Treasure Seeker Tuesday #7

Treasure Seeker Tuesday #7

by | Nov 22, 2017 | Treasure Seeker Tuesdays

I did some soul searching this past week. I am looking to find a way to support myself through my creativity. It is not going to happen overnight. I am writing books, and I make beaded jewellery, and I am trying to stay focused.

I have been trying to figure out how to put all the pieces together, and to get ahead. It is an ambitious goal, to be able to support myself by living out my dreams. I am working hard but wanted to explore another what if.

I considered looking into becoming a graphic designer. I am learning so much and challenging myself. I am building a website. For a split second, I wavered. I thought about how much easier it would be for me to tackle a project like that if I learned how to do things properly. If I had the knowledge, it would be easier, and I could advance my own website and launch a career with my own website being my social proof. It would be the best way to start a career.

I thought about it. Really, really thought about it. Hard.

I came to a conclusion. I do not need to branch off in another direction. I have found my passion and the best creative outlet. I need to write. I want to keep doing beadwork, but I need to write. I have been on this journey for a year, now. I have written consistently on the Blog, and I am aiming higher. I want to be a full time writer. I need to write, it is what I am supposed to do.

It is not the easiest decision because it is not going to happen overnight. It is going to take more hard work and dedication. It will try my patience and have challenges. Building a website has already presented me with a roadblock, that I put up myself. I had to sit with it, and sleep on it, and think about it. I have plans, and they will be tackled next month. This month I am writing.

Going in a different direction now would be a disaster. I have found something that feels right to me. It is a dream I had put away for so long that I almost forgot about it. When I started this Blog a year ago, it was to see if it was something I could stick to. Often I have taken on projects and put them aside. I have not stopped writing here, in fact, I have added more to it in this category. I am doing it. Writing consistently. Posting three times a week. Building on what I started a year ago, and proving to myself that it wasn’t another hobby. This is it. My calling. I am so glad that I took a chance and started something new. I am still being contacted by people for advice on how to start their own blog. I can only offer advice and honesty in return for the inquiries. I do know that if I can do it, anybody can. It may not be something that everyone enjoys doing like I do. It may not be someone else’s passion. But it is possible. I am not an expert, but I am having fun, and I still want to keep doing this. When you find out what you are really good at, you will know. If something else catches your attention, think about it, and make a decision. I know that I need to focus on what I need to do and stop being distracted by other choices. This is something I learned in the past year. I look forward to writing and sharing more of this journey here, on the Blog, and seeing where the next year takes me. It is going to see my Blog move to my website. That is something I am not ready for today, but I have the groundwork started and will be focusing on a new launch date, to be announced before it is officially moved.

Until then, I am writing a book for NaNoWriMo, and having a lot of fun with it. Writing in the different points of view of the cats I used to have has been a real trip down memory lane. Oops, did I just let the cat out of the bag? Yes, I am writing a book about cat stories, written as if they are telling the stories. At this point, every single word is breaking a record for the most words I have written with a book as the final goal. That is something that I am holding on to, whether or not I finish the 50,000 word count goal this month. I am going to do my best to pull it off by the end of the month. I still have time. I am also thinking about my fantasy trilogy, and writing notes to myself as they pop into my brain.

I am doing what I can to chase my dreams and catch them so I can make them a reality in my life. What are you dreaming about doing? What is stopping you from trying something to help you find your passion? I am Always Thinking…so if there is something that you want to say out loud to someone, that you want to put into writing, reach out to me, and I will help you if I can. I am finding something else that surprised me about this journey. People want to reach out, and ask advice. I may not know all of the answers, but I can tell you that if you are scared to ask questions, I’m not. I will ask for you if I don’t know the answer to your questions myself. It is something that I am known for. It is how I learn. The other big lesson I learned is to never give up. Being stubborn, it is a hard thing for me to do, to give up. Sometimes, it takes distance to reevaluate the problem, and then try it from another angle. Which I am working on right now in my book writing goals and my website building project. It will happen. It may take more than one attempt, but I have faith in myself that I will succeed. If you want to do something that makes your heart sing, be realistic in your expectations, and go for it. I am, and I am so happy that I took a chance on something that makes me happy. I want the same for all of you. If I can help, I will. All you have to do is ask. 🙂

#TreasureSeekerTuesday

Treasure Seeker Tuesday: Photo by Tish MacWebber; Photo Edited by Noa Price

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 36

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 36

by | Nov 3, 2017 | Trust Your Gut

 

Trust Your Gut is a series of stories about real people with weight issues, and complications arising from those issues.  It will explain what the person is facing, what their options are, what they have decided to do to take action, and why they chose the path they are on.  Each person’s story will be based on truth, so it won’t all be happy, but it will be real.  The goal of this series is to get people talking about options that are available for people who have weight issues, on either end of the scale.  If you would like to contribute to this series, there is a contact form linked on my Homepage for this blog.  I know there are people out there that want to help people like them; as I do.

 

The names here may or may not reflect the person’s real name.  If someone wants to remain unknown, we will choose a different name for that person’s story.  The goal is to help people, and anonymity is a valid personal choice for contributors.  I will use a person’s name only if they give permission to do so.

This week I am pleased to share another of my own stories.

Here is  Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 36

Well, I have good news, and bad news this week.  I went to the Doctor. Not because I was sick, but rather because it was time for a checkup.  I met my new doctor. Finally.  If first impressions are worth anything, I knew in the first minute I found myself a good one.  She seemed meticulous and genuinely wanted to get an idea of my plans in relation to my overall health before my checkup.  I needed to find a doctor that I could trust, again. My last doctor was good, but I think this one is going to be great.

The bad news is that I got weighed.  I am not at the all-time high from before, but I certainly am not in as good a shape as I have been in the past.  I am not following the plan, and I am visibly showing that to the world.

What is wrong with me? Why do I eat things that are bad for me? Why can’t I just lose weight and eat whatever I want to eat, like skinny people do?

I have health issues.  I have reasons, and I know that realistically, it didn’t add up overnight, so it will not be removed overnight, either.  I know in my mind that junk food is bad for me, and healthy food can taste good. But sometimes I pick the lazy way. Other times I self-sabotage. There are times when I just create excuses and choose to believe them, even though I know they are lies.  Chocolate and the monster have been prominent in the last few months.

I don’t know how long I am going to be in this slump. I do know that the number on the scale made me take notice.  It is a real number, one I can’t pretend isn’t an issue anymore by refusing to weigh myself. Avoidance is not a valid option when it comes to Diabetes.  I know that. I am having difficulties in other parts of my life, and something is holding me back from being the best version of myself.

Sometimes, you have to hit rock bottom before you can climb out of a slump and rise up to your next level.  Whatever I am going through in my personal life, I can’t eat it away.  I have to face it and deal with it. Head on.

That is not an easy thing to do. It is not an easy thing to think about, let alone to write about, to share with people. But it is going to help me break free and move forward.

Change is hard. I have been pushing my limits with my writing and my blog while keeping a day job and running on coffee.  I have been out of the multivitamins for a few months, now, and I plan to buy some again asap. They do help.

I got the doctor to change one of my prescriptions.  One of the side effects of the other medication was drowsiness, and I was having a hard time with it.  I know that I am a night owl, but I used to be OK with keeping up with my current schedule. I am starting to not do as well as before.

Maybe that was me tapping into the mystical energy people talk about having when they lose weight.  I have gone in the wrong direction on the scale, again, and that is definitely a factor. Being heavier means it is harder to do everything because you weigh more. It doesn’t mean I am going to stop and give up.

I need to do some soul searching, and find a reason to get things back on track.  I know I felt better, had more energy, and was happier.  But if things are not Ok on the inside, and I am spending some of the precious energy I do have in keeping up the appearance of being happy for the world to see, then I need to get to the root of the problem, so I can find a solution.

It isn’t easy, but it is necessary to propel me into my next level. The fear of wondering how bad my weight has become is not holding anything over my head anymore. I know what it is, and I know how it happened.  Now I have to find out why, so I can take the next step to working on my goals.  I have to keep telling myself that I am worth the effort, that I matter, and that it is important to make my health a priority.  It won’t be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.  Time to deep dive into my issues and make some changes.

#TrustYourGut

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 36

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 35

by | Oct 26, 2017 | Trust Your Gut

 

Trust Your Gut is a series of stories about real people with weight issues, and complications arising from those issues.  It will explain what the person is facing, what their options are, what they have decided to do to take action, and why they chose the path they are on.  Each person’s story will be based on truth, so it won’t all be happy, but it will be real.  The goal of this series is to get people talking about options that are available for people who have weight issues, on either end of the scale.  If you would like to contribute to this series, there is a contact form linked on my Homepage for this blog.  I know there are people out there that want to help people like them; as I do.

 

The names here may or may not reflect the person’s real name.  If someone wants to remain unknown, we will choose a different name for that person’s story.  The goal is to help people, and anonymity is a valid personal choice for contributors.  I will use a person’s name only if they give permission to do so.

This week I am pleased to share another of my own stories.

Here is  Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 35

Another week, another story.  Here I sit, planning a million and one things in my life all at once.  I have chicken breasts cooking with greek dressing as a marinade.  I have 3lb of ground beef to cook.  2lb for spaghetti sauce, and 1lb for Big Mac Salad.  I will use my spaghetti squash and zucchini when I eat my spaghetti.  Roy will have pasta.  He isn’t following the plan with me, but I must get myself back on track.  So I am planning meals again.

I am not making it to Zumba as much as I would like to be able to.  Transportation is my biggest issue causing me to miss it.  And a stomach bug this week did NOT help.  I am feeling better tonight and starting to look forward.  The weekend is busy, and having food prepped will help me be ready.

Big Mac Salad is something I love to make and eat.

It is really an easy recipe and can be found all over Pinterest.  I cook the ground beef, then add onion soup mix.  I use iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar, thousand island dressing, dill pickle relish, and to give it the BigMac without the bun garnish, I sprinkle sesame seeds on top.  When you want a BigMac, and you are trying to eat healthier, this is a great way to do it.

The idea is not mine, and like I said, there are many versions online, including the THM Trim Mac Salad which is found in the THM cookbook.  There are recipes that are completely from scratch for the dressing, but I prefer to just use the Kraft Thousand Island dressing.  It does the job.  They even have BigMac sauce for sale now in grocery stores now, if you are a hardcore BigMac fan.

The other thing I like to have made for the burger cravings is Cheeseburger pie.  That is a THM recipe that I make frequently.

You can find a recipe for Cheeseburger Pie at this link: Cheeseburger Pie Recipe

I am not the creator of either recipe, but I can recommend them both as delicious. I like to add tomatoes and dill pickles after it is cooked.  The recipe link shows it being served over lettuce.  I have yet to try it like that. ( I usually eat it straight up.) I also add ketchup and mustard. One time I made my own THM ketchup.  I would like to make it again sometime.  I am working on finding time to cook again, as I am not happy with the way things are now.

I will make cheeseburger pie another night, as I am going to do what I have to do and compromise.  So I am making spaghetti sauce and going to have it on my vegetables.  I am going to keep moving forward on my plan because I need to get going in the right direction again.

If you try the recipes, let me know what you think!

#TrustYourGut

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 36

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 34

by | Oct 19, 2017 | Trust Your Gut

 

Trust Your Gut is a series of stories about real people with weight issues, and complications arising from those issues.  It will explain what the person is facing, what their options are, what they have decided to do to take action, and why they chose the path they are on.  Each person’s story will be based on truth, so it won’t all be happy, but it will be real.  The goal of this series is to get people talking about options that are available for people who have weight issues, on either end of the scale.  If you would like to contribute to this series, there is a contact form linked on my Homepage for this blog.  I know there are people out there that want to help people like them; as I do.

 

The names here may or may not reflect the person’s real name.  If someone wants to remain unknown, we will choose a different name for that person’s story.  The goal is to help people, and anonymity is a valid personal choice for contributors.  I will use a person’s name only if they give permission to do so.

This week I am pleased to share another of my own stories.

Here is  Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 35

They say that the core muscles are where your strength comes from.  Mine hurt today.  I had an awesome Zumba class yesterday.  I didn’t feel like I worked out that hard, but I felt it last night when I was getting ready for bed.  I am getting ready to start pushing myself in the writing game.  This means I need to be active, or I will be a blob of goo in December.

I am not kidding.  I have fallen way off track this fall, and I am working on getting my head back in the game.  I need to put together a plan.  I have been talking about this for a while.  Thinking, not doing.  Sometimes it is because I have other things that take priority.  It happens to everyone.  This or that becomes a priority.

The next thing you know, there are so many things that are a priority, you get left behind.  I think that is what I am fighting with myself about right now.  The importance of me.

I still have not checked in with the scale.  I won’t do it until I am feeling brave.  That won’t be until I am making strides in the right direction.  I need to start wanting to track my progress.  I can’t do that to myself right now.  I don’t want to know how badly I have let things slide. I do want to pick myself back up and start wondering again.

I had some lows this week.  That is a sign that I am turning a corner.  When I am noticing that I need to lower my insulin doses again, it means that things are starting to work in my body.  I have found that I am not able to go with a Zero carb diet.  That is why I am positive that THM is the best option for me.  I am getting there.

Writing about it helps.  I am trying to inspire myself with my words.  I have accomplished so much two weeks ago and nothing of significance this week.  Except for the change in my blood sugars and getting myself to Zumba.  That means this weekend I have some work to do.   If I am going to be successful next month with my writing goals, I need to get serious about planning EVERYTHING out.

Time to make some lists.  Time to make some changes.  Time to make progress.  Last but not least, time to make ME important enough to be a priority in my own life.

#TrustYourGutThursday

 

Treasure Seeker Tuesday #7

Treasure Seeker Tuesday #2

by | Oct 17, 2017 | Treasure Seeker Tuesdays

Hi.  I am so glad that you took a few minutes out of your busy day to read my blog.  I am humbled and honoured every single time I get feedback and new statistics.  Every time you take time to read one of my stories, you impact my dreams. You reinforce my beliefs to follow my dreams and make them into a reality.  I am discovering my purpose here on this Earth.  I am so glad that I am making it happen, and I am just as happy that you are sharing my journey with me.

I have always had a creative spark within.  It was not enough.  I have worked on cross stitches, embroidery, drawing, painting, beadwork, knitting and crocheting,  and now I have rediscovered my love for writing.  I didn’t work on my writing very much since high school.  When I was in English classes, it turned me off writing as a career.  I had to read books I never would have chosen to read, then I was forced to find hidden meanings that were a stretch for me to believe.  I like things to be at face value.  I also like to be funny, punny and clever.  Dissection belongs in science class, not in English class.

After high school, I chose a path to science.  I started a pre-vet program.  I never made it to vet school.  I did finish my Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, with an Animal Science Degree.  It was an honours degree.  It took me longer than the average four years to complete it, but that makes me all the more proud to hang it on my wall.

I met my husband while studying for that degree.  We met through a group of mutual friends.  When we decided to start dating, things clicked.  We are happily married, and that is something that I can wish for all of you to find. Love.  It is an adventure that we all need to grab onto and hold tight when it happens.

If you are not in that kind of relationship at the moment, please do not despair.  It is not your time yet.  Things happen for a reason, and I truly believe that.  Your story is not yet finished, and it is up to you to get up every day and see where it takes you.

I did not find a job with my Bachelor of Science.  I went back to school and trained to be a Pharmacy Technician, who currently earns her living by working in a call center.  Is this the career path I would have chosen for myself ? No.  Would I jump at the chance to go back into the world of pharmacy? Absolutely.  I enjoyed using the scientific side of my mind.  It was a satisfying career choice.  But it was not the reason I ended up taking that course.

I believe that I was sent in that direction for another reason.  I learned how to mix IV medications and prepare chemotherapy drugs in a sterile hood.  My familiarity with working with needles helped me to adapt to having to learn how to give myself insulin.  Sometimes you need to figure out what led you to the path you are on, so you can decide if you want to keep on that journey, or find a new branch and follow another trail.

No matter what path you are on, it is up to you to learn what you can while you are there. When you have finished learning all that you can, if you are not still inspired to continue learning, it is time to try something different.  Even if it scares you.  When you do this you are pushing boundaries, and that is when the magic happens.

Now I am going to plant some seeds.  Something to think about for the week,  to help you on your own journey.  What choices did you make to lead you to where you are today?  If it was difficult, it was to make you stronger.  How did it do that?   If it was easy, why was that easy for you? What things do you love doing so much that you lose track of time when you are working on them?  Those are the things you need to investigate further, to see where they will take you.  Maybe when you do, you will find that you surprise yourself like I do when I am writing.

One last thought.  When you find yourself going two steps forward, and three or even five steps back, go with it.  Dance within the ebbs and flows of life.  Join me, and together we will make our own paths in this world.  One step at a time.

#TreasureSeekerTuesday

Treasure Seeker Tuesday: Photo by Tish MacWebber; Photo Edited by Noa Price