Thinking of all of the things we are SUPPOSED to do gives me a panic attack. Laying in bed the other night, unable to sleep, this is what was running through my head: lift weights twice a week, get at least 30 minutes of cardio in most days of the week, do yoga, take supplements for every freaking thing under the sun (I'm currently taking 40+/day!), make sure your supplements are quality grade, don't eat dairy, don't eat sugar, don't eat ANYTHING processed, don't drink almond milk with carrageenan in it, make sure your nuts and seeds are raw, not toasted and salted, as a matter of fact, don't even eat nuts, stick to seeds only, don't eat a single carb, that piece of toast will be the death of you, make sure you're using the proper oil to cook your veggies and white fish with, coconut oil or grapeseed oil only, others degrade at high heat, only eat carbs (in the form of dark, organic berries) before or after workout, do not eat cakes or cookies or donuts, drink 5,000 gallons of purified water each day, eat only lean, organic, free-range meats, or better yet, be a vegetarian so you're not contributing to the degradation of our planet, be sure the butter (that you can't put on your toast) is organic and comes from humanely raised cows, only eat farm-fresh eggs and totally organic and local vegetables from your local farmer's market (don't eat fruit, unless it's dark berries before or after workout- see above), don't eat honey, but do eat local honey every day for your allergies, don't eat pasta, or cereal, or fast food EVER, don't eat pizza and definitely do NOT drink alcohol (especially not beer) unless it's a glass of red wine for your heart, don't drink coffee, definitely don't drink decaf, but do drink coffee because it's good for your heart like wine, but don't use half-and-half because you shouldn't consume dairy, and don't use fake creamer because it's full of chemicals, don't add sugar, and don't use artificial sweeteners, as they are full of chemicals too, don't eat gluten or any of the foods on the FODMAP diet including onions, garlic, apples, broccoli... But do eat these FODMAP foods because garlic is good for you, apples have fiber, broccoli is full of great vitamins and helps in losing weight, eat more cruciferous vegetables to lose that 10 pounds that keeps hanging on, lose weight, but don't stress about it, don't eat yogurt, it has too much sugar, but if you do eat yogurt, make sure it's Greek yogurt, don't eat corn, it isn't an ancient grain and there's a whole C4 corn conspiracy that we simply cannot support, eat chia seeds everyday, as well as cinnamon, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and don't forget your daily apple cider vinegar....

Love what you do, work hard, but not too hard, make lots of money, but don't stress about it, take leisure time, but do not look too leisurely, vacation to faraway lands, but save your money, invest it, be debt-free, live below your means, be set for college and retirement, yet have a perfect wardrobe that makes you happy, have the right running shoes, boots, casual shoes, jackets, have a dependable car and keep it clean, inside and out, get your oil changed every three months, keep up with recalls and garage services, keep your home clean and free of allergens, don't use harsh cleansers or burn non-soy candles, have your a/c serviced twice yearly and don't forget to change out the filters, keep your thermostat modest, use natural products including skin care, cleansers, lotions, soaps, dish detergents, use down-alternative bedding, keep your home free from dust, keep a green, weed-free lawn, don't use herbicides or pesticides, grow a garden, be frugal with your water usage, get a rain bucket, clean your gutters, plant native plants, keep your flower beds looking sharp, leave dead plants over winter for the birds, keep birdbaths clean and cycle appropriate food for birds according to temperature and season, create proper habitat for animals, shine the leather in your car, get dental hygiene care for your dogs, make sure they have flea and tick prevention as well as heartworm prevention, clip their toe nails, get them groomed, feed them properly, walk them daily, don't eat carbs, get your trees trimmed, don't murder your trees, clip the roses back, leave the roses for the birds...

Make time for your friends, stay connected, don't allow your life to be run by social media, make sure you know everything that is going on in the world, politics, fashion, news, entertainment, trends, make time for your spouse, have sex, don't be cranky, ever, make time for your children, set boundaries, love them, but be firm, set them up for a perfect life, do for them, do not do for them, make your bed, change your sheets, don't let the laundry pile up, coupon, meal plan....

Read daily, meditate daily, exercise daily, do/do not do all of the things listed above daily..... What are we doing??? We are creating intense stress for ourselves by attempting to cram ourselves into this box of SUPPOSED to. We are pressured from all corners to pursue this perfect life. To DO, to BE, to CONSUME in a certain fashion that has been deemed ideal by God-knows-who. And in the meantime, we are missing the journey.......

Do what feels right and good for YOU. Eat as clean as is comfortable for your lifestyle, exercise by doing things that make you and your body happy, find a level of daily life maintenance that suits you, and get rid of the shit that doesn't fit, literally and figuratively. It is an important human trait to be motivated and to desire achievement and gains, that is what keeps our species alive. But at some point, we need to stop, slow down, listen. Listen not to the media or TMZ or our cubicle neighbor, but listen to our body, to the subtle voices in our head guiding us, gently suggesting the path that will lead us to our happiest and most grounded being. If you do nothing else on this ridiculous list, do this one thing: LISTEN. And then be....BE YOU. You have permission.