I feel peaceful and content with where life is going. My energy has been slightly off lately, but I think all that it's telling me is that there are some things that need to change. I've been listening and responding.
I've been called to work on being more aware of another addiction. If you didn't know, I'm doing sober september and not drinking, smoking weed and have significantly cut back on sugar. Another think I want to add to that list is social media scrolling.
It's an addiction that I've gotten much more control of over the years, but as I forget to manage it sometimes, it sneaks back up on me. I've noticed I've been opening my phone and clicking on instagram and facebook mindlessly. This is an issue.
Yesterday, I was so overwhelmed by my phone, I put it on do not disturb at 5pm. Honestly such a nice feeling. I did yoga, meditated, journaled, smoked some lavender, watched a documentary on psychedelics and ate some yummy food. It felt so good to disconnect and spend quality time with myself. I want to do that more.
I remembered how great microdosing psychedelics can be. It's always been a really great tool for me. It's also legal here in Costa Rica, so I can literally go buy it at the store.
I've been struggling a little bit with mood, presence and creativity, so I'm going to see if microdosing helps at all. I'm so grateful it's legal here. I still think it's funny weed isn't tho. CR is funny like that.
Muffin update: She's been going outside for 30min-1hr increments at night. She seems happier and like she really enjoys it. I know she's always loved being outside and just watching nature, so I'm really happy for her! Progress!
I also started using Bumble, and have been connecting really well with someone. It's exciting and it's helped me practice my spanish so much more! Since she speaks about as much english, as I do spanish. She gives me butterflies and it's cute <3
OH! I also cooked my first full food prepped meal this week. I've been normally just making eggs for breakfast, and then eating out. I only cooked meat once so far and it turned out like GARBAGE.
BUT!!! My neighbor let me use her instapot and I made a full traditional Costa Rican meal of 'de carne en salsa' with 'rice and beans', fried plantain and jamaica.
To translate for you, I made beef in sauce (it was like a 10 step process and turned out SO tender) the rice and beans is cooked with coconut milk and spices, the plantain fried in butter still slightly burnt and the drink jamaica is hibiscus tea boiled with ginger and local raw cane sugar. The meal was SO GOOD, that my neighbors, who are CR natives, all said I'm more Costa Rican then them. I wanted to cry.
I also made home made ramen eggs, and WOW I'm so hyped. There is no kind of ramen, cusinesine here, so I was so excited when I successfully made my first ramen eggs. If you know the hype, you know. I also added beans, broccoli, peppers, garlic, green onions and cilantro to my ramen and you guys is SLAPS so hard!!!
I forgot how much I love cooking, how meditative it is for me and how talented I am at it. It also has saved me money, and caused me to stop overeating as much, because I put so much time and energy into my food, I don't want to rush through it.
With this being said, I ordered a mini instapot to LA so Riley can bring it for me and I can cook more. I also had a friend point out that everyone loves my cooking so much, that I should add a recipe section to my blog. SO keep an eye out if you like to cook, that will be coming very soon.
I haven't felt so inspired with food in such a long time. I'm so hyped.
The full moon was two nights ago and two of my neighbors and I held a women's circle. It was so peaceful yet powerful.
We did some reflection, intention setting and a cacao ceremony. We talked about our struggles and how we can work through them and support each other.
The theme for all of us seemed to be that we wanted to slow down, be more present in our bodies and life, as well as being vulnerable with others.
I personally rarely live in my body. I live anywhere BUT my body generally. I live in my thoughts, in my todo list, in the past and in the future. I've been more present than ever, since moving to Costa Rica, but I want to work on it more.
A big re-frame that came to mind, was focusing more on each task, rather than my 'to-do list'. Being present in each moment, rather than thinking about the next thing I have to do. Focusing on the details, rather than the finished product. This has always been a struggle for me.
To be successful in this, I focus on my breath and body more, in any given task I'm working on. I also focus on the micro details of objects, like color, texture and design , rather than just seeing it as a whole and putting a name to it.
For example, seeing a leaf, and instead of internally saying 'leaf', I focused on the fact that it's alive, it's vibrant color, it's shape and size, and overall how it's just existing in the world. It's more difficult than I thought to do, but it lets me not think about anything else, which is helpful.
Some journal prompts I came up with, and I will share with you, if you'd like to use them are as follows.
1) Focus on the last 30 days. What have you let define your life?
2) Tune into your body. Are you holding emotion anywhere? Can you let something go?
3) In the next 30 days, who do you want to be? What does that person look like? What does their daily life look like?
By answering these, I found a lot of areas I can grow in.
A different set of questions that also really helped me, that are not my own, are as follows.
1) Where and how can you slow down in your life?
2) What are you being impatient about?
3) How can you slow down and savor life more?
4) What is the slowness teaching you?
Diving into these questions really helped me map out what I want the next lunar cycle to look like. I recommend contemplating them for yourself.
So overall, I'm excited for this new found awareness and love/gratitude for my life. It's a good day <3
I want to close with taking a moment of gratitude for myself. I really do inspire myself with my self awareness and dedication to growth. This blog is so special to me. Even if no one reads anything here, I put my heart and soul into it, and I think that's really special.
Thank you for being here and reading. I hope you can find value in my words and take something to apply to your own life.
If anything I write ever sparks some conversation within yourself, or helps you in some way, please feel free to reach out and share or discuss! Connecting with people and helping them, lights up my soul like nothing else. And I love learning from others experiences as well.
Thank you for being you! There's no one else that shines the way you do, how special you are <3
PURA VIDA!!!