Do you make plans? Do you make lists? I make oodles and oodles of them. I jot myself notes. I chickenscratch endless to do lists. And then I throw them out the window because life gets messy. I had high hopes to run to Whole Foods to pick our family's new produce for the week. But life happened and what was to be a errand kind of afternoon turned into my son needing a bath. It happens. He had one last night and most likely will have one tomorrow so that he can look and smell his Sunday best. But life got messy and he needed one Friday as well. This might not be right to admit but my son has only had three baths three days in a row when he was sick and we were trying to keep his fevers down.
We are in the teething stage. I feel like our household is in lockdown always because of the teething monster who likes to strike at night. My hubby and I and even our toddler probably had plans for sleep but the teething monster lurks around and keeps us all awake with moans and spontaneous screams. Life gets messy and we have to deal.
Its good to have plans. Its great to have goals and dreams. But it is important to be realistic which means to be flexible. Because Life gets messy. We can't stop chaos. We can't even safeguard against it. We try. We save, we try to exercise and eat healthy, we try to schedule fun and stay on top of chores. We charge our phones. We stock up on groceries. But it happens that we don't always have the exact thing we need when we need it. This seems impossible when restaurants deliver, online ordering is 24/7 with express delivery and yet we still sometimes find ourselves ill-prepared. We can't plan for everything and yet we try. We try to cover all the bases and sometimes we still our overwhelmed because repeat after me : Life gets Messy.
I like to please. I like to do things "right" and yet we all have only one life. Do we continue to run ourselves ragged? Do we just make even more lists in anticipation of what messes life can throw our way? Not likely since that would be impossible.
So we do our best. We keep working towards our goals. We keep trudging on paths that feel sturdy and help us become stronger. We pray for God's wisdom. Then after all that when life gets messy we breathe, we live, and do the best we can. And sometimes, after those messy situations we see all the blessings that arrived because of the mess or appreciate even more what remained.
If you are working on your health keep striving to get leaner, stronger, and healthier. If you are trying to get closer to God - continue to pray, cling to scriptures, and worship with other believers. If you are crushing debt - keep plugging away - save when you can, earn what you can, and pay down debts as quickly as possible. If you are getting organized - make your lists, clear the clutter, and admire your efforts. But in the end, when life gets messy - set the to dos aside and do your best.
May your HealthFULL Journey be a journey that doesn't easily get derailed and that every effort is worth applause. 'Til we meet again. . .
Showing posts with label attitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label attitude. Show all posts
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Mrs. Mommy
My hubby Corey and I joke a lot - his sense of humor and mine just meld so we laugh and joke together a lot. Well in one of our jokefests he started to call me Mrs. Mommy. Which I giggled alongside him. But the nickname has stuck in my head as quite a poignant remark. Very rarely do I still feel Suzy for more than ten minutes at a time. Most of the time I feel like a Mrs. or Mommy and very often a Mrs. Mommy. As you read this it is important to know this - I count the reasons behind both of these titles my biggest blessings here on Earth. BUT...if I am to be completely honest wasn't my dream titles (I am so proud to be both today just not what I envisions years ago). Hear me out though. . .
Titles are funny things. We crave them. We work for them. We like to give them. We as humans love labels. They give us pecking orders. They give us futures to desire. They give us people to dislike or at least labels to pin the blame so we don't have to face that emotion factor. We tend to wear our titles for reasons of pride, classification, clarification, honor, and a million other reasons. It wasn't that I didn't want to be a wife nor a mom. I figured someday in my distant thirties I would most likely have a husband. And perhaps a child. But I really didn't "crave" either. There were three titles I have shared my desire for since I was young (when thirty seemed a distant future and not a recent memory). I wanted to Aunt Suzy (I have a theory that most people have an Uncle Bob or an Aunt Suzy - there was not extensive research and this was discovered from a small sample pool. But most people I know have an Uncle Bob or an Aunt Suzy). I enjoy kids. I think they are funny, nothing makes me feel more loved than cuddling with a youngster especially singing songs together or reading and find it fascinating to join forces with their creative minds. But I also enjoyed giving them back to their parents at the end of the day. This sounded like a great start to following my call of being an Aunt. (This dream did come true and I love my nieces and nephews - they are fabulous, precious, smart, creative, funny, sweet, kind, and beautiful. I am so grateful God answered my prayers on that front!) Another title I wanted to be was a Countess, an Italian Countess ( I <3 Italy!). I was serious about this career/lifestyle choice. For years I hired my perfect entourage - I had court jesters, I had garbage collectors, ladies in waiting, chefs, event planner, preacher - pretty much everyone but the actual Italian Count. When I was in eighth grade we had to do research for our future career. The guy who sat in front of me asked what I planned to be when I was a grown-up. I said I already know but the research will be hard. He asked me what I wanted to be. Straight answer " A countess". His reply "Is that like a female accountant?" And I looked at him strangely (I now as adult realize that probably should play out the other way), but in the brief exchange I realized two things. One) I simply had not shared my future intentions with enough people if this guy had no clue what I was talking about and Two) that not everyone saw this title as an average realistic option. So I ended up researching my third dream title for this eighth grade research project - a Broadway stage actor. I still haven't been to Italy (probably the best place to find an Italian Count - but I think my Louisiana Prince might get jealous :) But I did go to school for Theatre as my major which became my minor the second time around. I didn't make it to Broadway to perform but have performed (for money) in 5/50 states (MN, ND, MT, AK, and CA) and Canada. So we'll call that a 1/2 title realized - 50%. Not bad.
So you see I had what I thought were big dreams - big Suzy dreams. But I fell in love at nineteen - not puppy love that starts off amazing and fizzles usually just as dramatic. But to the core fell in head over heels full hearted completely committed true love. I got married at twenty-two and became a Mrs. . . in North Dakota. I wouldn't change it for the world. However, my thirteen year old version of myself saw a completely different picture - Italy was involved (which the full fantasy was to turn one of our Italian castles into an impressive internation theatre school), and my title wasn't Mrs. it would be Countess.
And the mommy factor. Whew! Not that I was against having children. It was always a future dream. We even dreamt in our early thirties we would like to have kids. Thats a great talk when you are twenty-four and married to a great partner. When you're thirty and pregnant, that dream talk a little too real. Which sounds after writing that line like we completely planned when we were having children - completely a God thing that shocked us out of the blue. I have had a lot of friends who have had a variety of female issues and conception is difficult if not impossible (but a few of those impossibles have been PLEASANTLY BLESSED! Praise God!) So, knowing this I figured God didn't burden my heart with desire because I honestly thought between my weight and other factors that I probably couldn't conceive at least without medical assistance. I was terrified of the responsibility of being a mom. As an aunt I figured I could only do minimal damage of anyone's psyche that could be repaired by their parents, selves, and God. But complete responsibility for another human being I found that frightening to a degree I can' even verbalize. My esteem like most areas of my life go extreme - I can do anything (like be an Italian Countess) or nothing right (which I kind of placed Mommyhood in that category for me).
I love my son. God granted (and my hubby helped) answer the deepest desire of my heart that I couldn't even vocalize. I wept for days when I took my first pregnancy test (while pregnant) and it showed a negative. I then hyperventilated when I took one three weeks later and there was a plus sign where I tried to tell my husband between hysterical tears that turned into hysterical laughter the news. In my defense, I had taken at least forty pregnancy tests in my lifetime and not once had there been a plus. Its a little surreal. Then to really throw me off my A-game, my son was eleven weeks early. If you know me I tend to run ten minutes late to everything and am a procrastinator to the hilt. And my son arrives not just early - but super early!!!
If I was to describe Suzy. I would say she's funny, fun, playful, creative, and a bit loud. But those words for Mrs. Mommy seem to be inappropriate. So sometimes, I feel lost; because of this ideal image I have for Mrs. Mommy. A woman who cares for her guys and takes care of them - perfectly. I forget the title may change what some people call me, but not who I am. I still am Suzy who just happens to be married to a great guy and the happiest little boy (seriously this kid giggles and smiles - ALL the time). I try to be organized and early as Mrs. Mommy. I try to cook, clean, and still look "relaxed". But as I try to be Mrs. Mommy I lose a little bit of Suzy who is the one who received those titles.
So what's in a name? Appearance, effort, but it doesn't change the person - at least its not supposed to. So here I write as Suzy who also happens to be Mrs. Mommy.
May you earn the titles life bestows you, but never forget the person you were when you received them. 'Til we meet again. . .
Titles are funny things. We crave them. We work for them. We like to give them. We as humans love labels. They give us pecking orders. They give us futures to desire. They give us people to dislike or at least labels to pin the blame so we don't have to face that emotion factor. We tend to wear our titles for reasons of pride, classification, clarification, honor, and a million other reasons. It wasn't that I didn't want to be a wife nor a mom. I figured someday in my distant thirties I would most likely have a husband. And perhaps a child. But I really didn't "crave" either. There were three titles I have shared my desire for since I was young (when thirty seemed a distant future and not a recent memory). I wanted to Aunt Suzy (I have a theory that most people have an Uncle Bob or an Aunt Suzy - there was not extensive research and this was discovered from a small sample pool. But most people I know have an Uncle Bob or an Aunt Suzy). I enjoy kids. I think they are funny, nothing makes me feel more loved than cuddling with a youngster especially singing songs together or reading and find it fascinating to join forces with their creative minds. But I also enjoyed giving them back to their parents at the end of the day. This sounded like a great start to following my call of being an Aunt. (This dream did come true and I love my nieces and nephews - they are fabulous, precious, smart, creative, funny, sweet, kind, and beautiful. I am so grateful God answered my prayers on that front!) Another title I wanted to be was a Countess, an Italian Countess ( I <3 Italy!). I was serious about this career/lifestyle choice. For years I hired my perfect entourage - I had court jesters, I had garbage collectors, ladies in waiting, chefs, event planner, preacher - pretty much everyone but the actual Italian Count. When I was in eighth grade we had to do research for our future career. The guy who sat in front of me asked what I planned to be when I was a grown-up. I said I already know but the research will be hard. He asked me what I wanted to be. Straight answer " A countess". His reply "Is that like a female accountant?" And I looked at him strangely (I now as adult realize that probably should play out the other way), but in the brief exchange I realized two things. One) I simply had not shared my future intentions with enough people if this guy had no clue what I was talking about and Two) that not everyone saw this title as an average realistic option. So I ended up researching my third dream title for this eighth grade research project - a Broadway stage actor. I still haven't been to Italy (probably the best place to find an Italian Count - but I think my Louisiana Prince might get jealous :) But I did go to school for Theatre as my major which became my minor the second time around. I didn't make it to Broadway to perform but have performed (for money) in 5/50 states (MN, ND, MT, AK, and CA) and Canada. So we'll call that a 1/2 title realized - 50%. Not bad.
So you see I had what I thought were big dreams - big Suzy dreams. But I fell in love at nineteen - not puppy love that starts off amazing and fizzles usually just as dramatic. But to the core fell in head over heels full hearted completely committed true love. I got married at twenty-two and became a Mrs. . . in North Dakota. I wouldn't change it for the world. However, my thirteen year old version of myself saw a completely different picture - Italy was involved (which the full fantasy was to turn one of our Italian castles into an impressive internation theatre school), and my title wasn't Mrs. it would be Countess.
And the mommy factor. Whew! Not that I was against having children. It was always a future dream. We even dreamt in our early thirties we would like to have kids. Thats a great talk when you are twenty-four and married to a great partner. When you're thirty and pregnant, that dream talk a little too real. Which sounds after writing that line like we completely planned when we were having children - completely a God thing that shocked us out of the blue. I have had a lot of friends who have had a variety of female issues and conception is difficult if not impossible (but a few of those impossibles have been PLEASANTLY BLESSED! Praise God!) So, knowing this I figured God didn't burden my heart with desire because I honestly thought between my weight and other factors that I probably couldn't conceive at least without medical assistance. I was terrified of the responsibility of being a mom. As an aunt I figured I could only do minimal damage of anyone's psyche that could be repaired by their parents, selves, and God. But complete responsibility for another human being I found that frightening to a degree I can' even verbalize. My esteem like most areas of my life go extreme - I can do anything (like be an Italian Countess) or nothing right (which I kind of placed Mommyhood in that category for me).
I love my son. God granted (and my hubby helped) answer the deepest desire of my heart that I couldn't even vocalize. I wept for days when I took my first pregnancy test (while pregnant) and it showed a negative. I then hyperventilated when I took one three weeks later and there was a plus sign where I tried to tell my husband between hysterical tears that turned into hysterical laughter the news. In my defense, I had taken at least forty pregnancy tests in my lifetime and not once had there been a plus. Its a little surreal. Then to really throw me off my A-game, my son was eleven weeks early. If you know me I tend to run ten minutes late to everything and am a procrastinator to the hilt. And my son arrives not just early - but super early!!!
If I was to describe Suzy. I would say she's funny, fun, playful, creative, and a bit loud. But those words for Mrs. Mommy seem to be inappropriate. So sometimes, I feel lost; because of this ideal image I have for Mrs. Mommy. A woman who cares for her guys and takes care of them - perfectly. I forget the title may change what some people call me, but not who I am. I still am Suzy who just happens to be married to a great guy and the happiest little boy (seriously this kid giggles and smiles - ALL the time). I try to be organized and early as Mrs. Mommy. I try to cook, clean, and still look "relaxed". But as I try to be Mrs. Mommy I lose a little bit of Suzy who is the one who received those titles.
So what's in a name? Appearance, effort, but it doesn't change the person - at least its not supposed to. So here I write as Suzy who also happens to be Mrs. Mommy.
May you earn the titles life bestows you, but never forget the person you were when you received them. 'Til we meet again. . .
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sometimes you have to just try. . .
Aren't Sundays nice? Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. I do love the family day aspect and I am lucky enough to work a job that I can enjoy every Sunday afternoon with my loved ones. My hubby unfortunately does not have that luxury. He tries to take this day off as often as possible so that we can have a family day but as he works as a department manager for a grocery store he tries to be fair and let others also enjoy the day with their families. (He really is a good guy like that :) But I love when we can get up as family, get ready for church and worship together. Well here is the part when you just have to try. I have been an overprotective (with many many reasons - some good some just first time mom jitters :) mom of our little one. I haven't let my little guy out of my sight too often unless relatives have been around. I did try one time recently to drop my son off in a church nursery but I knew the caregiver and he was playing with one of his cousins. But today we did the big moment. We dropped off our little boy who is growing up way too fast with our church nursery. And both him and his mommy did great! He dove to one of the caregiver's arms for a cuddle (which lasted almost the entire hour :) And I'll admit a little bit of jealousy - it was really nice to sit with my hubby the ENTIRE church service including the whole sermon! It has been awhile since we have been able to do that since we have a babblin' toddler. Our son tends to have something LOUD to say just about the same time our pastor wants to start his sermon. So me and my little guy have tried to discreetly slip out so we can crawl and babble without competition. So that was successful attempt number one.
Our other milestone as a family was to have our son drink out of a straw. I tried to teach this feat quite awhile ago with little luck. Do you know how hard it is to demonstrate to a very young child how to suck up a drink through a straw? It is kind of like magic. Watch mommy put her lips around her straw. That is a pretty easy step to demonstrate. However the next step and the more important step a little challenging to teach. Now see how mommy sucks water through the non-clear straw. No you didn't see that? So without thinking about this lesson I just carried sippy cups in his bag. But play the disaster music in your head - dun dun dun - as a family we were going out to eat after church and major obstacle. I forgot to pack a sippy cup :( Oh no!!! We can't ask our kid to not have anything to drink since before church - eat lunch - and run errands without any beverage. So with a nervous request to the server we asked for a kids water. And wait for it - sure enough it comes with a straw - and the cup is pretty flimsy to attempt to drink from (and that takes a lot of rhythm and timing - not my strong suit). So nervously I hold the sippy cup in front of my son - angle the straw towards him - and success (play celebratory music)! What? When did this guy pick up such a tricky skill? I'll confess after a unsuccessful attempt the first time I figured let's chalk off this skill for a good couple of years and try again when we both speak the same language fluently :) But no today was the day to drink from a straw because we simply tried.
It's a long story for a simple concept - but aren't we all guilty of writing ourselves off or others because the first try wasn't a marvelous success. Many of us have tried many diets and say to ourselves after the last defeat " It's not going to happen for me. " Or perhaps we look for a job and go on many interviews that end with the all too common "We appreciate your interest but have decided to go another route - blah blah blah" . Its hard not to get discouraged. Especially it seems the harder you try or the more you want something the deeper "the failure" wounds your spirit. I like to get things right the first time. I like to be that star rookie who was meant to complete a certain challenge. But you only get a few times in your life to have that moment. And if we wait only for what we believe to be our guaranteed success stories we all tend to wait a little too long on the sidelines and miss those moments of learning that actually triple our chances of success, happiness, and opportunities that are far better than what we could even imagine. This message "Sometimes you have to just try..." is the foundation of why I write this blog. I realized that several years ago for too many years I had let fear not only control my choices but paralyze me from attempting almost anything. So slowly I began to challenge myself. Share my weight. Share my struggles. Attempt activities that seemed impossible. And to not be afraid of falling or failing. And even if I was to be afraid (because I am me through this whole journey and I can be a bit of scaredy cat!) to not let my fear paralyze me and keep from living. I have fallen many times on this journey. Sometimes, I have taken myself off the path and hid in the bushes for what seems forever. But then I remember I don't have to achieve guaranteed success in ALL of my attempts but that sometimes I do have to just try. . .
May your HealthFULL (Fully Understand Life by Living) Journey celebrate your successess especially the successes that came after many attempts, challenges, and the occasional heartbreak. 'Til we meet again . . .
Our other milestone as a family was to have our son drink out of a straw. I tried to teach this feat quite awhile ago with little luck. Do you know how hard it is to demonstrate to a very young child how to suck up a drink through a straw? It is kind of like magic. Watch mommy put her lips around her straw. That is a pretty easy step to demonstrate. However the next step and the more important step a little challenging to teach. Now see how mommy sucks water through the non-clear straw. No you didn't see that? So without thinking about this lesson I just carried sippy cups in his bag. But play the disaster music in your head - dun dun dun - as a family we were going out to eat after church and major obstacle. I forgot to pack a sippy cup :( Oh no!!! We can't ask our kid to not have anything to drink since before church - eat lunch - and run errands without any beverage. So with a nervous request to the server we asked for a kids water. And wait for it - sure enough it comes with a straw - and the cup is pretty flimsy to attempt to drink from (and that takes a lot of rhythm and timing - not my strong suit). So nervously I hold the sippy cup in front of my son - angle the straw towards him - and success (play celebratory music)! What? When did this guy pick up such a tricky skill? I'll confess after a unsuccessful attempt the first time I figured let's chalk off this skill for a good couple of years and try again when we both speak the same language fluently :) But no today was the day to drink from a straw because we simply tried.
It's a long story for a simple concept - but aren't we all guilty of writing ourselves off or others because the first try wasn't a marvelous success. Many of us have tried many diets and say to ourselves after the last defeat " It's not going to happen for me. " Or perhaps we look for a job and go on many interviews that end with the all too common "We appreciate your interest but have decided to go another route - blah blah blah" . Its hard not to get discouraged. Especially it seems the harder you try or the more you want something the deeper "the failure" wounds your spirit. I like to get things right the first time. I like to be that star rookie who was meant to complete a certain challenge. But you only get a few times in your life to have that moment. And if we wait only for what we believe to be our guaranteed success stories we all tend to wait a little too long on the sidelines and miss those moments of learning that actually triple our chances of success, happiness, and opportunities that are far better than what we could even imagine. This message "Sometimes you have to just try..." is the foundation of why I write this blog. I realized that several years ago for too many years I had let fear not only control my choices but paralyze me from attempting almost anything. So slowly I began to challenge myself. Share my weight. Share my struggles. Attempt activities that seemed impossible. And to not be afraid of falling or failing. And even if I was to be afraid (because I am me through this whole journey and I can be a bit of scaredy cat!) to not let my fear paralyze me and keep from living. I have fallen many times on this journey. Sometimes, I have taken myself off the path and hid in the bushes for what seems forever. But then I remember I don't have to achieve guaranteed success in ALL of my attempts but that sometimes I do have to just try. . .
May your HealthFULL (Fully Understand Life by Living) Journey celebrate your successess especially the successes that came after many attempts, challenges, and the occasional heartbreak. 'Til we meet again . . .
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Supermom Jeans are here!
This afternoon I texted my hubby if he wanted to run to a discount warehouse store instead of him picking up the couple of necessary items on the grocery list. That's right in a day of spontaneous actions we threw out the list! We had no dinner planned as our eggplant curry would be without eggplant or with spoiled eggplant and we decided skip the curry! My dog Belle came inside and she was covered in grass!!! She has been wriggling on the weirdest things lately. I thought it was because she wanted to share her scent or pick up the new scent. So as I grabbed her brushing mitt and stepped outside with her and my toddling little boy. I realized she is shedding and rubbing her fur against anything to get rid of her winter coat. So I brushed and brushed, and petted and petted. (In my new supermom jeans no less !) Then I noticed I don't let my son play outside enough and decided today is the day to remedy that. (even though he just had a bath not even five hours earlier) But no fear of mess on a day that welcomes flexibility and chaos if it comes. He loves to play in the bath and sneaks off to play in the dog's water dish. With a beautiful day outside happening and my dog's fur flying in the wind; today is the day where I have promised my son that he could play in a basin of a water, make a mess, and be a kid. I grabbed the supplies and let him have at it. Since I was outside I decided to take a little time and start raking our yard of all our "gifts" from our stupid rubber gum trees or whatever they're called. It gets daunting to think of doing the whole yard so if its all or nothing. Nothing usually wins. But today something was better than nothing. We don't use our yard enough. My dog wants to be chased but I trip on those li'l gifts from the trees. Today I started to clear a patch for Drew to wander and Belle to lounge. As I raked up my five small piles (still in a sweater and my supermom jeans!) and watched over my son giggle in pure delight and sit in soaking wet pants my dog Belle laid down in the center of the freshly raked piles. She looked at me with puppy dog eyes and bowed her head in a show of gratitude. Then my hubby came home as I was giving my son his second bath of the day and that is when the compliments poured in. What I accomplished today, that he had a happy son and dog (and somewhat cat - but can we really tell when the cat is happy since he does whatever he wants whenever he wants all the time?). We hit our warehouse shopping without list and managed to cover dinners for tonight and most of the week . We got home and I hacked up a fresh pineapple - all thanks to the supermom jeans.
No my jeans probably aren't magical (although I will do another test run to test this theory)! But it did feel good to feel free, flexible, less rigid, and in the moment. It was reminiscent of a part of me that I let go. Slowly I am tugging that part of me back in today's world while still holding onto the more mature organized self that can finish projects. Because chaos girl was great at starting things but when you are always "in the moment" you forget to shut off running water, complete unfinished chores, and leave calls unreturned. A woman who appreciates a little mix of schedules and menus with on the feet ingenuity may just be who I want to be when I grow up. Thanks supermom jeans for bringing a smile to my face and a sparkle to the eye of those I love. (If you look closing at the bottom right of the screen door you can also see our disapproving cat Smokey.)May your HealthFULL Journey remind you of the good of the past, the amazing possibilities of the future but only after you have had the chance to truly embrace today. 'Til we meet again. . .
Sunday, February 19, 2012
That first step. . .
This whole journey has been filled with first steps. Retrying first steps. Re-doing first steps. Repeating first steps. And the whole process after a strong first step ...baby steps. So many times I charge gung ho down the trail. Let's do this! We can do it! This feels awesome! To quickly retreat the next day (or halfway through my own personal pep rally) thinking have I lost my mind? I can't do this....I don't want to...this stinks....no fun! ....and blah blah blah. Sometimes I argue with myself just put the tennis shoes on. If nothing else happens so be it. But at least tie the freakin' sneakers unto your feet. So I tie my sneakers and never have I decided that was enough. I figure once I have the shoes on my feet I might as well use them. I work great with boundaries. I tell myself "You just have to do one lap but should probably stop after four laps. Or walk as much as you can in fifteen minutes." This gives me limitations so I don't feel like I have to walk to New York and back to feel I've accomplished my task. Challenging enough to get me off the couch but not overwhelming that I feel there is no point to give up the lounging.
Also I need something to add change to the daily work-outs. For awhile the new DVDs from the library were great motivators. Then my goal to cover an extra mile boosted me to walk daily. On the new horizon I have a new pedometer. Noticed I said new? Yup I have tried the pedometer in my past. But I didn't like mine it didn't motivate, actually it discouraged me. I had purchased one with the intention of walking 10,000 steps a day as that should be my goal according to an article I read at my heaviest. At my heaviest weight this might be shocking news. I was not walking anywhere near 10,000 steps. I wasn't even walking 5,000 steps a day. I was walking in the ballpark of 2,500 steps a day. That included work, leaving my apartment, getting ready and I barely covered a mile within a day. That is heartbreaking. And discouraging. I was barely covering a 1/4 of my goal. So without much intention I began to forget my new friendship with the pedometer and let it stink into the miscellaneous drawer with much adieu. However, now I am ready to add the pedometer into my daily routines. My average routine consists of 5,000 steps without even trying. (Vast improvement from seven years ago). This pedometer is actually a tool purchased by my company to encourage a healthier lifestyle. My cost is zero dollars which makes this free! Who doesn't love a bargain these days. It tracks your progress online and rewards you for the different milestones you achieve with different prizes. Ahh now some friendly competition - excellent! I have worn my pedometer for three days. The established goal is to walk 7,000 steps a day at least five days a week. But in my head sits that old nagging number of 10,000. Because once you hit 7,000 why not try for 10,000. However you get extra points for walking 12,000 steps in a day. So on my third day once I hit my 10,000 (which I had done the first two days!) why not try for 12,000 and I did. Hopefully you can read the 12,069 in the picture as proof I'm really doing this. I really am onboard this time to be the healthiest I can be.
I am not the only one "stepping" up my "A" game. As a Valentine's Day surprise our little boy decided to take his first steps. Five to mommy and five to daddy. I figure if my son is going to start walking; I better push myself past that first step as well.
May your HealthFULL Journey begin with that first step and quickly multiply. 'Til we meet again. . .
Also I need something to add change to the daily work-outs. For awhile the new DVDs from the library were great motivators. Then my goal to cover an extra mile boosted me to walk daily. On the new horizon I have a new pedometer. Noticed I said new? Yup I have tried the pedometer in my past. But I didn't like mine it didn't motivate, actually it discouraged me. I had purchased one with the intention of walking 10,000 steps a day as that should be my goal according to an article I read at my heaviest. At my heaviest weight this might be shocking news. I was not walking anywhere near 10,000 steps. I wasn't even walking 5,000 steps a day. I was walking in the ballpark of 2,500 steps a day. That included work, leaving my apartment, getting ready and I barely covered a mile within a day. That is heartbreaking. And discouraging. I was barely covering a 1/4 of my goal. So without much intention I began to forget my new friendship with the pedometer and let it stink into the miscellaneous drawer with much adieu. However, now I am ready to add the pedometer into my daily routines. My average routine consists of 5,000 steps without even trying. (Vast improvement from seven years ago). This pedometer is actually a tool purchased by my company to encourage a healthier lifestyle. My cost is zero dollars which makes this free! Who doesn't love a bargain these days. It tracks your progress online and rewards you for the different milestones you achieve with different prizes. Ahh now some friendly competition - excellent! I have worn my pedometer for three days. The established goal is to walk 7,000 steps a day at least five days a week. But in my head sits that old nagging number of 10,000. Because once you hit 7,000 why not try for 10,000. However you get extra points for walking 12,000 steps in a day. So on my third day once I hit my 10,000 (which I had done the first two days!) why not try for 12,000 and I did. Hopefully you can read the 12,069 in the picture as proof I'm really doing this. I really am onboard this time to be the healthiest I can be. I am not the only one "stepping" up my "A" game. As a Valentine's Day surprise our little boy decided to take his first steps. Five to mommy and five to daddy. I figure if my son is going to start walking; I better push myself past that first step as well.
May your HealthFULL Journey begin with that first step and quickly multiply. 'Til we meet again. . .
Saturday, January 7, 2012
And the highest bidder is . . .
I'll admit writing down 12 resolutions was fun to tie in with the year. I like the roundness and completeness of lists and phrasings. I like ideas to click. It is a hard concept to describe unless you are borderline obsessive and compulsive with dreamer like tendencies. But I'll try.
Have you ever been involved with an auction? Aren't they exciting? The auctioneer is shouting and motivating the crowd. If you have a dull auctioneer nothing is being sold or what is being sold goes with no fanfare and cheap and frankly is boring. Oh but a true auctioneer with enthusiasm. Well you find yourself bidding on items you don't want but you just want to be part of the fun. You want to giggle about your purchase. You want to share the story of buying that hideous statue. But you will have enjoyed the moment. And what might be a very ugly statue becomes a source of pride, a memory of having fun. And all of a sudden it becomes a treasure. Because in the right moment you were ready to give yourself over to the moment and "click".
I think in a way I have imaginary auctions and amp the bids quickly and often. I am going to make a resolution this year. No, I'll make three. Oh, I do like the sound of five. . . but ten equals perfection. Wait its going to be 2012, I should come up with 12 resolutions! But isn't twenty a fun-sounding number and challenging. However, fifty sounds golden. Wait a hundred is .....Whoa a hundred is crazy. Stop the bidding moron! This is your life and you're the only one bidding. Enthusiasm is good, but frenetic and hysteria equals not good. So pause, take a breath, let's use a little common sense, and reach for something attainable. One and three resolutions and I'll trap myself into the world of generalities. Five seems a little low if I want this to be a truly FULL/Whole health journey. I like ten that seems possible but 12 sounds right it clicks. Its just that bit extra challenge - Can I do this? And if if I am going to commit to these 12 goals I'll need to get busy.
So on January 2nd I bought a calendar (for fifty percent off - see patience and not being choosy can have its advantages). A little weekly pocket calendar that allows me a chance to record my accomplishments and with a glance let me know if I need to have a heart to heart with myself. A resolution won't be left behind because of sheer forgetfulness. This HealthFULL Journey is teaching me to be aware of my choices. If I choose to skip exercise. That's okay (beware of making that choice a habit though). But to be aware it was a choice. It is so important to be active in one's journey so that we can FULLY UNDERSTAND LIFE by LIVING. That means choices. An informed choices tends to yield the best results.
I am excited to share with my handy calendar and New Year Enthusiasm I am feeling good about the progress I already have made on my twelve resolutions. This bid of twelve goals was a winner.
May you find yourself in situations full of fun and moments when you feel that click of satisfaction of being in the right place, at the right time, with the right attitude. ' Til we meet again. . .
Have you ever been involved with an auction? Aren't they exciting? The auctioneer is shouting and motivating the crowd. If you have a dull auctioneer nothing is being sold or what is being sold goes with no fanfare and cheap and frankly is boring. Oh but a true auctioneer with enthusiasm. Well you find yourself bidding on items you don't want but you just want to be part of the fun. You want to giggle about your purchase. You want to share the story of buying that hideous statue. But you will have enjoyed the moment. And what might be a very ugly statue becomes a source of pride, a memory of having fun. And all of a sudden it becomes a treasure. Because in the right moment you were ready to give yourself over to the moment and "click".
I think in a way I have imaginary auctions and amp the bids quickly and often. I am going to make a resolution this year. No, I'll make three. Oh, I do like the sound of five. . . but ten equals perfection. Wait its going to be 2012, I should come up with 12 resolutions! But isn't twenty a fun-sounding number and challenging. However, fifty sounds golden. Wait a hundred is .....Whoa a hundred is crazy. Stop the bidding moron! This is your life and you're the only one bidding. Enthusiasm is good, but frenetic and hysteria equals not good. So pause, take a breath, let's use a little common sense, and reach for something attainable. One and three resolutions and I'll trap myself into the world of generalities. Five seems a little low if I want this to be a truly FULL/Whole health journey. I like ten that seems possible but 12 sounds right it clicks. Its just that bit extra challenge - Can I do this? And if if I am going to commit to these 12 goals I'll need to get busy.
So on January 2nd I bought a calendar (for fifty percent off - see patience and not being choosy can have its advantages). A little weekly pocket calendar that allows me a chance to record my accomplishments and with a glance let me know if I need to have a heart to heart with myself. A resolution won't be left behind because of sheer forgetfulness. This HealthFULL Journey is teaching me to be aware of my choices. If I choose to skip exercise. That's okay (beware of making that choice a habit though). But to be aware it was a choice. It is so important to be active in one's journey so that we can FULLY UNDERSTAND LIFE by LIVING. That means choices. An informed choices tends to yield the best results.
I am excited to share with my handy calendar and New Year Enthusiasm I am feeling good about the progress I already have made on my twelve resolutions. This bid of twelve goals was a winner.
May you find yourself in situations full of fun and moments when you feel that click of satisfaction of being in the right place, at the right time, with the right attitude. ' Til we meet again. . .
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Countin' My Pennies
Sometimes us everyday people want things instantly, situations perfect, and deserve everything or nothing at all. I fall into these mental traps. It is almost too easy to start thinking ONE negative thought. Then that ONE negative thought becomes two, then three, and then it snowballs into you having a bad day, week, month, and well, you get the picture. So when we are changing our lifestyles we have to be on guard for those creepy crawly negative thoughts that slip their way sneakily into our thoughts. These negative thoughts have a way of either slowing our progress or downright demolishing our goals. If the scene can't be perfect, why even try? If I mess up one day, why even bother with the others? Sounds familiar if you personalize the message. I ate a piece of cake so my diet is shot anyway. I didn't make it to the gym today so I'll never lose the weight and should give up. I failed the math test so I should drop the class. I messed up the meeting so I'll never get promoted. Ahhh starting to ring some bells, right? Negative thoughts can hide beneath temptation, deception, fear, shame, guilt, depression, and a million other feelings that can consume your thoughts. And when you are trying to change your life for the better in any area these icky emotions have a way of shaking up your confidence and determination. So as I try to be proactive in my HealthFULL Journey I was trying to think of something that would help me edge out the bad thoughts and focus more on the good strides made from good choices.
I came up with the penny jar. I have been listening to a new podcast which is very motivation. I believe the title is the No Excuse Weight Loss with Jonathan Roche. (I will have to double-check the name). He made an interesting point that when we are focusing on our health. It is like building a house. When we make a good choice we are strengthening our house with a brick. When we choose an option not benefitting our health it is like taking A brick away. So if we are working hard making a ton of progress. Getting healthy, getting fit, eating smart, and choose to have one cookie. The HealthFULL Journey isn't over! We all get to that point I want it ALL OR NOTHING! That is impossible to keep up. We are human and get tired, hungry, and downright frustrated. So yes it is okay to have one cookie as a choice and we should be aware that yes a cookie or two might slow the progress of weight loss and improving health. But one cookie shouldn't stop the WHOLE process.
So to create a visual for myself. I have a glass vase in my kitchen (the room where I will probably be making most of my "choices"). Every time I make a healthy choice, (get a full night's sleep, drink water, eat a healthy snack, choose extra movement) I drop a penny in the vase. If I CHOOSE to eat a dessert or miss the day's movement or don't get to the gym in the FULL week I take a penny away. I pay myself and collect from myself daily. So whatever sins are committed they are done and paid when I move into the next day. But the rewards continue. When I collect enough I am going to treat myself to something that will continue to enhance my HealthFULL Journey.
I've only started to Count My Pennies, but it already has helped me to focus on the fun of finding healthier alternatives. It also has pushed aside the Negative Roadblock. Hope you are Countin' Your Pennies and leaving the Negative Roadblock behind. Enjoy your HealthFULL Journey! 'Til we meet again. . .
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