Sunday’s Healthy Reflection

On November 15, 2009 By AngeliaIn Life is what you make it.31 Comments

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.

Take a ride with me…..

On September 17, 2009September 22, 2009 By AngeliaIn In my heart forever & ever, Life is what you make it., Love Exercising10 Comments

Will you? Will you join me on this journey?

Don’t even hesitate, I want YOU to come, YES YOU. It’s always better with company to enjoy all the beautiful sights. I am in awe of what’s all around us, every day, that we miss in our hurry. So, come, enjoy the ride. We won’t pedal too fast.
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ON YOUR MARK– Click the link below. It will open a new window that will play my favorite bicycling song. It’s an oldie re-done, yeah it might take some getting used to (if you’re an old crank like me), but give it a go. Or just listen to your favorite song. Are you listening? Now move down in the post.

Dont Stop Believing – Glee

GET SET-Grab your bike and water.

GO-Off we go into the beautiful beyond.

God’s beauty shining as the sun sets.

We pass Sunflowers growing on the side of the road. Their natural beauty even more astounding since they grow voluntary.

A field of them. Life abundant , how it overflows.

Then we see a creature, busy in his quest, searching for food or water. Uninhibited by our intrusion, as we watch him shuffle along. We could almost reach out and touch him. How amazing!

Finally, the way home, a path to guide us. Beautiful trees of nature serve as a canopy. Puddles from recent rain to splash through. Twilight is approaching, as we whip through the trees, with the wind blowing on our face, and our strong legs pump for more. We have gone farther than we ever thought possible. Our body, our spirit, did not fail.

What a rush. A physical endurance. An inspiring view. A mental refreshment from the day’s cares. A welcoming of the night, a night of peaceful rest, and the comforting return to our home, happy and sated.

Head bowed, I thank God for this day.

Thank you for joining me. Let’s do it again very soon.

The supreme prayer of my heart is not to be learned, rich, famous, powerful, or good, but simply to be radiant. I desire to radiate health, cheerfulness, calm courage, and good will. I wish to live without hate, whim, jealousy, envy, fear. I wish to be simple, honest, frank, natural, clean in mind and clean in body, unaffected, as ready to say I do not know, if it be so, and to meet all men on an absolute equality, to face any obstacle and meet every difficulty unabashed and unafraid. I wish others to live their lives, too – up to their highest, fullest, and best. To that end I pray that I may never meddle, interfere, dictate, give advice that is not wanted, or assist when my services are not needed. If I can help people, I’ll do it by giving them a chance to help themselves; and if I can uplift or inspire, let it be by example, inference, and suggestion, rather than by injunction and dictation. That is to say, I desire to be radiant – to radiate life.

Elbert Hubbard

A blessed year begins

On August 24, 2009October 16, 2009 By AngeliaIn Better to be blessed, Life is what you make it.1 Comment

I have to say this was the BEST birthday I have ever had in my life.
*unless you ask my mom and she swears it was my first birthday*

Yes. I planned some of it. It wasn’t a total surprise. What was a surprise was how the plans fell together so perfectly. How the entire weekend was one thrill after another. How Jason surprised me again and again. He gifted me the most wonderful gift of all. His love and affection so untainted, it soaked to my very core. Because last year? There was a taint to his love. That taint was that he wasn’t divorced.

His X held up the paperwork and used a shoddy lawyer even though SHE was the one that wanted the divorce arguing over piddly things -like how he should be required to buy HER a $40.00 mothers day gift every year from the girls. Being pissy that she can’t take off to Massachusetts with the kids and leave him in the dust (take her children away from their father) because Texas courts say THAT is not allowed (and for a reason thank you Texas) but SHE would have. That’s just kind of person she is.

So, yes the divorce was tied up and last year that put a taint on my birthday. I could feel the strain on Jason and our relationship. He held back in his turmoil and I don’t blame him one bit.

Thank God, that is over and thank God it made this birthday shine even brighter. God Always wins. I am even more grateful and appreciative because this birthday was more special beyond measure. *Last year we saw Linkin Park which WAS awesome don’t want to mislead last years greatness it was great* But this year? This year was magical.

Friday night started with Sushi (yay). It was delicious. It was mouth melting. It was everything I had anticipated and more. *plus I only embarrassed myself once* I had a present waiting for me along with a sweet card and a runners store gift card. *so I can train for a half again yeah*

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And what was in the pretty box (he wrapped himself)?

Something as beautiful as his love for me.

On the next day we went to get a bike rack for his Jeep Commander so we could take our bikes to the lake or Trinity Trails but THAT involved a trip to a retail store on tax free weekend. Not the best idea and it kinda stunk. So ,let’s just skip over that!

The next stop WAS fun and spectacular.

The Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas.

gaylordexterior

Here are some inside shots. The pictures don’t do it justice. Four and half acres of an indoor waterway and lush gardens set to a nice 72 degrees. Amazing!

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After walking around awestruck, we ended up in a gorgeous wine bar.

I wish I could tell you how many wine bottles were there. Seriously? I have no idea. They had some beautiful bottles and they even had some modern self serve wine counters. It was a mix of old class and new at just the right sophistication.
Also there were several very knowledgeable wine connoisseurs. We took their recommendation and tried a red wine called Tikal from South Argentina. I may not have been a wine drinker before but I sure am now. Exquisite! The wine tasting and a nice steak dinner out made my night.

The next day, on my actual birthday, I got my first Swedish massage at Relache spa. NOW I know what everyone is talking about. It was like heaven on earth for a blissful 50 mins. One of the best presents I have ever received. *thank you thank you Jason*

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My locker.

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The fountain in front of the spa.

After that, I was very chill and relaxed. We took Sydney and Jaelynn to Spaghetti Warehouse for my birthday lunch. I had MY favorite (spaghetti w/mushrooms). Jason even told them it was my birthday and they sang to me. *ugh* Still it was fun and delicious. Best of all, the day was far from over.

Onward we go to Hot Nails for a manicure and pedicure which is almost as good as a Swedish massage. Uhhh, actually doesn’t even come close but it used to be. I sill enjoyed it to no end. My nails and toes are gorgeous!

With daylight still burning I got Jason to take me to a movie at the Rave. Sometimes, I love the buttered popcorn more than the movie. Or should I say I go to the movies for the buttered popcorn? Ha! It was too close call this time too. I just loved the never ending awesome day. But after the movie, finally, night fell and my birthday day ended.

However, at work on Monday, I was greeted with a wonderful birthday spread. Fresh Fruit and my favorite dessert; a chocolate trifle. Donna is a fellow co worker and genius in the kitchen. She really went all out for the August birthdays. I was so grateful she remembered my favorite, the chocolate trifle. It was just as good as last year (ummm better). I think I had three helpings! *thank you Donna you are the BEST baker I have ever known especially since you do it all from scratch*