So many things have transpired since the onset of the pandemia… More to come on that.
As I work the final phases of getting my first book published, there is this seesaw of excitement and hesitancy that keeps my soul young. Looking forward to sharing it with you all 🙂
Not too much exciting to share about today. I literally made the same thing today as I ate yesterday, and honestly, the tomato soup was much better! Just wanted to write this post to have a lapse in writing, but I need to rest my wrists/fingers as I was up researching and studying last night for my meeting with a publisher today. Looking forward to potential opportunities on the horizon, but shhhh for now, no need to jinx anything before anything gets started. Checking out to be up for my nephew’s b-day breakfast tomorrow. Make it a good one and hug a bit longer each embrace.
~Mai
I just skimmed through a few of my old blogs and it warmed my heart to review the state I was in back when I first began this blog. It is a beautiful thing when you can look back and chart your growth, current and possibly continued struggles from that point in time, but also the success.
Since that initial blog post of me introducing myself, I have basically done all those things and more. It has been quite the thing to keep positive and forward moving with everything this year has birthed. The CV, fires from the Amazon, Australia, Hawaii, and all over California. Locust plagues. A shift in the focus of sex-trafficking, the racial climate (that has been in existence since the founding colonizers took over this land, but people are just now talking about it and its real effects all of the sudden), & holding people and businesses accountable for general NGAF. Dual storms over Texas. Coin shortages. Clorox wipes being wiped off the planet during the time we all need them most. Folks grabbing up all of the toilet paper, baby wipes, bread, and pasta. Many people loosing their jobs and businesses. An election with two candidates with supporters on each side hurling insults and seeming “evidence” of the other candidate having historical ties of various “ist” and “ism” communities. This is about 1/8 of everything that has and is being disrupted right now.
I am doing the very best that I can do to stay focused and doing exactly what I need to do to stay aligned with this forward momentum. I am looking forward to birthing a few of these projects I am working on mentally & in my lab, out into the universe. One hint, several of these have to do with writing ;).
I start another cleanse next week and I look forward to continuing on into our THIRD YEAR of the CHALLENGE page’s monthly exercises. I have also added some weekly cardio, that I plan on turning up this week as well. Looking to pair a cleaning of my internal (fasting/cleanse), physical (upping the CHALLENGE ante), & mental (writing, KonMarie the home, set up home office), for maximum results in them individually, collectively and beyond.
Also, our early start home schooling! 2 years early according to the state I live in, but I think a super slow start, early, makes sense with how my child engages with her world. I am surely looking forward to more art, lesson plans, scaffolding, mini-projects, science and math.
This is reading a bit like a check list of accomplishments, current events, and current projects – but after reviewing my posts from 2 years ago, being able to look back at something like this is very heart warming. And I always, always, think about the fact – that if you do not write your own story, others will. And it is IMPOSSIBLE to write another person’s story FOR them, no matter how well or long you have know them.
Most folks in your life, you simply have a few pictures of moments you recall of them. Others that may have been in your life for longer or more deeply, they may have a commercial or two. Some more inner circle – family, loved ones, siblings, parents, spouses, may have an episode. The only person that can do justice of retelling your motion picture, with behind the scenes footage, biography accuracy, and direct quotes is you. So every word, every click, every utterance via lips or fingertip – is me documenting my journey. It is about time we all told our stories, while we are living them to maintain the accuracy and passion of it all.
So here is to an explosive month and the synergy manifested from each of my concurrent focus areas!
So, the squat challenge is underway, Day.11 and 550 squats down! We are doing 50 a day for 30 days and I am loving how much support there has been as well. I invited three people to do it and there are about eight doing it with me, and several people caught onto a few other people – so there is like an extended squatting network going on right now! I absolutely LOVE IT!
I have actually already begun thinking about out / my September challenge and about half of the current “challengers” are going to continue the journey with me. The plan is to actually add another challenge on, but continue doing the current challenge as well. This will serve as sort of a foundation so I can stay active. My goal to to maintain my level of activity and gradually build it up, as to not overwhelm myself and make it seem like it is a chore. Also, I learned from my 90-day challenge that when I do not have an active challenge going on, it is SO HARD to stay motivated, so I pretty much just halted all exercises once that concluded in April.
Anywho, I look forward to seeing the progress through these next weeks and next months really, as I add more things in.
Forever evolving.
>Humbly submitted<< ~Mai
Housekeeping, Gender reveals, travels, & much more. Working on a master plan and will fill in the details shortly 🙂
~Bests
~Mai
I am literally just waking up from being in a horrible fog. When I tell you I felt like I had a HORRIBLE case of malaria the last 36 hours, I WISH I was exaggerating.
I felt like I’d gotten a cold, because Tuesday at work I was sneezing, nose running & clogged up, I was tired, and had a slight headache. Figured it could also just be my allergies flaring up with the weather being all over the place.
Tuesday night was worse.. Everything exacerbated and I also randomly got an earache pretty badly in my left ear. I literally kept a piece of garlic in my ear the whole night. But I was slowly getting worse.
In the morning when my fiance got off his graveyard shift, he told me NOT TO go to work if I was feeling like last night (I think he could see it in my face). I said I was just going to try, I HATE missing work and feeling like I am leaving more for others to do, especially if it is not pre-planned.
MISTAKE.
Went to work and from the moment I got in the car and drove there, I knew it was a bad decision. My head began pounding & I was at full migraine now. I had no appetite, my jaw, my neck, my face, my eyes, even my teeth hurt. Where was all of this coming from? My co-worker immediately commented on how I did not look well. Damn, second person cannot be wrong. Tried to push through as there were two things that definitely needed to get done today & I was able to do that. Not even an hour into work, I had to tell my boss I felt horrible & she suggested that I leave & take care of myself.
Clocked out & when I got to the car, I just sat there in the warmth because I was soooo cold and I was also light-headed and almost in a fog, I was not happy about driving home in that state. I told myself to drive slowly and I will be ok. Made it home and shivering, got to my front door. I ripped off my clothing, put on jammies, and robe, and put the scarf back on, put on my long thick socks and climbed under all the blankets. I lay there shivering trying to fall asleep for over a hour. I was shaking uncontrollably, and with all those layers, STILL unable to get warm. Could fall asleep because my face was hurting and my head was pounding. It was very miserable. I finally fall asleep at some point and lay in the dark room all day, only up to use the bathroom & sat up to drink water. I could not eat, each time I reached for the banana I opened up that morning, I felt like I was going to upchuck & had to put it right back down.
This horrible cycle repeated until 8pm & I finally forced myself to stay up for a few minutes and walked over to the couch, where I laid back down & 1/2 interacted with my daughter. She seemed confused as she looked at me laying there in the dark. Not holding and hugging her like I always do. Couldn’t tell her how weak I felt, how my body seems to have a mind of its own, how mommy does not want to pass to her WHATEVER this is plaguing my body.
Finally got up the strength to eat half a bowl of food I had to coach my fiance through making & send hopefully a coherent email to supervisor I would not be in the next day. Shortly thereafter, I made my way back to bed to sleep through the night until almost noon today.
The migraine, face pain, earache, and chills have seemed to subside and I am just left with a headache, clogged nose, bouts of sneezing, and general fatigue. Hopefully I will continue to get better through the day and will probably take another nap here shortly. I serious had not felt this bad w/ all of these symptoms since I had malaria during my travels in Meritah (Afrika). I am so thankful the worst has seemed to pass & looking forward to getting back to myself.
>Respectfully submitted<< ~Mai
IM DONE! IM DONE! IM DONE!
Such an amazing feeling that I completed this, three months of shutting down excuses and just doing it. Listening to my body those 5 times when I just was not able to do it those days.
Awwww, it just feels so amazing.
Also finally got in touch with a woman I’d met on my travels to Meritah (Africa) and we had a long, amazing, and long-overdue catching up session. Hopefully, we will get to link up later this year in person as well.
Well, nothing like a warm shower to “consummate” the closing of this challenge.
Next challenge to begin in: 35 days!
2018 = 5 million!!!
Second half of challenge totals:
TOTALS!
>>Respectfully submitted & Always thankful<< ~Mai
OMG, tomorrow is the FINAL day of my 99-day challenge. Today was successful, workout completed & we also go to head to Balboa Park for the Earth Day celebration. Baby girl got some great sun and danced away to a several live bands.
We wound down the rest of the evening & watched a movie we hadn’t seen before, so all-in-all, it was a successful day. Looking forward to buttoning up this challenge & feeling the accomplishments of my hard work, as well as transition into another push towards balance, but this time, focusing on my diet.
See you all on the other side. #Last24 #Igot5onit99 #DangThatsALotOfSquats!
#Countdown1toGo!
2018 = 5 million!!!
Second half of challenge totals:
Totals for day 96/99:
>>Respectfully submitted & Always thankful<< ~Mai
Today went fairly smoothly – but unfortunately, no workout. A few hours after getting home, by back hurt TREMENDOUSLY. It is my low low back and on the right side oh my goodness. Felt as bad as it did shortly after the car accident.. *ugh* It has mellowed out a BIT, but I still feel it when going from sitting to standing, vice versa, try to move too quickly, bending down & over.
But, it is only a minor setback & not a complete halt. I would rather take a seat on the bench, then to be taken off the court in a gurney!
Tomorrow is another day, another opportunity to get it in. Until then, rest & hydration.
#Countdown5toGo!
2018 = 5 million!!!
Second half of challenge totals:
Totals for day 94/99:
>>Respectfully submitted & Always thankful<< ~Mai
7 days to go! Workout complete (modified – due to physical therapy). Who know physical therapy was such a workout on its own? But my core is going to be impeccably strong by the time summer gets here.
Also got to catch up with my (almost) b-day twin from high school, which was awesome.
Most importantly, today I posted about my business asking for feedback and I had a LARGE number of participants and that warmed my heart! I do not really care for people to “like” or “comment” on my posts whether they be information or images. But when I have such a strong feedback regarding my business venture, that is what means the most to me. So thankful for the quality people I have around me that are pushing me towards greatness & others that continue to inspire me to feed the drive and creativity within.
Last week of challenge & its already starting beautifully!
#Countdown7toGo!
2018 = 5 million!!!
Second half of challenge totals:
Totals for day 91/99:
>>Respectfully submitted & Always thankful<< ~Mai
Damn, cannot believe I have just over a week left to go in this challenge!
I have already begun thinking about the next challenge and it will be a dietary challenge, a fast of some kind & then I will transition into another physical challenge when we get back home from visiting family.
I am still on a semi-high from those model homes yesterday. I am racking my brain trying to figure out ways to get a home, lol. All roads are honestly telling me that I just need to be patient because my personal best leverage will be the business to offset the cost of HELLA expensive California living.
So, if nothing else, I have found a home layout that would work PERFECTLY with what I am wanting to do and still have the majority of our home feel just like OUR home & no one will have access to those parts.
Sending out positive thoughts and energy towards bringing this home into existence & being able to work doing my dreams and provide for family in a way that brings me absolute joy and balance. Let’s go! 8 more days left in the challenge 🙂
#Countdown8toGo!
2018 = 5 million!!!
Second half of challenge totals:
Totals for day 91/99:
>>Respectfully submitted & Always thankful<< ~Mai
Workout completed at the gym today with my mother after speed-walking the greater part of an hour on an inclined (4.5) treadmill.
After that, was able to grab sushi with the family and then see some AMAZING model homes that were staged beautifully. It has me SUPER motivated to get my ducks in order so that we can transition into our home that is going to enable me to run my business. I am beyond ready to step up my work 2 notches to bring this into fruition like asap!
Well, until then, going to enjoy this amazingly beautiful weekend and awesome start to Spring 2018.
#Countdown9toGo
2018 = 5 million!!!
Second half of challenge totals:
Totals for day 90/99:
>>Respectfully submitted & Always thankful<< ~Mai
Workout completed early…
Dinner prepped & about to be made…
Baby girl napping…
I think it’s time for a relaxing shower 🙂
Weekend almost here!
#Countdown11toGo
2018 = 5 million!!!
Second half of challenge totals:
Totals for day 88/99:
Level Up #1 | Level Up #2 | Level Up #3 | Level Up #4 | Level Up #5 | Level Up #6 | Level Up #7| Level Up #8 |
>>Respectfully submitted & Always thankful<< ~Mai
