Day 2 - I did it!

Okay, so yesterday I took the dog for a walk as kind of a warm up, and then I had a 20 minute workout: stretching and dancing and jumping around my living room like a doofus. If I can just do at least that much everyday and increase it little by little, I think I'll see a difference. I did feel a little more energetic yesterday. Unfortunately last night I had a migraine that lasted all night long, so I didn't get a very good night's sleep, but I'm still hoping to have another workout today. At the moment, I have a few errands to run, but when I get back it's "dancin' time"!

Caren E. Salas

Day 1 - and five six seven eight!

Do you ever find yourself smacking yourself on the head and thinking "Why didn't I think of this sooner?"
In the last few years I have continually complained that I am so out of shape, and I really had to start working out or at least getting a little exercise.  I went out and bought sweat pants and made a schedule of when I could go to the gym. Of course, being a mom (and a mom with MS), schedules are like unicorns. You can swear up and down that they exist, but somehow they never materialize. I plan things, and then some little gnat flies into the cookie dough. Ew. All right, start over...again.
So the other day I started thinking. What do I enjoy doing? Riding my bike, swimming, body boarding at the beach....and dancing (my minor in college). Duh. If I just had a bunch of music to dance to, I could do that anytime: in between other chores, while I'm doing other chores. So I decided to start working on a playlist. Please realize I am about as savvy with technology as a hedgehog on a surfboard. So...not. I had to figure out how to find the music I wanted, download it, sync it with our Zune and play it back when I want to.  I'm happy to report, that as I write this, the music is on it's way.
Step one almost complete, I have also decided to let this blog be a journal of my journey to healthiness, at least for the moment. It started off as an encouragement blog of sorts; looking for things to smile about. What better to smile about than being healthy? This is especially true for me since it's been a while. Having a chronic illness sucks in many ways, one of which is feeling like you continually have to rebuild your strength. You get to a point, relapse and then, you start over. My goal will be to get to that point where I'm a little ahead of the game, and won't slide back so far.  It's worth a shot. So here I go. Wish me luck.

Caren E. Salas

My Search...

Well, for the "millions" of people who faithfully follow this blog - who am I kidding? To both of the people who occasionally visit this blog, you may have noticed I haven't been on lately. My original thought for this blog was to list everyday things that would make me smile. Now, it's not that those things have gone away, or that I'm not looking to find more, but I've decided to go in another direction. Which direction you ask? Honestly, I have no idea.  Right now, my life is filled with things that take my energies away from writing and poeming. Lately, I feel like I'm drowning, and my writing life raft is always just out of reach. Writing has always been therapy for me, and so when I am unable to find time to write, the feelings build and grow, scratching and clawing at my insides like some sort of rabid animal. So what will I write about? Maybe I will write about my search for inspiration; my search for something to hope for; my search for a not so impossible dream. We'll see how it goes.  I have to believe that somewhere out there in the world are the things I'm looking for. Somewhere out there are the answers that will bring a little peace into my life. My goal is to write a little every day. It may not be much, but even a sentence or two will at least help me to feel like I'm writing on a regular basis. Wish me luck friends.

Caren E. Salas

Photo by William Salas

#19 Kisses and Hugs

Kisses come in many different forms. There are first kisses, coming home kisses, greeting kisses, good-bye kisses, kisses on the cheek, on the lips, in an elevator, blowing kisses...you get the picture. Hugs are equally versatile. There are bear hugs, air hugs, can't let you go hugs, hugs for every occasion. They are part of my wardrobe.  Hugs and kisses are among my favorite things, and if we're going to discuss things that make me smile...well, I can't leave these out.  Technically, they should be two separate items but they do tend to go together, at least in my life. I mean, think about it, what's the first thing you do when your child or spouse or friend is not feeling well? You probably put your arms around them, give them a squeeze and a little kiss on the forehead. We all need a smooch now and then. Whether it's a physical boo boo or emotional pain, hugs and kisses sometimes heal better than Band-Aids or expensive therapists.
This season, there are so many people out there going a little bit crazy (or even a lot crazy). Everything seems to be extreme: too much to do; too many places to go; too many things to buy; too much money spent...and way too much stress for what is supposed to be a "joyful season".
Take a moment and hug someone you love. It will rejuvenate you. Plant a kiss on someone when they least expect it. And hey, if you are a bit shy, give someone a chocolate kiss. That will put a smile on just about any one's face.  (Feel free to send some my way, haha)

Merry Christmas!

Caren E. Salas

photo: http://www.thefind.com/food/browse-hersheys-kisses-milk

#18 Glow Sticks

Now admit it, everyone love stuff that glows in the dark! These days you can get pretty much anything you want in glow-in-the-dark form. Jewelry, props, stickers, t-shirts, even stars to make your bedroom look like the night sky. When my kids were small we actually got a star chart so that the stars we stuck to the ceiling would be accurate (at least somewhat). I think I enjoyed the view even more than they did.

I like to buy those little tubes full of glow bracelets from the dollar section in Target. Then, when we have a BBQ in the evening or just want to goof off with the kids we pull them out and, hey! Instant party! I'm sure some of you are probably thinking "wow, you people are easily amused," and the truth is...yes. Yes we are, but that's okay. If I can encourage my kids to hang out with the ol' man and me, using low tech, low cost toys...can you really fault me? Really. Everyone should just goof off once in a while. Get some silly string, or water balloons, or glow sticks, and just have fun!!

Caren E. Salas

Photo by William Salas (apparently proof that mom really is an alien.)

#17 Candles

I love lighting candles, and as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, I find myself lighting them more and more. There's something relaxing about the soft glow of candles, especially at the end of a day. It's nice to get away from the harsh light of day and all its worries, and escape to a world of calm.  .
I recently bought a cinnamon scented candle and lit it last night.   To me, it's that warm, inviting scent that says, "Come on in, make yourself at home!" It puts me in a holiday mood; in the mood to wrap gifts and invite friends over for coffee.
So light a few candles, if you are like me, they just might raise your spirits. Relax, smile and enjoy the ambiance!   :)


Caren E. Salas

#16 Baking Cookies

Now, I'm sure at some point I said I liked taking one holiday at a time, and while that's still true, there are a few things that for me, blend from one to the next. Food crosses all lines. As much as I like eating certain foods during certain seasons, there are no set rules. I mean, really, people eat turkey all year round right? Well, some people do.
So, the other day I decided to make cookies. Rolled sugar cookies cut with cookie cutters and sprinkled with pretty colors of sugar.  Nothing beats the way it makes my whole house smell. It doesn't really matter if you use the slice and bake kind, the tubs of pre-made cookie dough, or make them from scratch. Home baked cookies are the best, and making them, for me, takes me away for awhile. I'm focused on the cutting, sugaring and timing, with no room to think about the worries of the world for a little while. This makes me smile, and the finished product seems to make everyone else smile. It's a win/win, wouldn't you say? Whether they are for the holidays or any day, cookies are a definite on my "like" list.

Caren E. Salas