New Year, New Challenges and Important Reminders

As the year ends, I am once again in the mode of self reflection.  Looking back on 2015 I am proud of the accomplishments I have had.  I survived my first year in a new position, continued along my educational path taking courses and pushed myself physically harder than I ever have before.

2015 taught me the power of positivity and gratefulness.  I  finished a complete year of my grateful diary, the simple act of writing down a page full of things I'm grateful for everyday.  I have 2 journals full of reminders about all the great things happening in my life and those around me.  I've worked hard to face any challenge this year with a grateful attitude and a positive mindset.  These tricks have helped me thru the rough patches and looking back over the year I am amazed at how much this simple act has improved my life.  As I enter into 2016 I'm looking forward to continuing this daily dose of happiness and have my journals all ready to roll starting fresh tomorrow morning.

2015 taught me the importance of patience and networking.  One year into my job and I've learned the importance of slowing down, being patient and letting things work themselves out whenever possible.  Mind you, I never said I enjoyed this fact...but I'm working on it!  A positive mindset, a calm approach to minor emergencies, a solid foundation of knowledgeable colleagues and a daily dose of deep breathing and patience has done me well this past year. As I move into 2016, I'm committing to becoming a better leader, taking courses to continue along my educational pathway.

2015 reminded me about the importance of health and wellness.  My health is about the best it has ever been, 2016 brings a new challenge, improving the quality of food I consume, a tricky but possible feat.  Continuing to work hard to be the best version of myself I can be has proven the last few years not only to make my life better, but the lives of the people around me as well.  I hope to continue to inspire and motivate others to step up to the challenge and adapt a healthy lifestyle.  I wouldn't be the woman I am today if it wasn't for all of the amazing people who have helped me over the last 4 years.

2015 has become the year of rising to the challenge.  Working hard to improve my health, my fitness, my education, my parenting and my leadership skills has been the focus of the year...all areas offering a variety of different obstacles and challenges along the way.  One of the biggest challenges of the year has been my commitment to running.  Thanks to Natalie, calling my bluff  and joining me in my far fetched dream of running a Disney Half marathon, I think that today, this last day of 2015, I can finally say I'm a runner.  Thanks to her dedication, patience and support, I have surpassed any goals I would have ever set for myself, committed to training for our Disney Challenge and am so thankful to have found such a great running partner and friend.  As  we move into 2016, I look forward to our February event and no surprise to anyone who knows us...why not tack on a few other big dreams to round out 2016!  I'm so thankful for the all the amazing supporters who help make my fitness focused lifestyle an enjoyable and successful one and can't wait to see what 2016 does to shape my mind and my body.

I'm thankful for all 2015 has offered me and I'm looking forward to the challenges and teachings 2016 has in store for me too!    As the year changes, don't forget to take some time to reflect on what is important to you...the simple act of thinking about it (and even better writing it down) sets you on a path to success!

Wishing you a Happy New Year and the ability to make 2016 the best one yet!

Time for a Big Dream!

For the past couple of years I have watched may people around me set and achieve their running goals.  Along the way I have been asked to run in different races from 5K to half marathons.  Although I enjoy throwing on my shoes, my music and hitting the road, the runs are rarely easy and I still have trouble thinking of myself as a runner.  I know that simply by putting on the shoes and heading out the door I'm miles ahead of where I was a few years ago, I'm still envious of the people I drive past who make running look easy.

A while back I developed a system, when anyone asked me to do a race I simply responded,
"If I'm going to be crazy enough to run a half marathon, I'm going big, and until I'm ready I'm happy with what I can do right now".  Well...that was my response until a few months ago when  the response to my statement was "well...what's your definition of big?"   Truly believing this was just a crazy and far enough away dream that it wouldn't actually ever happen I shared my dream of a Disney half Marathon.  I mean, if I'm going to do it...who wouldn't want to run in the happiest place on earth, dressed as a princess???

Well...thanks to the amazing woman who called me out on my "big dream" and committed to coming with me...the time has come to step up to the plate.

The room is booked, the race entry paid for and in 6 short months we are on our way to Disney World.   Just to ensure we are going big...we signed up for the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge.  A 10K race on Saturday, followed by a Half Marathon on Sunday!  I've made my plans, I'm committing to this goal and along the way I may just realize that yes its true, I may just actually be a runner!!

It's time to see what Dreaming Big can really do for me now!

It's Perfectly Fine to Be Me...

I've learned a lot about myself over the last few years.

I've tested my limits and realized I'm more capable than I thought I was. I've accomplished things at bootcamp, while running and when participating in other sports I never thought I could excel at.

I'm dedicated to things I put my mind to for work and at play. Proof in the way I step up to challenges in work and play.

My willpower does exist, at times I've given up sugar, alcohol and unhealthy eating for periods at a time.

I'm also healthier than I ever thought I would be.  I've proved to myself my body can be normal if I treat it well by eating healthy and working out.


Looking back,  I'm trying to remember why  I started on this path and what is going to push me further, past the limits I ever thought possible.

In 2012 I started working out, simply to prove that I wasn't healthy enough to do it, because that's what I was led to believe, that my body would never be normal or as capable as others.  Once I started, I quickly realized how good it felt and how capable I really was.  When I started to see success, weight loss and personal goals achieved, I started working harder to lose more and to reshape my body.  Once I was at a point I was happy with, I started telling myself it was just simply to be healthy, but that quickly turned into seeing if I could start to heal my body and push past the next set of goals I set for myself.

Today  I'm not sure exactly why I continue to do it, except for the fact I know how good I feel and how much I have changed and improved, mind and body over the last 4 years.

After all I've learned and all I've accomplished, why do I still feel like I have so far to go? Why can't I be happy with working hard?  Why do I fall back into unhealthy eating patterns when I know better?  How can I still hate parts of my body?

There are so many things I'm still trying to work thru...but the one thing I know, regardless of my flaws, my dreams and my goals; I'm never going to be "perfect" but it's perfectly fine to be me.

When to Break up with a Challenge

I'm very vocal about my love of a good challenge.  I've done so many over the past few years that I can hardly remember them all.  This year has proven to be no different.

This year alone, I gave up alcohol for 3 months, I've written a gratitude journal everyday since January, I gave up sugar for a month, I've meditated every day for a month straight and I did 10,000 steps everyday for 2 months straight.  It's kind of hard to believe it's only the end of April!

One of the biggest challenges I have is deciding when it is ok to break my streak.  Sometimes the decisions are easy, sometimes life just gets in the way.  A lot of stress, pressure and lack of routine broke my healthy habits this  month leaving me disappointed and relieved.  Disappointed because the healthy routines made me feel better, yet relieved because there are some days eating clean, not having a drink with friends or stressing out at 9pm when I'm a solid 5K away from my step goal.

As I begin to think about what I should put next on my challenge to do list, I'm trying to find a way to incorporate one that includes a little balance.  A challenge that puts a focus on my health and wellness goals that also allows me to live a little, to relax and to enjoy life. What kind of challenge can help me achieve my goals?

Gratitude...the possibilities are endless!

As I mentioned in my last post I've been focused a lot on heath and wellness.  I finished my 28 days of gratitude challenge and just can't stop.  I'm blown away how 10  minutes in the morning, being thankful in advance for the outcomes of my daily actions has paid off.  I'm beginning to find the positive in everything, accepting my faults and working hard to make my wishes and dreams come true. An even more amazing thing...my life is actually changing for the better.

Some amazing things that have happened since I started doing this:

1.  Difficult situations become easier - being thankful in advance for how the discussion or action will go has actually made the situation better.  I'm not sure if it's my awareness of the issue in advance, or just plain magic, but the practice has actually help me in some difficult situations.   I'm reminded the importance of give and take, of recognizing other people's viewpoints and accepting that my way isn't always the best way.  I've had a few difficult situations diffused simply because I was able to separate myself from the situation to realize it wasn't personal and the  other person honestly had valid points.

2.  I'm attracting exactly what I'm seeking - writing and verbalizing my needs has not only provided me material objects, but support from people I never would have expected.  I'm still curious how this magical practice works but it does!   Every morning, as I think  my way thru my schedule and am thankful in advance for opportunities, knowledge and support, I find it showing up where I least expect it.  The most random situations have led me to information or people who have the material objects, information or support I needed, business meetings ending with health suggestions, social media contacts who have the item I'm searching for, tedious errands that put me in positions to meet someone new who knows something I needed to find out.  It seriously has left me baffled and overwhelmed at times trying to put it all together.

3.  Miraculous Health Improvements - thanks to all the support, knowledge and sharing I've had as described above, I  ventured into an experiment.  On a quest to fix my health problems, I practiced gratitude everyday.  Thankful for the little things, like healthy food at meetings, opportunities to talk to people who share my issues and finding support in the most unexpected places, I never expected to happen what has occurred over the last couple weeks.  After an intense attack, I decided it was time to get back to basics and figure this problem out.  A friend randomly started talking about a lifestyle change she was having success with, she was so adamant she had never felt better, I decided to try a modified diet.  I attempted a juice cleanse to help eliminate whatever toxins were in my system at the moment, then I began introducing food one at a time.  After a few immediate reactions I noticed a pattern.  I'm not quite 2 weeks into this experiment and amazing things are already happening.  Apparently processed sugar is my enemy, simply eliminating this from my diet has stopped symptoms I've experienced since my surgery 15 years ago!  5 days into the experiment and I stopped taking the one medication I've relied on regularly for the past 12 years.  I'm now on day 13 and haven't had to take it yet.  Now, I'm not perfect...I have  my moments of weakness...after all...I'm a chocoholic!  When I do have the symptoms after my moment of weakness, I'm reminded it isn't worth it!  I'm feeling amazing...my family isn't suffering from ridiculous diet change as all I've done is focus on natural food, life is amazing.   All of this wouldn't of been possible with out the support I've gained from the people around me.  The support I've found simply by being thankful in advance for finding the support I need.

I'm excited to see where the  next few weeks take me.  My post doesn't even begin to tell you how amazed I am with respect to this practice.  Yesterday, it even brought me to mouth dropping amazement and happy tears!  If at this moment you are even the slightest bit curious about what I've described, I have one suggestion for you...start with this book...it walks you thru the 28 day gratitude challenge.  I'm willing to bet you would start to notice the magic happening around you too.  If you do take the challenge...I can't wait to hear how it affected you!

Gratitude and Reflection - Necessities of Life

It has been a while since I posted.  I've been busy doing exactly as I last mentioned.  It is taking time, but I'm slowly mastering the art of work, play and relaxation.  As most people do, I focused on new goals for the beginning of 2015.  Top of the list, focusing on health and wellness!  Last year's focus on my career paid off, I completed my courses, got a new job and set out on my path of professional growth.  Now that the routine has settled in, my focus is on healthy, clean eating, daily gratitude practices and maintaining balance between work and home.

I started the year off strong, with 5:30am starts to the day, either heading off to early morning bootcamp, or using the hour before anyone gets up to reflect, relax and to have a calmer start to the day.  So far so good.  the days I have bootcamp I have energy to make it thru the day, the days I start with a gratitude practice I'm more at ease and ready to tackle my schedule.

I jumped back into "The Magic" with daily gratitude challenges that remind me of all the wonderful things I have to be grateful for.  The  practice allows me to focus on my goals, my hopes and my dreams.  Although I've worked my way thru this book before on a couple different occasions, and practiced being thankful all the time, I'm going to keep repeating the steps for the whole year.  I'm excited to see what can happen after the year is up!

I  set my goal to jump head first into clean eating and meeting my daily physical activity goals but I'm struggling here just a little.  Both tasks are difficult when travelling daily, partaking in lunch  meetings or dealing with unscheduled days that leave me rushed to consume food leaving me reaching for the easiest option, not necessarily the healthiest.  Unfortunately I've been struggling with a few food issues and flareups that I hope to figure out soon too.  It's time I begin focusing on the food...developing  habits that work for my schedule and provide me the ability to reach my ultimate goal...healing myself from the inside out!

I've also come to the realization that I have a few conflicting fitness goals.  I started this process to improve my mental health  and to feel better.  Three years after I started on this path, I can honestly say I've accomplished these two goals.  I was warned, and see how true it is,  that as you progress, new goals pop up.  I went from virtually inactive, unhappy and unhealthy  to vibrant, excessively active and happy.  I took up running but laid off last year to due time constraints due to the courses I was taking, busy schedules at home and stress at work.  I  instead attempted to focus on getting stronger, lifting weights and changing the shape of my body.  I decided last year that along with some weight loss/maintenance I also wanted to become visibly fit.  I'm not sure why it took me so long to figure out that you really can't lose weight  and bulk up at the same time.

I'm working out my issues now...I've convinced myself that being healthy comes first.  Fix my eating habits, reduce my flare ups, ultimately heal myself from the inside out and the body issues will sort themselves out.  Smart choices, like when to do bootcamp, adding in some running and continuing to improve my strength training will help me stay physically fit and mentally capable to handle everyday life.

I'm a work in progress, but constant reflection on my goals and being thankful for how far I've come leave me excited to see what I can accomplish this year.  This year I value my health and wellness for the sake of me and my family.

How can  reflection and gratitude  help put changes in your life on track?  What do you value most in your life this year?