Do you ever wonder where to begin….
I often face a situation where my first thought is where should I begin…
Once I ask that question I often start the thought process of doubting and wondering if my plan of attack will be successful…
And so, last week when I found this Quotable Magnet, I knew it was the one I needed to read every day.
I want to embrace the invitation written in black and white…it is a freeing thought and a great plan for almost any situation I will face day-to-day….
I have been really thinking about the power of the mind. I am aware that some of the weight I carry on my body is due to the thoughts of my mind. My thoughts are not so enormous or so awful. But they are thoughts rooted in negative thinking. Those thoughts often carry messages of self defeat and doubt that I will reach the goals I have boldly named and persistently pursue.
I consider those negative thoughts like a big pricker weed that feels difficult to grasp some days but I know they need to be uprooted. I desire a life that represents a vibrant and colorful garden. I must tend to
my garden, water and fertilize it with good nutrients, but I also must walk through my garden (thoughts, actions and habits) regularly and pull the weeds before they begin to threaten the beauty and/or life of all I am hoping to produce.
I wonder if you take inventory of your garden (life) and if you know where the pricker weeds(negative thoughts) tend to surface. I know that on this side of heaven, weeds will continue to grow, but I invite you to tend the garden of your mind, body and soul and make sure that you are not watering weeds when you desire wild flowers….
I often think the phrase common sense isn’t so common as I encounter situations in a day where I believe someone should have acted differently. I realize it is my sly way of casting judgement and is not a thought filled with kindness and grace. Last week at U 1st Fitness, I was staring that thought in the face as I considered my nutrition.
We talked about the basics of nutrition and how media has convoluted the whole area of nutrition. I have been a sucker for this pill and that pill or this fat burning supplement or that power packed powder. I believer there are things that can aid us in our journey, but really, 
there is nothing quite as basic as the RDA (recommended daily allowance).
As I looked at the chart and considered the balanced diet that is outlined within this plan, I realized that I was missing the common sense of nutrition. I wanted to blame all sorts of things so I did not have to face my poor choices. I have shared that I replaced bad choices with a little better choices, but I did not make the jump to well-balanced choices. I am learning that my body needs fruits, veggies, grains, dairy, carbs and protein every day. I am learning that if I feed my body well it will crave healthy foods. I am learning that to be healthy is to be intentional….
I am learning yet again about good food choices that fit into my lifestyle.
I am learning yet again about good food choices that bring my body good outcomes…
I am learning yet again about caring for my body so I might live well.
I know that living healthy does not guarantee a long life, but I do believe that good health does guarantee a different quality of life.
I know that living healthy does not guarantee less heartache or pain, but I do believe that living healthy offers me an outlet to deal with that sorrow and ache in a way that my old life style does not.
I want to live in kindness to my mind, body and spirit. I want to feed my body well and feed my soul well. I want to have a colorful heart, both in my food choices and in how I love myself and others. I invite you to consider if you are using common sense when it comes to your nutrition. I invite you to look honestly and make some changes. I am learning it is very worthwhile! Come learn with me! 
I believe that waiting has a purpose. I have found that in seasons of waiting, I change. I am learning that often the critical things I may need to learn come during the waiting….
And so, this blog entry is not written for those who are in a season of waiting where growth is occurring…and I also am a strong believer that you know best how to identify the season of life you are currently in.
But sometimes I find that I use waiting as an excuse not to act. I have many examples of scenes in my life where I am waiting, waiting, waiting and denying that my waiting is more of an excuse than a reality. If this doesn’t resonate with you, perhaps you are not one who hides in waiting. If this does resonate with you, smile as you see the new sign that hangs by my computer….
I would love to visit with my readers and share our life scenes of true waiting and how we might each hide in waiting. I would be curious about what you are waiting on and what is the outcome you desire. I would also ask what it is that is keeping you from pursuing that outcome? If you waiting to start exercising, I encourage you to go and take a walk today. If you are waiting on a friend or family member to reconcile, I would encourage you to pick up the phone or write a letter today and if you are waiting on a changed routine, I would encourage you to stop waiting and start living today.
I have a lot on my mind as I reenter my routine this week. I have clearly outlined what I am committed to prioritizing this week, but these words will help me to stay focused on what really is important. I hope you will also embrace these words as you move through your week. It is my hope that good things will be yours as you live true to your vision and passion in your day-to-day routines!
My niece Anneliese turned 16 yesterday. I had wanted to write on her birthday, but since I was busy with my experience at U 1st Fitness, I opted to write it today.
Anne is easy to be with, dependable, hardworking and easygoing. She is more of a thinker than a talker, but she is also delightful to 
have a conversation with. Anne loves to be outdoors and is in her glory if she can be out with horses. Anne is a natural when it comes to working with any animals and has always dreamed of owning her own horse. She is tender, kind, compassionate and a very clear thinker.
I believe I have seen the most change in Anne in this past year. She enjoys High School, is an excellent student and is the captain of her basketball team. I enjoy watching Anneliese develop her leadership skills. One of the things I enjoy most about Anne is all the quiet ways she draws people in. Anne has a powerful presence and is a very good reminder to me that one can be a very quiet person and carry a significance influence!
Anneliese , I am excited for you and hope being 16 is delightful and fun. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy you and your day-to-day life. I am always here to support you, encourage you or cheer you on. I believe God has big things planned for you. What fun it is to watch you love other people and animals with such gentleness and compassion. I know you are deeply loved and very well liked by all of us, your family, siblings, cousins and friends.
I have a favorite quote and it reminds me of watching you this last year….And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful that the risk it took to bloom.
Anais Nin
Your flower has emerged and it is awesome! I am proud of you and love you very much….bloom baby bloom!
I love you with all my heart Aunt Trish
Tonight I bought a dress from The Gap that represents a dream…
It is not a dream of a number on my scale….
It is not a dream of a certain clothing size….
It is a dream of arriving at a landmark along my journey path. A place on my journey that will represent health and wellness, love and living!
It is not an ending on my journey and not a place I will stop for long…but when I arrive and celebrate this moment, I will then share a picture of the dress and me in it!
What do you have that will mark the dream you are pursing and how will you celebrate when you arrive…
Journey well, achieve your dreams and don’t forget to celebrate!
I can not believe that my week at U1st Fitness is drawing to a close. The week has been filled with surprises at every turn and although there is a sadness to leaving, I am feeling prepared and equipped to succeed at home. I have been able to identify a number of reasons why my progress towards wellness has been slower at home than I would like. One very key element was a lack of vision. I had one foot in the camp of success and one foot in the camp of apathy. If I hit my goal I would marvel and feel ecstatic and if I did not, it was ok because I didn’t really think I would make it anyway….now, as I type that out, I realize how self-defeating my lack of vision has been to my desired outcomes.
Tonight I enjoyed a few hours with my U1st friends making vision boards. We were invited to consider the vision we have for ourselves. This could be communicated in many different ways and the end product is a delightful visual of my vision!
We were also invited to identify our vision as to how we wanted to relate with other people. Life is about loving and being loved and it feels so right to clarify my vision both for how I am going to live and how I am committed to live with those I love and care about….
I wonder if you have taken time to crystallize your vision?
I wonder if you have put words to your vision and invited someone to encourage you and remind you of that vision on days you lose sight…
Consider these thoughts on vision and awaken your soul….the clarity of the picture is refreshing!
The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. Helen Keller
Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. Carl Jung
I love to enjoy a good meal at Sandmann’s on Wealthy in Grand Rapids, MI. They have excellent BBQ chicken and ribs and it is our traditional Father’s Day menu when I host my family. It is just really good and I have come to understand how good soul food really is….
This week at U1st Fitness I am learning about how to go home with a plan that will meet my nutritional goals. I have identified that I am not eating frequently enough and when I do, I am not making choices in foods that will fuel my body well. I realize that in my wellness journey I have eliminated my bad choices for the most part, but have not replaced them with the best ones. I am thankful for the opportunity to go at it again and continue to make movement on my journey to wellness….
Another very interesting experience I have had at U1st Fitness is the invitation to spend time in meditation every morning. This is not new to me, but another practice that has gotten shortened and changed up over the years. I have found the start of every day in the quiet and meditating on a Scripture verse, a thought or reading a chapter of a book I am reading to be very enlightening.
During this time I have enjoyed being reminded of life in some places in my soul I have felt dead.
During this time I have marveled at hearing truth that has shaped my day…
During this time I have delighted in silence and stillness….
During this time I have had a definite AHA moment. I have come to realize that wellness doesn’t come in emptying/depriving ourselves, but filling ourselves with life-giving things. Now although I have been somewhat aware of this, my day-to-day life does not reflect my awareness or commitment to this. The invitation to meditate has been a real highlight of my week.
Now you may ask, how does this affect my weight loss journey?
I realized in a very clear way that my habit has been to tend to my soul hunger with food.
I have come to understand that my soul is fed in a much better way by soul food (not the Sandmanns kind)
I am looking forward to journeying in the days and weeks ahead with the right food sources feeding the correct hunger pangs!
It is late here in Texas and my time is short before my eyes close, so I will also keep this short and simple….
One thing we are learning here at U1st Fitness is to keep it simple…
I am realizing that there are a number of places where I complicate something much more than I need to. I am seeing that not only in messing with the simple equation of food, water, sleep and exercise but also in my thought process and actions.
The nutrition piece is often an area where I struggle. It is very clear to me that my nutrition plan that I was keeping is not sufficient to help me achieve my goals. Initially I am all concerned about what I am going to eat. Then I am kindly reminded to keep it simple and to pay attention to the recommended daily allowance…
I do not want to put up hurdles where no hurdle is found…
I do not want to sabotage my success while on this long and daily journey…
I want to get the best return on my investment regarding my wellness journey….
And so I will keep it simple and live life conscious of the present. I am committed to approaching whatever comes in the simplest ways possible.
I invite you to also consider where do you complicate matters in your day-to-day with adding or subtracting things from the equation…I wonder how life would be different if we really did commit to keeping it simple!
