Perseverance. It isn't a dirty word.

"Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance." - Samuel Johnson

Perseverance. It is the KEY to everything.

My words of wisdom for today.

I will continue to believe that "I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me."

I will continue to try not to say things to myself that I would never, ever-in-a-million-years say to anyone in my outside voice.

I will continue to make lists of "To Do's" that don't get done on the day I hope they will, but they do get done eventually.

I will continue to wake up in the morning and tell myself "I like getting up in the morning." (isn't there something about if you tell a lie long enough that it becomes the truth...?! *wink wink*)

I will continue to believe in myself. That I lost 100 pounds in 2011. That I will lose these 30 that I've gained back. That I did it. I did it. I really, really, really did it.

A Question:
Why don't I (can't I) believe that I did it? Do I not believe it because I did it with help?
Do I not believe it because it happened so fast? Do I not believe it because I listen to the 'the duck?' (another post will explain the duck).

We all have the chance and ability to start over again. Each day (thank God) is a new beginning.

I am a New Creation.

Answers I Have

"You have the answer. Just get quiet enough to hear it." ~ Pat Obuchowski

I've been sad for awhile now. I'm not exactly sure why - probably a number of reasons.

My inner voice being quite mean to me... why do we say things to ourselves that we would never, ever in a million years say to anyone else? Even people we detest?

High expectations.

Gaining 30 lbs back.

Not working out.

Not following through.

Not being able to clear my space. - Directly related to trying to do too much and keeping things around for 'some day.' Which is directly related to not being focused on the passion... or the priorities.

Saying my priority but not really meaning it. Because I believe in the power of positive thinking... but then the other little snarky voice comes in and undermines it.

For Example: I say my priority is health - eating whole foods, limiting sugar, getting rid of wheat and then fitness (working out) for strength and cardio and for all the amazing benefits physical movement gives us.

Then I stay up too late to get up in the morning early to exercise.
I've been trying for so many years to LIKE waking up at the crack of ass (as my pal MAK says)... to enjoy the stillness, the darkness (in winter), the time to get the chores out of the way so there's more fun to do in the daylight (in the "real hours")... and yet, I stay up too late watching mindless crap on tv because (I tell myself) that is the one thing himself and I do together. It is the time we spend together.

Obviously that needs to change. We need to find something besides watching tv to do together. On a regular basis.

De-cluttering &Simplifying 2012

Still want my own business.  Want to write more... Facebook less.  Tap (EFT) more... Pray More... drink more tea.

Go to sleep... Sleep more.

100 pounds lost this year -- now to lose 100 lbs of stuff (clutterfat, as Leo Babauta calls it...)

The word for this year: SIMPLIFY

What Gets Me Out Of Bed In The Morning?

I'm starting a new habit focus (per Leo Babuta's 6changes.com guideline) in March, and the new habit will be to go to bed earlier so I can get up earlier and Get. Stuff. Done. in the morning.

It used to be that I wanted to get up to get my chores out of the way.

Now... I think I have to do some chores, but still have mornings where I'm doing something I love -- as that will get me out of bed in the morning.

What used to get me out of bed was the thought of a nice, hot, cinnamon frosted Pop-tart. Yep. YUM! Seriously... that would get my tuckus out of the warm, soft, comfy bed and get me moving.  Mmmmmm....

With Medifast, however ~ Pop-tarts are a distant memory, and while I may come up with a kopy-cat kind of recipe some time in the future... it isn't going to be the thing that gets me up outta bed.

I love to watch the sunrise with a steaming cup of tea ~ listening to the birds really squeak and squawk and chirp and twirp so very loudly in the mornings.
I like to have time to read the Bible and pray or meditate.
I like to have time to write Blog posts.
I like to get my house chores Out Of The Way! So I don't have to do them at night or in the afternoons.
I like checking my calendar for the day's week's focus and/or priorities (something I rarely do in the mornings).
I like getting the exercise OUT of the WAY too! I'm usually so groggy, though, and don't have anything in mind or laid out that if Rascal even gets walked, he's lucky.
I like the fact that I've planned my meals and prepped for dinner -- so I'm not groping at random ingredients that I hope will be tolerated for dinner... or worse -- succumbing to frozen delights.

But none of those things excite me like a cinnamon Pop-tart.

*sigh* ~ Maybe promising myself that I can work on doing the DCP every morning, or putting my music in order, or (YES!) making a card or two for someone... spending 30 minutes to an hour every day doing those things would certainly be the FUN FACTOR to get me up!

Maybe I've hit my inspiration!!

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“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” - Confucius