Entries Tagged 'Boy Meets Girl' ↓

What is it with this new breed of healthy boys? Aren’t boys traditionally stuck in front of the TV with a beer in one hand and a greasy burger in the other? Three very close male friends of mine have turned ultra healthy this year, in some ways even healthier than me!

One friend in particular carries around his health book wherever he goes. It’s almost like his little bible. It’s great for me because he’s always got some interesting health fact bookmarked for next time he sees me so I’m learning a lot. I have male friends who also eat only organic foods, who’ve given up meat, alcohol and dairy, who refuse to eat carbs and protein together in the same meal, have gone on some crazy five day detox and gone cold turkey on sugar. Is this a new breed of metrosexual men? Or is it normal for 25-35 years olds to have some sort of quarter life crisis where they ditch the booze and go for the organic OJ instead?

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This is going to be a very short post to remind you to take some time out and look after yourself. It’s really important to have some time every now and again to destress and unwind and nurture your body and your soul.

I had dinner with my ex tonight which I was really excited about because I hadn’t seen him in a couple of months. We arranged to meet on the ferry. When the ferry pulled in he was standing at the back on the outside bit waving at me. It was so nice, you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

Mr Ex and I dated for a long period of time, just over eight years. We formed a deep love and friendship for each other that I still think will last for as long as we do. It’s so sad that we slowly drifted apart as a couple over the last couple of years of our relationship, but life is fluid and some things are meant to be.

It wasn’t until the walk home on my own after our dinner that I began to feel quite sad. It was hard to say goodbye because I didn’t know when I would see him again. It’s so difficult when you’ve been a ‘couple’ with someone for so many years, making the transition from being the absolute focus of their life to being just a friend.

I came home, had a hot shower, washed my hair and wrapped myself up in some warm comfy clothes. Then I made a cup of herbal tea and ate almost a whole block of organic chocolate. This little bit of luxury, of looking after myself is really important. For me, a hot shower where I cleanse my whole body including my hair is a way of washing away the day. The tea and chocolate are warm and sweet and almost loving to the soul. It’s surprising how a couple of little things can warm you up from the inside and take some of the sadness away.

Take care of yourself, leave some time for reflection and listen to your heart and your soul, it’ll make all the difference.

Frances Kerr

When I was at my local market today, I saw this really beautiful girl with freckles. They were tiny little freckles only her face, nowhere else, but there were thousands of them. I had never before considered how stunningly beautiful freckles could look. I couldn’t take my eyes away from her!

I’m a red head so naturally freckles come with the package. It’s only been in the past few years that I’ve come to love my freckles and how an imperfection can be so beautiful. I think freckles also add character and personality and life.

My point is, learn to love your imperfections because there’s someone out there who will. Boys, consider this one. I find skinny men really hot, buff guys actually turn me off. I also love a guy with a biggish nose and scruffy hair – and there are more girls out there just like me!

Cosmetic surgery to better these minor “imperfections” is growing in popularity and it’s really worrying me. Take my recent trip to the GP for my problem skin as an example.

My accidental introduction to cosmetic surgery

It was about two months ago when I started to notice my skin getting bad so for the first time since I was a teenager I thought I’d better go and see the doctor about it. All I was after was a bit of support and maybe a cream or gel and some advice on how I can change my diet and lifestyle. When I told him why I was there, straight away he said ‘yep, we can fix that with microdermabrasian’. Microderma what?? Without answering any of my questions he took me into this room and sat me down in front of a video screen. He then stuck a small video camera lens on my face which magnified my skin by about a zillion. He then proceeded to tell me that I had very ‘tired’ skin and pointed out the tiny little lumps and pimples on my face. Getting your skin magnified by that much is not a pleasant experience for anyone. By this time I was feeling really low.

He then took me into yet another room which had this microdermabrasion machine in it. He turned it on and rubbed the vacuum sandpapery thing on my arm to demonstrate. Seriously, I could not see any difference. He then told me about this ’special’ they had where you could get six treatments for the price of five (at the bargain price of $100 a treatment) and surprisingly, I would need about six treatments. He then gave me some literature to read, sat me down and left the room.

This all happened so fast that I was in a slight state of shock. Looking around the room made me really freak out. All over the walls were posters on brow lifts, lip implants and other cosmetic surgery procedures that I’ve now blocked out of my mind. Sitting in front of me was a form on a clipboard with a pen which I was supposed to fill out then and there. It was a consent form for cosmetic surgery. Hardcore.

Eventually Dr. Cosmetic Surgery came back into the room and I told him I needed time to think about it (yeah right) and made my way quickly out of there. I’ve researched microdermabrasion since and it’s definitely one of the least invasive forms of cosmetic surgery but it’s still stripping skin off your face and not something I particularly want to do because it seems really unnatural and slightly dangerous (apparently the risks of this procedure are hyperpigmentation, perforation, bleeding, and infection). His casual attitude about the whole thing and assumption that I would sign up right away kind of annoyed me too.

I think plastic surgery has its place for curing abnormalities and injuries, but it’s pointless putting your body through risk for vanity. I’m glad I didn’t sign that form because the procedure probably would have taken my freckles away too, and I’d really like to keep them.

Frances Kerr

Not too long ago my heart broke when I came out of an eight year relationship. I had wanted out for a while, years in fact, but the friendship and love was still there so when my partner eventually found someone else to fall in love with and move on, it was a difficult time for me.

After a couple of months most of the pain had worn off and I started to feel happy again. Actually, I started to feel happier than I had in years. I had found this new sense of freedom, something I hadn’t experienced in a very long time. Looking back, I wonder if this was some sort of post long term relationship honeymoon period.

Today it’s a little bit like a roller coaster. Some days are great and some days are not so good. On these not so good days I sometimes get a physical sensation that feels a lot like a pile of fifty bricks sitting on my chest. It’s an extremely unpleasant and debilitating feeling that’s almost exhausting. I’m a big fan of crystal therapy and often wear crystals or place them around my house to help with a physical or emotional problem. So of course it was a natural progression to search out a crystal to help ease this pain in my heart.

The crystal that helped my heart

With the fifty bricks sitting on my chest I pulled out my crystal books and learned that pink kunzite, obsidian and lavender jade all help heal a sore heart. So off I went to my favourite crystal shop in search of a pendant that I could wear close to my heart. The only pendant I could find was a beautiful little raw pink kunzite with a silver clasp, perfect. I now wear this crystal every day and have been pleasantly surprised by how much it has eased the feeling of heaviness in my heart. This morning, for example, I forgot to put it around my neck. I found some old photos of my partner on my laptop and was looking through them. I started to feel heavy in my heart. I put the necklace straight on and the pain was gone in five minutes.

The journey isn’t over yet, and I know that my heart still has some healing to do. I’m going to keep wearing my pink kunzite every day around my neck until I feel I no longer need it. I know that day is just around the corner.

Frances Kerr