Last night, Mal and I had a little heart-to-heart chat. In the nicest way possible, my husband basically told me that I’ve been a miserable person lately. And, to tell you the truth, he was totally right!
Mal made me realize that I have been pretty negative lately, and I have NO real reason to feel and act this way. Poor Mal has been dealing with my down-in-the-dumps attitude for much too long. Last night he helped me see all of the wonderful things that are happening in my life right now: I have a loving husband, family, and friends, 3 jobs that I enjoy, the cutest pug in the whole wide world… so, what’s my problem?!? I don’t know if it’s a case of the “grass is always greener” or what, but I need to snap out of it ASAP!
So, I’ve decided to focus my attention away from the “bad” and take more time to appreciate all of the good in my life. One way to do this is to note it on my blog from time to time. CNC is basically my personal (yet very public) journal, so recording these realizations will definitely benefit me and likely improve my outlook.
I really hate being so negative! I’m glad that my husband doesn’t “sugar-coat” anything! He keeps it real! 
Ok, enough with the “serious” stuff! Onto breakfast! 
Breakfast
This morning, I mashed up a banana and peanut butter in a small bowl and then spread it inside a whole wheat pita. I then cut the pita into more manageable (and fun!) triangles pieces.
With my breakfast pita, I drank iced coffee with chocolate soy milk– no agave nectar needed this morning!
On my commute into work, I impulsively stopped at D&D for another iced coffee. I probably didn’t need a second one, but it is quite delicious!
Workout
I didn’t make it to Healthworks this morning, but I did manage to exercise before work. Our friends (who we are staying with) live about a mile from our apartment, so I jogged to the gym, lifted for about 20 minutes, and jogged home (approximately 2 miles).
At the gym, I did 2 sets of the strength training workout below:
- Dumbbell Chest Press
- Dumbbell Chest Flies
- Triceps Dips
- Triceps Kick-Backs
- Lateral Shoulder Raises
- 50 Crunches on Decline
Feel Great Weight
New post on Health.com: Jeans Too Snug? Why You Shouldn’t Freak Out
Update to “So, You Want to Start a Blog?” Post
I added a tip about utilizing social media to market your blog. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it yesterday! Social media is super-duper important to getting your name out there! Make sure you use it!
Question of the Day
What are you grateful for?
—-
Mal, Mom, Sister, Murphy
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My first thought when reading your blog was that I’ve certainly felt that way before, and it’s easy to sort of spiral downward without even noticing it. How awesome that your hubbie could be totally honest with you AND that you could TAKE IT! AWESOME communication!
I also thought about a running friend of mine. It would be a gross understatement to say that she’s had a rough year — loss of her sister and cat, husband with serious medical issues, and just last night she told us (our running group) that she and her husband’s best friend (and best man in their wedding) had passed away from cancer a couple of days ago. I emailed her today to see how she’s doing and the response I got was OUTSTANDING (in my opinion):
“When I got home last night I treated myself to candles and a long soak in a hot tub, and that lifted my melancholy mood. There have been challenges this year, but today is a good day.”
I think that if SHE can find something to be positive about, then I certainly can, too!!!
Have a good day!
Today I’m grateful that I have friends I can talk to when I’m having a hard time. Its nice to have people who care about me.
BTW I am totally going to do that iced coffee you did this morning. I ran out of Fat Free creamer yesterday and thus haven’t had my coffee yet. But I do have some chocolate soy milk in my fridge and I’m off to make my coffee. Thanks for the great idea.
Sorry to hear you are down in the dumps..but what a great husband to be able to have a heart to heart with about!
I am greatful for my wonderful husband, my son, great family and friends and my health!
love the breakfast pita!
You always seem cheerful on your blog, at least! Sometimes you gotta ‘fake it til you make it’ when it comes to being in a good mood. Plus, moving and uprooting yourself can be stressful!
It helps to have people around to you to help out. I’m grateful for my boyfriend, roommate, and puppy, who are all always excited to see me when I get home from a long day at work!
Great post! I think we all go through times when we’re not as positive as we would like to be. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut where we don’t realize all of the wonderful things around us.
I am grateful for the fact that I have a job in these trying times and the fact that I found yoga
I am also extremely grateful for my wonderful, supportive boyfriend and our dog Moose and cat Bogey (our babies)!
Cheer up, Tina!!! Just look at Murphy; that’ll make you smile:)
The most important thing that I am grateful for is my health. When you are faced with an illness or have someone close to you with one, you realize that none of the little things that we worry about on a daily basis matter. They all take a backburner. When you have good health, you have everything
I am grateful for being able to take deep healing breaths. For years I ate so much that after meals I was winded and had such air hunger that at times I thought I wouldn’t make it. Still I kept eating. Since going high raw have lost a significant amount of weight and I no longer have the air hunger. I can enjoy taking deep breaths.
hey tina, this is way off topic but i’d like to get my name out there..in blogworld and if you ever want to do another post about living healthy in a dorm..i’d be glad to write a post!! love your blog!
My husband and I decided to bring more positivity into our lives by starting a nighttime ritual. Before we go to sleep we both say what we are grateful for that day. And on those days when nothing goes right, it forces me to look at the big picture and be grateful for the important things in life. Family, friends, my health, etc. It definitely helps by getting in the habit of looking on the bright side!
Hi Tina…
I am grateful for my family, fiends, the health we have and my creator that makes all good things possible.
Tina, It is so weird that you wrote about this because my boyfriend said the same thing to me two weeks ago.. I felt like I had no purpose and didn’t mean anything to anybody.. Since then.. I have gotten a new job with a purpose
STARTED A BLOG 
And Realized I am extremely grateful for many things in life.. especially My mom, dad, brother sister, boyfriend Brian and my cute doggie Nikki.
Hey Tina,
I just had a friend sit me down and say the same thing. I’ve been down in the dumps lately as well and its been so hard to get back on track. But, you’re right. We need to look on the positive side and be grateful for life. For me, I stay constantly frazzled and stressed and it means alot to think on the positive things in my life. Take care of yourself….and keep smiling and thanking everyone for what you’ve been given in this life. You are very lucky to have a hubby that will be that open and honest with you! He’s definitely a keeper!
It’s so easy to get caught up in the negative, but you’re right, you have some awesome things going on in your life, so hopefully those will cheer you up when you’re feeling down! It’s funny, I actually just wrote a “Greenscope” (green horoscope, I know I’m a dork!) about this. I don’t know think it’s your sign, but here’s what I had to say:
Aries: Though the grass always seems greener on someone else’s (low-water!) lawn, to others, your grass looks pretty darn green. Focusing on what others have distracts you from the amazing things you have going on in your own life. Take a look from the outside at how good you have it.
I think it applies to most of us! Hope things start looking up for you!
Try thowing that tortilla on the George next time, I think you will love!
Cheer up buttercup!
Wow Teen! I wouldn’t have guessed your were feelin the boo hoo’s! So glad that Mal was able to tell you how he perceived you as of late – prob pretty powerful.
I wonder what is behind the negativity? I hope you find out for yourself.
I’m so glad you shared that Teen!
I can completely relate to this Tina! Often times I found myself falling in to “McCrankster” mode for no apparent reason at all. Thank goodness for the men in our lives to snap us out of it and allow us to recognize how much we have to be grateful for in life.
Great post, my husband and I had the same conversation recently. Things have been so crazy and I need to stop and take a look at all the GOOD things in my life. I am grateful for my husband Mike, friends and a pending vacation over Thanksgiving.
Very good post!!
I am grateful for my family, health & the miracles of modern medicine (my sis just had twins at 25 weeks preggo).
I hope that things start to look up!!
I am grateful for my health, my husband, my mom and my babies (dog and 2 cats): Willis, LucyLu and Sofie.
I hope you’re spirits are lifted soon!
Any heck why NOT go for that second ice coffee!!
Tina,
I can definitely relate to this post. I feel like it is so easy to get wrapped up in what I don’t have yet, what I am striving for, and to stress about all of the little things that go wrong, that I never just feel good in the moment. And I think my bf definitely helps me to see when I go down this path- its so great to have someone to bounce feelings off of.
I think realizing how much we all have is the key to being happy. Instead of wanting more, being so grateful for all that we have now- and how lucky we are. I so appreciate your post for that reason. I am grateful to have such a wonderful family, my boyfriend, 2 very cute (and fat) cats, lots of good food to eat every day, and a beautiful place to live.
Thanks again for this post- definitely was a good thing to take a moment out of my day to feel grateful.
I think we all get into a funk like that from time to time. You’re so lucky that Mal gave you such a great pep talk.
I find myself getting down lately. I was laid off from my job almost 3 months ago so it’s easy to get discouraged and depressed. But through it all, I’m grateful to have such a wonderful husband and a beautiful, healthy baby girl!
I am grateful for my Ben – he is like Mal and will let me know when I am being cranky.
I am grateful for my health, my family, and these days I am grateful I am employed!
HA! I feel like I am reading this post just as I needed to! I have been having a negative day today! I am in one of THOSE moods. I ate not so greatly and skipped a workout, so I am not feel 100%.
After reading this I realized I have so much to be grateful for, that there is not room for negativity! I am grateful for my loving fiance and family. I have amazingly supportive friends. I have a good job and am in graduate school. The list goes one. I am wiping away the negative. Thanks Tina~
Sometimes you really need someone to kick you in the butt when you’re in one of those moods to get you out of that rut. It’s great that you guys have such an honest relationship with each other. It’s really great to read every day how you and Mal (I say this like I know you haha) seem to have such balance in your life!
Thank you for sharing this! It has not come through here in the blog!
I am grateful for Ben, my family, my health, and employment!
Great looking breakfast!
Tina,
I know how you feel, my husband and I have had the same talk….maybe it’s hormones. I am taking healthy hormones (Oceans 3) from Garden of Life. This has really helped me!
Best!
My family!! Also – loved your article!! I so needed to read that because I was VERY unhappy with the scale today and it gave me the fun motivation I needed! Thanks Tina! You are like a ray of sunshine to me today!!
Sorry to hear that you’ve been down. It happens to everyone. I liked how Mal talked to you about it instead of getting mad at you. You have a wonderful husband.
Smile….it will make you feel better!
Ah, I have been there too, and sometimes it helps to have someone remind you of all the wonderful things in your life. I am grateful for my parents and my best friends.
Periods of negativity are not fun. It really does take focusing on the good things and trying to find an upside to everything. That in itself can lead to a lot of laughter!
I’ve never commented (even after I saw you when I was running through Harvard Yard a few weeks ago!) but this post was such a wake-up call for me, I had to say something. Your attitude about focusing on the good is exactly what I need right now in my life. I’ve been pretty down and feeling sorry for myself lately, but starting now I am going to stop thinking about the bad and start remembering how much good stuff I have to be grateful for, which includes the fact that you’re reaching out to others like this. Thank you for the inspiration!
AWW, cheer up friend! I have totally been there before so I know what you mean – and hey – at least you have a very fabulous husband who can sit you down and pull you out of it!
and you do have the cutest pug in the world!
you are an inspiration every day – even on your worst day – I guarantee there are at LEAST 25 people who wish they were you – remember that!
What an awesome husband to really sit you down and tell you point blank. That’s the kind of person and friends I need in my life too. Focusing on the good is what I need to do as well. I’ve had a hard time struggling with a recent small weight gain and injured knee, and I keep telling myself it’s nothing big, it’s not the end of the world, I’m still fit, my family is still healthy, etc. It’s important to focus on what’s good in your life to keep a smile on your face rather than the negatives. I’m thankful for: my health (and my family’s health), close sisters, a body that works and breaths!, the sun, summer weather, love, and country music
Thanks so much!!
And that article kind of plays into it. Mine’s a little more than 5 pounds, but it’s way less than what I’ve had to deal with in the past. I know it’s doable – I just have to focus on not getting upset, and turn it around.
Tina, I am sorry to hear you are feeling this way. I just did a post on my blog the other day about Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) — maybe you are struggling with that? It usually happens at either the tail end of summer, or later in the fall for some. But the impending colder autumn temperatures and earlier (darker) evenings can be enough to trigger a spell of sadness that can manifest as plain ‘ol irritability. Sorry to sound so technical… you can read more about it on my blog if you’re interested. Hope you feel better soon!
Don’t worry, we all have times like that. It’s great that Mal is able to talk to you about it and vice versa. He’s a good guy! Sometimes I tend to focus about the things that aren’t going right rather than all the stuff that is. I know many others are much worse off than me so I need to just suck it up – but it’s just hard sometimes. I usually bake something to make myself feel better or take a walk to clear my head.
Hopefully once you’re settled into your new apartment and new routine you’ll feel a lot better. I don’t do well with change sometimes.
I’m thankful for my parents, brother, friends and extended family. I’m thankful to have a job, some money in the bank and my health (as well as my family’s/friends’ health). One of my best friends is getting married this weekend so I am grateful to be in the wedding, sharing the day with her and my other friends and it’s supposed to be beautiful here in Boston! Oh yeah, I’m also thankful for food!!
Feel better soon!
I’ve been feelin’ a little moody lately, and can’t figure out why. But I did want to let you know that you’re not alone.
Sometimes it’s just all the changes going on. I know there’s a lot going on in my life at the moment and it sounds like you do to. I mean, it’s all *good* stuff, but they’re still changes which can throw our moods off a bit.
Anyways, I hope you’re feeling back to normal very soon!
I am grateful for everyday. I was recently asked “if I knew then what I know now, I would” – my answer: nothing. All of the experiences of life have brought me to where I am today. I love my husband, my home, my family and my career – who could ask for anything more? Once life settles down for you, it will be easier to appreciate these small things.
WE all get like that sometimes! You are lucky to have someone that cares enough to tell it to you nicely! My boyfriend did the same thing a couple of months ago and it completely changed my whole attitude. Hang in there ad enjoy the small things!
BOMBTASTIC breakfast. looks delish.
I am grateful for so many things: family, friends, good health, the experiences I have had, and the ones that are to come. I feel like everyday I am grateful for ANOTHER thing. It keeps me grounded, and helps me appreciate life.
I don’t usually comment but I felt compelled to today! What an honest and enlightening post. I also can’t wait to try that delicious looking breakfast
Last night I read your health.com article and I found myself thinking about it today because it was so great!
I am grateful for family and friends who love me despite my quirkiness, a job that pays the bills, and a city that never sleeps.
I’m thankful for yoga!
Check out one of my posts about gratitude here:
http://www.frontporchyoga.com/2009/01/14/gratitude/
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been feeling less than stellar. I was just thinking about my happiness and stress levels last night and was really inspired by one of my business school classmates. She has an extremely demanding (and successful) job and she just received her undergraduate degree last year, is now pursuing her masters and studying for entrance to law school. On top of all of this, she has three kids including a 3 year old and just went through a difficult divorce. Phew! Talk about inspiring. She’s so driven and just keeps moving forward.
That long story shared, I’m grateful for my family, Brian, friends and the things that I love – yoga, exercise, eating, cooking, reading and writing.
Thank you for your honesty, Tina! I have been the same way lately. I am blaming it on the end of summer!
Hey Tina,
I think that it’s great that you stopped to re-evaluate and re-assess and now you can make positive changes towards having the life you want to live – whether it’s changing your outlook on life or making other life changes.
Thanks for the great post!
Thanks so much for sharing this Tina! From how happy you are on the blog, I never would have guessed you’ve been down. I feel I’m in a similar situation. Since moving out to DC on my own 7 months ago, sometimes I find it hard. I have especially been feeling it lately – and feeling very homesick! But you’re right, when I focus on the good, I have a lot – a great job, a great apartment in an awesome city and all my new friends that I’ve met since being out here. The best part is I have the support of all my family and friends at home, cheering me on. I am going to try to focus on all of that starting today too!!
Thanks for the reminder!!
Instead of reading other books that were mentioned.
How about reading the Bible
Great idea to focus on the positive, Tina. So nice to have a husband that is so real and reminds you of the great things in life. My moto is “the glass is always half full” but that is easier said than done. I am grateful for my health, my family, my supportive friends and boyfriend.
Thanks to the wake up call to be thankful for what we have!
I’ve been in a funk lately too, sometimes it just happens. Just remember tomorrow is cookie Friday!!!
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