"Opening Up America" Weekly Wisdom

The world is opening back up, where are you going first?

I officially just broke my first nail, I need a haircut. I am waiting to reschedule my dentist appointment and need to schedule my yearly lady appointment and physical. But it can all wait. I am not going to break out of my house like I haven't seen daylight in 6 weeks. 

I am just going home. 

Logically, in my head, there is nothing I need to do immediately. I am not going crazy or feeling trapped. I have not felt this way through the whole quarantine. I have actually loved every single minute. It might be because I am still working and I get that interaction with my co-workers and other humans each day but I think it is more than that. I had to slow down.  I had to go home after work each night because nothing else was open. I didn't go visit family and friends because I am exposed to a lot of people and did not want to risk being a carrier and getting my Mom or my 94 year old gramma sick. I didn't get to hop on a plane and jet set around the world at my leisure. I didn't get to go to the concerts I had bought tickets to. 

I am 100% okay with all of it. 

I am thriving now more than ever. I am getting 7-8 hours of sleep consistently. I am exercising everyday and enjoying it. I am cooking more and creating meals I look forward to eating. I am reading, watching movies I have always wanted to see and journaling more. I am feeling inspired, full of energy and joy. I am looking forward to seeing the faces of the people I love in person but I am going to be more thoughtful of how I spend my time with them. I am thinking more of what I really want to do with my life, places I want to visit and things I want to learn. I am keeping this whole "pause" in life in perspective when developing my future plans. 

But for now and for the next months, I am still planning on just going home, to do my part in this recovery effort of our new normal. Because for me, things will not go back to how they always were and I don't want them to.

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"What is Your Food Superpower?" Weekly Wisdom

What is your food superpower?

I remember when I was little, my grandpa would pick up my sister and I after dinner for a 3 wheeler ride. He would take us out to the farm and we sometimes would snack along the way. We would stop by the mulberry trees and coat our lips and fingers in different shades of purple and then we would stop by his garden and snack on fresh peas from the pod. My absolute favorite is when he would pull the long and skinny spring onions before they turned round and plump and let me eat them to my hearts content. I can still taste how delicious they were. There is nothing like food fresh from the earth.  

I have tried a few times to grow things. I really kind of suck at it. I have sustained the life of a few house plants but as far as growing food...not so much. I have managed a few herbs here and there, one tomato plant and that's about it. I keep trying each year but I have decided I am much better at eating plants than growing them. And I welcome all kinds of plants in all forms, as long as I do not have to grow them. 

There is a lot of patience and a lot of work that goes into growing and supplying our food to us. Just thinking about having to help with a garden by pulling weeds and watering is a lot of work, think of that on a grander scale?  Farmers and ranchers of all kinds are all committed to growing the food we depend on. Empty shelves in the grocery store can cause concerns but it would be even more concerning if fields weren't planted and barns were empty. Farmers and ranchers cannot stop planting their crops or stop caring for their animals. They are #StillFarming during all questionable times we go through. 

Everyday, I am beyond grateful for those who produce our food as I grab my milk, spinach, blueberries and chia seeds and make my morning smoothie. We are so lucky to have so many options of nutritious and safe food. I am so lucky I do not have to grow or produce my own food (it would be a little dicey). 

I thank them all for their food growing superpower and will continue to use mine to consume their delicious products. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"All Dietitian Jobs Matter" Weekly Wisdom

What job do you have as a Dietitian?

There are many places a dietitian can work and ALL of them are important. 

Right now, clinical dietitians are showing up each day during the pandemic for their patients and co-workers. They are on the front lines everyday and I think the world of them. I always have. I was one. Knowing what is it like being in this role, makes me sing the praises of dietitians who have a passion for clinical. There is not one clinical dietitian who ever expected to be millionaire because the job is more about the work they do and the people they serve. Not about the money. 

If you are doing a job because it's all about the money, then you're not focused on big picture. Yes, money is important but there is more to life than money. It might be time to truly look at yourself and see if there is something missing in your life if money is the priority. There are MANY dietitians working in jobs they love regardless of their paychecks. There are many dietitians creating jobs they love, regardless of the paychecks. There is no "one-size-fits-all" dietitian job and do not let anyone make you second guess the career choices you have made as a dietitian. 

There are many dietitians feeling "less than" because they are not making five figures a month or not working in an area of dietetics where it appears the person is "killing it" financially. You are not less- than, you are doing what fills your cup. And if you aren't, then it is time to find the role that will, regardless of what your bank account says at the end of the week. 

All dietitian jobs matter. 

#embracethehellyeah

AE

"Essential" Weekly Wisdom

What do you deem "essential?"

I have thought a lot about this word and definition a lot over the past 3 weeks. I have never thought about a word or definition that long in my entire life. I don't think anyone has. But have you really thought about what is essential in your life?

I am an essential worker right now. I am also an essential daughter and friend. My mom is an essential human in my life, so are my other heartbeats. In the terms of human life, that is what essential means to me. 

But then there are things, things we "think" are essential but really they are not. Pringles are not essential. Easter candy is not essential. Getting my nails and hair done is not essential. Going to movies, walking around a mall, gambling - those are not essential. And I can't believe I am going to say this, but Netflix is not essential. 

As I have been thinking of what I would deem essential outside of humans in my life, I am struggling with it. I have come accustomed to a way of life and have always thought everything I need (or do I just want it) would be right at my fingertips. This situation is an incredible hard slap in the face of reality. Nothing is every guaranteed in our lives, even people or things I have determined to be essential. I hope I will always have water to drink. I hope I will have food to eat. I hope I will have clothes to wear and a bed to sleep in. I hope my family and friends live forever. 

After my many days of how I could define essential in my life and that would be:  having human connection, just enough food to fuel my abilities I have been graciously given and being kind. 

Take a moment today (or 3 weeks if you need it) and create your definition. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE

"Are Your Commitments Bringing You Joy? Weekly Wisdom

Share with me one thing you have been doing in your daily life you have realized 

does not bring you joy. 

Thank you to my friend Haley for bringing up this very important topic. 

Never before in our entire lives have we experienced anything like this. It has made us stop everything we do on a regular basis. Most of these things, we just did unconsciously. We can honestly do anything we want at any time as we have turned into "on-demand" people. If I want a chocolate covered potato chip, I could probably find one at 11:50 pm. Need some toothpaste at 7 am, not a problem. There is no need to plan or buy a back-up of anything just-in-case.  Go to the coffee shop to work and sip. Book a last minute flight for a weekend getaway, no problem!  Head to a movie on a rainy afternoon or catch a baseball game with the family because you have nothing to do on a weekend, sounds good. 

Until now. 

Right now is the perfect time to really evaluate everything you are doing in your life. Make a list of all the things that have been stopped in your daily schedule on the left side of a piece of paper and to the right of that activity right yes or no for if it brings you joy. If is it a no, then my vote is to stop doing it. Have everyone in your family do it. Maybe your kids are not loving the select basketball team they are playing on. Maybe your spouse does not enjoy getting together with the neighbors. Maybe going to the grocery store every night to grab something for dinner is wearing you out. 

Get some life back and get some joy back. 

#embracethehellyeah

~AE