NST Awesome August

lcc86

Evening turtles

First check in for a few months, can't report a NSD as I had to pay for my rabbits' annual vaccinations first thing. Took money from savings but still count it as a cost. Also bought a train ticket for tomorrow's journey to work. Shopping delivery should be here shortly as well. Majority of the big direct debits and standing orders came out today so bank account is looking decidedly less healthy 

I also managed a short yoga workout first thing and a 20 minute walk at lunchtime. 

Work has changed a bit recently and I don't have to go in as much, which I am very much appreciating and enjoying! I'm considering doing some more overtime as it means I can drop my part time job, financially it's not really worthwhile once I factor in emergency tax and travel costs. Something to ponder this month.

beanielou

Icc66.  Sounds like a good idea to do OT & drop second job.

ldee2111

OH and DS aren't home right now so I'm sitting here enjoying my evening tea, square of dark choc, and catching up with turtles' posts. @grandmanerd I love your determination, you are amazing.

"I am awesome!"

I did feel quite awesome today: I did a decent pile of work for my job, got a few thanks from colleagues, ate quite healthily, walked 2 miles on the treadmill at the gym at lunchtime, got a washing dried on the line, listed a few more items on V!ntd this evening (one sold right away), and made dinner. 

Grateful for an energetic day, for getting lots done, and for a walk at the gym listening to feel-good music. 

x 

abundant1972

Good Evening!!!

Thank you for the warm welcome back. I always feel a little sheepish coming back when I have been AWOL but I think I am beginning to realise it doesn't matter. This is like a little family - we have been through many ups and downs and we still carry on. Some of you know more about my life than the my own family / people I work with. That speaks volumes. Thank you. You are all very much appreciated. 

Life has been up and down. My Mum is going strong (Alzheimer's for 5 years. In a home. No longer recognises me) physically - and I see her most weeks - but that is like an ongoing bereavement. She seems content - so I take solace in that. I am off my medication (depression) and have been for a few months due to side effects. As grandmanerd knows only too well - meds have side effects and they then cause other issues... in my case my mood improved but then became an insomniac with erectile dysfuction!!! Like I needed those added to my life. I opted to stop them... and am trying to find ways to manage my mood with varying success. I'd also developed an eating disorder out the blue (well not really - had been using food as a comforter and it just got out of control) so have been having therapy for that - again, with varying amounts of success. 

On the plus side - I have kept up going to the gym 1-3 times/week and joined a weekly yoga class which I love. I have joined a mens' support group to try and not be so isolated socially and made an effort to see the couple of friends I have made up here. Some days I feel like I am just existing rather than living - but I keep believing if I chip away at these issues and work on myself - it'll all come good one day. 

Financially... I think when I was last here my debt was around £9,500 and as of today it is down to £6,750! I have a new debt free date (DFD) of October 2025 if I keep paying £250 per month. I have knuckled down on my spending these last few months. I re-visited some of the old threads from back in the day when I got myself debt-free an it reminded me that I could be a hard-core debt-buster if I put my mind to it haha. So, with that in mind I will have a read again of this month's challenge and be back in a jiffy. 

Once again - it is genuinely lovely to be back and to see you all again x  

Esmeralda2662

Hi Grandmanerd, please could I join for an Awesome August? Thank you! 

DrCarrie

Evening Turtles, 

How did we do today? Spend free day #1/15

The strikes in overtime and a person hit by a train made the commutes today pretty bad. 

No commute tomorrow.

I am grateful for, getting food packed for the day, some sunshine and a busker on the train. 

abundant1972

On to August's Challenge 🎯

Awesome - Working on my self-esteem is an ongoing project. I'm the heaviest I've ever been... I don't feel young anymore (since hitting 50) and coming to terms with what that means for me... I see great qualities in others but for some reason struggle to acknowledge them as positive in myself. I am trying to focus on the positive things about myself I do like and being grateful for the body I have and what it enables me to do. I am awesome!!! 

Wellness/Exercise - I have had the constant shadow of anxiety/depression with my my whole life. I am trying to accept that too as a part of who I am. For all it drags me down some days - it has made me more introspective, empathic towards others, and appreciative of the simple things in life (because embarking on big things like holidays, a relationship etc) are too far out of my comfort zone at the moment. I am finding ways to support this - my spirituality is a big part, alongside yoga, mindfulness, striving for a healthy diet, exercise and connection. What I really need to work on now is consistency - difficult when my mood shifts and life feels like I'm in sinking sand some days. 

Stay in the Moment - This is key - and what a lovely description you have given, grandmanerd. My thoughts often stray to the future - what should I be doing to make me happy... what do I need to look for to complete me and make me happy... When I am in the present - in the moment - that is when I feel alive and my cup feels full. I am not my mind - and staying centred and grounded and being an observer of my thoughts helps. 

Overwhelmed - One thing I have established out of necessity is excellent boundaries - especially with work and family. I don't give a second more of my time to work than I am paid for. Similarly with supporting my parents - if I am feeling burned out - I know to schedule in a weekend off, or shorten my visit. I could me more boundaried with myself and not throw my time away to gaming or let my eating get out of control. A work in progress those. 

Meal Prep/Planning - I am using up existing supplies and then will get back on to my meal preps. I have so many (unread!) cook books - so that is on my list of things to do. Explore with new recipes and expand my repertoire. I have not been great at planning for the week - and that is maybe why I fall into comfort eating. Through therapy - I have learned that I need to eat regularly as when I'm hungry I am more likely to binge. Am always trying to cut down on processed food - and eat well. 

Donation - I could probably go through the vast amount of books I have and see what I can gift/donate/sell. That is my only guilty-pleasure when it comes to hoarding. I am pretty minimalist otherwise. 

Gratitude - I would like to get back into my gratitude practice... and being here helps with that, as it is something we try and do daily. 

Budget - One area I am good at is budgeting (says the guy in debt haha!). Well I am good at planning the budget - even if I sometimes derail my spending when my low mood strikes. I always pay my debt payments first though - and then try and stick to it. I use a budgeting app (YNAB) which helps me loads. Closed 2 credit cards last week I had cleared... 2 to go. 

Goals - My aim is to clear debt. Again. My mortgage is due for renewal next year which will likely impact the amount of money I have to throw at debt - if interest rates continue to rise. My existing mortgage was fixed at 2.29% and I think they are now 6%+ !!! Hopefully by next Spring they might have come down a bit. I budget for future expenses (e.g. car maintenance, subscriptions) so that when they do come around I am not getting back into debt. 

Staycation - Just had a 2-week staycation. Have another week planned September and another 2-weeker in November, I would like to plan something for the latter - even if it is just some days out.

Be kInd - I am looking to do some training so I can join a local support group and help facilitate, and I always give to the group when I have been as a donation. I will try and remember to donate to food banks - even if it means just buying a few extra tins when I do the shopping.   

Today was a spend day as I treated myself to an in-game purchase

Today I am grateful for:

1) Being back in the NST forum and for all of your support
2) My therapist who is amazing, kind and supportive
3) My little apartment - for providing me with a retreat from the World

Happy 01st August too. Enjoy the rest of your evening x

Thrifty_Taylor

Welcome back into the fold @abundant1972!

Please can I join @grandmanerd? If #18 is available, that would be great 😊 Thank you for a fantastic thread & to all of you for your inspiring posts.

An overcast start to the day, but it soon brightened up. Walked 4.5 miles with DH after breakfast. Did some weeding for an hour before dinner, then a friend popped by to pick up some sewing. She brought me a beautiful bunch of sunflowers, I've never had those before (just grown:some in the garden), & a big box of shortbread. We sat in the garden & had a lovely catch up for an hour.

Took DS3 & friend into town, nipped to a haberdashery shop to get something for a sewing job & had a great conversation about books we love, with the shopkeeper. Nipped to a supermarket to get things that weren't available at the weekend.

Washed the dishes after tea, then had a nap, as felt really tired. Had a quick bath, not in the mood to soak too long tonight.

Grateful for sunflowers, chatting to like minded people & being awesome, just like all of you 😃

apple_muncher

Wotcha abundant👋, good to have you back.

Very sorry about your mum not recognising you now, that is so hard, even though you know it's inevitable. With my mum, she still gave a big smile of welcome and knew that I loved her. There was that emotional connection right up to the end. Hugs X

Today I am grateful for a much drier day, for dc getting to bed at a decent time, for doing over 22600 steps, for 85% chocolate, for catching up with an old friend and for chatting with new people.

apple_muncher

DrCarrie said:

Pinch punch!

Just read this, DrCarrie! We posted at the same time!