(Central Park: Where I become inspired)
Last week I was told (by a friend) that I am not an extremist, but actually pretty balanced with the way I live my life. Despite many spontaneous decisions revolving around travel and a pure love for living in the moment, I actually keep things semi "in order". I should stress the word "semi". After all, for years I had the nickname “messy jessy” because well, sometimes I just like my stuff broken or a little messy. What can I say? I live on the edge. I was happy to hear this small evaluation of myself. It is true, I like to leave jeans on the floor sometimes. But I also don’t live like a slob; I think my place looks great. I eat healthy every day, but if I find myself out with friends and an apple cobbler with cinnamon or vanilla ice cream (my favorite) gets ordered for dessert, I can grab a spoon and smile. I just don’t have that gene that makes you sway towards one extreme or the other, I am simply balanced. That being said, since I have been going out the last two weekends until 5am with my friends, being almost impossible to drag off a dance floor, I had a different idea for this Saturday night. (Gulp). I was staying in. And I believe that just as much as it is important to go out and enjoy being young & have crazy moments whenever possible…this is just as important. Stay in. Love yourself. :)
So I started my Saturday evening with a 6pm workout at the gym. It was fierce. My mantra was “I hope you enjoyed that mac and cheese you had with Stephanie last night, because now you are doing four sets of everything”. You have one body. Love it. Sure, Mac & Cheese is yummy, but it’s not healthy.
(Stephanie and I right before heading out for the night. We had a glass of wine at a beautiful favorite spot of mine, & then became too hungry for salads. My big Mac & Cheese event took place at Big Daddys Diner on Park Ave South around 10pm this past Friday night).
So, I made it to the gym and I did backward lunges, squats, sprints, sit ups, dumbbell presses, and a dance routine or two in the studio to close out my session. To me, my time at the gym is therapeutic. Also, the more you workout the more you get to eat, (calories are "energy in", working out is "energy out" and if you keep them equal then you remain the same weight, quick mini calorie lesson) :) This means No binging. No starving. Just peace. And most things are OK in moderation. I say MOST things, because not everything is ok in moderation. For example, driving drunk is never ok, not even if you do it once a year. Neither is robbing a bank, or being cruel to people or animals, no I’m sorry you cannot use the moderation rule here.
Moving on... I came home from the gym, & took the shower of my life. By the time I exited my bathroom, the entire apartment smelled of lavender vanilla soap and coconut milk shampoo. I was born again. And by 8:30pm I had a verdict, no high heels tonight. Instead, I opted for my favorite pair of yoga pants and white t-shirt, a tall glass of ice cold water, & stand up comedy on TV. I turned my lamp on next to my bed, opened my bedroom window to let in the coolness from what was one of the most perfect summer evenings outside, & I began the process of relaxing. Sometimes after a long week, I feel the best cure is hitting a karaoke bar. Other times, I feel my best after just taking care of myself with a workout, a shower, & a good book, (Or even better, Kevin James on the comedy central channel). I giggled and laughed out loud for 2 hours watching his stand up. I laughed so hard at times that my body temperature went up! Yes, I was hot from laughing and smacking my hand against my thigh in the moments where I made no sound laughing so I felt smacking my leg would compensate. Ah..good stuff.
So that is when I thought about writing on balance. And I want to make something clear. Exercising and watching what you eat does not make you high maintenance (this bothers me when people throw that idea out there). Working out and watching what you eat means you are an educated person who cares about your health & your body. Put into your body what you would feel comfortable having others see on the outside. I try my best to live in balance & keep almost everything in moderation. Except for making friends, laughing, & dancing, I can go unlimited on those. And as much as I love to go out, I really do have a soft spot for taking a bubble bath on a Saturday night and listening to Billie Holiday. With this balance, I find myself enjoying my life more than I ever have before. Stay Healthy. Stay Happy.
Peace. Love. & romantic bubble baths with yourself xx
I leave you with one of my favorite Billie songs, because whats a Saturday night in without one?
More Billie Holiday music on iLike
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