The Importance of Balance in My Life

I came to a big realization today, I am totally out of balance right now. My mental, emotional, physical  and spiritual states are a mess. Some of them more than others, but all in all things aren't looking good.

A few examples: I'm over weight and out of shape, have been for months now. I can't seem to motivate myself to do the things that need to be done for the new business. I'm finding it hard to concentrate and would much rather get lost in a game or a book. I'm getting upset over little things that really aren't a big deal. It's easier to lay down and shut my eyes then keep moving forward.

I know that part of how I'm feeling comes from being affected by Season Affective Disorder or SAD. I've never been diagnosed with it, but the symptoms have been there for a long time and as the days get shorter, it's harder for me to function.I fight with this every fall and winter.

It also doesn't help that my first wife's health started going downhill around this time of year and that eventually led to her death in 2007. Those memories and emotions are still there. While they are controlled most of the year, November through the end of Jan is tough.

There are things that I can do to help. I'm already on meds and they help a lot. The realization I had today will help too. It has already got me off my butt and I did some yoga this afternoon, (And the yoga cleared my head and made me feel good enough to write this.) Also, I need to spend more time outside in the sunshine. The best way to help with SAD is to be out in the sun. And when you live where sunny days are rare this time of year, you have to take advantage of those blue bird days, (To steal a term from my mountain days.)

So, how to get back in balance?  The main thing I need to do is exercise, it all begins there. That will help me feel better in so many ways. Also, spend more time outside doing something I love, like photography. (By the way, my creative side isn't out of balance at all. It is working very well right now.) I know that meditation is a key too. I've used it in the past and it's always been a big help when I'm out of whack. I know what needs to be done. Now I have to do it.

Keeping myself in balance is very important, that's why I wear a balance Touchstone, it helps remind me how important balance is.

How about you guys, what are some things you do to help stay in balance?

What's in a Name

It's all about the poop? What the heck kind of title is that for a blog?

Well, let me tell you why I chose this title.

As a professional pet sitter and dog walker I spend a lot of time and effort picking up poop. One of the interesting skills I've acquired, apart from becoming immune to the smell, is identifying the poop of my clients. I've learned, for example, that Max's poop is always a certain texture and consistency. So on a day when Max's poop changes, I may want to inform the owner so they can keep an eye on Max and make sure he's okay. This is something I've picked up over the years and it can be very helpful for owners whose pets have digestive issues. There are times when, quite literally, It's All About the Poop.

I'm also a person who thinks a lot. I spend a good amount of time by myself and thinking, for good or bad, is what happens. Even in my job I have a lot of time to think about things as I'm driving to a client's house, walking dogs or being ignored by cats. Some days my head is overflowing with poopy thoughts.

So, in essence, not only am I dealing with the pet's poop when it drops, I'm also dealing with the personal poop swimming around in my head. Hence the name of the blog.

Why have I started this blog?

There are some pretty significant changes occurring in my life right now. First off, I'm no longer with the pet care company I worked for. After almost three years, we have parted ways. So in order to continue to do the job I love, I'm starting my own dog walking / pet sitting business. This scares the poop out of me, (Sorry, bad pun.) but I'm also excited as heck to do things my own way and not have to follow along with policies and practices that I don't agree with. This new venture is going to cause much stress so I need a place to get all of that poop out of my head. 

Don't worry though, not everything on the blog will be bad. In fact, most of it will be positive and uplifting. I  want to write about my life and the thoughts and feelings I have about it. I have a lot of young friends who are struggling to make their way in this world. Many of them are trying their hardest to make their dreams a reality. I'm hoping that some of the wisdom I've gained in my 44 years can help them along. I'm also hoping that some of their wisdom can help me.

So sit back and enjoy my poopy ramblings. Feel free to comment, either on here or on Facebook. If you'd like to subscribe to the blog, great, but I will be posting each update on Facebook too.