Dancing and Moving with Alexa

An unexpected and wonderful gift from my husband waited for me this Christmas.  I unwrapped an Amazon Echo and Alexa.   It was quite easy to set up and use from the very first hour.  I am still learning  about what it/she can do and I imagine that process will be ongoing as Amazon continues to work with the product.

Playing music from Amazon Prime or iHeart radio is just one wonderful thing that Alexa can do. Right now, it is the thing I am enjoying the most.  I've forgotten how great it is having music accompany me throughout daily tasks.  Doing dishes, cooking supper, or homework time is much more enjoyable with some tunes playing in the background.

I really enjoy specifying an artist and can jump from Bob Seger, Josh Groban, or Van Halen to Chris Tomlin or Elvis Presley on a whim.   If you are a Amazon Music Unlimited subscriber, you can requests specific songs but I don't have that service at this time.  However, I have enjoyed being surprised by a selection I had forgotten about or even perhaps being exposed to something new.

Another great thing about music is the way it lures you, subconsciously, into moving.  Old Time Rock and Roll can have everyone up and moving with in the first few chords.  Lady in Red gives rise to an impromptu slow dance with my spouse and my teenager and I pause between math problems to belt out songs from The Little Mermaid.   Of course when no one is looking, I can really get to moving to some of my 80's favorites.

Alexa does practical, time saving things also like giving me the local weather report, setting a timer for the dish I just put in the oven, and telling me the Spanish word of the day.  I look forward to discovering new things as time goes.  Alexa doesn't know everything,  however.  There was supposed to be a great meteor shower in January, but Alexa was unable to tell me what the peak time was or which direction to look in the sky.  Guess she's still learning also.

I do credit this device with helping me reach my step goal each day.  The small increase in heart rate and calories burned will add up over time, hopefully.  The only thing I want to change right now is the ability to rename the device and pick a voice.  I'd go with an Scottish or Australian accent and name it Carson.

Darn Migraine

Yesterday I faced an afternoon migraine which pretty much halted my life as it always does.  I survived it without medicine which I am glad of.  My migraines are often brought about by too long of a period between meals.  Seven hours between breakfast and lunch certainly did it.  It wasn't planned but it is just how it happened.  Spent the afternoon and evening in pain, nauseated and throwing up.  So basically, none, or rather, very little of my plan got integrated in my life.

However, today was a new day.  I registered for a 3 month weightloss competition which will be measured by body fat percentage decrease.  I did a 35 minute treadmill workout. Worked on my to do list successfully and am very close to finishing my step goal which I Will complete today. Tomorrow I will be on RS meal plan.  That didn't work today due to not feeling quite 100% and ate what I felt I could stomach.  Not bad, just not structured.

Less television and more reading is also something I am working on.  Although I lean toward documentaries and educational shows, I still feel that television is a time thief.  Reading can be too but it is easier to shut a book after a reasonable amount of time.  I am currently reading Peter Walsh, It's All Too Much.  No I'm not a hoarder, other than the previous craft room mentioned, but I do know a few and the psychology of it all intrigues me.  It is my current phase of interest.  Last year I read a great deal about nutrition, food production, and health.  Forks Over Knives and the The China Study were part of that group of books.

I have a Nook, have the Kindle App, and of course the internet for resources.  However, I am a bit old fashioned as nothing beats a interesting book and a cup of tea with my feet up either in a cozy spot inside or outside in a hammock or chaise, weather permitting.  There is something about the feel of a book or magazine in addition to the act of turning pages that completes the experience.

I don't think I will read much tonight as it feels like that headache is just waiting for a reason to com back.  The instruction book to assembly the inversion table I purchased was enough focus and vision demands for today.  A cup of tea would be nice and so I will add another flight of stairs to my tally and go up and make a nice warm mug of chammomile.

The Momentum of Newness

New Year, new start, new goals, new me.  Beginnings are always exciting and teaching gave me two official new beginnings each year.  The traditional New Year was a time to start again and so was the new school year.  Things could be fresher, brighter, different, and better.

It is great to have these official new beginnings as we can share the commitment and excitement with others.  Really though, we can have new beginnings  anytime we choose such as any first of the month, first of the week, or even every morning.  In order to really get the feel of any new beginning we have to do the head work.

The head work involves setting intentions.  Actually saying what we're going to do; to have a plan.  Otherwise we just continue in our comfort zone and keep repeating the same behaviors.  We also have to work the plan or we will experience no success and end up giving up on the quest for fresher, brighter, different, and better.

New Year: New You.  Blah!! New Year: New Plan: New You!  Doable!  My plan specifically is to specifically tackle my environment, and my health.  My plan:  Donate at least one large black trash bag of stuff each month, complete the weekly tasks/zones from Flylady.net, complete 5 out of 7 things on my daily todo list, Walk a minimum of 8,000 steps per day, formally exercise 30 minutes at least 3 days per week, and stick to the Shred Revolution plan at least 4 out of 7 days.

I've completed my preparation steps.  I have plenty of trash bags and designated spot for collecting "stuff". I am signed up for the Flylady emails.  I have to do list/calendar paper.  A received a Fitbit from my husband for Christmas.  I have an elliptical machine and an assortment of exercise DVDs.  I have the Shred Revolution book and worked the plan for a couple weeks before the holidays began in November to become familiar with it and even lost a few pounds.

I will put in updates on all of this as I blog throughout this year.  So my action plan for my new beginning is ready and I am ready for action.  Oh, yeah, I have decided that my new beginning will start anew each day.  Lamentations 3:22-23; The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.