
Wow! I can’t believe it’s 2015! Mostly, I can’t believe that we’re halfway through January! How did this happen? There’s so many exciting things going on this year. We’ve been busy, busy, busy!
Allie is going into another year on swim team. She moved into the next level in November, which has brought some awesome challenges her way. She is growing in her sport and loves every minute of it! We’ve been so proud of her!
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been working very diligently to get back in shape and trying to accomplish some healthy goals I’ve been working on for some time. Obi (our dog) and I started running a beautiful trail near the house. It’s on the way back home from dropping Allie off at school and it gives me the opportunity to get a few miles in, before the day gets too far ahead. He really enjoys getting out and running. I really enjoy having a running partner! Even if he’s dragging me down the trail most days.
Additionally, I started boot camp again. This boot camp is a different one from before. This one is indoors, which I thought I wouldn’t like, but hasn’t been too terrible. I’m finishing the first week and I have to say—I am so sore, I can hardly move! There is no progress, without some discomfort though. Right?
I’ve made some major changes to my diet and lifestyle that I’m pretty excited about. First, I’ve cut way back on coffee. I was having digestive issues, including acid reflux, when I was drinking more than a cup a day. I’ve switched to herbal tea—a really nice alternative! So far, it has been an easy transition. I still enjoy a cup or two of coffee, yet I’m learning when I’ve had enough.
Second, I’m trying to keep track of the food I put into my mouth—every morsel! It’s a tough habit to get into, nonetheless I am trying! I have a goal of losing one pound a week this year. Last week, I lost 3 pounds, which puts me three weeks ahead! Ha! We’ll see how long I can sustain that. I joined a Facebook group that my college sorority sister encouraged me to join. It’s a group that’s focused on getting healthy. We support each other and weigh in each week. We share recipes and tips. We vent and confess when things aren’t going quite right. We all need support and this group has been so awesome!
Third, I’m trying to eliminate all unnecessary calories. As a result, I’ve completely abstained from alcohol for several months. No extra calories for me. No, sir! I’ve enjoyed it more than I ever thought I would. It is actually very nice!
Lastly, I’m just trying to focus on staying healthy in mind, body, and spirit. I’ve been working very hard on making me the best me I can. I know it sounds cheesy and cliché, but it’s true. There’s so much negativity in this world, nonetheless I don’t need to be a part of that. I can bring positivity into situations that need a little brightness. I have been working on finding the good in situations. I am, by nature, a glass half-full type of gal. I’ve believed through most of my adult life that with expecting the worst, I’m usually pleasantly surprised when things go my way. That way of thinking hasn’t served me well, however. It’s much more pleasant to not be constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m enjoying the moments, when things are good. I’m looking for the lesson, when things go sideways.
My word for 2015 is Fearless—or, FEAR LESS.
While it isn’t the most original word of the year, it definitely suits me well. Over the course of the past few years, I have feared so much. I suffered from anxiety for a few years. I was afraid of everything. I was afraid of what might happen. I was afraid of what people might say, or what they might think. It has taken time and working with a brutally honest mentor, that has opened my eyes to so many things. I don’t have to fear the things I don’t have control over. I can sit quietly and let go of things I can’t control. When I started letting go, that is when I started noticing the anxiety begin to lift. It was like coming out of a fog and into the sunlight. Life is not perfect and neither am I. I can accept that now. This year, I’m going to fear less—even though I know that sometimes, there will be things out of my control.