Just Grit Your Teeth Until It's Over

...and that's pretty much what I've done in the past when it comes to law school finals time. It has been an uphill battle to not fall back into that pattern again, but to embrace this new practice of confronting my stress with LOVE: love for people around me, love for myself and my body, and love for every good and bad circumstance that comes my way. This was featured on The Daily Love today:

The Guest House 
by Rumi

This being human is a guest house. 
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness, 
some momentary awareness comes 
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all! 
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, 
who violently sweep your house 
empty of its furniture, 
still, treat each guest honorably. 
He may be clearing you out 
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, 
meet them at the door laughing, 
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes, 
because each has been sent 
as a guide from beyond.

Today is my rest day from working out, and this morning I woke up feeling like I didn't deserve it, despite having hit the gym the last 6 days in a row. Most of this problem comes from me feeling like results from working out have halted a little bit. This might not even be true, but if it is, it's probably largely due to stress and lack of sleep. The lack of results, however, just causes me more stress and lack of sleep, leading to fewer results. It's an ugly cycle people, but I've broken out :)

It's so funny how something little can break you out of that negative mindset. It can be something as simple as an encouraging conversation with a friend, or something as ridiculous as running out of almond milk. I'm not sure how I ever survived without it, because I ran out of almond milk yesterday and awoke in meal paralysis. No smoothie or cereal options. My oatmeal wouldn't be the same without almond milk on top. I was irrationally devastated. Then I remembered my passion for simple kitchen creativity, which has been lost in the tornado my week has been (sorry!).

PUMPKIN PEANUT BUTTER TOAST!

230 calories, 14 grams protein. Yes, please.

Yeah, it was delicious. Spread some Ezekiel bread with some canned pumpkin (warmed in the microwave first), peanut butter, and sprinkle it with some cinnamon :)

So kitchen creativity isn't your thing. Find something that is. Maybe you don't know what your thing is. Just do something and do it with passion to remind yourself that there are other things in life. 

Something else that shook up my week was my awesome trainer who gave me a fabulously different workout yesterday. I have some cool new moves to share with you people - pictures to come this week! Also coming up (hopefully soon), recipes from my early Christmas present:

Til next time,

Avocado Athlete