Choosing positivity (or at least trying to…)

Trying to figure out how to balance work and fun. Trying to be a better person with each day that passes. Lover of animals and all things pink! These are my random (and sometimes pointless) stories and thoughts.

[addictedtoyogapants]

Recent reads. It’s so nice to have the time and mental energy to get back into reading. I’ve really missed it.

[addictedtoyogapants]

Time feels like it's moving sooooo slowly, but I'm trying to lean into relaxing and just enjoying the moment. We've taken the steps needed to establish residency in Florida; we've done the majority of our "must-dos" before we start our travel...and now we just wait until it's time. In our planning we were cautious in case any of the steps failed or took more time. Fortunately, things have moved along smoothly, but that now means we have 3 weeks of waiting...

Forgot how miserably hot FL can be with the humidity and heat...can feel a bit stifling and like we're on lockdown in the house because it's so hot out. Trying to figure out a workout routine, but not loving that it requires such early mornings to beat the heat. I mean, I should be used to it given the 5 am workouts I was doing, but kinda thought once I left work, I would be able to leave the 5 am workouts behind me...

We spent the past 5ish days visiting my bestie and her husband. Was a great time and so nice to reconnect. Love friendships that don't skip a beat. Was also our first time seeing their house. It's a strange feeling seeing the person you roomed with in college all grown up - I mean, obviously we are both grown up, but witnessing her adult life - homeowner, her gardening, her typical routine of hitting up farmer's markets and making home cooked meals and taking daily walks - it hits different. I love that we've grown and changed, yet haven't grown apart...that can be difficult in friendships and I'm so glad ours remains so strong. So proud of her and the lovely life she's created for herself with a healthy partner.

Guess I will go try to get a quick elliptical workout in...I try to look at all the sweating as similar to a sauna session lol. Anything to trick the brain, right?!?

[addictedtoyogapants]

Welp, we did it. Emptied the entire house, sold both the cars, and are on a flight to Florida. Will spend the next month visiting friends and family before we leave for Bali and beyond…

[addictedtoyogapants]

Yikes…long time, no update! I’ve been following along here and there, but just haven’t had the capacity to put together a post. I officially retired from my position at school and our plans are in motion to start a life of full time travel. We are in the process of getting rid of everything. We currently rent and notified our landlord, our last day in CA is June 30th. We’ll head to FL to visit family and take a trip to DC to visit friends. In early August se fly to Bali and will spend at least the next year bouncing around SE Asia before deciding if we want to head over to Europe and/or Central and South America to explore or if there is more of SE Asia se want to see before we move on.

We aren’t getting a storage unit as we have no solid plans to return so we are literally getting rid of everything except necessary clothes/personal necessities. We’ll pack suitcases for FL, but when we head to Bali we will only pack backpacks. Exciting, scary, and freeing all at once.

It’s been scary thinking about leaving my job, but our work should not define us. I’m excited to discover who I am outside of my job…excited to see what I do with all that energy when I’m not holding everyone else’s feelings/problems/etc. I’m excited to be able to have the time to read a book 🤣

We’ve got 10 days left…tomorrow we have people coming to get our bedroom furniture and one couch and tv. Still have more to get rid of so guess NextDoor/Buy Nothing/FB Marketplace are going to be my best friends in the days ahead.

[addictedtoyogapants]

Winter travels to Vienna and Paris were a success. Mourning the fact I’m no longer on vacation

[addictedtoyogapants]

I’m alive. Trying to make it through the chaos of December. Need to get my holiday shopping organized:planned, but not feeling very motivated or inspired quite yet. Oh well. It will get done eventually.

Sticking with my weekday morning workouts even though it’s been so freakin’ cold so I’m pretty proud of that. Going to try to add in some yoga or stretching on the weekends before we head out of the country for holiday travel.

Looking forward to a lowkey day with some house chores and football. Maybe some wine or drinks later. Staying inside and avoiding the cold.

[addictedtoyogapants]

Phew what a few weeks it has been. I turned 40 and have celebrated for almost an entire month…which has caused me to feel every second of my 40 years old 🤣 It’s been fun and I’ve felt so loved and celebrated - it really is amazing to have so many friends, family, work friends, and more come together to celebrate my birthday…and now I am ready to be anti social for the next month as my social battery is depleted 😬🤣

My husband was a champ through all the celebrations and made me feel incredibly special…I know he’s exhausted as well!

Work is work. Finally feeling like I’m getting into my groove and back into a routine.

My workouts have been pretty good - have missed a few due to travel, but have been good about getting right back into my routine.

Working on my nutrition and such. I read the book, Fast Like a Girl, and am intrigued by the idea of fasting on a schedule that aligns with the way our hormones respond during our cycle. Seems easiest to start that trial run during the start of my next cycle so we’ll see. We have a trip planned during Thanksgiving so might not be able to do a full month of the fasting schedule.

[addictedtoyogapants]

Whyyyyyy is it already Sunday?!? 😝🙁😭

Trying to keep the Sunday sadz/scaries away but it isn’t easy!

Have lunches planned for this week, have a bday happy hour/dinner celebration scheduled for Thursday, getting my new phone Friday…feeling motivated for my workouts and healthy eating this week…now to get in a good headspace about the work week ahead…

[addictedtoyogapants]

Another positive: I am so incredibly grateful for my husband. He truly is my biggest cheerleader and supporter. He believes in me, encourages me, and does all that he can to remove any obstacle to my goals. I love him beyond words.

[addictedtoyogapants]

On a positive, I have stayed pretty dialed in with my exercise and nutrition! I’m going to 5 am workouts before work, planning meals well, and doing fairly well with the work-life balance. I’m feeling good and just went shopping and was able to comfortably fit into every item I selected. I didn’t hate the process, didn’t hate everything I tried on, and actually turned down items that I acknowledged I wouldn’t have ever worn/felt comfortable in before, but even though they fit and looked decent on me, I just wasn’t feeling. It was kind of a crazy experience and I can’t remember the last time I felt that way shopping.

[addictedtoyogapants]

Really trying to find the joy in my job. I know the start of the year is draining, but phew, feels like it’s going to be a longgggg year. I need to switch things up a bit rather than rinse and repeat the previous years so that things feel more exciting…still trying to find the motivation to put the energy into that.

One foot in front of the other…I can do this…

[addictedtoyogapants]

I am insanely excited about my new Stanley. Going to be the most hydrated biatch in the area!

[addictedtoyogapants]

New school year has started and I’m slowly adjusting to being back at work. Trying to hold on to the relaxed, calm feelings of summer and not let the stress build…easier said than done! Every year I tell myself this is the year to figure out the work-life balance…maybe this year really is the year?!? I did pretty well towards the end of last school year so going to try to keep that momentum going. Trying to remember that my job is a piece of me, but not all of me…and I’m not responsible for everyone’s happiness so I need to show myself some grace.

Back to my 5 am workouts during the week. Still can’t believe I’m that person, but it does help to get them done and over with first thing. After work I can just come home e rather than trying to psych myself up for an evening workout. I’m also incredibly lucky to have a supportive husband who makes the coffee and preps my protein shake so when I get home from working out all of that is taken care of so I only need to get ready for work. I know there are many who don’t have that incredible support and I’m so grateful to have it.

[addictedtoyogapants]

Watched the first episode of Amy Bradley is Missing on Netflix. The husband has already stated he doesn’t think he needs to watch the other episodes as he’s already decided she fell overboard. Looks like I’ll have to finish this one on my own bc I have a hard time not finishing out docuseries like this.

Anyone watch it? Is he right? Is there a reason to continue?

[addictedtoyogapants]

Had an interesting convo with the husband about which path we want to take: full time travel on a budget (not a barebones budget since we would plan for half the year or so to be in lower cost areas like SE Asia, etc) or I keep working and we travel w/o a budget (I mean, within reason - not going to be all business class flights or staying at the Ritz or whatever) for my breaks (1 week in Feb, 1 week in April, 5-6 weeks in summer, and 2 weeks for winter break).

We’ve been living it up and doing the most this past month in Bali because it’s a belated 15 year anniversary trip. Massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, reiki healing, haircuts, conditioning treatments, yoga classes, all the food and drink, and more. Yes, all of this is for a fraction of what it would cost back home, but we also haven’t given ourselves a budget for this trip. This is the first time we’ve been able to take such a long trip since the husband stopped working back in December and I get the whole summer off.

We both feel so relaxed and fulfilled taking this long trip that we are wondering if we did this for the next couple years would that satisfy our urge to travel while also allowing us to do so without much thought to the budget…but then we both realize that right now…in the midst of feeling so relaxed and not stressed about anything…probably isn’t the time to be having this convo or making any decisions. I mean, let’s start another school year and give me about 6 weeks of dealing with student behaviors and see how zen I’m feeling then. Might not feel like I can keep working for years at that point 🤣

We’ll see how long this high lasts once we’ve returned home and back to our regularly scheduled loves 🤣🤣

Til then, I’m going to soak up this feeling!

[addictedtoyogapants]

Bali is everything I thought it would be and more. Have been here a bit over 3 weeks with a week left in our stay and I feel so…grounded? At peace? Calm? I can’t find the words to accurately explain what I feel, but I’m in love with this place and the feeling.

[addictedtoyogapants]

Finally feel like I’m coming up to breathe after wrapping up another school year. The last month or so was incredibly rough; honestly, this school year as a whole was really rough. Lots of student behaviors across the school - many due to new students who were unidentified so weren’t receiving support/intervention they needed and since that process takes awhile, it was a long school year of managing behaviors and feeling stretched. Grateful for summer break. Have quite the adventure planned for this summer - more on that later. Going to try to get some sleep now. 🤞🏼