Remember me? Remember how I used to write about losing weight and trying to be a better person?
It kind of feels like a really long time ago for me. So much has changed and yet so much remains the same.
Much like any weight loss journey, mine is never ending. 2016 was the year that life caught up with me and I gained back about 30 pounds of the weight that I worked so hard to lose. I could make excuses, but I won't. The truth is that I got tired and stressed and I started caring less and ate more.
After splitting my second pair of pants in a short time frame and just feeling gross, I decided it was time to start getting back at it.
For whatever reason, writing helps me process, and it helps me stay on track. So my plan for 2017 is to head back here and document my progress, on getting healthy (body, soul and mind) and life in general.
I decided to change the name of the blog, because when I looked back, the previous name just sounded arrogant to me. It didn't fit anymore. I'm still doing my best to live like Jesus and I still hope to diminish the size of my jeans, but I'm so much more than that.
So here I am, just trying to make peace with the body and mind that I have been given. Trying to find balance amongst the chaos of my life. Trying to find a place where I feel healthy, strong and joyful.
To start, I decided it would be wise to come up with a list of the ten things I was most thankful for in 2016
- A safe home to live in
- A job that challenges me daily
- A body that allows me to run
- My family
- Friends who don't forget about me even though I'm terrible at keeping in touch
- Birds congregating outside my kitchen window
- A church that is focused on building bridges
- New beginnings
- Live music
- A chance to love and serve others
So here is my challenge to everyone for 2017
- Choose love. All the time, with every person, in every conversation. Choose to see the things you have in common rather than the things that drive you apart.
- Be generous. With your time, money and heart. I guarantee you that you have far more than you need. Let some of it go and change someone else's life.
- Learn something new. Read about things that are new and a little bit scary. Look at things from another point of view.
- Pay attention. Look away from your phone and up at the sky. Make eye contact. Slow down. Identify all the colors in the sunset. Name the calls of the birds.
2017 can be a great year if we all do our best to make it that way.
May your 2017 be filled with joy, love and peace!
