NST February 2025 Love and Kindness

grandmanerd

Ninja Saving Turtles Challenge for February 2025

LOVE and KINDNESS
'The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow', so what will we all do now.
We will wrap up warm, keep ourselves from harm and spread JOY, HOPE and LOVE
 
Winter hasn't quite finished with us so KEEP WARM, don't rush things or do too much because our immune systems are all played out and there are opportunistic bugs everywhere.

I have slow living and self-love challenges to add into the month. The key points I want to make are:

FUN 17th to 24th is half term, I've seen lots of fun activities to keep the children occupied and I don't see why the rest of us should miss out. Splash through puddles, make, bake, dance like a loon and if people laugh at you well they won't be spreading gossip about anyone else.

EASY We're going to conserve our energy but we still want to get things done. Five for February
1   Five minute tasks
2   You can do anything for five minutes (even I can stand up straight for 5 minutes) so start small, walk a short distance and increase it each day. Obviously those with fully functioning bodies can aim higher and start with a more demanding target.
3    Spare 5 minutes - if you have a large task start with doing 5 minutes, every time you can
4    Put 5 things away or do 5 things to improve each room before you leave it
5    This is a 'stitch in time' kind of thing. Tasks which don't take long but have an exponential effect on your life - getting something to work properly or things that help by averting problems later

BUDGET everything, preferably before the start of the month, but I'll allow a week because this is a bit late. FOOD, TRAVEL, PERSONAL SPENDING MONEY, any other categories you use. Look for low cost activities - lots of museums and libraries put on free craft activities 
and events (but sometimes places are limited so you may need to book). Does anyone have any ways of making extra cash?

REFRAME any goals that aren't working or REFRESH them. For example I'm still struggling with my weight/ healthy eating/ exercise. My reframe is 'I want to be fit to be a grandma' as there will soon be 2 of them to 'run around' after. GD1 was trying to haul me across the room on Saturday before I'd managed to get on my feet. The new goal focuses my attention on why I want to do this.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE If you base your meal plan around what ingredients you already have in, you will cut your costs. If you haven't done a shop from your cupboards challenge recently, could this be your month? Similarly, if you will be entertaining children/ grandchildren do you have old craft supplies knocking around that they can use.

ARE YOU MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TIME AND OTHER RESOURCES. We are aiming to do more with less, so look for multiple benefits. WALKING requires no special equipment, the fresh air is good for you, the walk will help clear your mind and you can take note of new buds on trees, birds returning to our shores, small changes each day, all the hopeful signs of spring. COOKING FROM SCRATCH saves you money (on the whole), you know exactly what's going into your body and you will see great reductions in packaging which is good for the planet.

REMEMBER TO stack up your NSDs (12 please as it's a short month). Medical and travel expenses won't lose you an NSD, neither will ys only purchases (good luck with that)

YES Say YES to KINDNESS, spread JOY, have FUN, be GRATEFUL, choose to BE HAPPY each day.
 

grandmanerd

Reserved for Contenders
1   grandmanerd
2   apple muncher
3   beanielou
4   Betharooni
5   WeeNancyin America
6   DawnW
7   abundant
8   laura-lau
9   Idee2111
10 dizzyblnd
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18   Thrifty-Taylor
19
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.55   f0xh0les

apple_muncher

Thank you grandmanerd for this. Please count me in!

beanielou

Thank you @grandmanerd for our shiny new thread. Count me in. 

Betharooni

Thanks for this grandmanerd. Please count me in for February x

Thrifty_Taylor

A fantastic February thread! Thank you @grandmanerd, please sign me up (#18) 😀

weenancyinAmerica

I keep trying. Can I be added in?

DawnW

Yes please @grandmanerd

abundant1972

Please sign me up grandmanerd x

laura_lau

Can I sign up for February as well, please, @grandmanerd ?

grandmanerd

INTUITIVE MOVEMENT
I move to celebrate my body, not punish it
I appreciate what my body CAN do
I move to feel better, stronger and capable
I allow for rest and recovery
I am becoming a stronger person every day

I ACCEPT MY BODY AS IT IS TODAY

My body does not need to change in order for me to respect it
My body is not a to do list of things that need to be fixed
My body is my instrument
(www.everglownutrition.com)

Starting as I mean to go on. Accepting your body as it is, is key. You will get nowhere by pointing out all your 'flaws' and berating yourself. This is where you are, this is what you have. Your body may bear the marks of ageing or of bearing children, carrying those precious little bundles for 9 months. You might have neglected yourself and your body in the hustle of caring for those around you. Quite a few of us have had life threatening health scares. Some of us have minds still reeling from trauma and some of us may have used unhealthy coping methods (drink, drugs, comfort eating) in the past. We may struggle to come to terms with the reality of our body but spending time dwelling on what used to be is unhelpful. We get frustrated when our bodies won't do what we want them to but they've given a lifetime of service.

We NEED to accept our bodies as they are now, be grateful for the years they have served us. LOVE yourself and your body. Embrace your 'new' body as it is now.