February Already

I have just been revisiting my intentions for this year: reviewing my babysteps for January, and writing out some babysteps for February. I was pleased with how well this process worked for me throughout January, so am looking forward to the new month. We'll have to see how this all holds up once I return to university in March!

Here are my babysteps for the coming month:

Read chapter 8 of "Compassion" by Henri Nouwen.
Begin collecting together my favourite yoga poses.
Practice portion control at dinner time (my weakest time of day - I can't resist piling my plate with pasta and rice).
Think about finding a role model who is consistently gentle and joyful.
Preview my lectures on powerpoint (I have downloaded them already).
Read chapter 2 of "Anger" by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Commit to the Women's Circle that's just started up.
Do lesson one of online meditation course.
Add some exercise to my days.
Join in with FLYlady goal for February (January was keeping our sink shiny).
Start reading "For the Children's Sake" by Susan Schaeffer McCauley.
Think about how we can celebrate Autumn Equinox.
Work in garden 5-15 minutes every day.
Read "Practice the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence.
Copy all my best guitar songs into one book.
Implement reading routine with Christopher and Catherine.

My January goals were very similar to the above, and I found them quite manageable. So hopefully this next month will also work quite well. Clearly some goals will require more discipline than others.

Oasis Centenary

This is my 100th post on this blogsite! Hurrah.

It's also my shortest post on this blogsite. LOL.

Insulin Pump

One of the best inventions of recent years has got to be the insulin pump - at least in our household! Christopher has had type 1 diabetes since 2001, and initially had to make do with twice-daily insulin injections. The problem with those is that you have to eat the right amount of carbohydrates at the right time each day, to match the insulin that you've already injected into the body. So eating less or more than usual really becomes quite a problem.

With the insulin pump Christopher can eat whatever he desires throughout the day, at whatever time he wishes (within healthy limits, as we all should) - and his insulin is tailored according to his food intake. Until you've experienced both alternatives, it's hard to realise exactly how much difference this makes to his life.

The real measure of the benefits come with Christopher's three-monthly test, called a HbA1c. This test is designed to determine how well his sugar levels have been controlled over the previous 6-8 weeks. Someone without diabetes would have a HbA1c of about 6% or less. Someone whose diabetes is absolutely not under control might get a result of around 10%. Before the insulin pump we were getting levels around 9% (not very good). Christopher's most recent HbA1c was a very, very good 7.8%.

Why does this matter? Well, the test is important because higher levels are intimately related to all the negative long-term outcomes that diabetes brings with it - ranging from liver failure to loss of sight, from foot amputation to death. Clearly, any improvement in blood glucose control is highly desirable.

The only reason we've been able to afford the rather pricy insulin pump is thanks to family members in Holland. Their generous contributions have enabled us to get Christopher's glucose levels under control, thereby greatly improving his life-long health, and making his life that much more enjoyable.

So while diabetes is not yet curable, the insulin pump is a wonderful step towards improving the life of anyone with diabetes.

Women's Circle

One of my Intentions for 2006 relates to creating deeper friendships. My absolute best friend is Garry, and that relationship sustains me in ways I never dreamed possible. However, I haven't ever deliberately developed friendships with women other than my sister and mother. I tend to be very self-reliant when it comes to problem solving and so on. That said, I realise there is a great deal women can offer one another as friends.

So when I was recently invited to join a women's circle I was delighted. Last night the five of us met together for the first time and it was great. We will be meeting fortnightly for about two hours (although last night it was four hours!) for a time of structured meditation and discussion. I found our time together very nourishing and enlivening and am really looking forward to our next gathering.

Intentions for 2006

Although I haven't made any New Year's Resolutions for several years (always sets me up for failure when I do), I have listed a number of intentions/desires for myself. These are things I would like to see manifest in my life (in no particular order):

• increasing compassion


• improved yoga ability


• well-nourished body, mind, soul


• gentle spirit and joyful approach to life


• successful year of study


• handle interruptions gracefully


• deepening friendships


• establish meditation practice


• some weight loss & increased fitness


• strong focus on FLYing this year


• improving parenting skills


• learn to celebrate various occasions


• a garden that nurtures peace


• developing 'present moment' awareness


• a competent classical guitar repertoire


• work on reading skills with Christopher and Catherine

Whew! Seems like a lot when it's all listed in one place. This month I have taken babysteps in each of these areas, and have enjoyed myself a lot. I might write more about it in days to come...