JEWELMOTI's SparkPeople Blog

Introspective Progress...

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:04:18 EST

It has been 19 years since my beautiful daughter was the victim of a horrific murder. I got through the day...
I couldn't help relive every moment... I got through the day...
Her memory is so embedded in mine...
Sometimes I can almost smell her fragrance...
I can think about her now, and visualize the joy she gave to me and all those that came in contact with her...
I can do that now and get through the day.
My life will never be the same, but my new life, m...

It's Saturday!

Sat, 8 Dec 2012 19:49:39 EST

I am so happy it is the week end. I wish each one of you light, love, peace and joy today and tomorrow.

Doreen Virtue

Wed, 5 Dec 2012 14:20:17 EST

I have been reading and listening to books and audio tapes from Doreen Virtue. The information that she imparts is very interesting and helps to build self awareness. If you haven't read any of her books I recommend you try.

Send Positive Energy

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:27:02 EST

I have read many blogs today about friends that feel unworthy, sad, or depressed. Please send positive thoughts to all that are struggling with difficult emotions. I think that collectively we can make a difference.
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Success

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:11:08 EST

This is probably the first time in my life that I didn't feel deprived or out of control on Thanksgiving.
It is remarkable the motivation and the thought processes that I have learned this past year.
I have a good feeling that with the support of this wonderful website that I am becoming the person I always knew I could be.
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Holiday Wishes

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 11:22:33 EST

How could I let these next few days pass with out letting all of my Spark friends know how thankful I am for all of you.
I have said it so very many times, but one of the best things that I have ever done is to have discovered Sparkpeople. This is one one place where you never are judged, are uplifted, find people with like interests, etc..
I look forward to every day with enthusiasm to continue my journey side by side with all of you.
With my Sister beside me and my Sparkers, ...

Today

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:00:32 EST

Well, it is almost 5:00 on Wednesday. I have officially hit the wall. Boy am I tired right now. The thought of going to the gym is the last thing I want to do.
That is the exact reason that I am going to force myself to do just that!
Wish me luck! 315

Unusual banter

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:31:05 EST

Happy Monday Everyone!
I had a very unusual message on Face Book from a friend of a friend. The gentleman really liked my profile picture, which was me swinging on a clothes pole from 1954. I have to admit, the picture really brings happy memories of a time gone by. Its funny looking back at it, you hardly ever see clothes poles any more.
Any way, he recounted his own nostalgic times, and it was a pleasant exchange. Until I went to my home page this morning, and found that there was...

Have a great Weekend

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:18:14 EST

HI Spark friends,
I just wanted to wish you a wonderful weekend. I hope that you all get to do at least a little more exercise than usual and that you make the best choices you can. 240

Wonderful Time

Fri, 2 Nov 2012 15:08:15 EST

My time with Sam was filled with excitement, energy, joy, and I could go on and on. We talked about the books we are and have read. We talked about the trips we have taken, the cities we have seen, our families, our jobs, and his health.
The best part of my night was finding out that his leukemia has been in remissions for 3 months.
How wonderful to have been able to share a couple of hours with this remarkable man. 257
214

Friendship

Thu, 1 Nov 2012 16:31:34 EST

Did you ever meet someone you took an immediate liking to? I met Sam in 1994. We were attending a trial. I had never met him before. He came up to me and handed me a long stem red rose. I was taken aback! Every year on the anniversary of that day he continues to send me red roses. We see each other maybe once a year. We never run out of things to say to each other yet we never impose on each other's life. I don't call him, he doesn't call me. Yet that bond is there. So strong! I know that i...

Memory

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:33:12 EST

God gave us memory so that we would have Roses in December.
I don't know who the author is, but I have roses today.
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The Aftermath

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:42:35 EST

Hi My Dear Friends,
Thank you for your warm wishes. They kept my family and I warm and safe. Not all were as lucky. Our shore line had to be evacuated because the beach completely eroded. Many lost power from high winds and fallen trees.
My Daughter is the night manager of a large grocery store and they lost power. It is amazing how quickly they were able to keep every one safe, and the freezers from defrosting.
All of our schools were closed, but we teachers came in and were...

Hurricane time

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:02:48 EST

Well here we are right in the path of a hurricane and a cold front. Now here in Upstate NY are very used to inclement weather. Blizzards are a normal occurrence. But this proves to be some thing even worse.
Stay home,
Stay safe.
Say prayers.
27 54 425

Music

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:14:21 EST

Did you ever notice how the language of music is understood by all? It is so powerful. It has the possibility to soothe, evoke sadness, happiness, anger, encouragement.

How profound!

Listening to Mozart is said to increase learning potential. House plants are said to flourish when listening to soothing music. When I am working out, if the music is playing I can lose myself in the exercise and forget about how hard I am actually working.

Here is to Music. May...

Change the way you look at things

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:35:14 EST

About 4 years ago, my very wise younger sister, witnessed me sinking into a deep depression. I was seeing a therapist at the time, but I couldn't pull myself up and out of the despair that had me in a stranglehold.

She was speaking of this to her neighbor, Dorothy from Kansas, (I affectionately call her this), and Dorothy told her about a book that she had read that had had a very positive impact on her life. My sister immediately went out and bought me the tapes. It was called th...

Like Ideas

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:30:37 EST

One of the things that fascinate me about being a Sparker is that there are so many of us, united, sharing similar ideas, goals, thoughts etc.. How lucky we are to have a founder that has contributed so much of himself so unselfishly, and has made a difference in so many lives.
I am so grateful to have all of you for support, knowing exactly how I feel. 212 240 426

The F Word

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:52:17 EST

I have 15 lbs to get to my goal. I haven't put a time limit on myself. I am focusing on living a healthy life style, making good choices, increasing physical activity, and remembering that I am human, and if I make a poor decision, it isn't the end of the world.

After reading different posts today, I found that I am still carrying the big bad baggage that the the word FAT represents to me. It made my skin crawl. I reverted into the self conscious, self doubting, low self esteem pe...

Peter Pan

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:52:59 EST

I feel a little like Peter Pan today. I had my hair cut short. Now that my body is close to 100 lbs lighter, I needed new hair to match my little body.
The first thing I thought of was, that I looked a little like Peter Pan, small, happy and able to fly. The new me feels so energized, accomplished and I know that there is really nothing I can't achieve if I put my mind to it.
Come fly with me my Sparkfriends!
188

What a difference a day makes.

Tue, 9 Oct 2012 11:07:45 EST

Well, I feel so much more energized today. The frost was certainly on the pumpkin this morning! Thank you fellow sparkers for your encouragement. I think you were all right when you said that the weather got me down. It is funny how even the barometric pressure makes a difference in how we feel.
I am more attuned to my body these days, so it made sense that I was sensitive to what was happening outside.
Thanks for your support, I'm BACK!
334

Happy Monday

Mon, 8 Oct 2012 13:37:00 EST

I feel tired today. I am just dragging. I have been trying to eat alittle bit every 2 hours, to keep my metabolism burninhg, but it is a struggle today. I don't know if it is the grey weather or the cool temperature. I am going to go for a brisk walk, hopefully that will wake me up. Any other suggestions? 102 86

Please help!

Fri, 5 Oct 2012 10:14:27 EST

Did any of you happen to see the story on the news about the 92 dogs that were dumped by Texas puppy mills? It went straight to my heart. These Maltese and King Charles Spaniels, were left to die on two separate roads.
Texas has very strict laws that are trying to change the bad effects puppies mills are having on the animal population.. I can't imagine that people who love animals would do such a thing. I am outraged! I feel so helpless. The volunteers who have responded are true angels...

How to inspire

Thu, 4 Oct 2012 16:40:04 EST

You know, every day I spend a good part of my day, trying to find something inspirational for my class. Now this is a Cosmetology class. These are men and women who are very artistic in their own right. I get most of my inspiration from them. But today, my sister sent me a link to youtube's Luie Schwartzberg's Gratitude, and it was profound. If you get a chance look at it. It was beautiful.
Today's lesson is about what is the hottest fashion. I want them to look beyond the visual eye and...

October goals

Tue, 2 Oct 2012 12:06:09 EST

Well another month is upon us. Like a new season goals, mission statements, and acheivements should be revisited and adjusted. For me the goals would be to lose one lb a week, go to the gym a minimum of 3 times a week, try to reach 5000 steps a day, and be a positive influence on as many people as possible. My mission statement this month is "Be the best that I can be"
386

Hello Monday

Mon, 1 Oct 2012 13:09:58 EST

Monday morning, it conjours images of sleepy showers, rushing to get dressed, trying to get my students raring to go. I used to hate mondays. After joining Sparkpeople, I have a renewed sense accomplishment. I reflect on a productive Sunday, and Monday gives the hope of renewed success at being in control of my life style change. I have been able to carry this feeling over to my students who have started to feel that Monday is a time to continue the progress they made the week before. It is...

I am going to enjoy the calm

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 18:59:21 EST

Saturday evening and Sunday are my favorite times. This coming week promices to be a super busy week. I know for sure that I am scheduled for 59 hours. I am excited about the prospect of a fantastic paycheck, but I am already looking forward to next Saturday and Sunday. I will not be able to get to the gym. I will be out of sync for a short while.
Saturday and Sunday I love you.

Trouble eating all of my food

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:09:37 EST

I used to complain that I couldn't stop eating, but now that I am nearing my goal, I am having a hard time getting all of my calories in. I never thought I would say that, but I struggle each day to get a good balance.

Dinner With Friends

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:22:11 EST

When friends called and asked me to meet them at the Cheese Cake Factory, I have to admit, at first I tried to make excuses not to go. Then I rethought the proposal and I said yes. I am very happy I did.
I had 1/2 glass of Red Zin
Chicken and Mushroom lettuce wraps
Lots of Water with Lemon.
Great conversation.
Now that wasn't so hard. I was full and very happy to know that there are good choices even in places where you wouldn't ordinarily expect them to be.

What Great Friends

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:46:58 EST

To all of my fellow Sparkers, You lift me up. Love to all of you! 86

Trying to get back to normalcy

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:21:53 EST

Hi my fellow Sparkers. I am back to work today. Last Thursday we lost the patriarch of our family, and although it was a relief to the suffering he endured, ultimately it was a peaceful happy death, with loving family at his side.
I feel blessed that I was able to tell him that I loved him and share some of my favorite uncle stories with him. I will never have the regret that I didn't say everything to him that I wanted to.
I realized just how important that was, when I lost my dau...

Happy Sunday

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 12:40:25 EST

Happy Sunday Everyone! It is my very favorite day of the week. God, familoy, food, friends. What a wonderful way to start the week.

Tai Chi for Dummies

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:04:24 EST

Yesterday I went out to Barnes and Nobel and bought the only book they had on Tai Chi. I started reading, and am really enjoying it. So I can actually start from there. Also one of our fellow Sparkers took a class at a senior center in her town. I am going on the hunt to see if that might be a possibility for me. You know what they say "Where there is a will, there is a way"! I won't give up.

I also lost a very special uncle yesterday. I had the good fortune to be with him just be...

Disappointing Class

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:30:56 EST

Well, just as I thought, I loved the beauty, strength training and the meaning of the Tai Chi class that I attended last night.
When I was finished there were also things that disappointed me. First of all I loved that the class was small. There were 6 of us including me. But the participants kept laughing and talking for the whole time the sensi was leading. They were really having such a good time, but I think I was looking for a more meditative state. The Sensi was also interrupted n...

Tai Chi

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:43:58 EST

My journeys to the gym have proved to be a much more satisfying experience than I had originally expected. They have so many programs to chose from. I have been trying as many as I can, and tonight is Tai Chi.
The first time I witnessed this beautiful art form I was in San Francisco. It was early morning, and I was lucky enough to be sitting in a park when a group of people started to gather. Before long they started the beautiful ritual of Tai Chi. It was inspiring to watch as each part...

Beads of sparkling dew

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:42:18 EST

I looked out the sliding glass door early this morning, and the first thing that caught my eye was the sparkling dew on the plants, grass, bird houses and trees. The colors that radiated from every bead, burst into a rainbow, that filled me with the joy and happiness that I am carrying with me all day.
How grateful I am to have vision, and all of my senses for that matter. What a gift that minute was,
I thank God for all the gifts he as given me, and especially the gift of memory, s...

Long Day!

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:15:13 EST

It's Monday again and my day started at 6:00 AM. Work began at 9. I will be in Admissions all day, we have a new class starting. When they leave the evening class comes in, I will teach from 6 -10.
I love Tuesdays. I will only work until 8:30. It's a much easier day.
386

For the love of Sunday

Sun, 9 Sep 2012 13:32:14 EST

I got a wonderful restful sleep, woke up to the singing birds, went to the gym, and now the rest of the day will just unfold into the beautiful present that it is!

Out with the old!

Fri, 7 Sep 2012 10:39:56 EST

Well I have spent the last 2 evenings cleaning out my closets of all of my FAT clothes. 57 blouses, 30 pairs of pants, 10 dresses, 6 suits, and 15 pairs of shoes. 7 large black garbage bags later, I have decided that I deserve the much smaller size clothing that I am.
Tomorrow I will make the trip to Good Will and donate my old life and never look back! After a little more than a year of changing my life style of eating I can say that I will never be over weight again.
I send these...

I'm home

Thu, 6 Sep 2012 14:30:22 EST

All good things must come to an end, and so my wonderful trip to see my sister in Alabama, has ended.
The memories will stay with me for a long long time. She lives on 25 acres in the middle of cotton fields, peanut plantations and a babbling brook. Every day was like waking up in the garden of Eden. Hundreds of humming birds lite on the many feeders she has placed on the windows around her house. There were butterflies of every color, deer by the hundreds, blue buntings, rabbits, and mo...

Up, up and away!

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:19:33 EST

Today is the last day for the next week that I will be up dating my blog, or visiting sparkpeopoe. I am heading down to lower Alabama to spend time with my sister and her husband. I am counting the minutes and I will see you back in one week. See Y'all

Am I in Kansas?

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 10:50:33 EST

Well, after 2 weeks at the same weight I hit the 90 lbs lost. Did I really say 90 lbs.? That's a whole person. Where did it go? I'm still me. What a load off of my shoulders. Literary. I try to envision 90 lbs. I can only imagine how my heart feels not having to carry that excess weight. What is amazing to me is, that I had the power all of this time. What a valuable life lesson to learn.
I think that the most incredible thing is that I am not starving myself. I am eating real healthy m...

The Most Beautiful Creature on Earth

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:51:31 EST

I have had a love affair with horses from the time I ever saw my first. I remember my grandmother telling me that she would buy one for me. I can still feel the excitement well up in me as I became a horse owner. Some people have cats, others have dogs or birds or fish. I had a horse. I didn't realize it in the beginning but, that beautiful creature would teach me more life lessons than any schooling would.

After years of loving these animals, my sister sent me an internet link to ...

ZUMBA

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:41:56 EST

One of my happiest childhood memories was being 4 years old, and my mom taking me to Dance class. Yes, tap acrobat and ballet. I worked so hard to make my skinny little thighs wiggle like my teacher's. (What was I thinking?) After about 6 months of this, there was going to be a dance recital. There I was, in my little tutu, lined up with 9 other little girls, and the music started. I whirled, I twirled, I jumped and when I looked around all of those little girls were doing something very diff...

Giovanni

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:22:53 EST

What a week end. Sunday was the long anticipated day. The tents went up, the grill was fired up, the DJ and the clown were ready to entertain, the chairs were wheeled out, tools, hair spray, skin care etc. were in place.
Then it started.
The public came in droves. I did 10 facials, the hairdressers did an uncountable number of hair cuts. The very young to the real old came.
All was donated, for a kidney. The baby is 1 years old. He only weighs 17 lbs. He was the guest of honor...

On Being Thick

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 12:04:14 EST

It is hard to imagine a time when I wasn't extremely self conscious about being obese. There, I said it. Over weight, large boned, voluptuous, chubby, I could say all of those words, but I couldn't, wouldn't shouldn't say OBESE or the other f word, FAT. God forbid that someone in the room said the f word, I just knew they were talking about me.
My family used to joke about the word because they knew if the word was said in my company, I would immediately say " Who do you think they are t...

I admit it, I got caught!

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:45:33 EST

Like many a good wife, I have always managed to tuck a little money away in a secret place, for something special. Over the years I have been able to purchase gifts for my husband, grandchildren or even myself.
Well I have been losing weight consistently and after 89 lbs, my clothes make me look like a little old bag lady. I figure I went from from a size 20 or 2x to a 6 or 8. I have been conservative with my shopping knowing that I still have 20 lbs. to go.
My husband is retired...

Wonderful Day

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:47:27 EST

the first thing I did this morning was to open the verticals, open the sliding glass door and soak up the cool morning air. What a wonderful way to start the day.
I quickly made my breakfast, and went on the deck and listened to the sounds of the morning. The birds were singing, bees humming, the distant whistle of a moving train, and crickets, the first sound that signals that fall is definitely heading our way.
I ate slowly, relishing each sensation. The sounds, the sights and the...

The Aftermath

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:16:17 EST

What a whirl wind! My beautiful sister is homeward bound back to Las Vegas. I am going to miss her so much.
I wish you could have seen her face when she saw me for the first time in 2 years. As she was walking to my office I was coming out. At first, she was going to pass me by, but then she let out a joyous scream of disbelief. She was totally shocked at the 100% difference in me. 87 lbs smaller and I looked like her mirror image. We continued our joy in each other, sharing ideas, cloth...

The New Me

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:25:24 EST

Today is very exciting for me. My sister, who has always been my role model, is coming to see me for the first time in 2 years. She and her family live in Las Vegas, and we have not been able to travel back and forth to see one another. She has no idea that I have lost 86 lbs. She has always encouraged me to be healthy, active and proactive about my weight, she just has no Idea how much her support has meant.
I can't wait to see the expression on her face when she sees a mirror image of...

Interesting People

Thu, 9 Aug 2012 15:16:59 EST

Being part of Sparkpeople has really made me so appreciative of the people that I have met. I look forward to going to my email each day and hearing the great success stories from my fellow sparkers. That is just part of my motivation. What I have come to realize is that we not only have so much in common but the lives we have led parallels so many people. I often felt isolated by past experiences, yet I have found many have shared similar stories. How heart warming it is to know that someon...