Month: December 2008

Categories Education, Homemaking

The perfect study break

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Finals generally mean hardcore studying, sitting at my desk poring over a combination of computerized and printed material. They mean spending hours at a stretch on schoolwork, as opposed to my usual 30-45 minute bursts.

But the brain (and the bottom) grows dull with prolonged sitting, and study breaks are in order.

My favorite study break?

Cleaning.

Unlike studying, cleaning involves getting up and moving around. Unlike studying, cleaning gives instantly visible results. And best of all–I don’t generally get sucked into cleaning and rendered useless by it (as I would by other common study avoiding activities such as Facebook, web-surfing, blog reading, computer game playing, novel reading, and the like.

So, thanks to a Food Chemistry test tomorrow, my dresser and desk surfaces are decluttered, organized, and dusted. And thanks to the research manuscript from a couple of weeks ago, my bathtub got a thorough scrubbing.

It feels nice to know, that even if I didn’t study well enough to get a good grade on my final, at least I’ll come home to a clean(er) house!

Categories Everyday Life

The beginning of the end

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There’s really nothing spectacular about today. It’s a crisp, snowless Saturday in December. Shoppers are rushing about to fill their Christmas lists. At my church, more children will join the rolls of those who have participated in our “Christmas Market”–“purchasing” Christmas gifts for family members. In another, not so busy world, I might be celebrating Santa Lucia Day.

And I’m going to work–just another Saturday.

Only not. Because today is my last day on the job.

I have only ten more hours at Harper Dining Services.

I know I probably sound melodramatic. It’s not really that big of deal. Or is it?

So far, in my short working history, this has been my longest stint at a single establishment. I’ve worked at Harper for two years. And unlike the other jobs, that were part time and off and on, this one was continuous and full time.

Harper marks my transition from “student staff” to “full-time staff”. It’s where I made my transition from “work-force” to “management”. Harper transitioned me from “student” to “graduate”.

And now I’m moving on. It’s time for me to transition from “worker” to “professional”.

I’m excited to be moving forward. I’m finally taking that next step towards becoming a registered dietitian. I’m on the cusp of my professional life. But steps forward mean leaving things behind, and opportunity taken closes other doors.

I’m a bit melancholy as I begin my last day. Remembering how terrified I was of managing when I first began. Thinking of the growth I’ve experienced over the past two years. Contemplating the many relationships I’ve built at Harper. I’m going to miss them-my bosses, my co-workers, the student workers, the college students. Maybe even the football players. It’s been a great chapter of my life.

Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to have served among such amazing people. Thank you for the opportunity to have grown as I have through my employment at HDS. Thank you for the relationships you’ve allowed me to experience here. Thank you for providing for my needs through this job–but even more, for all the people along the way. As one chapter closes and the next page yawns blank before me, give me grace to remain connected with the past as I embrace the future.

Categories Everyday Life

I’m Lovin’ It

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No, not McDonalds!

Just a few things I’ve seen/read/discovered/done in the last few days that I absolutely love.

  • A touching poem-I cried when I read this poem written by my brother. I love the metaphor of Christ as pursuing bridegroom, us His errant bride.
  • A funny story-This cracked me up. Absolutely hilarious!
  • Wonderful Christmas Music-I don’t have the selection of Christmas music that my mom has, and apparently neither do any of our local radio stations. Enter Pandora internet radio. Music like my mother’s, without cost! Search for “Rebekah Menter” under “stations” to get it.
  • A Festive Home-We finally put up our tree and decorated for Christmas last night. And boy does it feel nice!
Categories Health, Reflections

Resolution Writers Anonymous

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Hi. My name is Rebekah Menter and I’m a compulsive resolution writer. I’m not sure exactly when it started, but it’s been going on for a number of years. After finishing the bulk of my projects this last week, I decided it was time to start looking forward to 2009. So I got out my books and started to research resolutions.

Yes, I did just write RESEARCH resolutions.

Because that’s what I do. I open up my master life goal file and figure out which goals I want to focus on. I do additional research as required to determine what my specific short-range goals should be. Then, I write my yearly goals and create little planner sheets to help me track them.

Take, for example, the goal/resolution I just finished working on. The large objective, as written in my master life goal file, is “To live healthy to a ripe old age.” Accomplishing that goal, naturally, requires some smaller goals. Which is why I’ve looked over the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. That’s also why I’ve reviewed the DASH diet and MyPyramid. Additionally, I’ve looked at the American Cancer Society recommendations for cancer prevention, the American Heart Association recommendations for heart disease prevention, the American Diabetes Association recommendations for diabetes prevention, and the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommendations for Osteoporosis prevention. And, just to be on the safe side, I ran through a few health texts and reference manuals to make sure I included all the appropriate screenings for my age, safety measures, quality of life stuff, etc.

The final health plan for 2009?

Massive

I don’t expect to do it all at once, or to do everything for the entire year. But I’ll be working towards the following health behaviors over the course of the year, tracking them on a handy sheet in my planner.

Daily Health Habits

Diet

  • Grains-8 servings per day, at least half whole
  • Vegetables-3 to 5 servings per day, variety
  • Fruits-2 to 5 servings per day, variety
  • Dairy-2 to 3 serving per day, low fat
  • Meat-2 servings per day, low fat
  • Oils-3 or fewer serving per day, choose polyunsaturated or monounsaturated over saturated fats
  • Water-at least 8 glasses a day
  • Breakfast-every morning!
  • Multivitamin-take consistently!

Other

  • Sleep-8 hours a night
  • Sunscreen-use it!
  • Brush teeth-twice a day
  • Floss-EVERY DAY!
  • Safety belt-wear it (even when you’re a passenger)
  • 10,000 steps-log every day
  • Kegels-60 a day
  • Medication-actually use your nose spray!

Weekly Health Habits

Diet

  • Fish-2 servings per week
  • Nuts, seeds, legumes-3 to 5 servings per week
  • Sweets-limit to 5 servings per week

Exercise

  • Aerobic activity-3 hours per week (in at least 10 minute segments)
  • Strength training-Full body, 3 times per week
  • Stretching-Full body, 3 times per week

Monthly Health Behaviors

  • Breast Self Exam
  • Blood Pressure check

Health Checkups

  • Gynecological exam
  • Blood lipid profile
  • Dental cleanings (2)

If I can work up to this (and maintain it), I should be good to go for the rest of my life.

Of course, I’ll have to add a few more screenings every so often as time goes by: thyroid hormones, mammograms, colonoscopies, Hemocults, eye exams, mole checks, etc. But apart from that, I’ve pretty much laid out a plan for chronic disease prevention and quality of life enhancement.

Next…on to my house goals, educational goals, professional goals–perhaps you get the picture?

It’s probably a pathology.

Resolution Writers Anonymous, indeed.

Categories Education, Following Christ

Making it through alive

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I know my top ten list was less than helpful. It left the question: “How?” completely unsaid.

So here’s the answer to the question “How do I not die?”

The grace of God. The grace of God. The grace of God. The grace of God. The grace of God. The grace of God. The grace of God. The grace of God.

Take my last week.

Monday I opened (6:30am), took a “break” for classes, and closed (9:00pm). Tuesday I opened again, then left for classes (which went til 8pm). Wednesday began my longest day yet–33 hours. I woke up at 6, did some work around the house. Then class, then lunch with dad, then 8 hours of work. Then meet with some classmates to work on a class project. Then go home and write my manuscript. I wrote straight through, with a break to bathe and a break to wake myself up (scrubbing a bathtub with undiluted vinegar is a good wake-up!) Manuscript done, I printed it off and took off to class. When classes ended at 3:00–I was done.

I went home, ate some Rice-a-roni my roommate made the night before and left for me, crawled into bed, read two pages of a Hardy Boys novel, wrote in one crossword puzzle answer, and fell asleep. I slept 17 hours without break. I’m guessing that’s my longest time spent without going to the bathroom. I had a bloody nose sometime in the night–so I’ll have to do laundry after I get done with work this evening–but I’m done with one leg at least.

Yep. The grace of God. That’s what does it.