Self-Talk: The Mantras and Tools That Push Me Through

I found this article in one of my running groups:

https://www.runnersblueprint.com/running-mantras/

I used to roll my eyes and cringe at this sort of thing, not realizing it's something I've basically done subconsciously and internally for ages. Before I'd ever heard the word mantra, these were the kinds of things I told myself to push on:

"It's easier than it feels."
"You'll feel better in a minute."
"You're just warming up."
"Just settle in. If it's still bad, you can bail then."
"You don't quit in the home stretch."
"You'll thank yourself later."
"You're not tired."
"You don't DECIDE when you're done."
"I'll quit when I'm dead."
"Just chill."
"Breathe."
"Now HAUL"
"Bring it on home"

I don't have any conscious go-tos, but some I might think of adopting or adapting from the list in the article are:

"I'm stronger than I think."
"I can."
"The strong get stronger."
"It's a hill. Get over it."
"Dig deep. Breathe deep."
"Strong. Focused. Relaxed."
"Pain is weakness leaving the body."
"Breathe in strength. Breathe out weakness."
"If it doesn’t challenge me, it doesn't change me."
"Pain is temporary. Pride is forever."
"Hills are not the danger. I'm the danger."

Not mantras, but a couple of the other tools I use to get through challenges are:

•A rule I try to follow: don't quit past 50%. (I mostly use this for dance games, but it can serve elsewhere too.)

•Checking in with myself when I feel like quitting: Am I honestly too tired or in too much pain to continue? Do I NEED to quit? No? Then it's just mental. Get over it. Push on.

Do you have mantras or tools you use? What are your favorites?

New President and First Female Vice President

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have just won the US presidency. As Biden becomes our nation's 46th president, Harris takes her place in history as the first female vice president of the United States.

My Subconscious Dug Up Braulio

Incredibly bizarre: After spending Halloween night watching the first 3 Twilight movies last night, I fell asleep and had a vivid dream about an ex of mine from 7th or 8th grade named Braulio Lopez. The dream was nothing weird — just me getting him to open up and him eventually talking about how much I'd hurt him when we were kids. When I woke up though, I couldn't help but go on his Facebook profile, just to check that he actually looked happy. 

I looked at his profile pic, which I realized I'd seen once months ago when he and I became Facebook friends — likely our first interaction of any kind since our middle school breakup. He and I hadn't been together long or had anything serious. He was a sweet and quiet guy, and I've had many "louder" relationships to occupy mind since, so his and mine is not one I've ever given much thought to (aside from moments where I take a moment to let all the people I may have hurt in my life say their piece to me in my imagination.) It was just a kiddie relationship anyway, and I'm not sure he and I ever exchanged a word after that sad day all those years ago.

Anyway, his picture: It was him in a store with nothing noteworthy in sight other than a turtle backpack AND A TWILIGHT POSTER, which I hadn't previously noticed, slightly blurry and just within the shot. 😮 I'm not reaching here; there's nothing else to the pic, which I haven't seen or thought of beyond that one instance months ago.

I couldn't make this stuff up. I know Twilight was pretty popular but damn... 😂 I blame the mysteries of the human brain for this one. 

I'd Rather Do You

Just now:
My husband Sean: "You do you"
Me: "I'd rather do you." 😏
^That's how you get 'em, girls.

Feeling Nostalgic

I had another friendly, 100% platonic dream about an ex and some friends again last night, and now I'm feeling even more nostalgic than usual. I'm probably always going to care a lot for everyone I've ever cared for before, and I miss seeing all their faces in person. Most of the time these days, I'm preoccupied and don't think about it much. It's not a good or bad feeling — just one that kind of takes me away. Though the intensity of my feelings toward people changes, it's somewhat rare that most types of feelings I have for them do. 

Don't get me wrong; I don't want to date all my exes again. I can't stop caring about the happiness and well-being of most of them and the friends that have come and gone in my life though. It's funny, I've only ever been in love with two people, but I feel like pieces of my heart belong to so many. 

Sometimes, I worry about meeting new people because I doubt I have the capacity to care about anyone else. I've been continuously wrong about that so far though.

Damn COVID-19 got me all sappy today. 😂

But it's not all roses. I've known plenty of assholes too, and they can go get fucked in the ass 1 Man 1 Jar style. 

Results vs Their Price

Fyi the difference in quality between your best and good enough is usually much smaller than the difference in cost.

It only took me 32 years to learn that. 🙄

Headache Sufferers: Migraines, Magnesium, Menstruation, and more

For headache sufferers, especially ladies and people who suffer migraines: 

An article I was reading just mentioned using magnesium to combat migraines:

"Even though the cause of headaches and migraines is not clear, many studies strongly point towards magnesium deficiency. An Epsom salt bath enables your body to regulate magnesium levels in your body better. A stellar hot soak goes a long way in relaxing your muscles and quickly eases your headache if you have one."

As someone who regularly gets what are increasingly seemingly to be menstrual cycle-related migraines and had heard of magnesium as one possible solution, I researched further. Maybe magnesium levels were affected by menstruation? Google told me:

"Your magnesium levels tend to be a lot lower on your period due to your hormones. During your period, your body will produce the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. The higher these levels, the lower your magnesium levels."

So I checked what effects increasing magnesium intake might have:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.myhormonology.com/magnesium-for-pms-cramps-bloat-migraine/amp/

It does look like the next thing for me to try. For any other migraines sufferers this might benefit, here are some foods Google tells me are high in magnesium so that you have options beyond taking a supplement:

-Dark chocolate 

-Beans

-Seeds, pumpkin and squash

-Plantain

-Mackerel

-Spinach

-Swiss chard

-Almonds

-Cashews

-Figs

-Quinoa

-Edamame

-Tuna

-Tofu 

-Avocado

-Okra

-Whole grain cereal

-Peanuts

-Scallops

-Prunes

-Potato

-Rice

-Salmon

-Pollock

-Soy milk 

-Lentils

-Oysters

-Kale

-Bananas

-Yogurt

-Halibut

-Broccoli

Also, here is a copy and paste of my old and somewhat sloppy personal headache research in case anyone can benefit from it or would like to contribute to the effort. 😄 Keep in mind that the lists here take into account ALL headaches I deal with, as I was trying to establish what types of headaches they were and what would solve each, so some info may not apply to migraines specifically:

"Headache notes:

Typical Location: 

Between eyebrows

Common triggers/start times:

Super hard exercise (dehydration?)

Alcohol (dehydration)

Pre-period

Possible additional triggers:

Low blood sugar

Usually solves:

Hydrocodone & acetaminophen (Vicodin)

Rizatriptan (Maxalt)

Sometimes solves: 

Decongestants 

Sometimes helps but rarely remedies:

Nasal spray 

Exercise

Sinus headache medicine

Daytime cold medicine

Nasal irrigation (e.g., Neti Pot)

Ibuprofen 

Hot rag

Does not typically work well:

Aspirin 

Caffeine

Ice on the roof of my mouth/cold drink 

Not at all:

Ginger

Untested or merit still unproven with my most common headaches:

Magnesium

Water

Sleep 

No caffeine

B vitamins 

Peppermint

Cold rag

Steam room

Neck and forehead massage 

Acetaminophen"