I was scrolling through some of the old blog posts I have (and I have more than I remember writing), and I noticed a bit of a trend. I like challenging myself.
I've always been like that. I've always wanted to be a step farther than I actually had the skill level for. Kind of like a "fake it 'til you make it" attitude. Eventually my body, mind, spirit or whatever would catch up.
I thought about it a bit deeper - I like challenging myself and putting myself in other people's shoes so that I can feel more empathy. Nothing bothers me more than feeling like I'm not being understood. So the more things I experience, the more I can understand others, and open myself up to them.
My most recent challenge was to fast for one day. A friend of mine was fasting for Ramadan, and I asked about it, and why he did it. Part of his reasoning was spiritual in a sense, but mostly it seemed like it was about self-discipline and control. He asked if I wanted to try it with him, and I agreed, as long as it was a weekend. I also warned him that I can get cranky and a bit snappy when I'm dehydrated, and he seemed fine with this.
The night before the day I had chosen to fast, I made myself a regular dinner (chicken on a salad with lots of veggies), and drank a ton of water. I had this plan in my head that I would wake up before the sun came up so I could eat a quick meal and drink some water and a coffee. Then I would meditate or do yoga, and start my day.
Yeah...that didn't happen. I slept right through that alarm that was supposed to wake me up before sunrise. When I finally did wake up, it was already 6 a.m., the sun had been up for half an hour, and I was S.O.L. So I just turned my alarm back on for a later time, and went back to sleep. I got up at about 9 a.m. (because my body is weird and doesn't let me sleep too late - its been that way for the last couple years...friggin' aging), brushed my teeth, and decided to pass the time just chilling.
This went well. Very well. If you do nothing, you don't feel hungry at all. Laziness for the win!
Then I got an email that caused me to kick it into overdrive a bit. My rent cheque had been stolen out of my landlord's car, and I had to put a stop payment on it and alert the other tenant in my building of this issue. So I got up, showered and got going.
First I called the bank to ask them about putting a stop payment on the cheque. They said it was actually easy enough for me to do on the mobile app, and cost half the price. And they walked me through it. The person I spoke with was a tad paranoid though, and said something that made me have to go running to the nearest branch that was open. By this time it was quarter to 2, and the nearest branch closed at 3. So I threw my face on and made a beeline to my bank.
As a quick aside - For not eating or drinking any fluids, I felt I was sweating an awful lot. I was quite surprised. How can the body come up with all the fluids when they aren't being supplied or replenished?!
So I show up at the bank, sweat stains and all, and the teller tells me I have absolutely nothing to worry about and that I don't need to do anything further, and that the stop payment is all I need to do, so I'm good to go. Phew.
I get home and my friend who I am fasting with picks me up, and we go to Caribbean Days in North Vancouver. It was so awesome!! It was difficult when we first arrived because we walked through the gate right into the food section. Everything smelt AMAZING. Quickly, we made our way out of the food section and into the part with the live entertainment. We danced, we chilled, we relaxed, danced some more, and just had a great time taking in the great bands that played while we were there.
Then the entertainment ended at 7. Two hours before sunset!! Boo-urns!! We still had two hours to distract ourselves from eating or drinking. So what did we do? We made a plan about what we were going to do to break fast. Seriously, what is a better distraction from food, but to talk about it? ;0)
So over the course of the two hours, we chilled, talked, grabbed dinner, drove to a park and, when it was time (actually 5 minutes AFTER it was time) had a nice, quiet and peaceful breaking of our fast. Then we went for a walk and called it a night.
I can see how this would be very challenging to do for a whole month, especially during the summer months when the days are a lot longer, and a lot hotter. I didn't find the not eating part very challenging (thankfully no migraines that day). In my line of work, we sometimes forget to eat because we need to churn out that next project and move directly on to the next one (aaah, deadlines). But even during days like that, I have coffee (just one or two, daily) and water to sustain me. I found it extremely difficult to go without water for the whole day. Even when we were discussing what we would eat to break fast, I said many times "I don't care. I just want to drink water. LOTS. OF. WATER."
I would challenge myself to do this again. Maybe even the whole month, one day. But I think I would start with a weekend first, and then 5 days, and then a week. Gradually. Everything in moderation. And I like the idea of doing this every season, not just during one month of the lunar calendar.
Now on to my next challenge...if only I knew what that was. It'll come to me. They always do...
Onwards and upwards!!
