Circumstances and situations can be so misleading. Just one bad day has the potential to throw me completely off my game. I could be weeks into a new fitness routine; one with new workouts and leafy green vegetables...but let me have one bad argument, one rough work day or one "bloated" moment..and I want cookies. I have come to realize that there is nothing wrong with wanting cookies, or fries, or ice cream or any other self-indulgence, what's wrong is not having the ability to talk yourself out of it by the time you get to the store or kitchen.
I have been guilty of allowing a less than desirable number on the scale, a disagreement with my spouse or a highly stressful workday convince me that I'm never going to lose weight, I need to get a divorce and that I need to get a new job. It is truly amazing how my brain has the ability to forget about the other 29 days of the month. The days when I jump for joy when I get off the scale. The days when I thank God for the love and support of my husband. The days when I finish a project at work and feel a remarkable sense of accomplishment. I am really good at forgetting about those days.
Just imagine the amount of personal success we would achieve if we weren't thrown off so easily. I know that in order for me to start making consistent changes in my life I had to learn how to talk to myself. I learned how to have full conversations with myself about my choices and what I needed to do differently. I'm going to let you eavesdrop:
Me: "Ugggh, I look ridiculous in this dress. I'm never going to lose all of this weight. Why am I waking up early and watching every calorie I put in my mouth when it is obvious that nothing is happening?"
The Other Me: "Just yesterday you were excited about how toned your body was getting. The hubby and a co-worker also commented on your weight loss."
Me: "Maybe they were just being nice. This is for the birds and I'm really hungry."
The Other Me: "Don't throw all of your hard work away because you don't like what's going on right now. You are going to be real upset tomorrow when you feel better and realize that you let yourself give up again."
Me: "You're right...time to do my 4 miles...where are my shoes?"
No matter what we struggle with; it is important that we understand that giving up is not an option. Giving up has never found a cure for a disease, worked out a family's financial woes, or provided someone with a golden opportunity. Giving up is one of the devil's favorite weapons and he uses it to attack us on a regular basis. What would happen in your life if giving up didn't exist? Now where are your shoes?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Birthday Resolutions
If there is one thing I have never outgrown...it is the anticipation of my birthday. When I was younger it had everything to do with birthday cake, lots of toys and birthday parties. As I got older, I started to look at my birthday as the perfect day to start over with whatever I wanted. I stopped eating french fries when I turned 22 and started eating them again when I turned 24. I took Oprah's Boot Camp Challenge when I turned 25 and entered full Bridezilla mode when I turned 26. Who needs a New Year's Resolution when you can have Birthday Resolutions?
Birthdays are a blessing. If you are a parent, have lost a loved one, been seriously ill or have witnessed or been in a life-threatening situation, you know how important a birthday is. They are precious and should be accompanied each year with a new sense of hope and focus. Why are you here this year? What have you done...and did you make a difference? I don't think our birthdays really have that much to do with us. Our birthdays are for the people we have helped along the way.
27 was kind of rough for me and I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever wanted to see September 21st so bad. Don't get me wrong; I am grateful for all of the life lessons learned this year as well as what my hurt and pain has taught me about the love of God. He showed up and showed out an awful lot this year and boy did I need it. 27...I won't say that you'll be missed; but I will say that it was nice to meet you; I don't know why yet but I will find out in time.
I am bringing in 28 with a quiet bang. I want this year to be all about reflection. I want to make a conscious effort to never be ungrateful, forgetful or anxious. I am making room in my house and in my life for peace, prosperity, love and abundant joy. Sadness, pain, hurt and grief just didn't make the cut. I'm sure they will try to show up at my door and in my heart unannounced from time to time...but I'm bringing strength into my 28th year as well...God has some serious plans for me and I'm using this year to do what I have been called to do; play my position and follow His lead.
Happy Birthday
Birthdays are a blessing. If you are a parent, have lost a loved one, been seriously ill or have witnessed or been in a life-threatening situation, you know how important a birthday is. They are precious and should be accompanied each year with a new sense of hope and focus. Why are you here this year? What have you done...and did you make a difference? I don't think our birthdays really have that much to do with us. Our birthdays are for the people we have helped along the way.
27 was kind of rough for me and I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever wanted to see September 21st so bad. Don't get me wrong; I am grateful for all of the life lessons learned this year as well as what my hurt and pain has taught me about the love of God. He showed up and showed out an awful lot this year and boy did I need it. 27...I won't say that you'll be missed; but I will say that it was nice to meet you; I don't know why yet but I will find out in time.
I am bringing in 28 with a quiet bang. I want this year to be all about reflection. I want to make a conscious effort to never be ungrateful, forgetful or anxious. I am making room in my house and in my life for peace, prosperity, love and abundant joy. Sadness, pain, hurt and grief just didn't make the cut. I'm sure they will try to show up at my door and in my heart unannounced from time to time...but I'm bringing strength into my 28th year as well...God has some serious plans for me and I'm using this year to do what I have been called to do; play my position and follow His lead.
Happy Birthday
Friday, September 11, 2009
Bad Days
I remember having bad days as early as elementary school. Now granted, they were a different kind of bad day. Not getting to go outside for recess, having to play with the boring puzzle, or losing your best friend to another classmate because she wanted to play with her new barbie doll. Seems trivial now, but back then those were some pretty earth-shattering circumstances.
But then morning would come and I would venture off to school again...and all was right with the world. I would get to go outside for recess, I would get to the new colorful puzzle first, and my friendship would be surprisingly back in tact. The next day was always better...like clockwork.
As we get older, we continue to experience bad days...and with age brings more intensity. We get anxious over finances, careers, relationships and the future. Experiencing a bad day with your bills, your boss, your spouse or an unexpected tragedy can knock the wind out of you. It can make you forget about the other blessings in your life, but most importantly a bad day can make you so hopeless that you forget about...the next day.
See, getting older changes a lot of things. One of the most dramatic changes I have noticed is the length of a day. When we age, a "day" can be 48 hours long, 1 week long, or even 2 years...but if we don't give up - the next day will come. We will get to go outside for recess again, we will get to enjoy bright new shiny things and we will get the chance to mend broken friendships and relationships.
Bad days are inevitable and they tend to sting. We all have and will in the future experience a bad "day" but we have the power to change our outlook. Yes, it's raining outside, you didn't get what you wanted (the job, the guy/girl, the insert "heartache" here), and your loved-one has broken your heart...but what about the next day? It's coming...are you ready?
But then morning would come and I would venture off to school again...and all was right with the world. I would get to go outside for recess, I would get to the new colorful puzzle first, and my friendship would be surprisingly back in tact. The next day was always better...like clockwork.
As we get older, we continue to experience bad days...and with age brings more intensity. We get anxious over finances, careers, relationships and the future. Experiencing a bad day with your bills, your boss, your spouse or an unexpected tragedy can knock the wind out of you. It can make you forget about the other blessings in your life, but most importantly a bad day can make you so hopeless that you forget about...the next day.
See, getting older changes a lot of things. One of the most dramatic changes I have noticed is the length of a day. When we age, a "day" can be 48 hours long, 1 week long, or even 2 years...but if we don't give up - the next day will come. We will get to go outside for recess again, we will get to enjoy bright new shiny things and we will get the chance to mend broken friendships and relationships.
Bad days are inevitable and they tend to sting. We all have and will in the future experience a bad "day" but we have the power to change our outlook. Yes, it's raining outside, you didn't get what you wanted (the job, the guy/girl, the insert "heartache" here), and your loved-one has broken your heart...but what about the next day? It's coming...are you ready?
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Training Wheels
My daughter has finally conquered the delicate art of riding a bike without training wheels. The sense of accomplishment written all over her face was enough to make any mother's heart melt. "I did it mommy! I don't need training wheels anymore!" It was true, she didn't need training wheels to ride her bike anymore...but she will always need training wheels.
We all need training wheels, and the sooner we learn and accept that fact - the sooner life can begin. Our parents are training wheels, our experiences are training wheels, and most important of all...the word of God holds a very sturdy set of training wheels. We should never unscrew those wheels because they keep us going. Turn after turn, trip after trip and hurdle after hurdle. I have never felt more at peace than when I feel the support of my necessary training wheels.
When you are frustrated, tired, irritated, deflated, heart-broken, and basically lifeless, it is important to go back to your sources of strength and depend on them to pick you up and breathe life back into your body. I'm not ashamed to say that I still need my parents, I still need to mess up in life, and I still need to pick up the Bible on a regular basis. They keep me grounded, keep me focused and keep me grateful.
Life can get too fast, and when that happens we can forget where we were headed and speed off on our two-wheeler and never look back. That road only leads to destruction. Let's make it a point to slow down, re-discover our training wheels and learn to lean on them. It's okay to fall off your bike, it's not okay to jump back on before you clean up all of your scars and figure out why you fell. That way, the next time you fall...you'll land closer to your destiny.
We all need training wheels, and the sooner we learn and accept that fact - the sooner life can begin. Our parents are training wheels, our experiences are training wheels, and most important of all...the word of God holds a very sturdy set of training wheels. We should never unscrew those wheels because they keep us going. Turn after turn, trip after trip and hurdle after hurdle. I have never felt more at peace than when I feel the support of my necessary training wheels.
When you are frustrated, tired, irritated, deflated, heart-broken, and basically lifeless, it is important to go back to your sources of strength and depend on them to pick you up and breathe life back into your body. I'm not ashamed to say that I still need my parents, I still need to mess up in life, and I still need to pick up the Bible on a regular basis. They keep me grounded, keep me focused and keep me grateful.
Life can get too fast, and when that happens we can forget where we were headed and speed off on our two-wheeler and never look back. That road only leads to destruction. Let's make it a point to slow down, re-discover our training wheels and learn to lean on them. It's okay to fall off your bike, it's not okay to jump back on before you clean up all of your scars and figure out why you fell. That way, the next time you fall...you'll land closer to your destiny.
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