Mental Sampler 23
I have a special iced coffee tumbler I use every morning, and it came with a teal reusable straw. Setting the scene: Election Night. Before any returns have come in. Josh doing the dishes, and I hear, “Crap.” He came in holding part of my teal straw.
It felt like a harbinger of things to come.
I had no clue I was that emotionally-invested in a straw until it snapped in two.
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I got the paid version of the Calm app a few weeks ago. (The fact that I am emotionally-invested in the colour of my straw probably points to why I need this app.)
ChickieNob and I have been trying to work our way through sleep stories, but they’re a huge time commitment. I wish they had eight minute versions. Or ten minutes, tops. Spending almost a half hour with someone speaking very slowly and calmly is making me feel like ripping up paper and smashing tea cups.
I love the meditation visual… image… video… sort of things though. If you have the app, you know what I’m talking about. The beach scene? Or the one that feels like a first-person perspective on a boat going toward the horizon? I want to hook up my phone to the television again and run all of the water-related videos on an endless loop.
There is a lot on the app, and I still need to explore. It feels like a good weekend activity.
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Speaking of which, after not wanting a stationary bike ever, I decided that a stationary bike would be the most amazing thing ever. I want something akin to a poor man’s Peleton. Something without a lot of bells and whistles that I can set up in front of the television so I can watch first-person biking videos streamed through my phone while on the bike to feel like I’m moving. Something like this. (Warning: non-Cotswolds-like music in video, so maybe mute for more enjoyment.)
A long time ago, I would go on the Wii Fit and run around Wuhu Island. Maybe I just need to do that again. Except I really want a stationary bike. Does anyone have an inexpensive one they love that they can recommend?
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Funny, I didn’t care for the calm app. The music was usually only an hour and I found the sleep stories creepy. I couldn’t go to sleep with someone mumbling at me.
I do totally get being emotionally attached to things though. So many things.
I recommend not getting a stationary bike, unless you really just want a space hog you end up hanging things on. 😁. Same with a treadmill.
Sorry about your straw.
The sleep stories, as you describe them, would have the same effect on me. Can’t you shut them off when you start finding them irritating? Or do you need to hear the end? I would assume that it’s meant to bore me to sleep…
We use the Mindspace app. It’s nice because it has shorter meditations and some that are specifically aimed at kids.
One alternative to a stationary bike is a bike trainer. These can convert a normal bike to a stationary bike. I haven’t done much with these, but they are relatively inexpensive (~$300-$500). If you don’t use it, just disconnect your bike and you can reclaim the space in your house. You can google “REI bike trainer” to see some examples (I have no affiliation with REI).
Well, I got a cheap spin bike 6 years ago that I use in my garage. I used it on my own (listening to music or watching shows on my phone) until this year. Peloton offered their app free for 90 days. I downloaded it and I tell you it has kept me sane these past 8 months. I work harder in a spin class compared to just riding on my own. (I’ve been doing spin classes for 20 years and I love them) I really like the peloton classes and they also have strength, meditation (as short as 5 min), yoga, etc. classes. Only $13/mo. Worth it (my gym has been closed since March and even if it were open I wouldn’t go right now).
I actually bought the bike after looking into a trainer—someone at work had one and was raving about it—when I found they cost more than my road bike I decided to just get a spin bike (I paid i think $250ish—Sears Black Friday sale) and not have to deal with hooking up my road bike.
I’ve been a paid subscriber to the Calm app for a couple of years. I love the sleep stories, and I rarely get past the first 10-15 minutes of any of them. I find myself often listening to the same ones over and over, and I will skip ahead and start 10 or 20 minutes in once I’ve listened to one a few times, so eventually I get to hear how it ends. 😉
I’m sorry about your straw. It’s the little things sometimes.
An ornament with GP: https://www.etsy.com/listing/882698631/guinea-pig-custom-pet-ornament-cavy?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=childs+name+ornament&ref=sr_gallery-3-22&organic_search_click=1&frs=1
😊💕Kristina
I used Calm years ago for the guided meditation, but haven’t got back to it in a long time. Though I should. I think I’d go crazy with bed-time stories as you describe though!
And your bike rides through the Cotswolds (or elsewhere) are a great idea! Especially as winter is setting in for you, and of course … you know … COVID.
Wuhu Island! I haven’t thought of that for a long while. Sigh…
I can’t help you with info on a bike, but I am glad that Calm is, in a small way (maybe very small), satisfying your longing for the seashore.
If you’re not sure about the stationary bike might I recommend one of these pedal exercisers. I seriously ride mine about 5-6 hours a day while working. It takes virtually no space.