Self Improvement

When you are trying to improve your outlook on life, as well as your opinions and ideas, it never hurts to try to work on the outside too.

That's just what I decided to do nearly two weeks ago. You wouldn't believe the difference those two weeks have made- but they have made a significant difference to me. It is my fervent hope that you will be encouraged by the following.

Almost two weeks ago I made a very serious commitment to myself: eat healthy and exercise every day. So here's what I did: I bought a book with diet and exercise information that has literally transformed the way I think about eating and exercise. I'm not usually one to try fad diets, and this isn't.

It is a healthy way of eating.

I am eating fresh (some fresh and some frozen) fruits and vegetables, protein (meat, yogurt, etc.), whole grains (whole wheat breads), and limited amount of healthy fats every day.

This program is very healthy and helps you avoid all those bad food choices: chips, fried foods, desserts, etc. Not only that but I have been eating five meals a day instead of three. I have also been exercising at least 30 minutes every day for the last two weeks.

And guess what? The first week I lost a little over three pounds and this week I have done the same. It is amazing what can happen when you cut out nasty packaged food and fats and switch over to things that are very healthy for you.

I was at the heaviest I have ever been in my life and quite frankly just didn't like the way I looked any more.

As each day goes by, I am seeing small changes in my face and my body and it is so wonderful! At the rate I am going, I should lose all the weight I need to lose just in time for the New Year.

What a blessing this is in my life. I encourage you to stand up and make a commitment to yourself to eat healthy, exercise and make great changes in your life. You'll thank yourself later.

Let it out, Let it go.....

Something I struggle with is letting things go. I tend to hold grudges and I don't really know why. I guess it stems from trust issues I've had since childhood. Long story.

Well, I guess I figure once someone repeatedly screws up and messes with you just one too many times, it's time to give them a big kiss off. Life is too short to put up with people treating you poorly. I just don't have the time or the energy to spend on people who want to make life miserable for everyone else.

However, I do need to be more forgiving. I need to complain, get it off my chest and let it go. That's something I need to learn how to do. It's just so difficult.

Communication

Life isn't easy. In fact, it's down right hard. It's very difficult to communicate with people when all you get back is a stare in the face. Sometimes it seems as if you'd have a better relationship with a wall. Or maybe if you hit your head against the same wall, you'd get better results. It's definitely frustrating to bear your soul to someone and have them give you a two word response. It's even more frustrating to have that happen and then have the person just walk away like the conversation is somehow finished. It's exactly like being rejected and feels just the same as being verbally abused.

What do you do? It's difficult to communicate in a healthy way with someone who refuses to open themselves up and be emotionally vulnerable with you. It cannot be forced any more than you can force someone to change. They have to do it of their own free will.

Eating Healthy

I've been on a health kick lately, but even I need to stray from the good food every once in a while in order to maintain the sanity. So we decided to go out to dinner last night, let's call that mistake number 1. We went to a restaurant called the Catfish Kitchen, which has very good food.

However, when you've been eating healthy, it's definitely not the best place to eat and maintain any sort of health. When you sit down they literally bring you a HUGE basket of french fries and hush puppies. On top of that almost everything on the menu is fried. So what do I order???? Fried Catfish- we'll call that mistake number 2.

Mistake number three was when I actually ate it. I didn't eat all of it mind you, because I was partially full from the fries and hush puppies. However, I did walk out of there feeling a little like Wendie Jo Sperber's character from Moving Violations. I don't even want to know how many quarts of Wesson I downed by eating that food. Today, back to eating healthy......Thank God!

Balance in Life

I have a difficult time sleeping unless I completely put myself into everything I do during the day.

Understand, I'm not like that every day, but I feel I should be. I suppose that's the curse of being a driven person. I feel guilty when I don't get something important accomplished during the day.

I'm trying to work on the happy balance, as a friend told me earlier this week. And you know what, she's right. Life is about balance. A little bit of work, a little bit of play, a lot of love, add a little bit of whatever you're passionate about and you've got a good mix going on. That's what makes life fun, interesting.

But the problem comes when there is no balance, where one of those things completely consumes and overshadows the others. Then what does life become? Boring and meaningless.

I'm striving to become a better person. A person who has balance in every area of her life; because I'm tired of having only a few portions of a balanced life. I want it all, so sue me.

Memories

Isn't it funny how smells can transport you to another time? This evening I was out running and smelled the strong, woodsy scent of the trees down by the river. It reminded me of my grandmother and my childhood.

My grandmother is a fantastic lady. We spent summers at her house when we were children and used to walk down by that very river.

We had our own special place that we used to go to. We'd laugh and play and sing songs. Songs like, You are My Sunshine, and 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall. She always has been too fantastic for words. I am so blessed to still have her in this world and part of my life.

Lighten Up!

Well, since my last few posts are kind of heavy hitting, I've decided I need a lighter tone. I need to smile, embrace change and get off my fanny.

It's time to have fun.

I've been exercising, eating better and trying to gain a whole new outlook on dealing with difficult situations. I'm improving myself every day .......... I know, I know, it's difficult to improve upon perfection. But if I don't try, then I just look like I'm full of myself, and who wants to be that way?

Gee, I can honestly say that I look better now than all of my ex-boyfriends do (no offense guys).

That's enough to bring a smile to anyone's face.

Hey, if you can't laugh at yourself, then laugh at someone else. You love me and you know it. Have a smile today.