When The Going Gets Tough....

...The Tough Get Going!

This is lesson number 2 of Learning to Love what's GOOD! None of us are promised a life sans problems, tests, and difficulties. However, we can overcome, conquer, and breakthrough all that life throws at us, or all that we throw at ourselves. (This one is gonna be a little long)

I learned a lesson in this very thing while trying to arrange my schedule to 'fit in' my workout routine. The more I examined my schedule, the more I realized I had slim to no time available to add in anything, let alone something I really didn't want to do! This was a problem. I couldn't forge ahead on my resolution if I didn't begin my workout regimen, but I simply couldn't find the time to add it in; or so I thought.

In comes the test. I was testing myself to see how serious I was about this whole 'Learning to Love what's GOOD regime. If I was serious, then things would HAVE TO CHANGE, but if I wasn't, then nothing needed to change as I was already set up for failure. It was at this point that I remembered the definition of insanity; doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. Subsequently, if I'm being honest, when it comes to my health I have been quite insane for quite sometime. Realizing this, I decided this was a test I was going to pass!

In comes the difficult part- changing my schedule...aka...waking up at 4:30am five days a week!!! WHAT???!!!!??? I know, I know, it sounded crazy the second it came out of my mouth! Regardless, I determined that I was going to give it a shot. I woke up, got all my things together, and headed out the door by 5:15am! I drove to the YMCA, met up with my work out buddy and did my first spin class! I completed my class and went to the locker room to shower and get ready for work (which is a matter that deserves a complete entry of its own), then drove to my job where I worked my usual ten hour shift. On day one, I was so exhausted I was in bed before 9pm. This was quite a change since I'm a night owl, and usually don't fall asleep prior to 1:00am. If I thought all of that was difficult, I was kidding myself, the real difficulty came on day 2 at 4:30am when my alarm was screaming at me to wake up and hit the gym, again. But just as I made it through day one, I made it through day two, and so on and so forth.

I took it one day at a time and now my workout routine is an integral part of my day; it is a perfect fit! Additionally, the benefits are amazing! I get at least 7 hours of sleep a night and I am dreaming again (I used to function on 4 or less), I have more energy and stamina through the day, and I'm actually hungry in the morning (I was never a breakfast eater)-now that's GOOD!

Lean On Me...

"...When you're not strong, I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on. For, it wont be long, till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on"!

This song is an oldie but a goody, and applies specifically to lesson number one of Learning to LOVE what's GOOD: Have an accountability partner!

Lets face it, we were not made to walk this earth alone, we need each other- we call upon, lean on, cry on, laugh with, grow with, talk with, pray with, look to, admire, and esteem those around us. How much more do we need someone when we are attempting to change our lifestyle and are Learning to LOVE what's GOOD? Much More!

I never would have kept my New Year's Resolution if I didn't have my accountability partner; in fact I never would have started it! So Lelia, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU SO MUCH for being the best encouraging, truth speaking, butt kicking accountability partner a girl could ask for!

Here's to starting week 14........TOGETHER!

...To Be or Not To Be

...."To Be or Not To Be"; that is the ever elusive question.

Today, I have decided that my answer to this question is "To Be; hence the creation of my very first blog. The idea of this blog began as a means of response to questions asked by my peers in regards to a personal journey I have been on over the last fourteen weeks. I have affectionately titled this journey "Learning to LOVE what's GOOD", and have been sharing little tid-bits of information on my Facebook page which you can access here!

Back Story

"Learning to LOVE what's GOOD" began in January of 2010, as a type of 'New Year's Resolution'; but never having made a resolution I actually kept, I was uncertain of its life span. What happened next is, oddly enough, exactly what I needed to make sure this resolution stuck-I went to the movies! I am sure that many of you are familiar with the Twilight Saga books and films that have swept the world by storm, but please don't stop reading. My parents actually wanted to see the second installment of the series "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" so I took them. I'm not sure the reason, but a scene in the movie took place where Charlie, the father of Bella, says to her "Sometimes you gotta learn to love what's good for ya", and I felt like I got punched in the gut! I left that movie thinking about that quote and the truth behind it...it stayed with me and has become my life's motto!

Breaking It Down

"Learning to LOVE what's GOOD" sounds great in theory, but in reality it posed a number of questions, some of which have yet to be answered. Questions like, 'how do I know what is 'good', and 'who's definition of 'good' is the best', and 'how do I get started'? All of these were very real questions that, if I would have let them, could have got the best of me and thwarted this entirely. My answers and thoughts to these and many more questions will be laid out here in this blog for you to read, and hopefully be inspired by!

Subscribe and follow me on my journey, and perhaps start one of your own!