This morning I was chopping up vegetables for an omelette and was thinking about this blog post and the last time that I posted an entry on my mental awareness journey. Furthermore, I was asking myself the following questions: Where was I at in terms of mental/physical fitness at that point in time? Where am I at now compared to that time point? How has my life changed toward living a more healthy lifestyle--exercising, nutrition, mental fitness, etc? To start with I finished the task that I was doing in the morning, which was chopping up vegetables for both an omelette and for a vegetable stew that Kayla would later make for meals to eat during the week. I definitely have changed for the better and am excited to share my progress with you in this entry. My hope is that you will read this and be motivated by the changes that I have made and start to ponder/implement positive changes in your own. Just to note--I wanted some time to pass before making a post to show that this was not just a brief feeling that would deteriorate but a lifestyle change for the better.
After reading my last post, I can see that I had just committed to giving up drinking alcohol due to seeking a change in lifestyle. Over the last year I had been injured a couple of times and had difficulty recovering to get back into exercising. I was lazy, more so than usual and just not feeling well. I thought that I might want to make a lifestyle change that is more in line with the values of this website--overall wellness. In light of that I decided to make a radical change and cut out alcohol all together. Usually, I like to relax with a few beers at the end of the day or include recreational drinking with activities on the weekend. Over time though, any vice can get too gripping and hinder one from achieving forward progress, which in June meant physical progress along with better mental awareness in my life. I had spoken with a couple of family members who suggested this change might be a positive addition to my lifestyle at the present time. So, I just decided to try it for a while and see what happens. Like anything in my life and along with my wife, we tend make dramatic changes and see where those changes take us (for instance, starting this website to document our change and show the progress of two people in society). Whenever there is change in one's lifestyle, one can expect varied reactions from family members.
Initially, my family was very supportive but skeptical. Some members did not believe that I could not drink at all. I find this amusing since I am pretty stubborn and when I make a decision I usually can stick with the change--especially when I am feeling the need to want to change. I sometimes will watch different clips of motivational speakers to see what common solution is offered for a wide distribution of people. My understanding is to change your mindset and incorporate the change into your personality. For instance, I decided along with my wife to start commuting to my work each day by bicycle and train. Our work subsidizes Metrolink train passes (monthly) for staff members that choose to commute by alternative transportation. Since Kayla and I now work at the same job, we can commute by bicycle or carpool, which is our new lifestyle. Save money--well not really since we have to buy the train passes. But the difference which is less than before but more than just carpooling together by car exclusively is an investment into our health. The reason is the exercise by bicycling to and from the train station morning and night from our house along with to-and-from the train station in Northridge to the University where we work. Four short rides each day roughly 1.3 miles each adds up per week. I cannot properly express the boost in energy that I have felt in just three months. Phenomenal is an understatement. Furthermore, as a result, I have returned to our monthly messages at Massage Envy in Glendale. My masseuse was validating the motivational speakers solution when I inquired about how to start becoming flexible. He stated, "First mike, you are flexible so do not say that you are not flexible. Once you have your mental outlook changed to -- I am flexible but would like to increase my flexibility, then change will happen." From that day on, I changed my outlook even when I do not feel flexible--don't tell him that.
The first change and progress since June was a mental change which led the way to a physical change of commuting to work by train and bicycle. Kayla was finished teaching over the summer when we decided to start using the train so we initally rode in 5 days a week. Again, just saying to other employees that I ride the train and planning your day around this alternative lifestyle was the first major change for myself and her included which paved the way to feeling healthier. I noticed that compared to June, I sleep through the night completely, unless I drink too much water. My sleep is better since giving up drinking alcohol. As stated in the last post, I have not woken up with the feeling of a "hangover" since June 15, 2013. Aside from a brief period in the end of September through mid October, we have been riding our bicycles additionally on the weekends to our weekly commute by train which is 3 out of 5 days. Additionally, we have decided to try to be carbon neutral and ride our bicycles to the farmer's market over the weekend to get groceries. There is a small Armenian grocery store a quarter to a half a mile from our house that we can walk to in order to get milk and vegetables also. These are the changes that we have been making over the last four months and I can tell you that there is a noticeable -- physical as well as mental change that is happening within myself. I am astounded at the difference. Sometimes I am scared that this is too good to be true.
I should say that these changes might not work for everyone. Each person should find what works for themselves. An additional benefit of riding the train is that on the weekend, we ride for free. Last month, my family was gathering in Newport Beach to have dinner on a Saturday night. I decided to keep with the tradition of carbon neutral or minimizing my footprint with travel so I rode the train down to the city of Tustin and rode my bicycle to Newport and spent the night in a hotel after dinner with my family. Now I should explain the importance of this dinner. I had not seen any family members since I stopped drinking and started exercising in June. The response was overwhelming and my outlook on handling family gathering with out introducing drinking was amazing. My sister and brother-in-law were floored and said they were amazed that I rode the train and bicycle down. My response to them that they could do the same with a little effort. I will expand on this blog in the coming days since I feel like to write about all of the changes in one blog might be overwhelming. In addition, properly documenting progress is where both Kayla and I are headed towards through learning how to make more positive changes in our lives that are sustainable.
I will end all of this rambling on with a suggestion....start a routine that is geared toward a more healthy lifestyle and try to see how you change. At first you might be skeptical of the change, which is normal but over time this positive change will turn into a habit that is easy to maintain. I will write more on my progress and not so long of posts in the future. Have a great remainder of a Sunday.