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About Maggie Downie

Thank you for giving your time to stop and read my blog. I hope it encourages you to keep moving. Move and the body will be happier. And when you're moving you can hike, run, swim in Jell-O, race over non-Newtonian fluids, travel the world or build igloos--if that's your thing. If not, you can watch me do it. This is just a spot to try and feel good about life.
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My Never Ending Struggle With Meditation

I’m a terrible meditator. Though I need it (I guess), I resist it. Whenever I settle down into a routine of meditation, which usually lasts four days, I feel like a phony. Which is why I suspect a couple of friends recommended the book 10% Happier by Dan Harris. He describes feeling phony when he started meditating. While the book wasn’t as helpful as I hoped, it was worth reading for one meditation nugget that very possibly provides the only chance I have of success. He suggested making meditative moments a game. Basically, make meditation self-competition. Sold. Basically, this is the game:

  • Inhale & Exhale
  • Pay attention and notice the sensation somewhere in your body (nose, stomach, chest, etc.)
  • Think the word “in” when you inhale and “out” when you exhale.

Now, here is the real challenge.

  • Keep count. With each breath count, one, two, until you get to ten and then reset.

The first week I tried, I couldn’t complete two breaths without getting distracted. Seriously. I’m apparently that much of a spaz. Thinking of the monotony of meditation like a game really helped me. Because now I could set a goal that wasn’t just to fill a minute. If you’ve ever wanted to stop […]

My Never Ending Struggle With Meditation2015-07-29T06:28:00-04:00

The Diary-Free Saga

Gluten has been out of my life for nearly three and a half years, but who’s counting. So it was a sad day when I got some allergy testing back for IgG and IgA antibodies and the results suggested an allergy to dairy and mushrooms. I agreed to give up both in addition to the gluten for three months. I still have high hopes of cheese, milk and ice cream in my future.

Some days are worse than others, but really it’s not as awful as I imagined. The first two weeks were really tough, and I felt awful. So bad that I tried to convince myself that I must actually really need dairy and my body was dying without it—only slightly dramatic. But I held strong, and I do feel better this week.

It helps to have Divine Treasures in Manchester. In addition to my favorite chocolate (which is all gluten and dairy free) they also make gluten-free, dairy-free pizzas and cheese. The pizzas are good.  They also have d-free, g-free ice cream!   And I’ve started to notice there are places I don’t miss it. For example I often have a fried egg for breakfast. I used to always put […]

The Diary-Free Saga2015-07-22T10:38:43-04:00

AAUW Never Fails to Impress

Ann and I went to France in November to celebrate her 75th birthday. Ann and I went to France in November to celebrate her 75th birthday.

I have a good family friend, she’s more of an Aunt, who always invites me to attend the programs her branch of the AAUW (American Association of University Women) put on.  The food is always great thanks to the Norwich Inn and Spa. They accommodate my gluten-free needs.  And the presenter, lecturer or performer they have at these gatherings is always superb.

The event is always outstanding.  So it’s odd that last week, I presumed the program was going to be lame.  I don’t know why, because it was a one woman musical theater performance about female historical figures.  I love theater. I was a history major.  This should have been right up my alley, but I went to this one for the sole purpose of spending time with my Grandma and my Aunt Ann.  I just thought the performance sounded like it was for kids.

I shouldn’t have questioned it because I’m in part raising honey bees because of a Connecticut based author and beekeeper they […]

AAUW Never Fails to Impress2017-10-25T14:30:13-04:00

No Processed Foods for the Month of May: Who’s With Me?

This is my great-grandma. She ate dessert and chicken fat, but she cooked it herself. So you could make a pie in May as long as you make it from scratch! This is my great-grandma. She ate dessert and chicken fat, but she cooked it herself. So you could make a pie in May as long as you make it from scratch!

As many of you know I occasionally do food challenges for my own anecdotal experimentation.  I’ve tried being vegan, eating raw, no sugar.  None of them have stuck, and I normally do this challenge in February because it’s the shortest month of the year.

This May I’ll be trying to do no processed foods.  Want to join in the fun?  It’s one month, how bad can it be?  Here are the ground rules:

1) Because it’s a long month you get to pick any two days and take them off

2) Wine and cheese are a-okay (I tried Vegan and don’t need to do it again.)

  • 3) Otherwise follow this simple rule: if it has more than one ingredient, it’s out
  • 4) Basically nothing that comes in a box
  • 5) You can make anything […]
No Processed Foods for the Month of May: Who’s With Me?2017-09-12T19:31:12-04:00

What Can You Relax Right Now?

Our bodies need to relax as much as they need to workout. (Note: I’m writing this blog for me as much as for you because I’m not good at relaxing)  But there are a numbers of ways or parts of the body that we can relax throughout the day without adding relaxation time to our already busy lives.

For example be a little more self aware.  I often notice that when I brush my teeth my shoulder is shrugged up to my ear and I can relax it.  The other day, I was driving when I noticed I was arching my low back in a very alert position.  My low back was tight.  I relaxed.  I think when we start to pay attention there are a lot of moments during the day like this.  It’s not necessarily hard to relax, but we do have to think about releasing the tension that creeps in.

Today, when you get into bed check in with your body.  Are you really at ease?  Have you sunk as deeply into the mattress and pillow as you can?  Is your jaw tight?  Are your eyebrows furrowed?  Is there a part of your body you can relax?

When you exercise, […]

What Can You Relax Right Now?2017-09-12T19:31:12-04:00
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