What do you do just for you?

I thought it might be fun to share what we are learning to do just for ourselves.  Many of us get caught up in our responsibilities to others such as spouse, kids, friends, family, jobs, etc., but at our expense.  So what's all your own? I have a few things.  Since I'm a night-owl, I enjoy watching old I Love Lucy reruns on tv.  I enjoy photography & am constantly taking pictures of all kinds of stuff...flowers, birds, people, animals, & the list goes on & on.  I make stuff...can't stand to have idle hands.  I love watching the face of the recipient of one of my homemade goodies.  I'm relearning the art of putting on makeup again & liking what I'm seeing in the mirror. Those are just a few on my list.  Soooooo....how 'bout ya'll?

I am a big ILL fan, too!  My dear sister-in-law has given me DVDs of years 1-5 (??) of their shows and they still keep me in stitches. Reading is my downfall.  If I pick up a book, I can ignore everything around me.  I try not to read booksduring the week because I would read late into the night and not be able to get through work the next day. I like to garden and have just the right amount of land now (a small backyard in a condo assn).  Until I moved to VA, I had over an acre of densely treed and shaded yard that was a bear to keep up by myself.  I had a huge variety of woodland perennials that the local nature center loved to get donations of for their annual sales as well as a large collection of hostas and a formidable amount of poison oak. I'm learning to wean myself from cooking.  I learned a long time ago to wean myself from housework!

Once a month or so , I make an appointment at the Red Door Spa and get a facial or massage .  I love to watch the Food Network .. ok I know .. but I love Paula Dean .. and I love to cook . When I am cooking I am in another world . I cook Southern , but have adapted my recipes to fit my lifestyle ..  I am hoping one day to have my very own Rib and BBQ restaraunt . I know crazy coming from a WLS patient . I try to educate myself daily on something .. I read the news .. I try to stay on top of world news .. as much as it bothers me sometimes .. I still read it . I enjoy good books ..  I am a make up Diva .. I never leave my house with out it .. except for when I am sick and have to go to the hospital .. but I love makeup .. I always have .. even as a fat chick .. I loved wearing awesome clothes and makeup .. and now .. OMG I am in heaven ..  My all time favorite thing to do is .... DANCE .. I love to dance .. more than to breathe .. and most that have met me know .. this is my passion .. Dance clubs.. shopping malls .. aisles at the grocery store .. I dance .. I love dance music .. Prince .. just gimme a good dance beat !  My new passion is my 07 Mustang Pony .. I love driving her .. she is decked out in the latest Tinkebelle gear .. My hubby says it is hard for him to look cool driving my car as it is so girly ..  and your point is .. LOL ...  I will be cruising again in October .. We are heading back to the Carribean .. I love that place .. Do not be suprised one day if you read .. Tink has moved to Half Moon Cay ... or to Nassau .. yepper in a flash I would be gone .  Any hoo.. my indulgences ..  And an occasional chocolate bar ...  Tink  

I love to read. James Patterson, Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks to name a few.  While I was on the waiting list to have surgery, I decided 2007 was going to be MY year. So I booked laser hair removal treatments at Sona Med Spa. I have had dark whisker like hairs on my chin for years--and it seemed to be increasing. I also had my underarms done. Go**** is so great not to have to shave my pits! And those stubborn chin hairs---GONE. I have also always loved Lucy. I just saw the NEXT BEST THING on TV and they had a really good Lucy impersonator.

I too am a reader, give me a romance novel so that I can escape.  I also love to indulge in my pedicures and getting my nails done.  It makes me feel so girly and pretty.  When I am really out of sorts and really need some me time, I tell my sweetie because he is so great, he will let me be queen for the day and I will get a nice hot bath, back & foot massage, dinner made for me and a chance to relax.  He is definitely the best. 

OK, maybe it's a guy thing, but except for reading, I can't think of anything I really do for myself. I guess eatting was what I did "for me". Understand, that I am a happy person and am blessed with a fanatastic wife, three incredable kids and while deep in debt, I really don't need anything. I've always seen myself as the "giver" and I find it hard to treat myself as deserving anything special.Many of the things everyone has mentioned sound wonderful.Things like, I've always wanted to have a massage , but who wants to massage a fat guy. Guess I'll have to start thinking about this.   Hey Tink, if ya ever open that B-B-Q joint, I'll be the first in line.

Ya Know ., I am cooking ribs tommorow for 25 people for a party .. and all I could think of while preping the sauce was this post .. I truly would love for this dream to come true .. My hubby .. friends think my BBQ and Ribs are the best ..  OK .. when I do open .. you can be the first in line ...  BTW . I do eat ribs .. and BBQ .. and I use .. get this real molasses .. real butter .. all natural stuff .. do I dump .. Nope .. as I can only eat one .. but it is the best dang rib ever .. Sweet and savory .. and smoky .. Ok .. gotta stop writing this stuff .. it is like porn to me .. whooo hoo ..  And you need to start doing something fun for you .. as time goes on .. life gets so much better .. Find something you can treat yourself with .. a reward .. trust me .. it works ..  Nite ..  Tink

Wow!  So many great ideas to add to my list!  And so many of us have quite a bit in common, besides our weight loss.  I think it's really cool to get to know other people from the inside out. While Chinese is my first love as far as food goes, followed closely by Mexican, Ribs would be the very next best thing.  There's a place in Annandale called H.I Ribsters...they make THEE best beef ribs I've ever had.  Tink, you just gotta open up your restaurant if your bbq is that good.  Why let a good thing go unnoticed by the masses? LOL!  As for Miss Paula....she's the bomb!!!  Did you see her piece on when her & her family went to the Caribean on vacation?  Toooo funny! She's such a hoot! I'm afraid my book reading has fallen off over the years.  Once you let horses enter your life, the world suddenly revolves around them.  But I do have some favorites.  I like series books such as the North & South Trilogy, or the whole Clan of the Cave Bear series.  Stuff like that. I have my first garden in 8 years!!  And man o man, is it ever producing!  I have yet to pick a cucumber that weighs under a pound!  I also planted green beans, peas, yellow squash, cantaloupe, cherry tomatoes & big slicing tomatoes.  Just for fun, I planted gourds.  And the big highlight of my gardening was that my peach tree & apple tree both produced fruit for the first time since we planted them 3 years ago.  Peaches are done & my 9 apples are just about ready for picking.  Should make for some delicious homemade applesauce. One of the benefits of being diabetic (if there ever could be a bennie) is that we have to take special care of our feet.  So once a month I have a pedicure. Now, Michael...darling...while it is so wonderful and rewarding to be a "giver", I encourage you to learn to give to yourself too.  That's one of the reasons I started this thread.  Let's face it gang, most if not all of us have some self esteem issues to overcome, wouldn't you agree?  And what better way than to pamper ourselves once in a while.  It's not about being a "guy" thing or a "girl" thing...it's about being a  person that likes him/herself & recognizes that we are entitled & allowed to indulge ourselves too, not just those around us.  So Michael, even though you don't feel comfortable just yet getting about getting that massage you'd like to have but, have you ever had a manicure?  Many, many, MANY men have manicures on a regular basis & they are NOT gay.  In fact, that could be something that you & your wife could share together one afternoon.  Or go test drive your absolute favorite dream car.  Nothing says you have to buy it, but how much fun would it be to cruise the streets in a brand new corvette or hummer...even if it's only for a few minutes?  Shoot...that sounds like something I might like to do too. The point is we have an opportunity to get to know ourselves on a whole new level as we go on our wl journey.  Why not find some ways to make it fun as well?

I just signed up for a knitting class at the community college. I have always wanted to learn, so thought what better way.

I also love to read. I am currently re-reading the new Harry Potter.

After I am cleared by Dr. Schirmer, I am going to go back to the gym. I can't wait to tone up what I have lost so far.

Hi Becca!  A knitting class, eh?  Hon, you're gonna love it!  I used to teach crochet for Michael's Craft Store here in Winchester & loved every minute of it.  I enjoy knitting too...even made several pair of socks last winter.  I'm an all-around crafter so I go through phases...knit for awhile, crochet for awhile, basket making for awhile, etc.  At the moment I'm knee-deep in decoration projects for my up-coming anniversary celebration.  Currently I'm decorting 45 horseshoes! As for going to the gym, I"m in the same boat as you...waiting for dr. approval.