Rainy Day London – Crossing Westminster by KJ Carr

I had to book a last-minute trip to London this weekend.

I hopped on the company jet, which has an endless supply of healthy snacks and protein bars. I have my pick of music to listen to and there are usually a few good-looking, interesting people to chat with.

When I arrived in London, I was able to get in a good workout, have a leisurely walk down the Thames and enjoy high tea.

I got back last night, after a stopover in Luxembourg for some of the best chocolate and wine in Europe.

At least, that’s what everyone pictures when I say “I had to book a last-minute trip to London this weekend.”

The reality?

My weekend was spent runnning around in the pouring rain, working to finalize details for next week’s project. I haven’t worked out in days, I haven’t gotten quality sleep, my luggage broke, my guacamole was confiscated at security, and my flight was canceled, so I had to fly through Luxembourg to get to Frankfurt (I think it’s probably faster to drive).

Trying to stay sane and breathe.

On the upside: I was in London, I did make it to Whole Foods (twice) and the Gap (although it was a rushed trip, it still counts), and it’s a project I’ve put a lot of effort into and can’t wait to see the result.

When life gets hectic like this, I try at the very least to prioritize sleep, stretching and movement. And remind myself that I can also control what I eat – although stress eating is no joke (I’m not apologetic about my Whole Foods binge on root chips and gluten free chocolate covered pretzels). I’ve added in 10 minutes of meditation in the evening because I know I need it.

So. This week is the start of Alissa week! And I’ll be back in London on Friday to ring in 34.

For now, it’s nose to the grindstone. Sipping tea, smiling, stretching, and breathing.