It's a New Day…

I need to get back to my meditation.  I feel more clear now than I have in most of my lifetime and I still stand behind my convictions but I need to return to those moments of mental rest and allow my body to be more at peace.  I need to give both my mind and body a rest.  I feel so much deep within me but I am tired.  I may give my body time to rest but I have not given my mind or soul time to rest in far too long.  I know this because my self-doubt is holding on a little too strong right now.

I am always looking for the answer to the question “why?”  I don’t know what my spiritual beliefs are but I have heard many times that “God does not give us more than we can handle” and “Everything happens for a reason.”  I do believe we each have a path for some reason or another and I guess sometimes that is maddening to me.  It does not make me angry I just wonder (over and over again) if there really is a time that we will find or understand this purpose or our reason.  What is real and what is not?  Are we all in control of our own destiny?

I was given a book recommendation by a new soon to be coworker (I will get into that in a different entry) called “What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love and Marriage”.  There was an excerpt in the book that I would swear was written about me.  It went as follows:  “I am an altogether different person than I was three years ago. My friends and family may not have noticed, but I am almost unrecognizable to myself at times. My outlook is more optimistic. I’m less judgmental. I have vastly more patience and self-control. I’m a better observer. I get along better with people. I have a peace of mind that comes from the world making so much more sense to me.”  I am undoubtedly a different person than I was 3 years ago….hell even from just one year ago.  I love this person I have become but I still struggle with the thoughts of the person that I once was and the decisions I once made.  I know the past is in the past and there is no going back to change it but I can’t help but think about what my reputation still is to other based on those poor choices once made in moments of weakness and self-loathing.  I spent so many years never taking the time to see or love myself and just made one detrimental choice after another and these choices still leave me with lingering feelings of embarrassment and anger.  There are people I hope I never see again because I don’t know if they will ever see me as more than the mess of a person that I was at one time past.  Again, I know that it is only this moment that matters and how far I have come….but the thoughts are still there whether I like them or not.  That knot still sits in my stomach when I happen to think back to a time when I drank too much and made some very questionable choices….choices that made me look pathetic, slutty and all and all ridiculously insecure.  At one time I could have been the butt of everyone’s jokes because of the stupid decisions I made.  I know now that I had absolutely no self-respect.  It was never about anyone else….it was me just fighting my inner demons and believing that these poor choices were what was going to get me noticed and loved (if only for a moment).  I could not have been more wrong.

I am secure with myself now….well way more secure than I ever used to be.  I am a female so it goes without saying that in moments insecurity is a given.  It is strange though but this security came when I spent more time alone.  I knew I had to distance myself from certain people because an energy within me knew that the relationship was neither beneficial to me or to them.  I have grown to no longer be fake and I cannot force relationships with people.  I would rather spend time wrapped up into a book or trekking away on the elliptical at the gym than forcing myself to befriend someone that shares no common interests of mine (and vice versa)…just for the sake of having a friend.  I will ALWAYS look for the good in people and I love telling people (even strangers) the good things I see in them but this is not a friendship make.  Like I have always said with romantic relationships, the same goes for friendships, they should be natural.  When a relationship is forced we are making ourselves do unnecessary work that will probably reap little or no benefits.  I realize that this mindset of mine may push some people away and may make others think that I am pushing everyone away.  I can’t make people see or understand my vision.  This is why I have spent a good amount of time by myself.  I no longer want to have fake and forced relationships.  Life passes us by at a record speed whether we want to believe it or not and I want to look back in 30+ years and remember the genuine relationships I had and the people that changed me with their wisdom and their outlook on life.  I want to look back and see that my relationships were made up of give and take and all parties came out better because of that.

As human beings we are molded (myself included).  We have been exposed to so much in this world that sometimes our thoughts and our actions are not truly our own.  We act, react and overreact to everything because we have been shaped by someone or something that surrounds us.  This is not always a negative thing….it is just something that many do not notice as they saunter through everyday life.  People have told me many times throughout my life that I worry too much and I think too much but what they don’t realize is that I am constantly observing my own behaviors in order to try to do what I think is most suitable for the situation at hand.  It may be easy to say to me, “Just relax and go with the flow” but sometimes that mentality only makes a situation worsen.  My self-awareness has great potential to make almost every situation I come into better.  The way I handle a situation can play the main part in how all actions play out.  Do you follow me?  I avoid confrontation and telling people that they are wrong as much as possible (even if deep down in my gut I feel like they are wrong) because I am aware of those things that I have potentially been guilty of and without living in the mind, body and soul of another person I cannot possibly understand their motives or intentions.  I can only make assumptions and we all know what happens when we do that.  If you read my 365 day blog entries you can not only see but feel the continual evaluation and evolution of self.  I do not do this strictly because I want to please others.  I do this so I can make as many situations for myself as pleasant as possible.  I know there are no benefits to anger and rage.  I know no good will come from being confrontational and ugly.  If anything, the consequences of those behaviors would be the exact opposite of what I was striving for.  So, although I may think and feel as if something is wrong, I must remember that I will never truly understand another’s motives and I must move forward and draw my attention elsewhere.  I must not chase those people and situations that will be of no benefit to my life.  I have done that so much in the past and the results have always been the same.  Although this life is confusing and with this confusion can sometimes feel like a heart piercing loneliness…this life is mine.  I cannot help but feel that I do have complete control of my own destiny because I am unable to see what is only on the surface.  I have dove deeper into my consciousness and there is no chance to ever resurface…..what has been seen cannot be unseen.  I know this probably sounds like just a bunch of nonsense and words just strewn together but to me it makes complete sense.  My thoughts are so little of who I am.  It is so much more than that and I offer my words in hopes to meet others that can understand what I am not only saying but what I am feeling.

I seem to do my best thinking when I am at the gym.  It must be all of those endorphins bouncing around my brain.  My body may physically spent but my mind seems to always be clear as day when I am working out.  I can be surrounded by people but feel like this is my place of seclusion where my truest and most clear thoughts swarm into my brain. Things in my life right now seem to be panning out…knock on wood.  I keep getting closer to the goals I have set forth for myself.  I started this new blog about a month ago (give or take) and as of this morning I am down 8.6 lbs. and I am unsure of how many inches (2 weeks ago it was 6 inches).  I still have a trek ahead of me to reach my weight and body goal but my determination levels are through the roof and when I progress I don’t stop until I get what I want.  I do hit walls sometimes though.  I have yet to stop comparing myself to others.  I have yet to stop assuming others think I am not good enough because of my body or my imperfections.  It is all part of the process called life…I know this but it is never simple to just switch off these thoughts and abandon them completely.  I believe that change is possible but relapse is almost inevitable.  I believe it is the relapse that strengthens us though…..it is the test that we need to prove to ourselves how strong we are.

I sometimes get these momentary images in my head….the images of wonder I like to call them.  Today while at the gym I turned on a song that ALWAYS seeps under my skin and makes me feel anything and everything all in one moment.  The song is Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.  I have never been the person to believe that my life would be complete once I had a boyfriend or better yet a husband.  I have needed to constantly prove to myself how strong I am independently and if someone were to come into my life it would be a bonus not a completion.  I hurt on the inside though because I know that I have given up on trying to put myself out there.  I sabotage myself by assuming I am not going to be good enough for someone and I worry and worry and worry some more.  My past is still in my present and I am fully aware of it.  This morning while I trekked along on the elliptical I imagined myself in a white wedding dress with a man’s arms wrapped around my waist.  I couldn’t see his face….I didn’t need to.  We stood in the middle of the dance floor and started to dance our first dance together as a married couple and when the song began (Chasing Cars) my eyes swelled up.  I looked at him and said, “Thank you for finding me.”  It may sound silly but sometimes when you wander through life you are able to see all of the beauty (which I do) but sometimes you feel lost and you feel like you are waiting for someone but you don’t know who that person is or why you are looking/waiting for them.  I know how beautiful I am both inside and out but I hide and I do know that it will take a lot of digging for someone to find the real me….it will take someone really wanting to.  In my daydream I thanked this person because he found me in all of my chaos.  I thanked him for really seeing me as beautiful instead of drama-filled because of my intensity.

This blog was started to focus on my health journey but I feel the need to get my thoughts out into the universe….writing is my sanity and my guide to health.  Health is such a generic word with an endless amount of definitions.  I understand the difference between being alone and being lonely.  I am alone a lot and most of the time I am ok with it….I actually embrace it because I am able to collect my thoughts and feelings and dissect them as much or as little as I want to.  It is my time to understand and love me….to have that relationship with myself that I had lacked and taken for granted for far too long.  With that being said, I do sometimes feel lonely because I want to experience things and talk until the wee hours of the morning with someone and there is nothing but empty space.  This blog is my drug….it is my ticket to serenity.  Over the past few weeks I have had moments of loneliness and with loneliness comes self-doubt and the typical question of, “What is wrong with me?”  or better yet “Why not me?”  No, I don’t understand why not me but I also don’t think I am meant to.  I can’t help but think that I am here to face these challenges and find this inner strength.  I truly believe I hold a lot of power…..a lot of influence and there is nothing that can interfere with that….even if it may take time.  I question the existence of God (as most people already know) but I can’t help but feel a power of some sort that is guiding me in a particular direction and although I experience these moments of loneliness I am being challenged….I am being pushed in a particular direction to make changes and make a difference somehow or another.  I have needed to find this person (me) that has been aimlessly wandering for so long and although I still wander I wander with purpose now.

I went off the beaten path today.  I plan to regroup in the next couple of days to share some new pictures of my body and weight changes as well as measurements.  I hope everyone stays tuned in!  All of my love!!!

Some Things to Ponder…

I have made progress!  I have pushed myself…even when I wanted to just lie in bed all day.  I measured myself on January 22^nd and since the scale doesn’t move much for me I decided to measure myself today to see if the work I had been doing was paying off at all.  Well, after the unveiling of the numbers I have lost 6 inches in a matter of 11 days (probably more since I had started the journey even before that).  The hard work is paying off and I feel great….not only physically but mentally and to be honest I prefer the mental health benefits over the physical health benefits by far.  This journey thus far has shown me what I am capable of and the drive I have within me.  I, of course, still have more changes to be made (eliminating a lot of processed food—even if it is Lean Cuisine 😉 but in this moment I would like to bask in my achievement.  I want to tell my readers that their struggle does not need to be a struggle but instead a challenge.  I mean who doesn’t love a good challenge?  Who doesn’t love reaching a goal that we never thought was possible?

I have heard a quote by Kate Moss over and over again and she said at one time, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”  These 7 little words disgust me.  Young girls will stand in the mirror dissecting every inch of their body and long to be thin without knowing that it is far more important to be healthy…plus Kate Moss has been known to put some white powder up her nose (and yes there is photographic proof) from time to time…is this really someone we should be listening to?  Sorry, she may be a nice person and maybe she has obtained a healthier lifestyle now but those 7 little words have been engraved in the minds of not thousands but millions of women all over the world and those 7 little words have caused women so much pain and suffering caused by anorexia, bulimia and mental anguish due to the hatred of their own bodies.  I am a curvy woman.  I am 5’8 and the lowest weight I ever got to was 137lbs and I still had curves and heavier thighs.  I have been a yo yo on the scale since I was a pre-teen (or I guess the modern day term is tween).  When I was 137 lbs (I was 20 years old) I was starving and I still looked in the mirror and was unsatisfied.  My father never told me until recently that during that time he was worried about me because I was starting to look sunken in the face and chest bone.  I never saw that though….I would never be thin enough.  I am 34 years old now and for the first time I am at peace with my body.  I do not LOVE my body but I am ok with the imperfections that I know I will carry with me through life.  I now know that my body does not define me….it is simply my home that needs to be nourished properly….so I am able to live a long life and accomplish all of those other things that DO define me.  I posed these questions to myself and I wanted to pose them to my readers…especially those that are going through the same struggles (I am going to submit them in an upcoming entry—I wanted to give my friends on this journey the chance to think about these things).  I think it is important to see the “problem” for what it is and see what you are truly feeling before you make any changes.  We can say we are going to change but if our heart isn’t in it then those are simply just words.

1)      What is your goal?

2)      Is that goal realistic? (Don’t answer quickly, think about this question)

3)      If that goal is realistic, how do you plan on reaching it?

4)      What has set you back in the past?  Why have you “failed” (for lack of a better word)?

5)      What scares you?

6)      Do you believe you can do it?  Why or why not?

7)      What are your weaknesses?  What do you struggle with then trying to lose weight/get healthy?

8)      Do you love yourself?  Why or why not?

9)      In your opinion, what does it mean to be beautiful?

10)  Do you have a strong support system?  If not, why?

I posed all of these questions because I think they all tie into the way we see ourselves.  When we answer these questions with brutal honesty we are able to see how we view ourselves…and sometimes that view can be a really ugly one.  I know every person on this earth has beauty within them (with some it is hidden behind ugly behaviors).  Until I came to grips with how I really saw myself I was unable to make any changes….I was living in a box wrapped with chains.  No one should have to confine themselves because they hate the way they look.  With that being said, the media and societal pressure to look a certain way does not make it easy for many to hold their heads high with confidence.  I guess I am old-fashioned in ways and I don’t understand how society has turned so superficial….how a person’s looks have become more important than their depth.  I guess that is why I am here.  I am not only reaching my hand out to any and all of those people that need words of encouragement or support but I am also reminding myself that what I look like will never hold a candle to who I am!

Day 365 Question 365:

What have the last 365 days taught/shown you?

I made it!  I started a challenge one day without a strong belief that I would reach the intended goal.  I was going through a rough time and needed something to occupy my time and I thought that once I started to feel better that I would just abandon the project.  Little did I know that this blog would completely change my life.  I  will not stop here.  I will never stop writing.  I will just challenge myself in different ways with different timelines.

So, what has this writing journey taught me?  This past year has allowed me to see me….completely stripped and vulnerable  This journey has taught me that perfection is simply a word not a reality.  It is ok to march to the beat of my own drummer and be the artist I have been dying to be inside…no matter what the critics say.  I have learned that my feelings and thoughts are my own and as much as people want to say I am crazy or abnormal….I am not….I am simply me.  I have learned to accept the madness that goes on in my head and actually use it to my advantage.  I have learned that I know longer want to conform to meet the needs of others.  Through this journey I spent many moments in tears because I reflected on a me that I was sometimes not proud of….or just didn’t like.  This blog allowed me to be honest with myself and as soon as the words were out there I felt a sigh of relief….and my readers helped so much with their kind words and support.

For the last 365 days I have spent an incredible amount of my time with my nose buried in books and my eyes glued to documentaries and to everything that would further my knowledge about the giant world outside of my tiny corner.  By furthering my knowledge I deepened my compassion and empathy and I learned that my life is truly beautiful.  I felt such sadness for those in the world that are unable to experience beauty and happiness because their living conditions don’t allow that.  I have spoken a great deal on behalf of women because through learning I have taken pride in my gender and I ache for more women to take the power they deserve.  I have seen the media focus on appearance and I have seen young girls alter their bodies just to fit a trend….I offered my words to hopefully show these girls and women that no matter how little or how much makeup they put on their face they are beautiful because beauty radiates from the inside out.  This past year I finally learned that I am beautiful….when I truly felt that I cried because I had been waiting my whole life to truly believe and feel it.  If I could spend my time talking to young girls and showing them the beauty that I see I would.

I cannot wait to go back and reread my thoughts…to relive my feelings….to see my growth.  How often do we get to do that?  We take pictures to capture moments but I have a 365 page document that will allow me to see what was important to me every single day for a whole year.  That is what makes me feel so glad that I did not abandon this project.  I have learned that it is ok to not live by a specific path….if you want to wander then wander.  We need to fall sometimes so we are able to prove to ourselves the strength we have within us.  We need to hurt in order to understand what it feels like to feel all of the good and to appreciate all that we have been given.

I end this journey to start a new one.  I believe that new beginnings happen as often as we want them to.  This journey has been magical and to my readers, my family, and my friends both new and old thank you…from the  bottom of my heart thank you.  I have not walked this journey alone….you have all been with me to pick me up at the moments that you knew I needed it.  You have shown me that kindness exists all over the world and comes in all ages, races and genders.  You have made me break out of my shell and stop living in fear….and even when I do feel fear that there is not a thing wrong with that.

For my next journey I hope to capture an even bigger audience.  I will focus on health both mentally and physically and I strive for my words to make an impact on girls, boys, men and women of all ages from all over the world.  I am going to add a Donate Plugin and ask for you my readers to support this project and support my goal to have my work being published….there is nothing I want more than to have my words available for any and all to read and hopefully change their lives (of course in a positive way).  Please stay tuned because I will not be gone for long.  I send so much love to all of you for everything….you have made me the luckiest girl in the world.  Onto the next journey I go…

Day 364 Question 364:

What qualities do the people I admire share?

I have been so indecisive about what to write about today.  Tomorrow is my final day of thee 365 day challenge and it seems unreal.  I have met so many people throughout this past year (a lot have been virtual but I still consider them friends).  There is a lot of ugliness that we see in this world we live in but I also believe there is this kindness that tends to go unnoticed.  Through this journey I have had complete strangers offer their support and their encouragement without asking for anything in return.  That is the type of human goodness that needs to be publicized but I guess that the media doesn’t think that is where the money is.

I admire a lot of people and most probably would not even know it.  I don’t feel confident in vocal word when it comes to expressing my feelings….not the same way I do in written word.  The qualities I find most admirable are selflessness and goodness that comes with such ease.  I met someone yesterday and we spent almost 2 hours talking (about anything and everything) and the conversation flowed with such ease.  The whole time I was talking to him I was admiring his convictions and his ability to express himself so naturally.  He had a confidence without even a pinch of arrogance.  I have no idea what his thought process is but the way he conveyed his thoughts and his feelings was so admirable.  It seemed easy for him (and I don’t know if that is true or not).

I admire people that are able to see outside of just black and white.  I admire those that fight for a cause but don’t tell others that they are wrong.  I believe it is these people that I strive to mimic (and thus far have been quite successful).  It is easy to tell people that they are wrong when we don’t agree with their viewpoint but it is more admirable to absorb their viewpoint and remember that two lives are not the same….we have never walked a single day in anyone else’s shoes.  In my opinion, there is not a set answer to anything….how can there be?  I admire those with convictions and beliefs systems….people that don’t force those on others but instead offer their knowledge to them….and ask for the same in return.  We live in a world that focuses so much on right and wrong when we don’t truly know the root of either….we don’t know who the definitive person is that has decided something to be right or wrong and why that is so.

I admire people that try their hardest to see all perspectives without immediately settling on one.  I admire people that know that everything in life is a choice….and those people choose happiness as
much and as often as possible.  I admire people that never want to stop learning.  I admire people that strive not to judge others….knowing that they know only a very little about their lives.  I admire people that make up their own definitions and march to the beat of their own drummer.  I admire those that express through art…in any form.  I admire those that have fallen so far down they could barely see the surface but still chose to rise above….knowing that it was going to be hard and painful.  I admire those that practice compassion and empathy without even realizing they are doing it.

To those people that have crossed my path this past year I want you to know that you have changed me.  You have guided me and you have mentored me when I needed it most.  A thank you does not seem sufficient enough.  After this project is complete I do plan to move onto another (and still put this one together in book form to hopefully publish) and I hope you walk with me through that journey as well.  Your support and your encouragement has allowed me to see that even through all of the madness in this world that there really is so much goodness.  To you I give one million thank you’s and far beyond that!!

Day 363 Question 363:

What bad habits do you really want to break?  How are you going to break them?

As humans it is natural for us to start certain habits.  Sometimes these habits are good and sometimes not so much.  Over the years I have picked up some great habits.  I have lost a good bit of weight and incorporated healthier foods into my diet and I have made exercise a pretty regular part of my routine.  I have read and read and read some more.  With good comes bad though.  Over time (actually a lot of time) I have picked up some very bad habits.  I always speak of the importance of balance in life and it seems that for every good habit I pick up I bring out a bad one.  I think I ignored the bad ones for a long time and I just don’t want to do that anymore.

I decided that for my next blog project I wanted to document the remainder of my weight loss journey.  By doing so I have to face the facts…even as much as it makes me cringe.  I have an extremely unhealthy view of eating and food altogether.  I can control my eating physically but my mind constantly thinks about food….it is embarrassing but it seems like everything in my life revolves around food.  It seems to be a comfort….the thing that brings people together….a common bond.  Food is my drug.  It has altered by thinking and I have realized that I am addicted to thinking about food.  I have made it a habit to eat something far too late at night.  I seem to not have any willpower when it comes to saying no to eating out or boxing up half of my food when it first arrives at the table.  I KNOW all of the information about proper eating habits and reading my body to know when it is full but I have not followed through.  I KNOW I need to retrain my brain just like I would with any other addiction.  I have made the excuses for long enough…I MUST break that habit.  It sounds crazy but when I feel a tad bit hungry at night I have a strange anxiety that I will have some sort of panic attack or physical illness if I don’t fulfill that tiny craving.  I do not let my body just be a little hungry.  It seems that the harder I try to occupy my time or redirect my attention the more I think about food.  I don’t believe in myself and my willpower enough to be as successful as I know I can be.  A motivated as I can be when it comes to working out….I find myself to be quite lazy when it comes to practicing proper nutrition.  I have made these abundant changes to find a place of inner peace and my anxiety has decreased greatly in many areas of my life but within this area I must take the time….it is NOW OR NEVER!!  That is why I have chosen to document the progress regularly so I am able to see where I am struggling and push myself a little bit farther every single week.

I stay up far too late most nights which makes me drag all day long and even though I work out I know I could be doing better if I just closed the computer and just closed off the world and allowed myself the rest I know I need.  So, if you haven’t figured it out I have the bad habits of staying up way beyond when I should and not being able to disconnect from the outside world….god forbid I miss something on the Internet.  I was listening to the radio the other day and the radio personality said that a study was done (I can’t remember where) that has shown Internet and technology use can have the same addictive qualities as drugs such as cocaine or heroin.  I gave up drinking completely over two years ago and even though there are times randomly that I crave a glass of wine I know I will be fine without it.  I, however, have wasted far too many hours on Facebook and other silly websites that are of absolutely no value.  I am sure I will log a lot of hours online this next year but I want to shift my focus from social media and keeping up with everyone else’s lives to learning…about everything I possibly can.  I want to take this health journey very seriously and soak up as much knowledge about the body and mind as I can.  I have learned through a lifetime of experience that if you do not have a healthy body then you will not have a healthy mind.  That is a VERY hard thing to come to terms with and time is not slowing down at all.  My age hit me suddenly and yes I realize I am still young but it is also now or never to find my healthiest place….I cannot keep putting it off.

Moving away from the topic of health….because I think I have driven the point straight into the ground and even deeper than that.  This past year I somewhat went into seclusion.  I made and broke plans far too many times than s even remotely acceptable.  I started allowing myself to become this hermit and I am unsure of why but that needs to stop right here right now.  There are 24 workable hours in a day and I need to stop living thinking about the next minute and thinking about when I am going to crawl into my bed at night (I love my bed far too much…haha).  I am young and I need to start living like I am young.  I will never meet new people or a potential love interest (hahaha what a cheesy expression) if I don’t get out there….stop thinking about being in the comfort of my own home.  And I need to stop saying yes to everyone just to avoid them being pissed at me.  The worst habit I have is saying yes to plans when I know that I either have something else going on or will more than likely break those plans last minute.  I am unsure why I worry so much about people being pissed at me for being honest (maybe I am suppressing something).

While writing this I realized that it is never pleasant to see your flaws and your downfalls.  I am not proud of certain things in my life and I know they need to be fixed and I have spent too much time avoiding them….well actually…just not being honest about them.  While writing about my food obsession and thought processes I cringed because I find it to be embarrassing…but I also know that nothing is going to change if I don’t start being honest about it.  I need to ask for encouragement and ask for help.  I know it is me doing it and I will have to focus on my willpower and personal strength but I am going to ask for guidance when I feel like I am slipping….I even may ask for a swift kick in the ass and some harsh words if I think that is what I need.

Day 362 Question 362:

 What comes next?

 Yes, I realize this question is vague.  This blog project has only 3 more days left and everyone keeps asking me if I am going to continue.  The thought has crossed my mind but I am unsure of where my writing will take me exactly.  I have accomplished a big goal that I never thought I would and now is the time to set up another challenge for myself.  I thought about going back and starting over answering all of the same questions once the year was over to see how much I have changed and how much I have remained the same.  I don’t think that is the route I am going to take though.  I want to do it but I want to give myself more time than just one year to reintroduce myself to all of these questions.  I want to take the time to re-read everything I have written to reflect on my life over the past 365 and in a way re-live the journey.

I jokingly told my boss this morning that I have had an ongoing homework assignment for the past year.  I say that but I have loved every minute of starting and almost finishing this project.  I discovered how much I really do love writing and how I never want to abandon it for long periods of time again.  It is my form of therapy.  I think the route I am going to take for my next writing adventure is the journey toward the rest of my weight loss.  I will probably write weekly as opposed to daily (or maybe more than weekly if the urge comes).  My mind thinks nonstop about my body and my weight and my eating habits and how much exercise I am getting…or not getting.  I will admit completely that it is my mental state that is very unhealthy when it comes to health, eating right and exercising.  I obsess day in and day out over food or about what exercise I need to do or whether or not I am getting enough exercise or why the weight isn’t coming off or how to gain more motivation.  I honestly don’t know how to live a healthy life without obsessing….and yes I know how messed up that is.  I know what my downfalls are and those downfalls bother me and I even have a hard time talking about them.  I know I need to rewire my brain in order to be healthy.  I am a late night eater and although I know how bad that is for me I still do it.  I eat too late and I think about food nonstop without even truly knowing whether or not I am really hungry.

So, I think for my next project I will document everything…especially my thoughts.  I want to be completely honest in a public venue because I need help and I need to see for myself everything I am thinking and know that I need to change.  I have lost quite a bit of weight and I know beauty comes in all shapes and sizes but I am not comfortable in my own skin right now and I know I won’t be until I get down to my goal weight.  So, I am thinking for my next project I will document EVERYTHING…my weight, my measurements, my eating habits, my binges, my obsessive thoughts, my questions, my goals….EVERYTHING!!!  I need help and I am not afraid to ask for it from my readers because I know some have gone through the same struggles (and may want to join me on this journey) and others have mastered a healthy lifestyle and may be able to provide advice and words of encouragement (because Lord knows I need it).  I know that when I am eating healthier and exercising regularly I feel better but sometimes I just fall into a slump.  I believe that if I hold myself accountable by documenting everything then I will HAVE to stop making excuses…..and will get the tough love that I need.  Any suggestions for content or strategies are more than welcome….actually they are encouraged! :0)

Day 361 Question 361:

What is something you would like to share with the world?

 The other day I was doing my usual trolling of the great world wide web when I stumbled upon the story below.  I felt my heart warm immediately.  I am always amazed to see and experience how much children really have it all figured out.  For most children (unfortunately not all) the world is this huge playground just waiting for them to discover what is around every corner.  They care nothing about image or who is thinking what, when where and how.  Children truly live and I truly believe that when we are young (maybe between birth and 10) we understand the best of what life is truly about.  We are not weighed down by responsibilities or worries.  As adults we strive to get back to that place of feeling oh so free and curious but unfortunately we are never able to get back the same feeling we had as a child….that is ok though because happiness comes from growing and learning.  Happiness changes over time.

 I wanted to share the story I found while just surfing around online.  As adults I believe we all need reminders to stop and smell the roses (myself included for sure).  We live in a society that is all about go go go!!  It is important to think about how children live and although we still have responsibilities and obligations it is good for the mind, body and soul to return to that place of natural bliss…the carefree place of no worries.  I hope (if you haven’t already read it) you enjoy!

 A Dog’s Purpose?

(from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa , and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker ‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like
loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued,

”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of LIFE…Getting back up is LIVING…

Have a great life.

Day 360 Question 360:

In your opinion, what are some social injustices?

Money makes the world go around.  When we look at society and see everything that seems to be going wrong we look for a reason.  We don’t understand why we have so many people on welfare and why our government isn’t doing much about it.  We don’t understand why we have so many high school dropouts or pregnant teens.  What a lot of people tend to overlook is that programs to improve these situations cost money….and not just a little bit of money.  This semester I am taking a class called Philosophy of Social Work and it has really swayed me in the direction of working toward being a paralegal.  The course examines the different types of injustices faced by different populations of people and how various social workers work toward making changes.  The problem is that we don’t have a solid definition for social work.  Are they there to help the individual in improving their mental state and potentially assist them in building a better life or are they there to assist the whole…to work on getting society to a better place financially so clients are able to obtain jobs or opportunities.

It is forever implied that this country strives for social justice for all.  The words “justice and liberty for all” have left the lips of millions of children every morning while saying the Pledge of Allegiance.  Social justice goes hand in hand with human rights.  Every single person should be treated equally regardless of race, ethnicity, background, or sexual orientation.  We have seen this country charge ahead and fight for civil rights allowing African Americans to have all of the same rights as the white man.  In 2013 though we still have not allowed equal rights for the LGBT community.  This is an absolute injustice and I believe that our country is not living up to everything it is “based on” when a population is being stripped of the same opportunities as the rest of the population.  Discrimination and prejudice are not a thing of the past.  After the 9/11 attacks we saw many Muslim people treated horrifically and many are still not offered the same opportunities as the rest of the population simply because of being Muslim.  The problem is with the people yes but the bigger problem falls in the hands of our political leaders.  Politicians at this time seem to disregard the Constitution and the importance of freedom and equality and simply base their decisions on opinion and personal background.  The Constitution is supposed to allow each person in this country to be free of hatred and violence and allowed the same rights as every other person.  Sadly we find many politicians that are downright bigoted and others that are making decisions based on their religious beliefs as opposed to what is best for the whole (the country).  That is social injustice because those that have the power to make change are not looking out for the good of the people but simply looking out for the good of self.