Faith…

As I listen to Joel Osteen this morning, something inside me sparked. He said “You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It wont happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.” I not only thought of all the struggles I have been dealt in the past few weeks, but I thought about how much attention I’ve given them. Instead of seeing each day, as a baby step in the right direction, I chose to feed my struggles, by constantly saying how bad everything was. By feeding it, I feel I made the problems grow bigger and bigger, instead of having some faith, and just saying “all is well.” Not every day is going to be perfect, and everyone has complaints, but if we focus all our energy into the negativity, it consumes us. We must find strength, and faith to guide us in these hard times, so we will make our way past this storm, into the sunlight. Something bigger and better always comes after these struggles. Dare to be different, go against the grain, just demand, “all is well!” Don’t be moved by the circumstance, but stand tall! Keep pushing yourself to a better you! 

Balance…

We all search for balance in our lives. Balance in relationships, in friendships, in work, and in family. This idea has always been curious to me, because I feel no matter how hard we strive, balance is an impossibility to accomplish. It is a nice idea, but it’s not reality. Some weeks our personal lives consume every bit of our energy that we forget to balance our social lives, or the piles of work we have. Other weeks, our relationships, or work life require more of our time, and often people think it can be put on the back burner. So how do we balance a plate full? Do we divide our time up, or is it impossible to have it all? For me, it’s all about what is your top priority. First and for most that should be YOU! You cannot entertain or help anyone if you don’t care for you. All the other priorities are individualized. Work, of course is a necessity, but some of my other priorities would out weigh it. Can a balance be achieved? Once you dig deep down, and see what truly is important to you, I think its possible to have some sort of balance. Of course the scale is going to be outweighed from time to time, but if you make it your priority, nothing will get in your way, no excuses necessary. Just make sure you look at for you first. It is your number duty and priority. Wake up and push yourself to your limit!

Time…

Time is a funny thing.. Everyone says they are never going to get this or that done in time, or they want to be 30 and be in a certain place. But with changes and curve balls thrown at us everyday, how do we stay on track? And what if you are not guaranteed tomorrow? What would you do differently? I have suffered with up and down health conditions for over ten years, and was finally diagnosed with Lyme Disease, a year and half ago. I never thought I would have an answer, and I don’t feel I spent ten years wasting away time, but instead every day I woke up with determination to be “normal.” Time for me now, has a different meaning. I not only have learned to appreciate every single moment I am given, but I appreciate more simplistic things, like being able to get out of bed in morning, and having a great workout. More importantly, time has given me the opportunity to really appreciate and show the ones I hold near and dear to me, how much they mean to me. I find simple ways, to show them now, not tomorrow, next week, or in the future. You can sit here and plan and plan your life away, but if you don’t turn your head and look around, it will all disappear. Look down at your watch, and watch the minutes tick away, or get up and go spread your light! I am sure someone out there could use it! Happy Wednesday, workout hard, smile, laugh, and look up! Something better is on it’s way!!!! Be You Always!! 

Better days. . .

Right now before you bat your eye lashes one more time, you sit here wishing and hoping that when you close your eyes,all of the days struggles and frustrations will disappear. You hope that you will dream of something grand and that it will come true. Close those eyes now. See it coming true, wake up in the morning and live your dreams. Live everything you hope for. Live for you, for your happiness. Your happiness makes up you. Now I close my eyes, forgetting the past day, and staring at a plain black slab that’s waiting to be colored. Paint a rainbow, your choices are endless. And remember, you’ll always come back to this plain black slab every night, so there’s always another possibility. Just wait, and hope for a better day. 

“Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.  Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you!”

Mental Clarity

Some find it hard to let go of what’s on their mind even in the company of friends and on going conversations. You can feel them thinking, and pressuring themselves. I myself am guilty of this, and when I am so involved, I take myself to my place of mental clarity. It is a quaint private park, with a beautiful view of the beach. Something so soothing about it, that time just literally stops. I have always come to this place to write, to relax, and just to breathe. Last year, the gym became my second mental clarity place. I get lost in the struggle to keep up on treadmill, and the music streaming into my ears. Sometimes I can almost just see myself in the gym alone, and be there in that moment. Today, I hope that on the start of a new week, you find time to find a moment of mental clarity. Take another step on to finding a better you!!! Enjoy the moments of today, of now! We only get them once! Post your places of mental clarity! Hope you exercised with me today, even if it was only ten minutes. Always remember, I am here and so proud of you!

Patience & Strength

Patience and strength, two words which can easily be defined, but when faced with the reality of both words, easy is the last word I would describe them as. A week since my last post, I could have never imagined how important those two words are in life. I was in the ER on Sunday, and had medical complications due to a medication they had prescribed me. It was here, laying in my worst position that I realized that health is not just a thing we need, it is a lifestyle we need to obtain. Patience and strength, have guided me to this place, and without them I would lost. Since my ER visit, I have turned back to what I am truest to, and that is my belief in healing thy self with natural remedies. As long as you follow your gut, it will never guide you wrong. Along with some patience, strength, and a whole lot of support, anything can be done! You just have to trust yourself, and believe, things will always get better. Stay Strong! And keep finding your best lifestyle, for finding a better you!

Day Nine!

Happy Valentine’s Day! I have been MIA for two days due to weather conditions, as well as health conditions. My exercise regimen has been running from doctor to doctor! But I hope that you have stayed strong, and worked out for both of us! On this day, I think if it’s the only day you do so, treat yourself to something. Spend this day, loving yourself, because no one will love you, quite like you could love yourself. Sometimes it takes being so down in the dumps, to realize just how strong you are. When you are on the floor and can’t get up, you look around and all you find is yourself. You are frustrated and sad, but somehow those pains turn into strength and you begin picking yourself up. You begin to see qualities in yourself you hadn’t seen before, and you find yourself sort of beautiful and strong, even in a weak moment. It is moments like these we have to bring with us in times of adversity. We have to remember we have been at the bottom before, and the only way to go is up! So today, remember all your strong moments, and love yourself for them. Spend this Valentine’s Day appreciating the only person in the world that needs it most, and that’s you!

Sending my xoxo’s to you! 

Day Nine

Forgiveness to each person in this world is seen and experienced differently. For some it can be an anchor, which grounds you to this earth. To others, a double edged sword, piercing upon entry and exit. But for me, it varies per situation. I wonder often, when I sincerely seeked forgiveness, why was I easily granted it. Although, the damage I did, did not even warrant a response, I was granted one and more. An apology I worked on for at least two years came out as basic and questionable as a generated message on a Hallmark card. A double edge sword, because he forgave me, and even reminded me of my worth, but at the same time said he could not bare to keep a connection. The connection was an impossibility because of all the hurt he had felt. I understood his feelings, and when he said not a day went by since then, that he hadn’t thought about me every single waking moment, him forgiving me made me feel so much worse. And just as that connection was in me, it all faded away with that ending email. To forgive and be forgiven are the experiences which separates the anchor from the double edge sword. When you are forgiven, you are still left with the damage you have inflicted on another being. When you forgive, you feel a period of pain, but let it sink away after time, and you can surely feel grounded again. You are not left with this terrible feeling of regret or uncertainty. The symbol for human beings should be a double infinity, for throughout life we are either seeking to be forgiven or offering forgiveness to others. I find that as we steer through this life, if we are constantly grounded to the idea of the double infinity, forgiving and being forgiven, we could live a more fulfilling life. But first we must learn to practice and accept both. So on your journey today, and this week, think of this concept as you pursue finding a better you. I hope that your journey today brought you a simple walk outdoors, or even a simple moment to be alone with thoughts. You owe it to yourself!

 

Day Eight

Happy Monday!!! Another new beautiful week to begin our journey! This weekend I began to think about the saying “to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.” As I laid on the couch, sick as can be from a herx reaction, I thought about how many people take health for granted. People don’t think about it until they get really sick, but they also don’t think about those who are suffering daily, the people who’s job it is to learn to walk again, or to find the strength to keeping fighting the unknown battle. Those who are sick don’t know what it’s like to walk in the opposite shoes. We are all dealt cards, some which we couldn’t chose, and for anyone to hold judgment against another would be unfair. This path I walk was not one I have chosen, but we make the best with what our best is. I support you in every way I can on your journey. People will make mistakes and be unkind, but try to find the few who will be there when someone kicks you down. When you are down, get back up and just think of the mile they are walking…it may not be exactly what you are experiencing, but hardships float in everyone’s lives. Be understanding, and always remember, good always wins… Be true to the best you, it’s all that matters in the end.

And I hope you are starting your week with a great workout! Stay motivated, for YOU!

Day Seven

We all have this idea that we have to have this great plan on how to use the gifts we were given. But if we spend day after day trying to figure them out, we end up wasting our precious days. If we sit in a job that’s barely pushing us to our most potential, why do we stay? We all fall into comfort zones, and with our current economy, our choices to change are limited. If we are unhappy with one division of our life, we should try our best to use our gifts in our relationships with others, or most importantly our relationships with ourselves. First and foremost we cannot help others if we can’t be happy with ourselves. Do you tell yourself you love yourself daily? Not in a conceited way, but in a genuine loving way. Our body is our temple, our treasure, the more appreciation we show it, the more good we are doing for it. Our gifts will appear stronger, and our will for change will become easier. Just love yourself, and you are that much closer to a better, stronger you.