Ten Things My Shy, Stubborn A$$ Finally Did This Month that Made Me Feel Great.

You know all those things you have been meaning to do?

Like, in order to be a healthy, nourished, well balanced person?

You read lists on elephant journal that advise you to start doing certain things—lists of activities and ideas that some health coach or mindfulness expert suggests will improve your life.

You agree that they are probably right and bookmark the article. You don’t feel guilty about not getting to that list yet because you are about to soon…

Really, like, any day now…

Something finally tipped me off to start carving away at my to do list this month. Maybe it was because I was living alone in a comfortable living space for the first time ever or because the weather was exactly how I like it. My job and friends were very stable and the future felt bright. I suppose there simply were no excuses left for me to be careless, shy, stubborn or lazy.

The things on my list seem unrelated, but the truth is that each enabled the next to happen. It was not a coincidence but a positive attitude and an open mind which opened the door. Once I started feeling good, it gave me the power to do all sorts of things. A definite snowball effect!

Here are some things I always considered doing and finally did do this month. I’m also strongly endorsing them because, without a doubt, I feel healthier, happier and more balanced.

1. Journaling.

I always knew it could be good for my soul, but shrugged it off. I don’t have a notebook. I won’t have time every day. The thoughts are all there in my head. How much could it really help? Seeing what actually hit the paper made me see what was consuming my thoughts more than I realized, which was good for my perspective. I detached from the idea that the writing had to be a consistent format and schedule. My journal has thoughts, lists, maps, quotes and it is what it is. It’s not meant to be a beautiful book that someone will publish one day or judge me by.

2. Balanced meals.

Yes, self, the reason you’re still hungry after all that salad is because it was just a fluffy salad with lemon juice—of course you won’t be full. I’m trying to incorporate variety: a starter salad, rice and stir fried veggies—that’s a meal! Eating without balance leaves your body off balance. Just because I’m cooking for one is not permission to leave out food groups.

3. Gave up non-special dessert.

I have a bad sweet tooth. My plan was that eventually I would tire of sugar or wake up with super strength to just stop forever. But alas, it’s a commitment and lets face it, “eventually” never happens. I feel really good with less sugar in my body. I’m saving it for the raw vegan pie on my friend’s birthday. Yum.

4. SUP Yoga.

Doing yoga on a stand up paddleboard is not easy. The postures have to be simple. At the beginning of my first class I was like f** this; it’s too hard! But by the end, I was breathing in the fresh ocean air and raising my hands to the sky and doing headstands. So exhilarating. The paddling is fun too. It’s sad that I’ve been in many locations with SUP and never bothered to try it. This is a very specific activity, but it is representative of any new activity that you’ve been meaning to do!

I sympathize with the reasons why some changes will be hard to make based on what’s going on in your life at the moment. I’m not here to preach to you and say, “Start doing this today; it’s easy!” I think when you start to balance what you already have the time will be right.

I hope that hearing me tell you how these little things have helped me feel great will encourage you to return to your own to-do list or create one for the first time. Let your list be random: make sushi, go skydiving, eat at home more. The idea is that whatever ends up on your list is not as random as you think. You know yourself well enough to recognize what you need. When you get what you need, every part of life is so much better.

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Asst. Editor: Kristina Peterson/Ed: Brianna Bemel