Turn, Turn, Turn

Whether you know it as song from the 60's or know the words from the Bible, it is said that to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven.
Unfortunately, I think most people, if you are like me, may be waiting for that "perfect" time, and seasons are passing us by. Whether it is when I "get my license", "turn 18", "move out", "have kids", "kids grow up", "we get our bills paid off", "we retire", etc., etc., etc. Whatever it is, we are always waiting for something else to happen before it is time to act. Even something as simple as, "I'll start my diet Monday", "I'll start after the holidays" it is never going to be the right time. Let me say that again, IT IS NEVER GOING TO BE THE RIGHT TIME if you are waiting for things in your life to be perfect, but NOW is always the right time. So right now, think of three things that you would like to accomplish in the next three months, anything at all. And now write three things that you can do in this next week to start yourself on the path to accomplishing those goals, and finally, think of at least one thing that you can do tonight and do it. Once you start, and get yourself in momentum, it is much easier to keep going. So whatever it is, start today, for today is the season of your life to make a change, to help you move toward accomplishing your purpose.

The Director's Commentary

One of the things that I like most about watching DVDs is watching the Director's Commentary.  I love seeing the movie from the Director's point of view.  In the Director's Commentary you get to find out little secrets about the movie and the reason for why certain things are done.  You find out about why certain lighting is chosen, why certain music is played and you even get to find out about certain "extras" that happen to be someone's wife, uncle, son, daughter etc.  Then when you watch the movie again you have a better understanding and appreciation for what went into the making of the movie. 
I started thinking what would my "Director's Commentary" look like, what if I saw my life from the director's point of view?  Would I pay more attention to the colors, the lighting, the sounds, the people around me?  Would I appreciate the simple things that seem to just fade into the background?  Would I take better care of myself, if I saw the love and details that went into creating me?  Would I see people differently, if I thought of them as someone's son, daughter, mother, father?  What if?
So my challenge to you this week, is instead of just going through your daily routine, stop and think about what goes into every aspect of your life, enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, beauty of each and every day, look at people, really look and see, don't just look through them.  Listen and appreciate everything about your life.  And maybe, just maybe with a better appreciation of life, we will take better care of ourselves and others.

"So What?"

So What? Is it a way to give up, or is it the beginning of action? I think if used correctly, then "So What" can be the beginning of action, or at least the beginning of thinking. Take for example, the other day someone said to me, "Do you know that when we retire there would be no more Social Security?" and I said, "So What?" This person thought that I was giving up and not caring about the subject at hand. What this person failed to see that if we answered every problem, complaint, difficulty with "So What?" we would have a better chance of evaluating the situation and seeing if there is anything we can do about the situation or anything we really want to do about a situation. Let's take for example the problem with Social Security, when I said so what that forces me to ask myself, so what does this matter to me, and so what I am going to do about it? Maybe I can't change the course of something, but I can take responsibility to change how I will approach a situation. Maybe I need to save now, maybe I need to find a second income that will keep coming in for the rest of my life whatever I choose the choice is mine to make and act upon.
The same holds true with what I see in the mirror, if I look into the mirror and don't like what I see, I can complain, and moan about it or I can say "So What?" and now the ball is in my court to do something. "So what" am I going to do about how I look, what choices will I make today and each day to change what I don't like. The choice is ours, so tomorrow will you complain about a situation that you don't like, or seems unfair or will you ask yourself "So What?" and then come up with an answer that you can act upon to make some real changes in your life. The choice is yours.

Eating Out

Ok, I have a confession to make, the first time that I walked into a restaurant and saw the calories listed by my favorite foods, I was less than excited. I mean I go out to eat to enjoy myself when I eat out, why in the world would I want my meal ruined by knowing how many calories are in my food. But as time I went on, I found that these numbers, when I looked at them the right way could be my friend. If I know how many calories and sometimes other nutritional information that is sometimes offered, then I can make choices based on facts and not what I think or feel. As a matter of fact when I started looking at the calorie content in the foods that I would eat, I was amazed. Some of the foods that sounded healthy (like some salads) were loaded with calories. Some of them had enough calories for my entire day. So now instead of having my meal ruined by seeing the calories, I now embrace this new system and use it to help me to make good choices and informed choices. Like this morning I went to I-Hop with my husband for breakfast, and was able to order my breakfast with turkey bacon and imitation eggs for under 500 calories. Not that you have to have turkey bacon or imitation eggs, but at least now the power is mine to make choices that are good for me.

Its Friday

Well, it's the weekend, weekends always seem to come with their own sets of challenges. First, weekends don't have a set schedule like the rest of the week has. You can plan the rest of the week, but the weekends there are things to do and things that come up at the last minute and are harder to plan for when it comes to exercise and eating. For me this weekend we are having a Holiday Open House to show off our Holiday line with Arbonne. So tonight and tomorrow morning I will be busy. Then there is always trying to catch up on cleaning, laundry, spending time with my husband, and of course some "me" time to relax. I can never seems to figure out is more harmful, a full weekend where you are more likely to grab something to eat on the run, or a relaxing weekend where you (at least I do) tend to overeat out of boredom? If I'm too busy, I can find myself skipping meals, but vegging out with a weekend full of old movies (chick flicks and musicals) can ruin my diet for sure.
Which is harder for you?

When you don't feel well

Sitting here today trying to think about what I'm going to write and my head is pounding so hard, that I'm wondering how to put together two sentences, much less an entire blog.  But I am committed to doing this everyday, so go or bad, long or short, you will hear from me everyday.  Yesterday was a good day as far as eating goes, because I felt sick all day, so food did not look that appetizing to me.  in fact the only reason I ate at all yesterday, was to see if I could somehow get rid of this migraine.  Even had a coke on my way home to see if the caffeine would help.  I try to stay away from sodas but I made an exception yesterday.  So here I am at work this morning wondering if I should be here or in bed.  Not wanting to eat anything, and wanting to just go back to bed and pull the covers over my head.  I know this isn't a lot about dieting or choices, not even sure if it makes since, but I guess no matter what you are trying to change, improve or do in your life, there will be days that you just don't feel like it.  And some days it is best not to worry with it, as long as days like this are not everyday and you are right back into moving toward your goals as soon as you can, then give yourself and your body a break on days like this, and allow time to heal.  

Scale Friend or Foe????

So I got on the scale today and I am down 2 1/2 pounds.  This makes me feel good, but my question is, is the scale a friend or a foe?  Me, I'm an everyday weigher, I get on the scale every morning before I get dressed or have breakfast to see where I am.  I use this as a way to keep track of where I am, and how things are going.  And yes, I have heard all the reasons why you shouldn't weigh everyday, and how the scale fluctuates and this should not be the only determining factor, and I understand all of that.  But I believe each of us has to look at our relationship with the scale and how we feel after we step on the scale, no matter what it says, and what we do with the way that we feel.  I am one of those, that if the scale is down, I feel good and want to do well that day to keep up the good work, but also, if the scale is up a little I make adjustments for the day, cut back a little, step up the exercise a little more, so you see to me the scale is a motivator no matter what it says. 
So I don't believe in what's right and what's wrong, as far as the scale is concern, I believe in what works.  So find that balance in your life and do what is going to help you the most in reaching your goals. 
Today is a good day on the scale, I am motivated to keep doing what I am doing.