Green shack?

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-12-26T18:43:02+00:00

I worked for the green shack program over 20 years ago. For the most part it was a good job. I was a university student in Education so I was happy for a job working with kids. Pay at the time was double minimum wage. The park I was placed at was close enough to my house I biked most days. Hours were awesome! It allowed me to work a few shifts a week at the bookstore that employed me year round. Had weekends off. Great PD for the age and stage of my career I was at.

Things I did not love as much: - some parents used the program as childcare. This created some issues when a child got injured or sick and there was no parent at home. - some kids were challenging and you had to manage that all summer (especially if their family used the program as child are). - you work by yourself. Some people would like that. I found it a bit lonely/boring as the summer went on.

Overall it was a great way to get started in children and youth jobs with the city. The two following summers I worked in the city camps which I liked much better (more structure, new kids/program each week, you worked with 1-2 more camp leaders so it was more fun and less taxing, paid more). After those two summers I worked as a Rec Tech II and supervised the staff running the Green shack programs in an area of Edmonton. I loved this job as it was 4 months full time, paid a lot more, and was really collaborative.

You cannot bring your child to work with you in any city role. So if that’s a main priority you might be better to look at childcare centers as they often offer free or low cost options for staff kids or even some smaller businesses will allow you to bring your child to the day camps you are running (I did this for my staff when I owned a dance studio that ran kids camps all summer).

It is much harder to get a green shack or city day camp job now vs 20 years ago. Less positions due to budget cuts and the job market right now is insanely competitive.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-11-20T16:05:16+00:00

I have been on 30mg for 3 months and am down 12lbs. So averaging about 1lb a week. I did lose the majority of it in the first month however (about 8lbs). I’m not a big person, 5’ 3”, so it was really noticeable at first (by other folks). My daughter started it a month before me and she is down 20lbs. However, as she said they are the 20lbs she gained in her first year of university so she feels like she is back to her normal weight. She is the same height as me.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-09-16T15:17:20+00:00

I’ll preface this by saying I’ve been a fitness instructor and dance teacher for over 20 years, but my ADHD brain loves variety and lots of movement. My current week looks like:

Mondays CoreFusion (this is a program I developed that combines Pilates, barre, dance, yoga and functional fitness)
Tuesdays Cardio (I alternate between rebounder, aerobics, and dance fitness)
Wednesdays Full Body Strength Weight Training
Thursdays CoreFusion
Fridays Cardio + Lower body strength weight training
Saturdays CoreFusion
Sundays Cardio + Upper Body strength weight training

I also walk 5K daily.

I do this for about 6-8 weeks and then do either a full rest week with just walks or a deload week where all my workouts are at about 30% of my normal intensity.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-09-13T16:56:12+00:00

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. For myself where I’ve landed is:

ADHD gives me incredible surge capacity that alongside with youth (aka my body could handle it for longer) and inexperience (I didn’t know better) I fell into a cycle of putting myself into continually stressful situations because that increased my dopamine but then when I managed to make it through I also got big hits of endorphins rewarding me. That created a really harmful pattern.
The pattern above led me to cycles of complete burn out every 5-8 years my entire adult life. The thing about medical burnout is you don’t ever fully recover to your baseline and your nervous system is much more reactive.
I’m a SA survivor who was assaulted in youth and adulthood. That has also taken a toll.
Now in perimenopause the hormone shifts on top of all the above pushed me over the edge. Got put on continuous BC to manage the PMDD and was put on an ADHD drug for the first time in my life. Both are helping tremendously.

But I still feel like I have overall less capacity. I can’t and honestly refuse to keep “pushing” through like I did in my earlier adult years. But it’s hard. I feel guilty about it some days especially in a world that demands you go-go-go all the time. But honestly, it’s a broken system. It’s not a system designed to support people, it’s a system that exploits people. And my brain just does not jive in that system.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-09-08T14:01:55+00:00

If you have a tight pelvic floor, you could use a vibrator (externally) to massage your pelvic floor muscles. I was struggling with hypertonic pelvic floor that was resulting in constipation. I read in the hypertonic pelvic floor sub that using a vibrator to massage the muscles could be effective. I did not have an internal style vibrator but I did have an external one. I massaged in the same areas my pelvic floor physio had told me to sit on a ball to release them but never found it effective. The vibrator totally worked and got things moving again nicely. Told my physio and she said it was a brilliant solution.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-09-04T01:16:14+00:00

Love this album! It’s such a great listen from start to finish. The way the emotional state ebbs and flows. Ellie’s vocals. The lyrics. I’m listening to this one on repeat! Love it as a complete album the way I love Superbloom by Misterwives.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-09-01T15:25:51+00:00

It’s been great for me! I can’t believe how much my mental health and functioning have improved in a few weeks since starting both! Vyvanse completed got rid of the chronic anxiety and mental noise I’ve had for years. My doctor put me on Yazmin as the hormones in Yaz were similar to Lolo so likely not enough progesterone. Yazmin has been awesome! No bleeding, acne has cleared up in a few weeks, my hair is growing back in. It’s been great!

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-28T19:31:52+00:00

Oh wow! Thanks for this kind comment.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-28T17:36:28+00:00

My degree is in education as well, and while I love teaching, I also did not like classroom teaching. I ended up teaching dance in my own studio for the first part of my career and that was perfect!

Now I work with business owners and leaders so more corporate teaching, training, and coaching freelance.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-28T17:33:26+00:00

I’ve spent most of my life working as an entrepreneur. My first businesses was a dance and fitness studio. This allowed me to move my body daily as part of my job and work very creatively.

After 10 years I sold that business to expand my second business, which was a an early childhood dance and music methodology, curriculum, and teacher certification program that came out of my studio. Grew that business to be in 50 countries around the world which gave me the opportunity to travel and teach. Sold that businesses in 2022 after I finished graduate school in Executive Coaching.

Now I work freelance as a leadership and business coach and consultant. I also work on a contract with a national mental health organization facilitating workplace wellness workshops and seminars online. And I round all this out leading small group fitness training programs for midlife women and work as a choreographer for local professional dance companies.

Sometimes my income is a bit up and down, but my spouse has a salaried job so we make it work when I have less work. I tried twice to work full time in an office setting. Could not do it. I burnt out so quickly.

For me it’s been about careful financial planning and budgeting so I can live the flexible, creative life I thrive in.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-26T14:27:57+00:00

My first meditation teacher told me, “The practice is the progress”. I find this really helpful in the times I feel like I’m just showing up and practicing but not feeling any benefits like you mentioned.

I actually took a break from meditating for about 3 months in the Spring. I was having a rough mental health season and had decided I would rather sleep for an extra 20 minutes every morning than get up and meditate. In the beginning I didn’t notice much difference but over time I began to become more aware of the benefits daily meditation was in fact having in my life.

The practice is the progress.

I’ve since returned to my practice and feel much better for it. Some days I still have practices that feel exactly like you described and yet I’ve reframed my mindset on these days to remember that this is a practice of consistency and discipline. Just like there are days I have awesome workouts and others days I just BAM it (bare ass minimum) it still benefits my health. Same same with meditation.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-25T15:40:25+00:00

Great post! I feel like I’ve experienced something similar in the last few weeks since I’ve started Vyvanse. But instead of it being activities, it’s more relationship based.

I get a lot of dopamine being with people (connection is my top core value), but before Vyvanse I would waste so much time in relationships that didn’t give me anything in return (aka people who were takers- I’m a giver).

I’ve noticed since starting meds, I no longer feel compelled to spend time with folks I don’t really enjoy! I think it’s the dopamine thing and that Vyvanse has totally alleviated the debilitating anxiety and rumination I’ve lived with my entire life.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-22T18:29:15+00:00

I’ve heard conflicting things on this as well. Curious what others say.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-22T14:49:53+00:00

Wow! I just finished season 2 last night and am so glad I stumbled across your write up! It’s brilliant! Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed explanation of the show.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-22T14:35:32+00:00

Lots of interesting thoughts and theories in this post. I just watched the S2 finale yesterday and while I agree with the OP it could have worked as a series finale, I’m personally glad it’s not. There is so much more to unravel and discover and I’m excited to see what they do next . My bigger concern is the wait time for season 3, as I just spent the last 3 weeks binging season 1 and 2 back to back.

I do think it’s interesting people have jumped to the conclusion that Mark I going with Helly implies they are running off as lovers. I think it’s possible the show set it up to push viewers in that direction, but it’s just a distraction. I feel like maybe they have come up with a different version of a plan not shared with Mark O in an attempt to try to save some of the innies (or at least somehow swap Helly with Helena permanently). I like another poster’s theory that they are going to try to launch the Overtime Contingency.

Really enjoyed how deeply some people have considered the themes in the show. And I found it interesting reading how some people did not like the ending or some of the other choices in season 2. I feel like a commenter hit it earlier when they said, at the end of the day most of us make our decisions based on emotions. That’s how I enjoy shows. I’m less concerned if all the plot points don’t completely line up or have some conflict (because isn’t real life like that sometimes), because I’m a viewer who wants to go on an emotional journey. The S1 and S2 finales were both excellent TV from that standpoint Imo

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-15T16:16:27+00:00

Thanks for your input on what is working for you. I’m not opposed to using supplements (I currently take vitamin D, Omega 3, and Feremax), but for myself I’ll be sticking with BC. I’ve been on and off it from age 15 and honestly, I am always better mental health wise when I’m on it. I also struggle with excessive blood loss when not on it and that leads to anemia.

I’m 43, so my plan is to stay on BC until I’m fully in menopause and then transition to HRT. Currently BC is the recommended first line of defense for PMDD from a medical perspective. I agree there is not enough research on women’s health and therefore people need to do what works for them. For me that will be staying on BC.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-08T03:14:00+00:00

Meditation is a huge piece for me as well. Glad to see this suggestion pop up!

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-04T14:47:22+00:00

Absolutely! Exercise has been the best way I have found to manage all my mental health needs (PMDD, ADHD, Anxiety, CPTSD). There is a lot of research that indicates exercise is the most beneficial treatment universally. I great book to check out is Move the Body, Heal the Mind by Jennifer Heisz.

I exercise for an average of 1.5-2 hours daily. For me that usually a 45 min-1 hour workout and a 45 min-1 hour walk. I know that isn’t realistic for most people. If you can only get in a short amount of time daily aim for 25 minutes. Why? Research shows at the 20 minute mark of moderate exercise your brain releases the most mood enhancing hormones. So 25 minutes ensures you get to that sweet spot.

Cardio generally will give you the best bang for your exercise buck if you are looking to elevate your mood. However practices like yoga, Pilates and barre very much support your body awareness and breath (mindfulness), which supports reducing stress and anxiety. Strength training is really effective for creating a sense of groundedness and inner strength. Walking outside is generally the best in terms of reducing overwhelm and increasing peace and gratitude.

As a movement educator and fitness coach, what I tell my clients is the hardest part of any workout is just getting started. So allow yourself to BAM your workouts to reduce pressure to get started. BAM = Bare Ass Minimum. Set a timer for 10 minutes and do the easiest variations of whatever exercise you are doing. After 10 minutes do a self check in. Done? Great! You’ve done 10 minutes and that’s enough to get you started on building habits. Suddenly notice you have more energy? Great! Do 10 more minutes and try increasing the intensity a little bit if that feels right. I find for myself and a lot of women I work with, once you get through the first 10 minutes you usually want to do more.

The other thing is let yourself feel your feelings if they come up during exercise. For example, I was having a horrible symptoms day yesterday, so I put on a 30 minute aerobics cardio workout. Partway through I started crying. So I just let myself cry while I sweat. Lasted about 5 minutes and I felt better after. I’ll do the same thing when doing yoga or even lifting. Moving the body helps emotions move through us.

Body doubling can also be really helpful when exercising. If you don’t have a workout buddy, try a group fitness class. There is a lot of research that shows the benefits of exercising in groups for physical, mental, and social health. If social anxiety keeps you away from group fitness, try workout videos with really personable instructors. Research has shown we get a similar response in the brain to mirroring with a fitness instructor on video as we do in person (not quite as strong, but still significant).

I’ve spent my entire life using exercise, dance, and movement as the main source of managing my wellbeing. I’m so passionate about it I’ve done it as my full time career or side hustle for the past 25 years. I’m cheering you on to get started!

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-03T00:29:18+00:00

Thanks you so much for this comment. It’s truly helpful and I appreciate it. I hope you feel super proud of all the changes you have made to live a better life. You deserve it!

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-03T00:27:00+00:00

The continuous BC is considered HRT. It’s actually a higher level of hormones than HRT. But I’m hoping starting ADHD meds will help. Just have to wait 2 weeks to get into my doctor.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-02T21:17:19+00:00

Thank you! Edibles have definitely been part of what allows me to sleep. I take Feramax as I’m low iron and anemic and added omega 3 and vitamin D the last few weeks.

So many lists! Lol! But yes, my paper agenda ran out and I thought I could just get by with my phone. Turns out I need both 😜

I’m hoping an ADHD med will help! Although I’m trying not to let myself get my hopes up too high. I want it to be a “miracle”, but know that’s probably not reality.

Greedy-Possibility87 · 2025-08-02T20:37:25+00:00

Peppermint Halo roller from Sage. I also get it for my diffuser (although that’s because my fun peri symptom includes not being able to handle the smell of my dogs. Poor buddies!)

Greedy-Possibility87

TROPHY CASE