Shortly we'll be off to my mother-in-law's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Should be great fun - 15 people, all friends and family, and Gordon and I know everyone. The family is already 10 people, and some friends of ours who we asked to join us for the holiday.

My MIL does most of the work, but gives out assignments to people to bring something. I'm bringing garlic mashed sweet potatoes, which I volunteered for since it guarantees me something I can eat aside from the turkey. I think there will be plenty for everyone to eat today - my MIL is very aware of everyone's food issues (both my sisters-in-law have dietary restrictions, too), and she called here yesterday asking what nuts I do and don't eat. (Pecans in the stuffing, yay!) And I know there is flourless chocolate cake, too....

It will be a wonderful evening and Gordon and I are both looking forward to it.

Hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful, too.

It's 2:30 am, and I am still wired from going to class today, so I thought I'd check in here.

My apologies for not having been more attentive to my blogging here. I have been dealing with so many changes in my life that it has been a challenge to handle things without the added responsibility of blogging here, too.

I'd like to say that will change soon, but I don't feel like I can commit to that yet! Suffice it to say that I would LIKE to blog more frequently - I feel it helps me stay more accountable for following the BTD, and it is also wonderful to be part of a group of like-minded people.

As for what's going on in my life, I've just come out of another incredible, life-changing weekend at school, and I am still processing some of the realizations that I've had. At school they often say that this is 'school the way you always wished it would be', and it truly is.

One of my realizations this weekend is that I am very aware of my body and what goes on in it, but that I often ignore whatever it is. I don't deal with the issue, or I deal with it partially and ignore what I've been told I can do to resolve it. As an example of the former, I walked on a broken leg for over three months before I went to a doctor. As an example of the latter, I know what I'm supposed to do to heal my digestive issues, and I haven't followed through on it. I neglect my body's physical needs!

As a result of this realization, I've made a committment to nurture myself by eating to nourish my body for the long-term. Another committment I made is to get a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise twice a week. These are huge for me. In the past, I often viewed these things as "I shoulds" or "I have tos", and the shift is that these are acts of loving kindness toward myself.

So why is is so easy to be attentive and nurturing towards others, and so neglectful towards ourselves?

I'm helping Anne move tomorrow, so that counts as exercise. One down, one to go for this week!



Cassandra