The power of saying 'no'

Chatting with a friend this week were were wondering about the coming year and what adventures we would discover.  I was telling her about my 'Restorative Year' and she asked what I would take up to support myself.  I rattled off the usual list... yoga, meditation, work-life balance, going to the doctor (not sure whether this would be supportive or irritating, but more on this later)... when it occurred to me that, to support myself, I needed to say 'no'.  A firm, respectful 'no'.  'No' to others as well as to myself - especially when I'm about to take on some mad new theory and fit yet another activity into my otherwise crowded life.

I know that lots of writers muse about the power of saying no... as do business theorists and those 'work-life balance' types (up there with unicorns in terms of reality...).  However, actually saying 'no' when offered a new opportunity - volunteer or otherwise, new project at work or university... well, I'm just not good at it!  Never have been.

... but I'm working on it!  It is making me think about all the 'stuff' I crowd my life with and what is actually important in the big scheme of things. 

In other news, I'm Day 3 of 'gluten free' and starting to de-tox.  My stomach isn't feeling great and my skin is breaking out.  I'm very tired (but blaming that on the end of year) although I'm sleeping better and certainly starting to feel lighter.  I've not yet weighed myself - thought I'd leave that until Wednesday.

Cooked a gorgeous chilli and mint lamb stir-fry the other day.  Not being much of a cook (lack of interest as well as significant lack of skill) means that I rarely venture into the world of cookbooks.  However, The Bear has purchased a book called 'In A Bowl' - lots of stir-frys, soups, casseroles etc.  I managed to make one to much praise from himself and pleas for an encore.  I'm attempting it again tonight.  GF and very yummy... plus took an entire 20 minutes to cook - my type of dinner!