Realized something about myself and my son today that I never really thought about. Over Christmas I noticed he hadn't finished a book he had said he was really enjoying. He informed me he was putting off reading the end because he really didn't want the story to finish - and of course the next book in the series isn't published yet. I knows how he feels and realized I was doing the same thing now. I had only 2 short chapters left in the book "The Four Storey Mistake" I was telling you about. It's even due at the library, but I put off reading those 2 chapters simply because I don't want the story to end, even though I could order the next book in the series. Here I am putting off a joyful conclusion simply because I don't want it to end, because I want to avoid feeling the void that will surely result once the last word is finely read. But it must end because there is nothing more to be said except for the ending. How "silly" to avoid it, yet how often don't we do the same things in our own lives? We avoid reaching the wonderful outcome because of the perceived, although often small, discomfort that will arise from it. It begs us to step out of the comfort zone created for us when we first became captured by the words on the pages.

Ok, enough of that. Day 9 of the Healthy Lifestyle challenge with MelTeague is going great. I'm not going to likely drop any of the things on the list 100%, but I'm hoping to start using all the items on the list in a much more healthy way. I would like to be able to eat many of those things occasionally, as "treats" or when we're out, but keep them in definite moderation, replacing them most often with better alternatives. I must say, if I could actually quit soda, that would probably the the one for me. We'll see - probably take more than the first 30 days, but I'm moving in the right direction. This challenge is worth it just to receive the recipes that Mel creates. Yum!

One point on the challenge though is that sometimes what I perceive to be healthy isn't - and creates another challenge. For instance, I prefer almost all my veggies raw with the exception of a very few. I now find out that more veggies than I ever would have thought have non beneficial side effects if eaten raw. (see Lis193's blog for info and link) www.sparkpeople.com/mypa
ge_public_journal_individu
al.asp?blog_id=5198632 . I'm always happy to be learning, but sometimes it would be so nice if it could just be straightforward simple! Of course then, I may as well, give up the ghost and die as my grandma used to say, so I guess I'll keep on plugging on.

Since I'm on the Challenge bandwagon of late I thought I may as well add yet one more! Yes, you may call me crazy, just don't call me lazy (at least not to my face).
Sparkpeople sent me a special offer email today about the Giaimtv.com 30 day happiness challenge. I signed up. After all of these I'll be fit, healthy, happy.... now all I need is a challenge that will make me more financially prosperous and I'll be set for life LOL.

The 30 day happiness challenge is simply a challenge to help us become more aware of happiness, being happy and sharing happiness and kindness. There is an acitivity/worksheet each day and an inspiring quote. Here's the basis of day 1 (today for me) to give you an idea. This is taken from: www.connect2happiness.ne
t/day1.php


"When we take a moment to listen to our inner guide, we get clues that can lead us down the path toward true happiness. Choosing what makes us feel happy over what makes us feel safe can take us out of our comfort zone; yet when we connect our passions with our actions, we stop seeking and start living. Find your joy: listen to yourself, and take action.

Start a conversation with your inner guide. Ask yourself these three questions, and listen closely to the answers.

1) What makes you happy?
2) What are you passionate about?
3) How can you bring more of that into your life?

DAILY QUOTE
“In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die. Where you invest your love, you invest your life.” "


The questions made me laugh, not because the are funny, but because they are things I'm struggling with right now, the hand that taps me on the shoulder, the dream that wakes me up at night. The conversation I need to have with myself. Now, isn't it interesting that right when I'm in the middle of this and rather frustrated sometimes, that this challenge appears, and that day 1 points right to me and say 'Let's do this'.

So here I am. I'm doing it, I'm doing it all. I'm getting fit, I'm getting healthy and I'm going to get happy - and I'm going to share it all! Because I'm not sure you can be all those things and not simply share. I don't think I could manage the happy.

So to each and everyone of you, live in your bodies while you have them to live in. Invest your love well and find your happy and find your passion - they're patiently waiting for you!





I was about to say, so "go enjoy yourselves", which got me to thinking about the phrase "Enjoy yourself." I've always taken it to mean just "have a good time", but now thinking about it, what a wonderful wish to say to someone - enjoy yourself - enjoy Your Self - enjoy YOU! I am finding that when I'm not enjoying me - my self, I'm usually not enjoying much of anything else. I might be distracted from my "lack" of enjoyment, but I'm not being filled with joy elsewhere - it's like there's a slow leak.

So, there's your cuppa calorie free words of 'wisdom' for ya today! Namaste. CJ