Happiness
I don’t know what has come over me during the past three weeks but I just feel blissfully happy. I feel so zen about life. Note: I’m using “zen” in the most generic form since I really have no clue what a zen lifestyle entails but I imagine it’s something like I feel now but with more candles and sand.
I think it started with the realization that its time to get my ass into shape for the wedding and Tahiti. I have always gone to the gym regularly and eaten really healthy, fresh food but I’ve decided to take it a step further. I had my trainer create a new gym routine that is an hour and a half of grueling cardio and strength training. My diet is being perfected and I’m amazed at how pineapple and strawberries can actually be a satisfying dessert. It is such a boost of confidence to walk out of the gym, drenched in sweat, knowing I just finished a killer workout without cutting any corners or to look back on the food I’ve consumed and to know it was all organic, healthy, fresh fare. It feels great not because I’m looking for rock hard abs (although that would be nice) but because it feels great to be making my body and my health such a priority. Hopefully these are long term, lifestyle changes that I’ll keep with me well after the honeymoon.
Then there is the stress of work and the wedding which seems to never cease. My projects are a chaotic mess and the wedding is one bit of drama after the next. I finally realized, I can only do what I can do. I’ll offer up all the solutions I can but I can’t make our clients sane, I can’t make my budgets bigger or my timelines any longer. As for the wedding, I’ve realized making some compromises with the wedding doesn’t mean it won’t be the wedding of my dreams.
On top of all of that, I love Amsterdam! Well, that’s kind of a lie. I hate Amsterdam but I am truly loving my life here. I have so much here that I never realized because I was too busy complaining about the weather and the awful grocery stores. In the year and a half I’ve lived here, I’ve managed to find friends that I consider family and I know I will be close to for the rest of my life. I have the best girl friends I’ve had in years. I love that I’m part of a book and wine club full of intelligent ladies and I’m part of a department at work that holds a regular game nights complete with wine, Rock Band 2 and Cranium. I’ve even grown quite fond of riding my bike around and enjoying the fresh air.
Oh, and swing dancing. Glorious swing dancing. Jordi and I started taking lessons about 5 months ago and I am officially hooked. It is what I look forward to every week and what I miss as soon as each class ends. Since swing dancing is so small in Amsterdam, it’s like a little community where everyone knows everyone else. Our instructors and some classmates are so lovely and I’m only too happy to run into them at dancing events and parties. This has also given me a completely different view of the local people and shown me that they can be fun, friendly and outgoing. Something I didn’t think was possible if you had asked me 6 months ago.
Overall, I just feel the best I’ve felt in so long - about every aspect of my life. I have so many things to look forward to and so many people and things to be grateful for.
I think it started with the realization that its time to get my ass into shape for the wedding and Tahiti. I have always gone to the gym regularly and eaten really healthy, fresh food but I’ve decided to take it a step further. I had my trainer create a new gym routine that is an hour and a half of grueling cardio and strength training. My diet is being perfected and I’m amazed at how pineapple and strawberries can actually be a satisfying dessert. It is such a boost of confidence to walk out of the gym, drenched in sweat, knowing I just finished a killer workout without cutting any corners or to look back on the food I’ve consumed and to know it was all organic, healthy, fresh fare. It feels great not because I’m looking for rock hard abs (although that would be nice) but because it feels great to be making my body and my health such a priority. Hopefully these are long term, lifestyle changes that I’ll keep with me well after the honeymoon.
Then there is the stress of work and the wedding which seems to never cease. My projects are a chaotic mess and the wedding is one bit of drama after the next. I finally realized, I can only do what I can do. I’ll offer up all the solutions I can but I can’t make our clients sane, I can’t make my budgets bigger or my timelines any longer. As for the wedding, I’ve realized making some compromises with the wedding doesn’t mean it won’t be the wedding of my dreams.
On top of all of that, I love Amsterdam! Well, that’s kind of a lie. I hate Amsterdam but I am truly loving my life here. I have so much here that I never realized because I was too busy complaining about the weather and the awful grocery stores. In the year and a half I’ve lived here, I’ve managed to find friends that I consider family and I know I will be close to for the rest of my life. I have the best girl friends I’ve had in years. I love that I’m part of a book and wine club full of intelligent ladies and I’m part of a department at work that holds a regular game nights complete with wine, Rock Band 2 and Cranium. I’ve even grown quite fond of riding my bike around and enjoying the fresh air.
Oh, and swing dancing. Glorious swing dancing. Jordi and I started taking lessons about 5 months ago and I am officially hooked. It is what I look forward to every week and what I miss as soon as each class ends. Since swing dancing is so small in Amsterdam, it’s like a little community where everyone knows everyone else. Our instructors and some classmates are so lovely and I’m only too happy to run into them at dancing events and parties. This has also given me a completely different view of the local people and shown me that they can be fun, friendly and outgoing. Something I didn’t think was possible if you had asked me 6 months ago.
Overall, I just feel the best I’ve felt in so long - about every aspect of my life. I have so many things to look forward to and so many people and things to be grateful for.