looking back…looking ahead {wellness}

I have a DIY post in draft form – shocker – it has been so long since I posted a DIY! I customized new canisters for my kitchen. However, I still need to cut screws that attach the knobs…so the post is still just a draft. Maybe Friday it will be done.

Several of you mentioned you like it when I share here what I am posting on Instagram. I started a second IG account @sycamorewell last fall that focuses on stuff related to wellness. For me, this is often Crossfit, fitness with kids, food, and essential oils. I thought I would share a few of those posts here today.

It is a new year and often people are thinking more about their health. I don’t share too much about fitness/health here, but it is a huge part of our family…maybe these will encourage one of you.

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I’m not a fan of cold weather and can easily hibernate until warm temps and green grass returns. However, there are definite benefits to hiking and climbing in the cooler temps – like less bugs to battle! One of our climbing rules is that if ‘you go up, you have to come down’ – meaning our kids can climb up as high as they want on their own (in a safe setting), but they have to be able to come back down ON THEIR OWN. Going up is usually easier than coming down. We started this rule when they were each tiny and it has always helped them make smarter climbing decisions. It has also helped build confidence and learn to assess risks with better judgement.

Recently I set a PR (personal record) on my snatch (an Olympic lift). I’ve been stuck at 70lbs for a couple years. The snatch feels really technical to me and I am super strict with myself about form (esp. when a heavy barbell is going over my head!), so I don’t push it.

Well, I finally got an 80lbs snatch, a weight a lot of people warm up with, but it is huge for me! The difference was listening to my coach when he believed in me and knowing he was confident I could do it made me think I actually could.

All that to say – sometimes what I really need to do is just listen to the wise advice of others and believe in myself they way they do (and I’m not really even talking about weightlifting ?).

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A couple years ago we got our oldest son a climbing rope for the backyard. He’d ask to race up and down over and over (until we had to cut down the tree). It didn’t take long for him to beat me and I remember suddenly feeling really old and really proud. As my boys enter the teen years, I rarely keep up with them anymore, but they always love it when I join in. I’ll keep trying – and hopefully they will keep asking.

Sidenote – climbing ropes are a great investment for building arm, core, & shoulder strength…and humility.

In the course of a week we routinely reach for these to support our bodies and home in so many areas. Sore muscles. Congestion. Stomach bug. Deep cleaning after the stomach bug. Stinky smells. Stains. Acne. Dry skin. Immune support. Sleep. Head comfort. Detox. Nasal function. Stain removal. Energy. Digestion. Muscle fatigue and recovery. And I could keep going. A neighbor stopped by and asked for an over the counter medication, I didn’t have it, but I had a toolbox of other options 😉

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When I get home in the mornings, she always asks, “So, how was your workout?” Some days I tell her it was fun or I tell her a little bit about what I did. Other days I say, “It was really hard and I wanted to quit, but I am glad I didn’t.” Kids pick up on everything we say and do…including our attitudes and complaints. I’m grateful they keep me ever aware of what I am saying and inspire me to push through things instead of complaining. {photo by Jessie Dewey }

The smells emitted from the running, basketball, football, soccer, and CrossFit shoes in this house could possibly peel paint. Especially those shoes that belong to a certain boy who does not like socks. To neutralize the odors, I use a simple spray using the Purification essential oil blend.

Recipe: 10 drops of Purification in a small spray bottle then fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water. Shake well then spray inside shoes when needed (aka all the time).This ends up being about $1.75 per spray bottle (when using my Young Living member rate of 24% off). The Purification blend consists of citronella, lavandin, lemongrass, rosemary, myrtle, and tea tree essential oils.

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Years ago NASA released a study on plants that naturally purify air the best. The snake plant is among the top – and it is pretty hard to kill. I read one study that recommended 5 of these per person in a house. That would be 35 in our house (along with all our other plants), which would be taking the ‘jungalow’ trend to a whole new level. On a serious note, indoor plants & diffusing essential oils are our battle plan against the random smells & construction fumes around here. I get most of my plants from Aldi, Lowes, and Home Depot.

One of my favorite by-products of helping kids build physical endurance and strength is seeing their confidence grow too. My girls aren’t the biggest, but they know they are strong and that confidence helps them step up to offer help knowing their size and age don’t limit their capacity to contribute.

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When it comes to working out, it can feel like we are on opposite ends of the spectrum. It is a stress reliever and energizing for me. It is high on my priority list and very rarely do I let things cause me to miss. I’m a “Why do 1 class a day when I can do 2? And why 3x a week when I can go 5?” Chris…not so much. It’s not his favorite. Or even close. He can list a million places he rather be and things he’d rather do, but he still shows up. He still chooses to fight for his health and do the things that aren’t on his list of fun. Sometimes our differences cause friction, but at the end of the day I’m extremely grateful my kids have both examples.

With fitness (and really everything), knowing my “why” makes all the difference. It is what keeps me motivated when I want to give up, keeps me undistracted, and makes it easy not to get caught up in the comparison game. This picture represents part of my “why” for being committed to exercise. I need a body that can keep up with all the things I enjoy and want to do. I’ve got boards to lift, cabinets to climb, and adventures to chase. Life can change in a instant. Fitness/exercise for me is my attempt to steward well the health I’ve been given and do my best not to take it for granted while I have it. When I keep that in mind, the beep of an extra early alarm clock is a welcomed way to start the day.

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