Ok, so super long title. But I thought I would check in here. See, I love blogging, but I just kind of burned out for awhile. That, and I am trying this thing where I just don’t force it. There was a time where I as putting a lot of pressure on myself to post just for the sake of posting. This resulted in feeling at all times that if I wasn’t using my free time blogging that I was somehow behind. This feeling wasn’t healthy for me, when I was already working very hard to get back to a good place with myself. So, with everything I do, makeup-wise, work wise, everything. If it doesn’t feel right then a) I simply don’t do it and go where my heart is (ahhh the feels) or b) if I have to do it i.e. work, I find a way to remove or get past whatever the roadblock is. So far, that has been working, but it has resulted in my not posting as often.
Walking for Anxiety/Weight loss
Another thing I have been doing lately is walking a TON. For many reasons. 1) I gained so much weight in the last 12-18 months (sigh). Life guys. Life has seasons, and I haven’t been in the season of weight management. With a shoulder surgery, stressful job, and most importantly, working on finding mental balance. See, I have started to realize that our bodies change (re-extra weight) but if you take medication for your mental health, what works when you are 20 might not work forever, and at 27, I had to go through the process with a doctor of re-discovering a healthy balance for me. And as much as I love to rush through things in life, this isn’t the right process to rush. Its been a rough two years, but I am finally back to feeling mentally awesome, if not as physically awesome.
The walking segues into audio dramas
About a month ago, my dad sent me a book via Audible (did you know you can do this!?!?! Its free the first time! Share your books!). Remember this amazing show called Mythbusters? Well, Kari Byron wrote a book! I didn’t know what to expect at first, but seriously, I knew there was a reason(s) I loved her on the show. She is so amazingly real, honest, and beautiful. One of the things she talks about was her experience with depression. For Kari, medications didn’t help, so one of they ways she would manage her depression was through exercise. She would ride her bike and mentally table anything stressing her until she made it home. Sometime, she would just keep going because she wasn’t ready to end this suspension of reality.
About a week after listening to this, during Memorial Day weekend, I found myself really wishing I could have a drink. Now, I don’t have a problem, but since it was Ramadan, I don’t bring any alcohol into the house in respect of Damir. I also didn’t want to just go to a bar alone and sit and have a drink… that just made me feel depressed. So, I tried to think about why I felt this way, and it comes down to how anxious I was. So, I channeled Kari Byron, put on my tennis shoes, and headed out to walk my neighborhood. If you haven’t heard me say it yet, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Girl in Space. This amazing audio drama is available on iTunes, Spotify, and really, anywhere you can download podcasts. It is completely free, and probably, my absolute favorite ever. I might be a bit obsessed…
Since I have listened to every episode available so far multiple times, I decided to try one of the podcasts that she recommends at the end of the show… Spines. Perhaps it was the combination of this also fantastic podcast (it is dark, and twisted, and unbelievably beautiful), and the endorphins, or just the suspension of reality, but I walked for 90 minutes. I just kept going down different streets, and every time I was too close to home, I wouldn’t feel ready to be done, and would turn down a different street to keep exploring my neighborhood and the world that Spines created.
So, the last few weeks I have actually gotten over 10,000 steps at least 4-5 days per week (yes, I bought a pedometer) and wanted to share my favorite audio dramas with you.
Favorite Audio Drama’s For June
- As mentioned, Girl in Space. Just seriously. Its magic. As you might guess, its a girl… in space. But its so much more than that. There is camaraderie, and robots, and dawrf stars. And cheese. Lots of delicious cheese.
- Spines. The world is filled with people who have special abilities… and those who want to use those abilities for themselves. This is not like anything you have heard before. Must Listen. Also, the same person who plays “Wren” also plays “Dani the Intern” on Girl in Space.
- Attention Hellmart Shoppers. This one is so strange. Like, so strange. But its incredibly well written. The subject matter is sooooo cheesy, but the writing and pacing and character voices are soooo well done, and half the time I’m walking around with this goofy look of amusement on my face when listening. Fun fact… almost all of the voices are one guy. Who is incredibly talented. He also is the voice of The Chancellor on Girl in Space. Like I said, I might be a tad bit obsessed.
July is going to be a hot one, and the last week or so has been full of storms which makes walking outdoors difficult, so I might be investing in a gym membership so I can keep up the activity, but I hope to have more great recommendations for you soon!
Hi! I'm Alyce. 
