So we have established that I love "the biggest loser" it's one of two shows that are actually appointment tv for me. sad i know. But another one of fav's went home this week much to my chagrin and sadness. But before he left he spoke about being a positive influence and what he said has resonated with me since then. " You can't be everything to everyone, but you can be something to someone." I love that. Often I try to not just burn my candle at both ends, but I also burn it from the middle as well. I try to fit in what everyone needs and I over schedule and over commit all in the effort of being and staying relavent.
But I am relavent. I do have a say, and I want to start mattering, not to the masses, but to myself. I want to have quality relationships instead of quantity. I want to fullfill needs instead of throwing quick solutions... So that being said... what next? any ideas? cause I could use some pointers in this one.
I've hit my first mini goal. I have officially lost 50 pounds. Which is wonderful, great, amazing... and scary. I have a long way to go before I even get near to where I want to be right now, but it's a start and I'm setting plans for along the way to help me and encourage me and to keep my motivation up.
So what about the scary part? It's odd but how I look is such a huge part of who I am. I am and have been able to use my size for the most part as a crutch in life. When people don't like me - it's because of how much I weigh. When I don't get that job or I loose that chance, same reason. It's been my crutch to keep me from taking those trips and flights and loads of other personal things that I have chosen to miss out on in my life. But when all that starts to strip away?... where does that leave me? What if people don't like me because they simply don't like me. What if at the end of the day who I am simply isn't good enough. It's enough to make me pause and want to run back to the familar life I have.
And at the end of the day I'm angry at myself. I have done this, I have abused my health and my life and taken it all for granted. But there is a payoff. I am making plans. I am trying new things. I am going places I haven't been in years. I am happy and busy and am actually living a life once more. And that is worth all the pain and the early morning workouts and the days when I lack total motivation.
If you were to open up a business of your own, what would it be?
Submitted by beth.
Without a doubt a card buisness... but I feel I have already answered this question before... and then I spoke lovingly of my dream buisness. It's a used bookstore with card and gift boutique in the front end.
I'm probably considered a tree hugger in training. I'm not a huge outdoors buff, something I'm working to change. I don't recycle every single thing I could and I'm not building compost piles in the back (mainly b/c I live in an apartment - wait til I own my own place someday) But occasionally I have visions of greatness, I take bags with me to the grocery store, I try to recycle what I can, I use filtered water instead of multiple bottles... I try to do better than good. I realize that I alone may not be able to reverse the effects of global warming, but I can do my part and to me that it what earth day is. If we all did a little better than good - can you imagine what could be accomplished?
I stop for coffee almost every day... and while I do have tons of travel mugs I am a slacker at using them... but this is my new goal - because it's all about the little steps. Change one thing at a time until it becomes habit. And then habit becomes a lifestyle and so on. Did you know that the hot throw away cups at coffee shops are not recyclable because of what is used to make them waterproof? Did you know that the amount of hot disposable cups thrown away each year can circle the world 55 times? Did you know I got that fact off NBC's green week and am therefore a dork? Did you also know that I am now going to be more diligent taking my travel cup with me?
Happy Late Earth Day folks!
What is your biggest ecological or environmental concern? What are you doing to make a difference?
Sponsored by One Million Acts of Green brought to you by Cisco.
That I create so much waste daily - from yogurt cups to coffee cups to occasional water bottles - I create so much waste on a daily basis and it's sad. I have recently started to recycle and I think thats a good thing but also I have started to change my buying habits. I try to buy items that can be recycled and I attempt to use renewable resources. I try to remember to bring my reusable coffee cup and my refillable water bottle with me. I also make certain I have full loads of dishes and clothes before I run loads and I use an eco friendly cleaner when able to. I don't do as much as I could but it's like diets - if you change everything overnight it doesn't stick, but if you make small changes it's more likely to become habit and part of the everyday.
Seriously? I love my local coffee shop, the barista's treat me nicely, we chat and I know the other morning and some evening regulars. But the way people order their coffee is becomming more and more crazy. I am a picky person when I deal with customer service professionals - but thats more with the things that can be helped; was I greeted? did they tell me the total or just grab my money? do they seem like they actually want my money? and so forth. But the stuff that doesn't matter is just stuff.
My main concern is how people order their coffee - I was psyched when I used a starbucks drive through for the first time and they added the fake sugar in for me. Wow! I think I even called my sister and told her how cool it was. (yes it is the little things, and yes I do chase shiney objects) I'm also a people watcher, I love to observe others - not in a stalkerish way- and how they interact with the world at large... but at starbucks, sheesh, There is this one couple that come in regularly who always want a capp that is more foam than anything and if it's not right they wait and wait and wait until it is. Then, this one lady who always goes through drive through and then parks and walks her coffee in b/c it's never exactly how she wants it. I counted one week and saw her walk in 4 days. So what's my point? I'm getting to it. I have been picky about my drinks before - 4 pumps of this 2 of that or no whip, extra whip, blah blah blah - but I finally figured it out. It doesn't matter. There are more things in my life that I need to pay attention to. I need to watch how I drive, how I write case notes, how I do alot of things in general. But most importantly - I need to treat others with that same attention and care I use to worry about my coffee with. I need to notice what I'm saying and how I'm acting instead of how much cream and sugar are going into my coffee - yea I can still do that - but I need to pay more attention where it really matters.
What three things do you regret not learning to do?
1. The PIANO!!!!!! i can do right hand melody but I really wish I knew how to really play the piano... hmmm maybe I need to stalk the gw for a key board?
2. The Guitar - I took a class in college and learned twinkle twinkle but never got past that. I wish I was able to get the concept of it.
3. Spanish - would be really great to speak spanish now in my line of work.
The cool thing is that all of these are things that if I wanted to I could try harder to do...
What change have you made in your life that you're most proud of?
Sponsored by Nature Made.
I am incredibly proud of myself for working out and following through. It's baby steps - but I think I'm doing okay. Sunday, weather permitting, I will participate in my first 5k.... Just walking - but someday jogging. So it's kinda cool. I also have given up meat for the time being and have really noticed a difference in how I feel. So I guess the change is the healthy change - I have tried to change my life into a healtier existance and into a longer life. So there. The end.
I am simply amazed by this woman - she is 47 and will blow you away. It's a longer clip - but please give her at least 3 minutes of your time. I think it's also a great reminder about not judging a book by her cover as well as a run on from last nights blog post.
Enjoy!
I read a story today about how one of the worlds greatest violin players - Joshua Bell chose to play in a busy Washington D.C. terminal as a nondescript musician just living his craft to judge the public reaction. This is a man who commands the stage is known internationally and can fill up concert halls. So what was the reaction? In the 45 minutes where he played... you would think a crowd would form.... people would be amazed... things would happen. What actually happened - nothing. 7 people stoped, he made a whopping $30 some odd amount. Which leads to several questions I have.
1. How many things of beauty do we miss on a regular day because we are so busy being busy?
2. Who decides what is considered priceless?
I am always being reminded in not to gentle ways to stop and notice the good around me... and too often I tell myself I am simply to busy and important to do just that.
My goal this week is to speed through the week a little less and to stop and listen to the music a little more... there is no telling what masterpiece I may hear as a result.
