Jewish Musings, Wednesday, August 28

[louise]

What’s on your mind — how to make kugel? This week’s Torah reading? Life goals? Prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.

Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:
Frieda (hopefully)?
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

And for those of you that stop by to read this thread without posting — you are welcome to, but you are also welcome to chime in. Don’t be shy!

[louise]

Trying to keep or perhaps regain my balance. I’m always disappointed when my behavior goes off track because of events. I don’t mean to over simplify – of course my behavior could be impacted – but I feel I should be able to hold on to my center. Something other than just “flight or fight” responses.

We’ve talked about this kind of thing before but that’s because real life keeps bringing it!
Tonight I had another shiva call. Also have spoken to my current synagogue president and a previous one about “that woman”. Apparently a number of families have expressed concern about us permitting her behavior, about not feeling safe, and so on. And I know how hurt my rabbi is. A fine kettle of fish this is.

The thing is not to eat over it. Duh!
Sometimes maybe the answer is resilience.
I think for me right now it’s grounding myself in my good habits – which have course fallen by the way side. I have been doing IF but not posting my food and am really erratic with exercise. I know that these things are my lifelines so for today I want to promise myself to do my workout in the morning and to log my food. That’s all I’m asking.

Ultimately I need to get a grip on studying my HHD torah readings and making HHD assignments but I think for right now I need to work on the basics to center myself.

What do you do to rein yourself in and/or steady yourself?

[lee058]

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well and SAFE! Please pray for Israel.

Re today's topic: Remembering to breathe and consciously relax my muscles are the most helpful. I have a bad cold and sore throat, and am working on relaxing. This is tough as I haven't been sleeping well for a few nights, but they do help.

Have a peaceful day, Lee

[hollygail]

Sometimes I get frustrated with DH's behavior. One thing that sometimes (not always) works for me is to go for a walk, even if it's only to the end of our row of units (there are 6 units in my particular row of townhouses) and back. I have no idea whether something similar might help you, Louise.

[gazelle18]

My most successful technique is distraction. It’s sort of a non-intellectual approach, but it often works for me. I have on occasion gone to a shopping mall or a Target store so that I can look at “bright shiny things” that aren’t food. I often have a series on tv or a list of movies I can watch. I like working word puzzles , especially on my iPad . Sometimes, these are “timed”, so the goal is to complete the puzzle within a certain time. It’s a distraction from food while racing the clock.

[peachymom1]

Distractions work well for me too, especially something that engages my mind, like a puzzle of some kind (on my phone or in a puzzle book). When I have Torah readings coming up, that is also a good way to focus the mind, and that might actually help you, Louise, since you'll be reading for HHD. There's something about the trope that helps bring me back to my center.

Another thing is counting my blessings. I know that sounds trite. But I think gratitude is a big help in pulling things back to the center. And I'm with Holly on movement too. A good workout is a great idea, but even just a few easy stretches, or walking in place while you hum a favorite song, can help too.

I stand by my offer to kick that person to Jupiter. Or was it Neptune???