Well, it’s been a while since I’ve written a group message in the day time, I don’t remember the last time actually. The past several months have seen most all of my days, weekdays, occupied with the planning of the RealTime Cancer Challenge, which is scheduled to launch next Wednesday and Thursday. Today, I’ve put the planning on hold, and not because there’s nothing left to do.
Some of you will remember, others have heard me say since, that “when your gut tells you something, LISTEN, in my experience it is very rarely wrong”. I’m listening to my gut, which also at this particular time happens to be my stomach as that is what’s demanding my attention. I am a firm believer in the theory that there is a reason for everything, but sometimes, often times, that reason is not evident. Sometimes it is very hard to find, and it often takes a significant commitment of energy. It took me a little while to figure out the reason for my latest challenge, but I’m getting better at it.
The challenge I’m referring to is the problems with my stomach, which is why my stomach/gut is demanding my attention. My stomach problems are well documented to the group, and they have been consistent since beginning my Series, but they jumped to a whole new level after my summer sleep of 99. Since that time my digestive system has made very slow progress, but it has been progress. Throughout this time of progress, it has regressed back to the default position of keeping nothing and tolerating nothing. There have been many times, and many periods when I haven’t been able to keep any food. However as time passed my digestive system has made significant strides, especially from it’s state this time last year when my diet was very limited. Since Friday evening my diet has been very limited, again, as I haven’t had a meal that’s stayed with me in about 4 days.
Needless to say it’s a little tough to maintain any kind of energy level without food, thus mine has dropped significantly. So here we sit just over a week from the Challenge launch and I’ve been sidelined significantly, which has lead me to think about “why”. I have learned that the only place I’ll find the answer to ‘why’ this has happened at this time, is inside me. So that’s where I went to find the answer. And I found answers, and I’m continuing to find them.
It seems obvious to me, as I continue to learn about my body and it’s method of communicating with me, that this is my body’s way of telling me to slow down, so I have slowed down. It is my nature to want to challenge that sign, and some would argue that I have spent much of my life challenging signs like this one, but not anymore, I’m listening. Which is a huge adjustment for me and one that will take a life-time of effort. I don’t view this as a quick fix, but I do think that acknowledging my tendencies and then consciously working to “possess a positive attitude, make positive choices and take positive action” for me, all of me, body, mind and spirit, will allow me to progress through these challenges.
Those of you who are familiar with the inner workings of the RealTime Cancer Challenge are familiar with that quote I just mentioned as it is exactly the message I am looking to convey through the execution of the Challenge. It is my belief that no matter the significance of the challenge you are always best to “possess a positive attitude, make positive choices and take positive action”. While this latest challenge wouldn’t necessarily rank on the same level as my Cancer Challenge, the process by which I chose to tackle this challenge is the same.
I do consider myself extremely fortunate to have reached a point where I am able to go inside myself for answers, as I know that’s the best place to find them. Often times outside influences can and will help you to those answers, but the actual answer is inside. My insides have told me many things about my latest stomach challenge, one of which is that I should slow down. As “good” as I thought I was being, eating well and getting my rest, my body is telling me that I’m going too fast too soon, so I’ve switched to a slower gear. Another reason my body is giving me this challenge now is to challenge me to see if I really do practice what I intend to teach.(I like teach more than preach) And as I write this from my couch at 1:52 p.m. on a Tuesday, I feel comfortable saying that I do practice what I intend to teach.
So having said that I will ask you all, is your body telling you something that you are “choosing” not to listen to, are you “taking” action that is against what your insides are telling you? I encourage you to listen to your insides, there are some amazing things going on in there, I seem to find new things everyday.
Those are my thoughts on this Tuesday afternoon. I’ll be back again soon as I continue to collect my thoughts regarding this latest challenge. Hope you are having a great day.
Live life. Love life.
Geoff
#4
