It has been eighteen days since I began my daily food diary – recording everything that I eat and drink and sharing it here on JetPack.
It soon became obvious that hydration was an area that needed some work, so I have spent the past week focussing on drinking more water than I typically do.
In a few days, I was noticing benefits – clearer sinuses, smoother skin, less cravings for between meal snacks, and more. I know from taking up regular exercise, meditating, and working on my diet, that it will only get better.
I have learned more about myself and proper self-care in the past three years than I have in my lifetime. I have recognized benefits that I never imagined possible – at least not for me. And definitely not in my sixties!
My one regret has been that I did not get my 💩 together sooner.
Recently, I read an article where people like me were referred to as ‘LATE BLOOMERS’. At first I was offended and trotted out my lame old excuses. I grew up before the Internet and all of the information readily available to younger people now, I was always sickly and wimpy – I didn’t know anything else was possible, I was busy taking care of other people!
Then I started thinking about it. We have a large yard and garden. In the spring and summer and into the fall, we have an abundance of flowers. I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate them all.



But late in the season, when the weather has turned cold and our yard becomes a wasteland of Saskatchewan greige, the flowers long gone, there is always that one intrepid little petunia blossom that opens up to brighten my day.

That ‘late bloomer’ is special. I will make a dozen trips out of my way to pay it a visit and appreciate its beauty and resilience, before it fades away. I realized that being a late bloomer isn’t a bad thing.
People notice late bloomers – and that’s a good thing, especially for later boomers like me who have special people in their lives – people like grandchildren. They are aware of my efforts to get fit and healthy, they see the results, and hopefully they are inspired to follow my lead, sooner than later, because they deserve to bloom for a lifetime.

Food Diary – Day 18
(1) c coffee
(1) 2 egg omelet with back bacon, mushrooms, onion, and cheese pan fried with olive oil
(12) oz water
(12) oz water
(1) c tea
(12) oz water
(12) oz carbonated water
(1) tortilla wrap with filling of ground beef, onion, mushroom, spinach, red pepper, garlic, salsa, and cheese
(1) handful of Touch of Lime tortilla chips
(12) oz water
Total 60 ounces of water! 🎉
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Breakfast sounds tasty! I too remember a world without the internet and cell phones. In many ways it was better than today. The world moves too fast today, it’s a bummer. Happy Sunday!
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This is magnificent, Anne! It’s thrilling to see all of the water listed and you’re right. It has so many benefits! 🥰
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Thank you, John. It’s not all good but there is good to be found on the internet. 🤗
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Thank you, Barb. I’m going to have to work at it, to keep my levels up but only one reason to stick with my diary! 💗
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I loved your late bloomer story, and that photo of the kids and the dog is great inspiration for many reasons. Have a good day–it just started to snow again here.
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Love the path you’re making and leaving for others, Anne.😊❤️
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Thank you, Sue! It is too cold to snow here today. It was -49 with the windchill this morning. 🥶
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Thank you, Dwight! 💞🤗
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I cannot even fathom that cold! I am sure by now, you know how to take care of yourself in it, which is not something you can say for southerners. 🙀
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Better to be a Late Bloomer than a Too Late Bloomer!
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I’m so proud of you, Anne and you should be too. I heard this the other day and it really stuck. “Meaningful is hard.” What you’re doing with this daily diary has many tiny pieces that are hard, but look at how meaningful it’s becoming as a whole. 🤗🧡
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This is true, Geoff!
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Thank you, Barb. One of these days I will blog on how the ‘hards’ I have encountered in the past three years have somehow been the most productive times overall.
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I think life would be a lot less interesting if everyday were easy. You have been through so much, so I look forward to reading that blog. Difficulty strengthens resiliency!
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what a great way to think about success when older.
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Thank you!
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Oh yes, you have to seek the good stuff out on the web…
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💛
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Beautiful 😍
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This was a lovely post, Annemarie. I especially enjoyed your flower photos and your analogy for late bloomers with petunias. Congratulations on 18 days of steady improvement and woohoo on that water intake!!
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Thank you, Terry! 💐
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I have always been a late bloomer. I figure I will live to be very old because of it!
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I think that will probably be the case for both of us. 🤗
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