Chew Toy

Okay, so it has been a long time, I'll admit. I like it when we'll all happy, though, and so let me do my part and catch you up and hope it adds some nice spice to your life and gives ya something new to chew on.

Just over one year ago, I got back from 4 1/2 years living in Japan. Before I left, I wanted to have something in place for myself back in the US, so I took in on as a challenge to create an ideal job for me. I chose personal trainer.

After I returned, I enrolled in a six-month program at NPTI, the National Personal Training Institute. I graduated in October '09, and by a sweet blessing got hired by one of my instructors from school as a part-time coach for his Crossfit box.

In December, just as the box moved to a huge new location, I got a job offer to go full time working at an Aikido dojo run and owned by a friend of mine. I took the job, and now this friend has also become my boss and teacher. I really pour my heart and soul into seeing that his place is taken care of, that customers keep rolling in and are satisfied with what they get, and I am also able to thrive and grow.

Someone at my Crossfit Certification in April told me about a place to buy discount Crossfit equipment, so I went down there and got some, and started practicing Crossfit here at the dojo about two weeks ago. I really want to hold Crossfit or Crossfit-style classes here. That's my long-term goal.

In the short term, all the old stuff still applies. I want to be at optimal health, facilitate others' journey to get there too. More and more I want to create and live in a space where love, caring, and honesty are apparent and abundant. Those are my short term goals because they are the ones I'm living out of habit or out of choice every single day.

One way I treat myself well is that almost every morning I have a rockin' smoothie for breakfast. These smoothies rock because I put whatever I like in them. Also, I don't put in crap that will hurt my tummy later on, make me gain weight, or put me in a bad mood.

Yesterday was just about the best smoothie I ever had.

It contained:

a golden delicious apple w/skin,
1/4 navel orange
1/2 cup fresh aloe
1/2 sweet potato w/skin
a shot of acai juice
protein powder
about 2 cups baby spinach leaves
5 fresh local strawberries
and about 1 1/2 cups spring water

I finally got over sugary-sweet things and creamy-heavy things, and things that taste good on my tongue but don't feel good in my body. (I'm over them, but I still eat them sometimes, just not very often.) I'm reading 'The Zone,' which helps.

I'm also reading 'Julie and Julia,' plus the 5+ books on cycle on my night stand. I've been sleeping well and my resting pulse was 51 this morning.

Jeez, now that I've told you everything, what the heck am I going to write next time? I know, I know, lighten up. That's what this is all about. :)