Balance Prompts By Rupi Kaur

The universe takes and gives everything you didn’t know you needed. These prompts are an invitation to step inside yourself and explore what balance means to you. Rupi Kaur

Balance for me is looking at the medicine wheel to see where I am at. And looking at where I need to put some energy. The medicine wheel explains everything to me.

Rupi Kaur's Balance Writing Prompts - What would your ideal nutrition and exercise plan look like?

In April 2024, I gave up decaffeinated mochas. I planned to give up sugar. I knew that I had to give this up first. You might ask what is wrong with this beverage and what does it have to do with giving up sugar?

I started drinking a small decaf mocha daily, it has some caffeine and some sugar. Next, I was drinking a tall one, then it was two tall ones and when I gave it up I started to drink three tall ones some days. This is what addiction looks like for me.

That is why it had to go first. I knew withdrawals would be bad if I gave it up along with all sugar. Now did I mention I switched to fruit? Okay, well my withdrawals weren't bad when giving up sugar, probably because of the fruit I increased in my diet.

On Mother's Day this year, I gave up sugar, and the withdrawal was mild compared to when I have done it in the past. Yes, I have given up sugar before. I have been free of the obsession and compulsion for most of my life, but I am tricky and think - what is one going to hurt?

Relapse is what that is called in recovery. And yes, sugar and processed food is addictive to me.

It is never as good as I make it out to be. So, here I am quitting because of type 3 diabetes and dementia. It is fructose I hear that is the culprit. That is fruit and processed food that has all the fructose? I have been working on processed food and it is now time to back off of fruit.

The increase in fruit I tell myself is for the summer only. Fresh fruit, organic fruit. Can I cut back to blueberries and cherries primarily? Is the word primarily a trick that I add to sneak in others?

Here is what I am thinking: a limit of 4 fruit and I am leaning toward adding banana and green apple as these four make my smoothie with carrots. It is delicious and feels like a dessert. No sugar added.

Exercise is minimal at this point. I am walking on the treadmill and lifting light weights weekly. Anything is minimal though to my husband's workout which is two hours most days.

Ideally, I will be down to my goal weight by next summer, eating well and getting my exercise back to my hour walk on the treadmill or outdoors and having no issues with sugar or fruit, and eating little to no processed food.

Rupi Kaur's Balance Writing Prompts - Balance makes me feel _________.

When my medicine wheel is in balance, my whole world is good! Body, Mind, Spirit, Emotion/Volition

Rupi Kaur's Balance Writing Prompts - Describe the biggest life change you've experienced.

When thinking about this prompt, I have to say there were many big life changes. Recovery is probably the biggest as without it I wouldn't still be alive at 70. But then I think of divorce and marriage. Being married to 3 very different men. Children have been such a gift and a heartache at times.

Then again surviving cancer may be the biggest life change. When I had cancer, all of a sudden it didn't matter that I was living in a double-wide mobile home. That I didn't care if we built a log cabin to live in. That I wasn't worried about dying.

My priorities have shifted. I thought I would work until I die, and then it was no, I will retire at 62. This has been important. I am okay with less money. I am okay with more time for myself and the hubby. I am okay with working part-time, and being able to write every day.