"

So then EVERYONE needs a bath.

And of course, that requires bubbles so let's use all the bubble bath liquid, shall we?

Sigh*

Awesome.

Then there are the walks...the "baby" walks.

(A.k.a. I can only get him to stop crying if we walk before bed)

The last time this happened, we walked for two hours.

Ohhh right.

Never forget the baby-carrier. 

NEVER!!!

(I have never been so sore the following day)

To sum up?

Lauren, do you miss anyone?

Who me? Miss who? What!?!

WAIT, come again?

Miss WHO?!?

BA - HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA!

You won't even have time to think.

BOOM.

Tips for Dummies: How to NOT Miss Someone: Lesson 3

Missing a person(s) is never any fun.

So what can you do to make the time go by?

TIP #3.

Tape/produce/write or star-in a cooking show with your SISTER!

Every year Rhiannon and I get together and have a little cooking/food critic show.

Always crazy FUN but hard WORK!

This is the latest show that Rhiannon and I put together,

again it took HOURS to tape.

Why?

Because Rhiannon is a bit of a camera hog and 

she has to have her hair just right!

Ugh.

THIS IS PROOF!!!

She did that on PURPOSE!

Always HOGGING all the camera time.

UGGGGH sisters!!!

And when I tried to explain how I felt and how this hurt my feelings, 

you know what her response was?

So much attitude.

Pfffft. 

Little sisters are the worst!

(Technically we are twins but I am TEN MINUTES OLDER!!!!)

PART 1 - GLUTEN FREE GIRLS

Time to clean up set and get new hair and MAKE-UP done!

As always, Rhiannon was so-so difficult!

PART 2: QUINOA WEIRDNESS

Rhiannon and I taste test KALE-QUINOA salad....

and last but not least...DESSERT ANYONE!?!?!?

PART 3: BOSSY BOOTS

Although we have our disagreements on the show, pretty sure there is nothing but love

between Rhiannon and I.

(The proof is in photos below)

Maybe those AREN'T the best examples

however, 

I can't help it if she resents me because I am CLEARLY the 

older,

and much wiser,

sister!!!

To sum up?

To NOT miss someone, I suggest 

starring, 

producing,

writing,

and eating in your own cooking show.

(Preferably not with your jealous twin sister although she makes me

smile throughout the whole process)

LOVE YOU RHIANNON and THANK YOU!!!