Thinking Out Loud #24

I am linking up again with Amanda from Running with Spoons for Thinking out Loud because apparently I need a little kick in the butt this week when it comes to blogging. I haven’t been around here in a week. Ahem. No better way to restart here with a little bit of a brain dump.

+ On Sunday was my 17th California-versary. I wrote a little bit about this life-changing move for me here a couple of years ago and about the decision to come to California in the first place here. I still can’t believe I’ve spent such a long time in this country already. Sometimes it feels like I just got here yesterday, and then again, it feels like I’ve been here forever.

+ I don’t know how to put this in words, because we don’t have adequate words to describe what I am about to share, but I’ll try anyway. Sometimes, when I look back at the time that I lived here, I get glimpses of how I first “saw” this country as a foreigner when I had just arrived. It’s like, I see the same things now, but I don’t see the same things, if you know what I mean. There’s been a shift in my perception and it’s really hard to put in words what that actually means. A few days ago, I was talking with J about my first night in the US, when I came to stay for my exchange semester, and I told him that I felt scared and overwhelmed and that I asked myself “what the hell I was doing here”, and he asked “why?”. I think, unless you have traveled or moved to a different country all by yourself, this is just really hard to explain, but I’ll just say, talk about getting out of your comfort zone.

+ My 20-day fitness challenge is halfway done and I am still going strong. I didn’t really know if I could make it happen, but so far  I’ve hit my step goal, did my 20-minutes workouts, meditated and made my bed every morning for 10 days in a row. I also ate healthy(-ish), which I am trying to do  most of the time anyway.

On days, where I don’t run, getting 10k steps in is surprisingly hard. You have to be really intentional with moving around every day. But hey, you know what, it feels pretty good when you do accomplish your goals… and since they say that it takes about 21 days to form a habit, I might end up with some new habits when the challenge is over. Win-win.

+ I recently sold a couple of things on eBay. I hadn’t had much luck with consignments stores or ThredUp and some of the things I wanted to get rid off, I didn’t want to just give away (although I’ve done plenty of that as well). I am really happy I got a little bit of money by putting them up for sale on eBay.

+ My employer covers 50% of my gym membership and I think that’s awesome. I just got a nice little reimbursement on my last paycheck. Woot! Does your employer sponsor your physical health in any way?

What have you been thinking about today?

  1. That’s great that you were able to sell some things on eBay. I have never done that but I’ve sold a few things on Facebook and I bought our bassinet off of Facebook. I also haven’t had much luck with Thred-up.

    My company generously gives us $600/year towards health club/gym memberships/year. I have not used a dollar of this yet, though, which is terrible! But it’s really hard to go to the gym right now as my free-time is very very limited. But I hope to take advantage of this again some day! I used all of it last year between a 3-month barre membership and some personal training sessions.

    1. Wow, $600 towards gym membership is a lot. That is indeed very generous, esp. when you can also use it for exercise equipment, etc. Awesome.

  2. Lucky you, I wish my employer cover some of my gym / workout membership….. I think I should look into selling some stuff on ebay, who doesn’t like to get some money back on things that are still perfectly fine to use?
    Congrats on your Cali-versary !!!
    Good job on the 20 day challenge, next time invite me :)

    1. You know, I’ve worked here for so long and have only last year found out about the fitness program subsidies. Kinda ridiculous, don’t you think?

      The 20-day challenge definitely was a last minute thing and I did think about inviting you, but it was too late to sign up. I’ll definitely invite you next time! I know you would enjoy this!

  3. I get scared and overwhelmed the first week in a new apartment, even when it’s in the same city! I can’t imagine the culture shock of an entirely new country (and how young you were, too!) – I’ve always thought you were so brave to do that. Congrats on your Cali-versary.

    My work doesn’t give any sort of compensation for physical health, which is a shame. I’d love to get some kind of kickback for being a gym member!

    1. Honestly, I was such a scaredy cat when I was younger – I have no idea how I got the courage to sign up for that exchange semester in the first place ;)

      It’s a bummer your work place doesn’t offer an incentive to stay fit/healthy. I think every work place should!

  4. If I don’t run and it’s not a work day, I don’t get 10000 steps! But if I work… I def do. And if I run, I get double! It all evens out in the wash, don’t you say?

    1. Well, you work in a school where you run around in your class room all day… I sit on my butt if I don’t move intentionally LOL (but you’re right, it does all balance out somewhere).

  5. I ususlly get my 10000 steps in from running+ commute. When it is busy at work I get those in too.
    Weekends without running or hiking? That is challenging.
    We have a small gym for staff to use at my workplace.
    Congrats on your Cailversary! :)

    1. That’s awesome that you can use a small gym at work… that makes it easier for some to stick to a workout plan. Do you run before work?

      1. I get up at 4.30 am to get my miles in. Very rarely I run after I come home from work. I like the morning runs better. Quiet, cooler and I see some nocturnal creatures! ;)
        I have a skunk in the neighborhood that I call a friend already! lol

  6. Congrats on your Cali-Versatz. Next year you come of age. I kinda know what you mean with seeing this different now and then.

    On another note: I try to getmy steps in but I never manage to hit the goal. It’s just not really appealing to walk around concrete for me and the par or cemetery is just that big. If I run errands I usually manage easier but then I do that by bike.

    Happy Friday to you
    Tobia

    1. What’s your current step goal? I know some days can be real challenging. Do you go for lunch time walks? I feel that doing that more often has really helped me to reach my step goal!

      1. Well it is really tough when working from home. So I usually take a break and walk around the park but even if I cross it three times I will only end up with about 4000-5000 steps. I wish I could manage the 10.000. Maybe I need to start walking to work and back home…

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