#selfcare for everyone

Hello dear reader, it’s been a while! The busyness of summer is coming to an end, and the busyness of back to school is in full swing! This is the first September in 21 years that I am not heading back to school, and I have to admit, it’s odd. Normally, back to school forces us into a new routine – we must change our schedules, re-evaluate habits, and set goals for the new (school) year. So, even though I’m not headed back to school, I am taking stock of my habits, re-affirming my goals, and taking time to invest in my best self!

Last time, Jen talked about two of the cornerstones of self-care – diet and exercise. These are two forms of what is sometimes called “active self-care” – things that we must actively choose to do and commit to, in order to take care of our mental and physical health. Healthy meals will not magically appear on your plate, and exercise requires consistent investments of time and effort. These two pieces are something I have struggled with over the years, but this month I am finding a renewed energy, giving just a little bit more in each workout, and being more conscious of what I fuel my body with.

In the age of Instagram, #selfcare has been co opted and commercialized, especially for us women. We are sold green smoothies and early morning yoga classes, bath bombs and fancy face masks – always enticed to splurge in the name of treating ourselves. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love carving out time for some intentional and luxurious skin care, and I had a green smoothie earlier today. But don’t let the 19.3 million instagram #selfcare posts fool you – self-care needn’t be glamorous. Sometimes it looks like throwing on those old workout clothes and dragging your butt to the gym with smoothie in hand, and sometimes its a baggy sweater, a glass of wine, and Netflix with your favourite person.

Above all else, listen to yourself and your body, and trust that it knows what it needs – be that stricter routines, or a relaxation of the rules. You are the only person who can define what kind of self-care you need to engage in each day – but please dear reader, take care of yourself.

Mashup May

This month, we had a few things that we wanted to talk about, so instead of picking just one topic, we are doing…(drumroll please)….MASHUP MAY! And the intro to this mashup? Why, music of course!

This past month, I had the great privilege of playing in the orchestra for a high school production of Beauty and the Beast. After countless hours of rehearsals, the show ran last week – 8 performances in 5 days, a few lost voices on the actors’ parts, and some serious calluses on my fingers – it’s all over, but the memories will live on.

When orchestra rehearsals began back in April, I was excited, albeit nervous to be playing my bass again. As the hours went on and the music wormed itself permanently into my consciousness, I was reminded once again of the joy of playing a musical instrument. If you’re lucky, that instrument starts to feel more like an extension of your body than something separate from it; the music not notes on a page, but a beat pulsing through your veins.

Once the orchestra and the cast started working together, though, that is where the real magic began. Many people enjoy a night out at the theatre, but few get the privilege of being in the theatre, bringing the performance to life. I was in awe at the talent of these young people – their singing, dancing, and comedic timing was far beyond their years, and they worked so hard to make this show the success that it was.

As any performer knows, rehearsals can be long and gruelling, but the sheer joy of sharing that hard work with an audience is unparalleled – and a standing ovation? Well, there’s simply nothing like it.

Lessons Learning… Part II

Last week, Jen shared her journey with food, and how she is learning to find joy in a new, healthier way of eating. This week, I’m sharing my story…

4 years ago, I took a course as part of my Geography Major entitled “Global Agriculture and Food Systems”, where we learned about the intricacies and injustices of food production and distribution in our globalized world. It was the first time in my life that I really started to think critically about the role of food in our lives – not just as a determinant of individual human health, but also how it affected the health of our Earth, and the wellbeing of both the humans and animals involved in feeding a planet of over 7 billion people. I began to realize that my decision to eat a hamburger and fries for lunch had ramifications beyond the $8.50 charge on my Visa.

Armed with this new knowledge and a fire in my belly, I decided to go vegan. To my 20 year old mind, it was the only logical choice. I stayed vegan for 2 years, and on the outside, most people would have assumed that I was the healthiest I’d ever been – certainly I was the skinniest! But on the inside, I was suffering. The constant weight of reading ingredient labels, often skipping meals because there was nothing vegan available, and having to fend for myself at home while the rest of my family shared a meal – it was exhausting, and I was miserable.

Then, one fine summer day up at the cottage, I decided to join my mum in a snack of crackers and cheese. And suddenly, the weight began to lift off my shoulders. The next day, we all indulged in ice cream cones and watched the sun go down together – I remember it so fondly – and I suddenly realized what I had to do. I knew all the arguments in favour of veganism, but I finally came to terms with the fact that it just wasn’t right for me – the toll it took on my mind and body far outweighed any benefits.

And so today, my diet looks different. I still eat a mostly plant-based diet while at home, because I enjoy it and because I know it is a healthy choice for myself and the planet. But I also allow myself to eat some dairy, eggs, and occasionally fish, because I know that is a healthy choice for my mind. It took some time, and some trial and error, but I feel like I have finally found a balanced way of eating that works for me.

I am still a big proponent of eating a plant-focused diet – the research speaks volumes (see How Not To Die, NutritionFacts.org, The Planetary Health Diet) – but I know that I can only truly speak about my own experience, and everyone must make the choices that are best for themselves and their families individually.

To anyone reading this – I hope that you will make good choices. I hope that you will find your balance. But mostly, I hope that you, dear reader, will find joy in what you eat.

A January Jam-Session

Hello, and welcome to The Joyful Gingers blog! Let me tell you a little bit about how this project came to life…

About a month ago, my friend and mentor Jen & I started talking about doing a project together in the new year – sort of Julie & Julia style: two women at two different points in their lives, working towards a common goal.

I, a recent university graduate, recently married, 24-year-old about to start my career.

Jen, a perpetual optimist, happy wife for 23 years and counting, Mother of two wonderful adult children and of two adorable bulldogs, has and continues to enjoy a fulfilling career.

The common goal? Joy. We wanted to be more intentional about finding joy in the daily rhythms of our different lives, while also trying new things to spark joy along the way.

To keep us accountable and to help us be more intentional about reflecting on our progress, we decided to blog about the journey.

Each month we will focus on a different topic, starting in February with food.

As ever, it is a work in progress, but we hope you’ll join us as we journey towards more joy!