In the Head of Lynnette

I have neither the time nor the energy to write a polished and thought-provoking post today. But rather than neglecting to write altogether, I thought it might be fun to give you a relatively unfiltered peek into the random collection of ideas that are swirling around in my brain at this very moment. There is no need to thank me for this unprecedented and thrilling opportunity. Just call it my Wednesday afternoon gift to you.

With that dazzling introduction, welcome to my head. Enter at your own risk. I make no apologies for anything you might find here:

What is going on with the new iOS 10 operating system?

I cannot keep up with the surge in technology. Elise downloaded the new iOS onto her phone last night and was showing me all of the amazing features in the messages app alone.

Handwritten messages? Love it.

Animations? So fun!

Stickers and more emoji features? What a timesaver for those who text entire emoji conversations. That may or may not apply to any of the people living under my roof.

Built in internet image search in messages? Not so sure I like the idea of my kids using that.

Invisible ink? Wait…invisible ink? A message that remains invisible until the recipient swipes over it with their finger and then disappears again shortly after that? Can I delete that feature? Please tell me that is possible. It sounds like a recipe for disaster in the hands of teenagers. There is a reason my teens are not on Snapchat. I do not want similar features built right into the software on their phones.

Parenting in the age of technology is like walking through a field of landmines; I tell you. Sometimes I have no idea where to step next without causing an explosion.

Where are you, fall?

I am solar powered, so Arizona is a good fit for me most of the time. But I start to get impatient this time of year when most of the country is gearing up for crisp weather and fall leaves, and we are still pushing 100 degrees.

I am done with this heat, folks. Done! I long for fall with every ounce of my being. But we still have at least six weeks until it even cools down enough to open the windows and give the trusty AC a break.

Fall and spring are my favorite seasons by a landslide, and we gave those up when we chose to move to the desert. I go through withdrawals on a yearly basis, longing for the change of seasons, with all of its sights, smells, and tastes. I will remember why I love it here in Phoenix a couple of months from now because I detest winter almost as much as I love fall. You cannot beat Arizona winters if you crave the sunshine as much as I do. But, until then, I will try not to complain. (But no promises.)

Why did I commit not to buy clothes for a year?

Seriously…why did I do it? It has been seven and a half months, and I am trying to hold firm. It might be my love of fall with its corresponding clothing that is talking here, but I am ready to mix up my wardrobe a little (or a lot). I’m not sure what I was thinking when I filled my closet with a rainbow of crew neck t-shirts. This no shopping experiment has cemented my loathing for those wardrobe staples. They pretty much sit untouched while I wear the same 5-6 shirts over and over again. I guess I’m not a t-shirt kind of girl. I need something a little more dressy to feel my best. Who knew?

I must admit that I cheated just a little and bought a couple of things to dress up the crew necks. It is taking every ounce of self-control that I have to keep from throwing caution to the wind and abandoning my pledge. But I am not a quitter. If I can last for a few more weeks when I will finally be able to pull out some long sleeves and cardigans that are lonesomely hanging in my closet, I will feel like a new woman.

I. Can. Do. It. 

If I sound like I am trying to convince myself, I am. I’m just keeping it real here.

Decisions are my Achilles heel

Greg and I are tackling a decision that feels pretty significant. While we have survived many such decisions in the past, they are grueling for me. Because I can easily see all angles, all potential outcomes, and an extensive list of pros and cons for whatever we decide, I drive myself crazy thinking through the possibilities. That often leads to decision paralysis, but I don’t have time for that in this instance. We need to make a decision now.

I think I struggle with this because I am practical, down to earth, and logical, but equally interested in doing what feels right, even if it defies logic. Those two parts of me incessantly fight until I cannot think straight. That’s what I get for being well rounded.

I am grateful to know that I can always look to God for direction. While the paths that He leads me down are not always logical and are usually difficult, they always teach me vital lessons that I would never learn if I relied solely on my own decision-making skills. That has been my experience over and over again.

With that in mind, I am trying to train myself to go with my gut and proceed, even if things don’t line up perfectly in my head. That is how we are approaching the big decision that is staring us in the face at the moment. We will see where it leads.

How can I lose the 15 pounds that my slowing metabolism has given me over the last couple of years without giving up delicious food?

Food is a big deal to me. I am starting my culinary class on Friday, and there is no way I am giving up good food. My weight has always been incredibly steady, but age has caused it to creep up slowly over the last couple of years. I’m pretty sure it has nothing to do with chocolate.

I am not going to allow myself to get sucked into the world of fad diets and heavy calorie restriction. I have done enough research to tell you that those paths do not work in the long run. They are likely to result in rebound weight gain and increased body fat.

So I am staying grounded in the world of real, minimally-processed food. I am limiting sugar (dessert) to one day a week, choosing whole grains instead of refined flour, and eating a variety of other fresh foods from all food groups. I am not counting calories, but I am trying to be more mindful about what I put in my mouth.

Rather than eating out of boredom, I am attempting to hone into my body’s hunger signals. I’m fairly confident that my body will tell me when to eat and when to stop to get just the right amount of food. I just need to learn to listen.

I am coupling that with 4-5 days a week of moderate exercise, and we will see what happens. The numbers are not yet changing, but I have been working out consistently for the first time since childhood when activity was a way of life. I can do several real push-ups when I was not able to do any a few months ago. I am enjoying the gym and the way it makes me feel when I used to hate it with every fiber of my being. Those small steps are big for me, and I am excited to see my transformation, even if it is mostly internal and doesn’t result in dramatic before and after photos.

 

Thanks for stopping by to read my thoughts for today, scattered and random though they may be. What have you been thinking about?