Sunday’s Healthy Reflection

On By AngeliaIn Life is what you make it.

On Sunday this time, yay!

Stop living life for what’s around the corner and start enjoying the walk down the street.

– Grant L. Miller, motivational guru

Enjoying the road to accomplishment

It’s possible to be a little too focused. With blinders on, it becomes easy to completely live in our vision of where we will be in the future, while ignoring the improvements that we have made in the present. The road to a healthy lifestyle is a long trip. While it’s very important to realize what we are shooting for, we also need to make sure that we keep our heads in the present to enjoy the progress we’ve made. If your goal is to lose weight, instead of waiting to celebrate until you lose it all, enjoy today’s small victories and take advantage of your improved health now. This approach serves as motivation for any aspiration in life. Set ambitious goals and enjoy the road to accomplishing those goals, because life might pass you by if you are always planning for tomorrow without ever seeing today.

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Brought to you by SPARKPEOPLE.

One of the first things that come to mind when I read this, is all the things you put off, or miss out on due to weight issues. My example, Laugh Fest at the Parks Mall –  for The Levity Project, Katie has actually posted our video under the videos tab on her website. How cool is that? Now, I was hesitant about being “filmed”. The camera adds ten pounds, I wasn’t wearing black, I hadn’t lost the TWENTY pounds – and had done nothing to try and lose it. Me self-conscious? Heck yah!

Obviously, We did it anyway. What it came down to was this, if I waited until I looked “perfect”. For one, it’d be never. HA. For two, I would have missed out on participating in this event. I wouldn’t have lived in the present. I would have planned a future event based on something that might happen – I could have missed it.

And you know what? I treasure that day. I treasure laughing with Sydney. I treasure our participation with the Chicago laugh flash project group at the same time. I am thrilled we did it. We will never have November 7, 2009 – 12 Noon again. Sydney will never be fifteen again, this year is it. For her to be fifteen – pretty amazing.

One thing I never did, was wish her older than she was. Some relatives would, they would want her to be a certain age, to do grown up things with her. They couldn’t wait til she was bigger. Every new age, it would be an older age they would pine for. I would nod quietly, but inside I celebrated that instant, and the milestone she was at. Maybe because, I couldn’t have any more, and that made me more aware of the here and now.  I couldn’t help but think, you are missing it.

Could it be, this span of your life, to you, is just a meaningless phase until you get to the next big thing?

Friends, you are missing it.

The last thing that comes to mind is this………
When I moved to Dallas, from a small town of 20,000 (actually I lived outside of that town), so it was even smaller. Think rural, no paved driveways –  not even a traffic light. I could not wait to get to the big city. Who needed a small town? Everyone knew your business, they didn’t have any major restaurants (back then). There was only one movie theater. We had Wal-Mart, but  no mall, the list goes on and on.

Back then, the country? The worst place ever. We couldn’t  even get cable when it first came out. It was a year before we could.  I missed out on all those MTV video premiers.  In my mind, the quicker I got out, the better.

And I did, at the tender age of seventeen. When did something change? Probably when Sydney was born. Suddenly the city lost its charm, and I worried my little girl would be swallowed up by it. I questioned myself, why did I leave the small town? How in the world could I raise my child in the city? What was I thinking? Panic and regret, and you know, I was missing it. I was missing out on life in the present.

Fact is, Sydney is a city girl. The country makes her go, “Ewww!”  This is where I chose to live, and this is where I make the best of it.  I think I mentioned, I don’t do unhappy, and my longing? Just didn’t suit me. This was it.

It  turned out wonderfully.  Sydney has done great in the city. I have no clue why I worried. She is smart, well-adjusted and thrilled to live here. (well, okay, it’s not FAIR she is not an OU fan, but I digress)

I do love it here.  Do I miss the small town I was raised in? Yeah. I realize all the benefits a small town has to offer.  All the things I did as a child, that I wanted her to do,  and have memories of.  But why miss out on all the opportunities around me?  And there is a lot – museums, zoos, gardens. I found the greatness in it all. New memories, new traditions.

Time is zipping by, I’m not getting younger (big surprise, I know). I am celebrating with joy. Today will never come again. I’m not going to let anything hold me back, not my weight, not what people think, not my regrets, not my mistakes – Nothing. I’m taking hold of today and enjoying it.

What victory are you going to take hold of today? What regret are you going to put in your past for good? What is holding you back from enjoying this instant? Don’t miss the journey, don’t let life pass you by, accomplish, thrive, and live.

31 thoughts on “Sunday’s Healthy Reflection”

  1. Hola Chica! How wonderful is this post you have written? I’m going through this very thought process RIGHT NOW in my life. Serendipity- I love it.

    So, let’s see…

    My victory? I went to my first lector training meeting yesterday at church. I will be one of those people who reads in front of the whole church. I was so nervous up there practicing but it was fun to meet other people who are going to do the same thing. 🙂

    My regret? That I didn’t realize the truth (or face up to it) about “bookclub man” and what his true motives were and just runaway from him. I regret what happened. So that is what I have to put in my past for good.

    What is holding me back from enjoying this minute? Honestly, I’m celebrating my womanhood (you know….my ladies’ time so I’m in physical pain) but other than that. Nothing.

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    1. Molte Bene!

      I love your victory something new + something scary = enormous life benefit. Victory indeed!

      Your regret is more of a softer heart issue, like me. I, too believe the good in people, and find it hard to believe the worst. But I’d rather be that way, than always suspicious and untrusting.

      Totally understand your holding back. UGGGGG.

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  2. Another thought-provoking post! I am my own worst enemy, in most situations. My quest for perfection, my inability to relinquish control and my unwillingness to just be okay with me get in my way of finding that unadulterated happiness. But, all that being said, I am always in the process of working toward conquering all that holds me back from myself! Happy Sunday to you!
    Mindy
    http://www.thesuburbanlife.com

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  3. I can barely plan my day, forget about trying to plan tomorrow.

    I have been lucky, I think. I have never been one to worry about my weight or let it keep me from doing things.

    Small town? Close to Dallas? I spent most of my teens in Waxahachie, do you know that town?

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    1. Heather,

      You mean the town that has Bethlehem Live? Scarborough Faire? HECK YA!! Beautiful little historic dot on the map.

      I’m only about 20mins away now that 287 goes all the way through.

      How cool is that?

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  4. Hi Angelia

    My regret is that I have been holding back, but then I also realized that I didn’t know better then.
    Now I know better, my regret is that I am still so slow to change.
    I am still fearful sometimes, I think still sometimes like you about what will people say, fearful to do the wrong thing and I do NOT want to live like that any longer.
    So the time it takes to change is annoying. The times when I still am not present, the times that I still worry, they bug me and I regret those moments.
    On the other hand I see my progress, I see that I have moved out of town to such a small rural place you came from and I love every minute of it.
    I am learning to change, I am less in my mind and come a lot more from my heart, so I will die at least a different woman. That is all exciting.
    So yes, I am too very much focused on not missing out, but I have to be vigilant about it.
    Love Wilma

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    1. Wilma,

      I can understand that. I have those times when all the hard work goes by the wayside. I embrace all my fears. You are right, staying vigilant is key to making it stick.

      You are living your dream in the country, how many people can say they have risked that? It’s really wonderful, you are a different woman, and one you can be proud of.

      Facing your fears, you will conquer them.

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  5. Peggy Nolan

    Ang – I held back in my first marriage. I held back the “bold, brazen” girl Rick remembered so well from high school. I am that person again. And I’ve never looked back. I’ll never be less than who I am ever again.

    I bow to your awesomeness!!

    xo

    (and I finally clicked on the SITS icon…now I know what it is!)

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    1. Yay! I saw you on SITS, isn’t that the coolest thing? I found it on Carolyn’s site.

      🙂

      I am happy to see YOU, I couldn’t imagine anyone else. What a true life you live, stubbornly optimistic!

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  6. suzicate

    Wow, what a beautiful, inspiring, and honest post! You are gonna touch a lot of souls with this one. It took me a major life changeing experience (getting held up-the almost lost my life deal!) to reach this realization. Oh, yes we are kindred spirits…I am from the very same kind of small town…no stop lights etc…ever heard of the Waltons? I am from Waltons Mountain, it’s actually really Schuyler, Va, but is partrayed as Waltons Mountain in the tv series! You go out and live, love, laugh and enjoy every minute of your life!

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    1. Suzicate,

      Woah! Almost losing your life! Why, yes, that does change ones perspective, especially when it’s as shocking as that.

      I have not heard of the Waltons. I will have to look that up. 🙂

      Life is great. Grabbing on, I am, kindred spirit!

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  8. Hi Angelia,
    I love the quote…and the story you shared around it!

    Living NOW…that’s what we have. This week, I’m off at a training session…one I chose to go to. And I debated…it costs too much, it’s so far from home, it’s a whole week long, it’s a bit “out there” for what I would normally do. And then I just decided…now is what I have. And it feels great to be here, and about to start this adventure.

    So…you and Sydney, keep laughing…and keep living in the moments you have together…right there in the city. Very awesome!!

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    1. Exactly Lance! That is so awesome.

      So many, don’t take those chances. Too afraid! They stay in that comfort zone and never know “true” living.

      Good for you, I am so happy for you, know I am celebrating. I can’t wait to hear how this experience betters your life.

      🙂

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  12. Ugh! I know exactly what you mean about weight issues! I lost 36 with 15 to go and put back on 12, so now I’m back to trying to lose those 12 PLUS the 15. I was doing so well and then just dropped the ball.

    Good luck!

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    1. Renee,

      I know! It’s the yoyo. I know it’s mental (for me). I have to dig deep to find that part of my brain. As long as you keep trying, you WILL get there. Rooting for you!

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  15. What a great post Angelia. I must confess I have let my weight hold me back in the past, always thinking when I reach my goal things will be different … things will be better. Thanks for reminding us to seize the moment … and thanks for stopping by my blog. 🙂

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    1. Donna,

      It’s tough not to think that way some days. Maybe those things will be better one day, but right now you can make memories too. That’s what helps me.

      Thank YOU for coming by! Good to see you!

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