Accentuating the Positive

Again, Christy and I have Sophia to thank for a wonderful outing last night. She took us to the Pt Dume Nature preserve, and had the weather been less gray, it would have been a glorious view of the coastline from Santa Monica to Zuma beach. We could hear the sea lions barking down below, and felt the mist, not to mention bringing home half the sandy beach in our shoes. We ended the evening with a wonderful dinner at the Natural Cafe in Westlake and each time we're together we get to know each other better. It is great to see the progress that everyone is making and to appreciate ourselves when seen through another's eyes. Being out there in nature is what I did when I walked in my neighborhood, but Sophia has introduced me to a whole new part of nature. I have a greater appreciation for wearing the right shoes for the activity that I am engaging in, and for the helping hand of a friend when there is no turning back and my heart is pounding because of the height. I am amazed at the constancy of Christy's ever-ebullient mood that keeps her singing and humming and talking to anyone she comes across, and the endless source of interesting places that Sophia has in her experience that she is willing to share with us.
I was thinking as we passed the hours how lucky we have been to have made these new friendships, to be learning all of these amazing nutrition facts that Paulette has at her fingertips, and to be pushed and prodded by Laurie and Mike in the interest of our own health, to be healed by Barbara, and "mothered" by the rest of the staff into keeping appointments and remembering all the things we have to remember. Sometimes I feel as if I have to pinch myself at my great good fortune at being part of this Project Transformation, which brings me to the subject of how we view life.
There was an artic le in the paper this week about a 100 year old man who had been a Pullman porter for 38 years and how he felt about his job, his life, and the people he has encountered in his long life. I was struck by his positivity. As a Pullman porter, especially in the early days, he probably encountered a fair amount of discrimination, racism and humiliation, but he stated in the article that he was always treated with respect. Isn't that what makes life worth living? Turning away from the negative, feeling lucky, making the most of opportunity that comes your way, and seeing the positive in a situation that you could just as well focus on the negative? There is the light and the dark in all of our experiences. No job, no party for that matter, is all perfect. But it is where and what we choose to focus on that makes our expereince of it, or our memory of it, what it then becomes for us. Our attitude is the filter through which all of our life experience passes. If we shine a light on it, then we see it as light and positive. If we choose the dark side, then it has the power to make us unhappy, and that unhappiness has the power to project out onto all parts of our lives and suck up the light.
There is a room in my house where the window, large as it is, is shaded by our lovely and productive avocado tree. The shade makes the room a bit dark, so you always have to turn of the light. But...when you turn toward the window, it is like being in a tree house, although the room is right at ground level. While the fruit is growing, you can see the heavy deliciousness growing right there outside the window, and know just when it is a good time to harvest in time for guacamole. The difference between the dark and the light is just a difference in attitude. The old saying that the quality of your life is what you say it is, is the way you look at it. We are willing to turn on the light in exchange for the lovely view, the delicious fruit, and the illusion of being yourng enouugh to spend lots of time in a tree house.
So..... The day was gray for our walk, but we got in some good exercise, we deepened our friendship, there was no sunburn possible, and we openeded our eyes tro new vistas, new ways to see life and to enjoy it.
So as we traverse this time that we have left in Project Transformation, I think that nothing could be a more thoroughly positive experience. We are treated to smiles from everyone we encounter at the Hotel. The doormen (and girls) wish us a good workout on entering, and ask us how the workout went as we leave, the the staff in the gym greets us with a question about anything we might need, our trainers, teachers, consultants and everyone we are lucky enough to deal with care about our progress and give us their best. It's easy to practice positive thinking there, and just like taking the things we learn about diet and exercise out into our "normal" lives after the program is over, I hope we will take the smiles, and the positivity into our habitual thinking and believing.

Hiking or Hit?

Since Project Transformation isn't really a competition, it's hard to understand why Sophia tried to kill Christy and me off last night when she took us out into the dense fog in Malibu, to a wilderness area to "hike". So here is the question: Who is the real 'demon', or is demonhood contagious? Should we be watching for signs of demon-ness in ourselves and others? Your blog reporter [me] will keep you posted on further developments of this story.
But seriously, folks, it would have been a really nice outing if we had been able to see the vegetation in the fog. Kristin brought her sister and four little kids with us who were fascinated by all the stinkbugs with their butts in the air along the trail. The kids were darling, and Kristin even carried her little Rica a goodly distance. Thank goodness they had the foresight to bring along walking sticks, which Christy and I put to good use. Of course, we had no idea that the trail would be more than an "easy walk, mostly level" according to hitwoman Sophia.
We had a great time, and the fog and mist made it cool and probably more flying-bug free. It was a dusty and rocky path, and I am sure that the ocean would have been beautiful, had we been able to see it as promised.
Just ribbing you Sophia. It was fun, and you were a great sport to invite us along to share what you hoped would be a sparkling view of the Pacific at sunset. Your hiking expertise makes you think that these "little inclines" are mostly easy, but for me, an inexperienced hiker, it was mostly Everest. However, your trust in me that I "can do it" is very appreciated. Your faith in my willingness to try is heartening, and you are a wonderful friend. One of the great bonuses of Project Transformation is having all of the support and comraderie that has developed. So I will keep trusting you, and you will carry me along until you get tired of having to wait for me to catch up. We all "glowed" with good health at the end of the trail, and I don't know what others did, but I put my steeping tub to good use, along with a relaxation CD, then three Advil, an icebpack on the parts that hit the ground when I fell, and a sleep like three dead people. This morning I am good as new, but Christy had her training this morning. Ouch!
Getting to know more about each other is an added bonus of driving to and from the hike, and the various group meetings that we have. I am looking forward to getting together even after our Transformation experience ends.
So until the hitwoman tries to get me on the next round, I will be watching my back--not an easy exercise, but when dealing with a demon, a necessary skill.
This blog is dedicated to the patient and lovely Sophia.

Back to nature

Well, today I was in my froggy element. Back to nature. While some wires were crossed, and the whole crew could not show up for the hike, Kristin and I met at the hotel parking, and then contacted Sophia who took us on a wonderful hike in Oak Park Community Park. The others were obviously experienced hikers and were kind enough to slow their pace for me, a very inexperienced hiker, but I had a wonderful time out in the air and sunshine, doing some mild climbing, some just walking and a bit of crossing water. It was a glorious day, the sun was shining and for an hour we talked, chatted, laughed, and admired each other. There is something to be said for exercise. Right now, I feel as if I have conquered another barricade.
Last night I was at the gym, having the whole thing to myself, and I was a bit leery to do one of the exercises that Mike gave me this week, not being sure that I wouldn't fall off the ball. So after I had spent an hour doing all the other stuff, and I was ready to go, I said, "Oh what the hell, how far could I fall, and Rosie would find me if I knock myself out" so I sat myself down on that ball, and walked out till just my head was on the ball, held for several seconds, and walked myself back up, remembering what Mike had said to do, drop my butt, and back up against the ball. When I was back sitting on the ball, no one could have been more surprised that I was. I did it 4 more times! So this morning, when I considered the hike and thought that it might be too much for me, I thought of last night and said again, "oh what the hell". But without the encouragement of Sophia and Kristin, I couldn't have done it. I know it wasn't much for them, but for me it was a revelation. I really could do it, although I know that they took it easy on me, I did it. Ladies, you are my heroes. Thanks so much for making this new victory possible. I am beginning to believe that all is possible--that the weight will come off, the body will be conditioned, and the mind will clear and stop thinking that I can't. Mike seemed impressed when I said in our session, "I can do that" and I could. I hope to be saying it more often. So what is absolutely necessary is a positive attitude and good friends who are willing to help. When I got home, I had to call my brother, and my daughter. I was so proud. It has been years since I hiked, but I hope it won't ber years until I do again. I can recommend the fresh air. It makes you feel new.