Sunday Inspiration: Success

 

Thankful Thursday: March 25, 2021

 Some weeks it is more difficult to find the gratitude.  There will be days when you're handed the unexpected.  Weeks when the skies seem to stay dark and gray day after day.  But I firmly believe in the saying "there is always something to be thankful for".  Always!  It may be that you were able to get up out of bed on your own, that there is something to eat in your refrigerator, that the sun is shining, or that you are breathing and your heart is still beating.  Maybe it's as simple as spotting the first flower of spring. Or that it stopped raining and the sun peeked through the clouds for a few minutes.  Look for the good around you - no matter how small it may seem at the moment.

I Am Thankful For:

Chik-fil-a lunch in the car

Puppy kisses

A good night's sleep

The sound of falling rain

A healthy dinner

Homemade shepherd's pie

Health insurance

A pretty new top for spring

A peek of blue sky through the clouds

Sleeping in on Saturday morning

An evening walk

My favorite soup in the crockpot

A chorus of birds singing a morning song

Motivation for change

Challenge: Health

 It was inevitable under the circumstances.  For the past year, I have drowned all of the stress and anxiety over the pandemic under waves of sweets, junk food, and take-out.  

Feeling worried about the health of yourself and all your family members?  Have some donuts!

Lonely after months and months of self-isolation?  Ice cream!

Another day of helping the grand-kid with remote learning?  Order Chik-fil-a delivery for lunch!

Worried about the effect the pandemic is having on your online small business?  Tacos, pizza, candy, cookies!  

Sure... the 'rona didn't get me.  But the bad eating habits certainly have.  Not only did I regain every pound I lost in 2019 (and then some) - but after seeing the lab results from my yearly physical last week, I realized that it has also taken a toll on my cholesterol and blood sugar.  I'm not going to share numbers.  Let's just say - it wasn't good.  Overall, I'm not very healthy right now. 

If that isn't motivation for making some major lifestyle changes - I don't know what it!  It's a good thing that my One Word for the year is "Challenge"!

I have to get my weight down.  I have to get my cholesterol under control.  And I have to get a handle on the sugar before it becomes an actual problem. 

So - here's how I plan to meet that challenge:

I am recommitting myself to the WW program.  It helped me lost quite a bit of weight before, and I know if I buckle down and accept the challenge to really follow the plan, it will again.  I will be focusing on lots of good cholesterol-lowering foods that really nourish and fuel my body. 

I will start incorporating some movement back into my life - whether it's taking the dogs for more walks, doing some at-home workouts, or finally trying out that fancy exercise bike the Man of the House got for Christmas. 

This is one challenge I can't afford to give up on.  I have big dreams for the future and I plan to be around to see them come true!

So, this is me.  Stepping forward and being honest and transparent.  Asking all of you to help to keep me accountable. In return I promise to post regular updates on my progress and be honest when I'm struggling.  

Thankful Thursday: March 18, 2021

 

I Am Thankful For:

Spring-like days

Not a cloud in the sky

Happy hair days

Daffodils preparing to bloom

Strawberries

A long shower

Time with the Male Offspring

Discovering a new podcast

When the rain ends

Sunday Inspiration: Hurdles

 

Thankful Thursday: March 11, 2021

 Did you know that gratitude isn't just good for you in a spiritual or emotional sense?  It also has health benefits!  According to researchers, practicing gratitude can help you sleep better, lower your blood pressure, and be less likely to suffer burnout.  It may even decrease the level of pain you experience and reduce inflammation on the cellular level.

I Am Thankful For: wea

Feeling rested

God's guidance

A bright new morning

Glasses for the grand kid

Another beautiful sunset

Rest when I am weary

Winter sunshine

Praying Scripture

Dreams for the future

Books

The circuses beginning to bloom

Walks with the dogs

Family

Mom celebrating another birthday

Sleepy Sundays

Floors swept and mopped

A happy tune stuck in my head

Sunday Inspiration: Accomplish by Kindness

 

Thankful Thursday: March 4, 2021

 I look forward to Thankful Thursdays so very much!  I enjoy the opportunity to share some of the items I have written in my gratitude journal over the previous week.  And I am especially thankful when you share some of the things you are thankful for in the comments or over on my weekly Instagram post! 

I Am Thankful For:

Taxes are done

When the day gets better

Red lipstick

Days that hint of Spring

Donuts

Opening the windows for fresh February air

Knowing I am loved

Making plans with the Male Offspring

How excited the pup gets playing with his squeaky toy

2 large orders

Puppy snuggles

Someone else taking care of dinner

An evening watching WandaVision with the Man of the House

The internet

Ice cream

Watching the full moon disappear behind the clouds

Morning mist

Planning for the month ahead

Spring flowers peeking out of the ground

Currently... March 2021

This time last year life as we know it began to drastically change.  Since then, it feels as if the world has gone crazy in a different way with almost every week that passes.  I don't know about you, but for me, it has been long enough that the isolation life has begun to feel normal in some ways and the idea of going out shopping or to dinner in a restaurant feels very foreign and out of my comfort zone.  Hopefully, I will have to get used to that sort of thing once again soon.

My grandson goes back to full-time in-person learning next week.  That will be an adjustment as I have gotten used to having him here a few days a week.  I'm going to miss not seeing that sweet face in the mornings asking for a snack (aka: second breakfast). 

On the other hand, I look forward to sleeping in a little later (if the dogs will allow it) and having some quiet time with my coffee. 

My goals for February were pretty much a flop.  I just couldn't seem to find my motivation to focus and accomplish anything.  The Man of the House and I did finish our sugar detox - just in time for Valentine's day, which involved lots of cheesecake.  So...  yeh.  I washed my face almost every night, but as far as a full bedtime routine - not so much.  And the whole "stay offline one day per week" thing never materialized at all.  March has to go better. Right?

Working On:  Getting my act together.  And by that, I mean staying focused on the task I am working on at the moment as well as getting motivated to begin and complete projects and challenges.  As I mentioned before, that's something I struggled with this last month.  If I am going to accomplish anything this year - that has to change,

Celebrating: My mother's birthday is Friday.  Happy Birthday, Mom!

Loving:  The man and I are big fans of British television.  Especially panel shows. Seriously, if you've never seen an episode of Taskmaster with Greg Davies and Alex Horne - you are missing out! We decided to get a streaming app for our Amazon Firestick that is allowing us to explore new BBC shows previously unknown to us.

Wanting/Needing:  A little self-motivation would be nice.  (See a theme here?) A little extra energy would be nice also.  There are many things I want or need to be doing.  I just have to get my rear in gear and actually do them. 

Reading: I am nearing the end of In The Woods by Tana French.  So far it is a pretty good thriller. I'm waiting until I see how this ends before I decide whether I will read the next book in the series.  I plan to read a book from my yearly list this month (either Tess of the D'Ubervilles or The Wind in the Willows) as well as You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar.  

The grandkid and I are reading Half Magic together.  And I guess that routine will become a thing of the past when he returns to school next week.  At least until summer break begins. 

I'm also hoping to finish I Thought It Was Just Me this month.  I had to return it before I completed it and finally was able to check it out again.  The goal is to finish it before it has to go back yet again.   

Dreaming About: 

Challenges for March:

• Reach next weight loss goal
• Stick to a nail care routine to grow and strengthen my nails
• Clean out and reorganize my home office

What will your March look like this year?