Documentary of choice

There is a documentary about a famous Irish young woman which I've been wanting to see for ages, as I'm a big fan of hers. She is really inspirational. I saw it was advertised in a big cinema in the city centre but I already had plans the day it was being screened. I saw it advertised another time. Again I never got round to seeing it. I hoped - and believed - an opportunity would come around to see it again. Lo and behold it was being shown on national TV. Well it was aired tonight and I got to watch it at home on my laptop, which also meant I could surf the net during the parts that weren't so good!

Meal planning with ease

I've been living a vegan lifestyle for the last five years. I love it. However, I haven't always been good at eating a healthy, balanced diet. This is mainly due to improper planning. Last October I paid out a hefty amount to join an online diet scheme where it provided you with a shopping list and meals for each day. I paid for three months' worth, including an exercise regime. I lasted a couple of weeks at most. I just didn't enjoy it. Then several weeks ago a friend had been in attendance at an event aimed at introducing vegetarians to a vegan diet. She gave me a handout she picked up there. It included a one-page weekly meal plan. I love it! I've been using it ever since. It tells you what to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner for seven days. Now I've learned to plan meals ahead of time. Also, it's not aiming to be the healthiest meal plan in the world. Don't get me wrong; it does include fruit and loads of vegetables and it is healthy. It just doesn't go overboard. It keeps it real. The food is food that I would be used to eating anyway (for the most part) and the cooking is easy. It's wonderful, and it was free!

Change

I recently read "Who moved my cheese?" It's a simple story about change and how two mice and two people deal with it. I read it over part of a night and part of a morning. It's really good. I think the message is change is inevitable and it's how you deal with it that matters. Enjoy what you have while being alert to the possibility of change. If you are prepared you can adapt quickly.

Inch by inch by inch

I do Pilates. When we are working our bodies off the floor the instructor tells us to take it slowly; to move  inch - by inch - by inch. I think this is a metaphor for achieving things in life! Take it slowly and you'll get there. That's my aim anyway!

Joining the class couldn't have been easier. I knew people were doing Pilates in one of my work places. Eventually it started in the other one where it suited me to go. It's just €5 for half an hour and you can pay as you go. Previously my cousin asked me to go to Pilates but the location didn't suit me. This one does. No struggle, just ease.