Welcome to the Melbourne Community Daily Discussion Thread.
This post is brought to you by Bot #001. Learning the days is really hard. I'm so worn out I can barely tell my 1s from by 10s. So today will be a day of rest.
Currently out for a walk to get a coffee. I had to cancel my gym membership because they kept putting the price up, so I’ve got my ankle weights on to make it a little harder. When I get back home I’m gonna do a little workout, have the evening shower and then read until we’ve got to go to a friend’s for dinner
Went to a physio for the first time in my life. It was alright. Sad that I need
a professional to tell me that on a physical level I really need to take more time off because the body is holding a lot of stress.
I definitely need to be frugal but decided I'd treat myself to a coffee nearby. And I went with my instincts to Eden Espresso - turns out I've been here before. I love this place, it's so cozy and friendly and not like a lot of the other stuck up "brunch" places around Malvern. One of the staff recently had a baby and there's a basic-ass a4 printout in Calibri saying "it's a boy" with a photo of the grinning dad and I just love that enough regulars care that they've put it there. In fact some old nannas are asking him right now how the kid is going ("growing like a weed") and whether he's sleeping through the night ("yes, surprisingly"). It's so wholesome.
Frustratingly I have work to catch up on today from zoning out on Thursday and Friday due to stress, (and Wednesday from Huge Psych Session), but I'm definitely planning a day of sick leave for next Wednesday when I've cleared out my current backlog.
Tbh personally I'm not a fan of dropping in meditation like it's a cheese toastie or doing the washing, it's got a lot more meaning and context for me growing up in the Buddhist tradition (but also associated with memories of shame for not "doing it right"). Not a go at you at all Smeg but it's just not something I can "do" like that even though I'm fully cognisant of all the benefits of simply being more present.
It's a shitty day for a walk, but what I'll be doing today for myself is sowing the pea seeds I soaked overnight and some journalling about how I'm moving on and away from work stress: writing out all the shit I'm good at, writing down what to talk to one of my work seniors tomorrow (I've scheduled a confidential chat with him to go over what's stressing me out), and a list of things to start looking into when I cut down my work hours.
I'll be heading back to my friend's place with the cat tonight and this time I'll be chilling out with one of my hugely overdue library books instead of being on the phone
That's a little bit too much for me to unravel TBH even with your mentioning it's not directed at me.
Just take care of yourself in how your approach your day and line it with some compassion and care for yourself in whatever it is you do to look after yourself today.
Sorry Smeg, you're right, went a bit off kilter there. I get set off a bit sometimes on that topic, sometimes the suggestion of meditation gets a bit unintentionally "toxic positivity" esque, but it's hard to explain to others without the cultural context. I need to remember this is just a friendly space and not a therapy couch.
I believe in taking care of myself, and a balanced diet and a rigorous exercise routine. In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I'll put on an ice pack while doing my stomach crunches. I can do a thousand now. After I remove the ice pack, I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower, I use a water activated gel cleanser. Then a honey almond body scrub. And on the face, an exfoliating gel scrub. Then apply an herb mint facial mask, which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.
Ahaha it might not be super visible as I'm not bleaching my roots anymore, but the ends are still light from about 8months ago the last time I did it. But I will feel so much happier. I've currently got the dye in, and I'm watching B99 from the kitchen table while it sets.
Tidy flat, cleaning. Washing is drying in the dryer. Mate might visit. Self care sounds good, might get some epsom salts and do another mask / bath plus use my nice skin care I'm saving cos less income. Walk to the beach will be in there somewhere also. I love the sea air from the waterfont at st kilda. The bay is not quite like bass straight like where i used to live, but I always had to drive there. Now it's 7 minutes walk and it's still beautiful clean air.
I realised how much I love the beach since I started water walking.
Someplace within reasonable walking distance of the beach is definitely one the wishlist for the next place.
Yeah I still pinch myself when I walk there as it's almost on the doorstep. The south end streets of st kilda around the botanic gardens are all very nice to walk around too. It feels very old time with established trees and a quiet serene kind of vibe.
As nice as Hongohones' idea of a beachwalk sounds, I am definitely feeling too tired and my jaw too achy. But I do want to get back to the beachwalks.
Will tackle more of the cross-stitching with more podcast(s), then a shower with the new shampoo and some of the coffee body scrub I've had for ages but never used sounds good. Will try a face mask later.
Exercise. Also I was inspired by you lovely people to put on a face mask. It's not a real facemask; I've got a cleanser which doubles as a facemask if you leave it on a bit longer. Then most of the day will be spent relaxing and getting ready for school and work.
A face mask is probably what I can manage today. I'm dead tired, username totally checks out as I have some health conditions that require iron infusions every so often and I'm due for another one, so my energy is low.