I’ve had a difficult time keeping perspective these last few days. My mind keeps wandering to junk foods (especially fatty), which is probably why I’ve had more nuts and avocado than usual. I’ve also found myself getting agitated by things. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve had multiple aggravating things hit me at once, or if it’s because I’m dealing with PMS… or both. When I got home from co-op (and helped the kids finish shoveling the driveway, sidewalks and patio), I could think of nothing but trying to escape. So I went to the store to get a snack for myself and the kids. I was in line at the checkout behind a woman, I placed my few items and reusable bag on the conveyor belt with one of those dividing bar things; because I noticed a young lady behind me in a hoodie with two boxes of hair color. Since it was taking a bit for the woman’s items to be bagged, I stepped three feet to the side and pushed my basket into the corral. As I’m walking back to my spot, the girl in the hoodie says, “excuse me, ma’am, but I was in line.”  I looked at her like “huh?” and said, “um, that’s my stuff right there (pointing to the conveyor belt). I just walked over to put away my cart.” She rolled her eyes and said, “Ok, I guess I’ll let you go ahead of me.” The woman in front of me looked back at the girl like she was nuts and the cashier just kept scanning and smiled at me. The more I stood there, the more upset I got. It bothered me that anyone would think I would cut in line. Clearly, that girl’s perspective was skewed. From my perspective, she needed to pay better attention to what was going on around her. From hers, I was a jerk who thought my time more important than hers. Although she was wrong, it didn’t change that she saw it the way she did.

It made me wonder how often I have the wrong perspective in dealing with others. Did that man really cut me off in traffic the other day? And if so, what was his perspective of what took place? I was too tired to think of it any longer though. So, when I got home from the store, I plopped down on the sofa with two “nut bars” and a small bag of “energy bites”. Then I turned on Antiques Road Show. Yeah, I wanted to “escape”, but one thing was very different than my usual escape behavior. For starters, I didn’t turn on a stupid sitcom, and I didn’t grab a bag of chips or run through the drive-thru for french fries. I still ate raw, albeit, not the best raw choice, but it was raw. This isn’t to say that I didn’t want those, because I wanted them badly. Unfortunately, I still stuffed down those feelings to some extent. Rather than fully processing them, and seeking God’s Truth on the matter, I pushed it aside to be dealt with later.

Well, later came when I pulled out my drawing supplies. Earlier in the day, in my drawing class, I had my students work on a puzzle where they wouldn’t know what they were drawing until they had completed it. I didn’t even know what the image would be, and this was on purpose so I wouldn’t be tempted to answer their questions about it. Well, after realizing that my two kids (also in the class) couldn’t tell what it was when they reached the half-way point, I decided to give it a go. I began following the puzzle. I was more than half-way and was still thinking, “what on earth is this”. And then my fifteen year old son walks in, from standing a few feet away he says, “I think you have it upside down.” Sure enough, I turn it around and I could tell what it was. It had occurred to me in class that it might be rendered upside down, but I hadn’t thought of it again until that moment.

“Perspective,” I whispered to myself.

I love this song about “Perspectives” by Kutless. I do believe that freedom is just another perspective away. I wonder what could be accomplished if we allowed God to change our perspective to His viewpoint.

Are you looking to make some changes in 2013? Check out The Journey for more information.

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What I read: Numbers 23-27

What I ate:

• Breakfast – 64&65: Green Smoothie (6oz AJ, 6oz CW, 3bananas, 2 oz Kale, 2 oz spinach, 6 oz strawberries)
• AM Snack – 64&65: 2 bananas
  
• Lunch – 64&65: 9 oranges juiced
  
• Afternoon Snack – 64: Two Moms in the Raw Gojiberry Nut bars + raw energy bites; 65: Date Rolls
  
• Dinner – 64: Green Smoothie (6oz AJ, 6oz CW, 3bananas, 2 oz Kale, 2 oz spinach, 6 oz strawberries); 65: Leftover Spaghetti Bolognese
• PM Snack – 65: 2 pickles

What I did: On my feet all morning at co-op + shoveled snow + TKD class (1.5 hrs)

Here are the notes I made regarding my symptoms throughout Day 64 & 65:

• slowed digestion (gas, abdominal pain, bloating)
  
• headaches
  
• puffy hands, feet, and face
  
• sinus congestion
  
• dry/itchy eyes, skin, and scalp
  
• acne
  
• aching muscles and muscle spasms
  
• foggy brain
• irritability
  
• mood swings
  
• blood sugar fluctuations
  
• fatigue – still having bouts of fatigue, but not as bad
  
• unable to sleep well
  
• unquenchable thirst
  
• cravings
  
• chest pain
• cold sores – last one 1/13/2013
  
• kidney stones – eliminated when we went vegan Oct 2011
• tooth pain
• sensitive teeth