Busy Busy!

Long time no post....

First ~ a sunrise

The sunrise this morning was at 7:14am ~ it was not a spectacular one, as there was a few mornings ago... but I want to make it a goal of mine to be sure I'm up and outside (if it isn't raining) a few minutes before the sunrise and take a picture, and post it somewhere (here, Facebook, Google+ or Twitter). It is difficult for me to be an early riser, but I am better than I was a few years ago.

I'm reading on my Kindle "The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM)" by Hal Elrod. Before reading this book, I have already read a number of articles along the vein of "what successful people do that most of us don't" from LifeHack or similar all say the same thing - get up early and Pray/Meditate, Exercise, Focus on your Goals, Review your day ahead, etc... I like "Miracle Morning" because it digs a little deeper (not much) into the nuts and bolts of HOW (though there is a lot [a LOT] of 'this is why you will love this book...' and 'when you do the things I'm going to tell you about, you will love...' which drives me crazy. I've bought the book, stop selling it to me!).

One quote I love from the book: "How you do anything is how you do everything."

In my thought process, this is similar to one of  Gretchin Rubin's Secrets of Adulthood (from the Happiness Project): "What you do EVERY DAY matters more than what you do ONCE IN A WHILE."

How I do what I do today matters... because I will either build on it tomorrow, or have to lay the foundation again.  For me, getting up at 5AM means going to sleep before 11PM. My stomach hurts when I don't get enough sleep, and I am so busy doing singing stuff I can't afford to get sick, and without enough sleep, historically I get sick. So, saying "no" to watching the second newer Star Trek (which we started watching at 9:50pm) is where my self-discipline has to kick in.

That being said, one of the strategies is to affirm to myself, before going to sleep, that the amount of sleep I'm going to have is going to be perfect, that I'll have exactly the amount of sleep I need and will feel rested and energized in the morning. When I plant that thought in my brain before going to sleep (instead of counting on my fingers how much sleep I should get, and lamenting that it is never enough, and berating myself for my lack of self-discipline), I do wake up with a kickier step.

I woke up at 5:25 this morning, I didn't snooze - and got up and came in to organize calendars and write goals, do some things on my 'To Do' list. My Real Estate mentor and I have purchased "Passion Planners" and I've been looking at that a little... it is exactly the kind of planner I've been looking for and I'm incredibly excited about it!

So my point... I haven't really applied myself to working the Real Estate business. My floating along time has come to an end, I have some tools I need to use, and we've started an Accountability Group, which - for tomorrow I'm supposed to have my goals written down. So many goals, so little time, right?! Work-related goals. My Why to motivate me toward Real Estate is Independence and Flexibility. Both things are necessary for me to do what I love which is sing.

Singing/Performing is my passion. Why am I not pursuing it?

My Month So Far

A long, boring post of what I've done since the beginning of October, 2014. I'm so distracted in the clutter and being overwhelmed, I just thought I'd list, rather than create. But, it is in the spirit of trying to write more regularly... which I've been horribly irregular about, here's my month so far:

10/1 - Met a friend at the Good Egg for 8am breakfast and to receive the goodies from my Origami Owl party (held on 9/21) to give to my friends who bought some pretty jewelry goodies! I've known this gal since my second time around at American Airlines Reservations employment (SWRO). She and I went through the coaching program together, and she's still working for them! At home, but still... I admire that tenacity!

10/2 - Haircut... I thought I was going to let my hair grow into a shaped bob, but can't deal with that right now... I started this day with writing down goals for the next week... taking time to write a "To Do List" and timing how long that took (7 minutes)... how long it would take to follow my Social Media plan (started with 15 minutes, but it went into 1 hour - and from what I've done today, I need to have a Serious Chat with myself about how I work this into my business plan... because days go by and I do nothing else). I wrote down a huge list of things to do, and I got some stuff done (like organizing tickets to the Tucson Desert Harmony October 18th Cabaret Show and getting my table of 8 guests done). I did talk to my tax guy, who advised - "Every time you take out your wallet and pay for something, write it down." He also suggested paying 20% of my Real Estate pay (commission checks) to the IRS every. single. check.  Which I think is a good idea for me. I think I spent a lot of time organizing my friends and groups in Facebook...
I texted a friend from ARC, talked to another friend about voice lessons for her daughter.

10/3 - I worked a lot on the Facebook messages about starting out in Real Estate. I received a possible lead. I worked on my personal excel spreadsheet of people I know, and how I can get their information to add to my RE Contact Management System. I did laundry. I sorted my "To Do List" A1, A2 etc...  I did start something for my first Open House which was held 10/5.

10/4 - Followed up with the potential lead from the Facebook Message, researched some house stuff. Had a long conversation with my mentor person about the Open House, changed my voicemail message.  Went to a friend's and picked up a few things that I ordered from Stampin' Up. That night himself and I watched "Life of Pi" and "Lincoln" ~ I enjoyed both movies quite a bit. I made lists of what to bring to the Open House.

10/5 - went to the College Class for church, grabbed some donuts and left, since the Open House started at 1pm. I called AT&T about my phone Hotspot, which they refreshed, or whatever, and it now works. The Open House was very educational. I have so much to learn. Potential leads - can't buy a house until January, not sure how often to contact, but did put them in the CRM for RE and sent out one email.

10/6 - Went to the RE Office and the "Map to Success" they have for the new agents. Made Zombie Finger Breadsticks for the Bunco that night (I was subbing).

10/7 - Office Meeting in the morning, met a friend for lunch at Chipotle, went back to the office for the tour of Procedures from the Office Administrator, who has been around for 20 years. (Which reminds me I need to do some serious thank you notes!) I deposited a check to the bank for show tickets. I wrote down in my "write everything down" notebook that I need to focus on [1] aspect of Real Estate a week to LEARN. Contracts (there are a bunch, so one week = Contracts and break it down to individual buyers, sellers, addendums, cures, etc...), Home Warranties, MLS etc.

10/8 - I started losing track of the days/dates on this day... I was supposed to go up and preview the house for the Open House tomorrow (Sunday, 10/12) - but it rained and my friend who lives up there had a hard time getting home, so I was thwarted. I don't think I left the house. But I did shower and dress as if I was. This is huge for me (!) This day was a 3 (quite bad) on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best. I broke down and had a crying jag. Just so completely overwhelmed with new career, messy house, so many things I want to accomplish. I ran out of pages in my "write everything down" notebook and well, basically Lost the Plot. I started watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix, and had a mini-fest. My brain needed the break... but this cycle needs to stop.

10/9 - Was on the phone for a while with a couple of different people - one called me for computer help, which is flattering. Another I called with a question about dues for my Tucson Chorus. Discussed branding and Message for this chorus, and how we really have to take our vibrant and fun hobby to a less-retired age group. I met another ARC friend at Starbucks and caught up on some of the goings on there...

10/10 - REBarCamp from 8 to 3 (I left earlier) - a whole day networking and going to break out sessions focused on Social Media and Technology in the field of Real Estate. Free food... goodies (pens, pads of paper, t-shirts, bags) and lots of new business cards. I have a new Facebook friend, and learned that I want to download and use Evernote. It was a good day, but I really struggle with mass networking like that. *REBarCamp - Real Estate BarCamp - BarCamp is such unhelpful name to understand what a great thing this is. "BarCamp is an international network of user-generated conferences primarily focused around technology and the web. They are open, participatory workshop-events, the content of which is provided by participants...The format has also been used for a variety of other topics, including public transit, health care, education, and political organizing. The BarCamp format has also been adapted for specific industries like banking, education, real estate and social media." (wikipedia) Himself and I went to dinner to one of my favorite local restaurants, The Blue Willow, with some friends, and had a great night. We came home and then watched Bones, then Criminal Minds. Went to bed pretty early.

Long Post!

So that is what I did. I feel like the list of what I didn't do far far supersedes anything I did. I've been tweeting more @hav2sing is my Twitter handle.

There is no wrap-up or conclusion. It is today, and I have to start a new "write everything down" notebook, put my mileage and receipts together, pay some bills, finish laundry, etc.

I PASSED!

... Now I'm a student at Long Realty Academy for two weeks - where the *actual* learning of how to be a Realtor begins!

Today I was outed in class for being a Social Media... let's see, what's the word...? Oh yeah, ADDICT!

But in the world of Real Estate, this is a good thing!

In the world of healthy eating - the bottom line is I haven't been eating healthy, and want to. The End.

Another Post I Don't Feel Inspired To Write

Checking it because it has been too long. I've had a terrible time since coming back from Prescott.
Eating bad. Stopped C25K because my hips hurt. Want simple, but can't seem to just 'toss it away' - it being all the stuff.

Taking the State Real Estate exam Monday September 8th. Passed the Hogan School test a couple weeks ago, and really, I had no business passing it... now I've had two weeks to review/study and am not doing that!

15 minutes. I can do anything for 15 minutes.

*sigh*

Hopefully there will be better thoughts and writing next time.

If Life Were Simple...

Inspired by Courtney Carver's Blogpost...

"Instead of choosing what was simple, I chose what was easy and created a complicated life." ~ Courtney Carver

I've been saying this for a long time, but the sentence above resonated with strength... What I've said has always been "It may be simple, but that doesn't mean it is easy."

I've taken the easy way out so many times. Too many unfiltered thoughts bouncing around in my head to be able to share specifics cohesively. Another day, I hope.
* * *

Today was the 2nd Day of my 3rd week of C25K.

And I was struggling. I was a day late (Tuesday instead of Monday), and my hip was sort of twinge-y, and my knee was better than two weeks ago, but still not happy.  I didn't run the last 3 minutes of the running portion - I was walking 2.5 mph.  I'm okay with that. I'm happy I got on the treadmill, and did it. Yesterday I wanted to give myself a break during Real Estate Studying... but I didn't. I think that's why my back was sore, too.  I just was really, really struggling with the whole thing today.  It wasn't easy... but it was simple.
* * *

C25K Report - Day 1 Week 1 (intro to the VBW)

I didn't get up as early as I wanted to get on the treadmill ~ but I did get on it at 8am. I did an extra 5 minutes walking warm up because I'm prone to shin splints and an easy but long walking warm up seems to keep them away. I started out the first 5 minutes at 2.0 mph, started the App then went to 2.5 mph walking.

When it said to begin running, I did. As a point of information, my right knee is iffy - when I'm not over 300 lbs it isn't... another excellent reason to get the first 20 lbs off asap. Anyway, I was unable to sustain what I would call a "very bouncy walk" (VBW) for the first minute of running. Or the second minute of running. Or the third. 

Then I said, "Duh, go back to 2.0 mph, silly!" and voila! that worked and I was able to do the whole minute of my "VBW" and by 18 minutes into I was surprised at how fast the VBW minute went! That was an incredible realization of "this isn't dreadful, and I'm actually kind of enjoying it."

Here's what the App looks like, and I love it.

My goal in doing this isn't to really become a runner. It is about efficiently exercising. 30 minutes of VBW 3 or 4 times a week, with some walking in-between (or other form of physical exertion) is my ultimate goal. I'd like to get up to getting in a weekly total mileage of 10-12 combined VBW and regular walking.  Maybe I'll think about doing a 5K around Thanksgiving - we have a Turkey Trot that sounds like it might be fun.

On the Juicing Front - I've not had juice yet. I've had water, coconut water, a banana, a few sesame sticks with chia seeds, some dried apricots (5), a couple small handfuls of cashews, and some dried fruit and dried veggies from Sprouts. I have a juice in the fridge, which I will drink after completing this entry - and juice some more.

At sprouts I bought veggies for a 10-day Reboot with Joe (Cross) from his website... so that is what I need to go and do. Juice! New Juices! Woot!

I felt absolutely fantastic after my morning workout. I have to remember that I don't have to make it a big deal, I don't have to do it for 45 minutes to an hour. I don't have to make it difficult (which is a specialty of mine... making mountains out of molehills). 10 minutes is better than none minutes. And I really do want to get it out of the way first thing in the morning; so I can exercise, then juice for the day - then do whatever is next for a productive day.

Restart - Part II - The Sequel

Today is it.  I took pictures... downloaded the C25K app and am feeling ready.

When I was saving the photos to the file, I saw that last year, on July 29 I took pictures for a restart... to juice.  I've gained 18 pounds since last July... which, considering how many pounds I've gained back *in total* - I feel not so bad about.

I'm essentially 20 pounds away from the 338 that I started with at Medifast on January 4th, 2011.
I didn't weigh this morning - but a few days ago I weighed in at 319.  This last 9 pounds since the last time I weighed have stopped me from being able to sing a phrase without being out of breath. 

So I begin today.

So far:
hot water with 1/2 freshly squeezed lemon, stevia
a protein bar
water
Juice (2 glasses by 2:30pm): 1-1/4 green apple, 10 carrots, 1 long cucumber, the last few pieces of celery, the other half of the lemon, and a bunch of mixed super greens.  It makes about 2 mason jars full of juice.
I think I'll have himself's vegetable soup for dinner.

The Couch to 5K program is 8 weeks. I'll start that tomorrow (a Friday) and do it 3 days a week - Monday, Wednesday, Friday and start working out with the bands on other days.  I also want to put in the Tai Chi video and see how I do with that. Lofty Goals!

I like the 8 week thing.  I have a Sweet Adelines singing weekend coming up next weekend in cooler climates ~ which means higher altitudes... It would be great to juice the next 5 - 7 days and get these troublesome 9 lbs off!

Health... It is What is on the Front Burner

To bottom line it...
Without health ~ well, everything is just that much more difficult.

Here's to a new Weight Loss Journey.

Creative Genius

I just watched a TedTalk by Elizabeth Gilbert (author of "Eat, Pray, Love") and in the middle of her talk I had a storm of emotion race through my mind and body and in the path behind it left behind some internal destruction.  She said at the beginning of the talk, "Is it rational to be afraid of doing the work you were put on this earth to do?"

This is profound for me. Asking a rational question regarding doing my passion (which isn't Real Estate, for what its worth) as my work. My Job. This isn't a new idea or thought for me, not at all. But her presentation and that question - from my perspective and belief that we all have something to contribute to enhance and help others (i.e., 'make the world a better place')... well, this question cut to the chase and poured salt in my personal wound. This itch (need) that I only scratch - which only makes it bleed; this itch (need) - to contribute creatively (through music) to the world - is becoming infected. I have been unsuccessful in 'stitching it up to heal neatly.' Rather, I've ignored and distracted myself with other roads I've taken in order to "be sensible" and "be rational."

I really have not been honest with myself.

I signed up for the Scott Dinsmore's Live Your Legend (not sure what to call it) Course a couple years ago and have been putting off  'doing the work' to really engage in the 'assignments' and 'homework.'  I did read an email as a participant of this course recently, which linked to a blog post that had a list of things to think about doing, and I started to narrow my focus on how I can use my passion and talent to maybe create a living. I jotted the following down on the back of an envelope.

Music - specifically singing.
Everyone can sing. Everyone (probably) wishes they could be better, even with no intention of singing for anyone else. Ever. I can help you with that.

After 10 or 15 minutes of hard crying, I feel refreshed, exhausted, inspired.  The things I wrote down while in the middle of this storm were:

anguish. torment. capricious. storm of tears. crazy. break between rational and passion - living my passion. conflict. "right thing." be sensible. I'm afraid. DO YOUR JOB.

Writing is More About Editing... Yes? Life is about that too.

I don't have a problem writing - it is the "know when to stop" thing that kinda gets in the way. Sticking to a particular theme for this blog has long since gone away - now that I've gained all my weight back (130 lbs), as I'm not focused on 'The One Thing' any longer, any subject is fair game.

Focus is not over-rated. At least not for me. Losing focus hasn't been an advantage.

"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage - pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically ~ to say NO to other things. And the way to do that is to have a bigger YES burning inside." ~ Stephen Covey

Then I found this blog post about juggling your passions like pots on a stove (and goes as far as keeping other projects in Tupperware in the fridge...) and while I adore the thought that I can do that, I know that it doesn't work as well for me - I have been trying for a long time to do "everything at once" - for lack of better words - and end up feeling entirely too overwhelmed and quitting everything.

So... bringing it in to the title of this post ~ Editing is about choosing what is necessary to be communicated - what is essential within the framework of the project (essay, book, blog post...) that you want to say.  Liken this to life (not a new comparison, I'm sure) and the life you want to live; and minimalism (or, rather simplicity and living with less - a la Courtney Carver and this post which really spoke to me the other day...) Living Intentionally. Being More With Less. Hacking Away at the Unessential. This is my goal. And this road is long, emotionally taxing, simple to say and not-in-any-way easy. I'm spending so much energy on it, that other areas of my life truly suffer.

One thing at a time. A Burning Yes that over-rides all others... Kinda like the "secret to life is one thing" from the movie City Slickers, right...?
I printed out the Zen Things... which sits above my desk, but look at my desk:

The Dissonance between Zen Things & My Desk

It is still better than it has been before, and I give myself "Atta-Girl!"'s because I can actually USE it, but there are 5 things "to do" or "in process and undone" sitting on it.

#1 on the list: "Do one thing at a time" (um, can we say, fail?)

The one thing that should be overriding all of this is losing the excess weight and feeling healthy and fit(ish).  Eating Less of the bad stuff (reading "Why We Get Fat" by Gary Taubes is a good start) so I can physically fit in my Tiny House with just the essential stuff...

My head hurts from thinking about it and going in circles. On the other hand, I do happen to have #8 down perfectly, on the Zen List, however (just in case this post is too depressing) ~ "Devote time to sitting."

I've failed at editing 'the perfect post' - and life is real... it is a real struggle (for me) in making daily choices of priorities. Keeping in mind my own "one thing." It seems to change daily. So many things are racing through my head right now, so I'll edit in as much as I won't go there publicly yet... maybe some journal thoughts first.

Finish the book. Take the Real Estate Test(s). Abstain from Flour, Sugar and Starch.

Okay, not the "Do One Thing At A Time" - but there are 4 burners on my stove, after all...

An Idea Worth Pursuing

Seth Godin's Blogpost on Job/Career as "Projects" as opposed to Long-term affiliations... That kinda seems like how I've approached work as an adult...

A worthwhile thing to do might be to go through my life's "Projects" and discover the top 2 or 3 ideas, relationships and/or lessons learned from the experience... and write about it!

hmmmm....

Feeling The Love

My Will-Call envelope for the Triple Crown Barbershop Show on June 29th. 

Attachment

Father's Day, 2014
We just got back from a road trip to Oklahoma to see family there ~ and look at "The Farm" - which I'd been calling "The Property" and was corrected.  Technically, it is property (mostly pastureland) that my sister, brother and I will inherit, and at which current time there is no farming happening... so despite being told to call it 'The Farm' ~ I will continue to call it 'The Property.'

We had a great trip - road tested the new Town & Country Van (2013 Touring Edition), and took along Rascal... overnighted in Albuquerque, and spent 5 nights in Oklahoma City with my dad and step-mom, caught up with my sister and her kids, and generally had a real vacation... doing something totally different than our life here.

* * *

May was busy... new Van, quit American Red Cross, paid for Real Estate School (which begins tomorrow), emptied out the storage unit, so my room is crowded again...

* * *

I have 6 or 7 plastic bins and boxes full of pictures, negatives, journals, calendars etc... to scrapbook from the time I started collecting things about my life.  I've scrapbooked (in the traditional sense) since I knew what it was. I'm still not sure why, exactly - I would make a guess in the area of self-validation. To remember the life I've lived, and to be proud of what I've done (or not done, ha ha). To keep alive memories that may have been buried or forgotten, which I believe are worth remembering.

But my deal with myself is that if, by the end of 2014, these things are not properly scrapbooked, the bins emptied, and the journals read for the timeline and details to "tell the memory book story," then I will let it all go.

Visiting my dad's - he has bookshelves and his computer filled with pictures. Family. Genealogy-type things. It gives us a sense of where we fit in our family, I suppose...? Pride in the hard-working family stock I come from, that is for sure (and where is that in me?). Dad and I didn't have a chance to talk about his ultimate goal for the pictures... what he sees his finished (but what is really a work-in-progress project) product to look like.

I understand that I come by my love of history, family, pictures... very naturally, I see now.

The other thing I came away with from my trip was understanding something dad said about attachment.  He said something about 'being attached makes everything more difficult.' If we could detach ourselves from things (and people, even), then going through life would be much easier.

And this is all just stuff.  these bins of my life, my memories... And why do I want to spend time (precious time) putting my life into order? Who will I leave it for? I don't see anyone wanting my life's memories after I'm dead. And when I think about that, I become sad that I don't have children. Then I think about raising a child today and the political climate, the moral climate, etc... and I'm so relieved I don't have a child to protect.

And life is about now. Right? Remembering we are all connected, we are all part of the human story - regardless of any kind of religious belief or unbelief - we all share this earth, this space, this time. And I believe that building personal relationships that help each other now is more important than the past.

[Side Note: I tend to remember the negative, guilt-inducing, shameful, painful memories of my life, and the pictures/journals give me balance in restoring what delicate sense of self-esteem I have. This is a constant battle for me... keeping the good memories and the painful memories balanced... helping me stay afloat in the sea of depression that threatens to drown me, dragging me into a swirling whirlpool below the surface, where I lose the sunlight and all the colors that keep me optimistic and joyful.]

This turned out to be more post than I intended.

The bottom line: What do I want most to accomplish in this life?

Living in color * Health! * Garden (healing, eating, peaceful, life-force-giving) * Recognition for sharing the talents I've been given (Performance, Teaching) * Creativity * Relationships (spending time, giving time to people) * Building people up, assisting in bringing about Joy & Peace *

Denying Myself - Dying to Self

Preaching this morning left a physical imprint on me, somewhere.  He told this story that Bono told:

A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord's blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it... I have a family, please look after them... I have this crazy idea... And this wise man said: stop.
He said, stop asking God to bless what you're doing.
Get involved in what God is doing — because it's already blessed.

This was the thought that left a physical imprint. 

It's not about me.

and what am I being asked to give up.


 

Be Like Jesus... Don't Be Stupid

Faithful, regardless of Feelings.

Facts over Feelings.

I am created this way, I firmly believe... perhaps this is my test. My trial. Self-control. Self-discipline, with gentleness, love and kindness, compassion and understanding, but with no reservations or bending.  I trust my gut first, my brain second.  In some situations I know in my heart I did the right thing in trusting my instincts. 

But I need to be so much better about knowing the facts. And not letting my emotions toss me to and fro. In regards to eating, spending and well, everything.

I'm talking about faith here, of which I have so very little. Jesus is the way, the only way, and I have lost sight of that fact -- and am so very thankful I have audio lessons to stimulate my thinking, and touch my heart.

I pray for stick-to-it-ness in regards to my faith. That I keep my eye on the truth of the resurrection.

And the *whatever it is* that allows me to say with conviction, 'Your Will Be Done' - regardless of my fear and doubts, my insecure thoughts and feelings... that I will trust.

Conflict arises already... "I know I am supposed to be doing something with music, and singing"

How do I *KNOW* that?

I don't know how I know, I just know.

Help.

Taking Care of Technology (Day 27)

Went to the AT & T mobile share plan - 10GB with mobile hot spot built in and international texting included for less than I was paying before. Cool.

Catching up with Twitter. Following some new folks, and now need to begin regular postings. They need to have Information, Insight & Humor. The Trifecta of Success in the world of 140 characters or less. The gauntlet has been thrown - succinct is not my strong point.

Planning my career change/move after May 9th. The countdown has begun. I will reach my 3 years at one place of business, and it will be time to move on. I have a plan, which is awesome. I am full of fear, but that is normal. I'm eager for the new adventure, and am laying groundwork.

And I want to have a few voice students... to begin to build a singing studio.

Still a lot of de-cluttering to do. But, as I write that sentence, it isn't really de-cluttering as much as it is hacking away at the unessential (a la Bruce Lee quote). I have so many projects I want to complete, things I want to do "before I get started" - when I'm actually already in progress. If that makes any sense.

I have to keep reminding myself of what I want to do, and what is the most important. Singing. And Music. And making room for that, without being distracted by all the unfinished projects.

Truly, this is difficult, I've been dreaming of projects and planning them for so very long, it is like ripping off parts of my body.

What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast

Great Article!

To take-away: "...Willpower, like a muscle, becomes fatigued from overuse..."

Do it in the morning.

Down 8 lbs.

Woot!

What Baumeister and his colleagues took from this experiment is that “willpower, like a muscle, becomes fatigued from overuse.” - See more at: http://www.success.com/article/what-the-most-successful-people-do-before-breakfast#sthash.IIwK9YaP.dpuf

What Baumeister and his colleagues took from this experiment is that “willpower, like a muscle, becomes fatigued from overuse.” - See more at: http://www.success.com/article/what-the-most-successful-people-do-before-breakfast#sthash.IIwK9YaP.dpuf

What Baumeister and his colleagues took from this experiment is that “willpower, like a muscle, becomes fatigued from overuse.” - See more at: http://www.success.com/article/what-the-most-successful-people-do-before-breakfast#sthash.IIwK9YaP.dpuf

What Baumeister and his colleagues took from this experiment is that “willpower, like a muscle, becomes fatigued from overuse.” - See more at: http://www.success.com/article/what-the-most-successful-people-do-before-breakfast#sthash.IIwK9YaP.dpuf

What Baumeister and his colleagues took from this experiment is that “willpower, like a muscle, becomes fatigued from overuse.” - See more at: http://www.success.com/article/what-the-most-successful-people-do-before-breakfast#sthash.IIwK9YaP.dpuf

Restarting the Weightloss Journey ~ Differently

Holding myself accountable again... this time to myself and not anyone or any organization (i.e., MediFast)... Me.

Here is a new "Before" picture:

On Wednesday I decided, even though I'm not Catholic, that I would give up sugar for Lent. I have Stevia liquid in my bag for my Starbucks and other beverages, and while I'm not giving up fruit, I won't be eating food I know has sugar and its many over-processed forms as an ingredient.

Himself and I also started juicing again.

Wednesday morning, March 5th, I weighed 314.4. I cannot yet express my feelings at gaining back 85 pounds after MediFast.

This morning I was down 2 lbs.

I know in my heart that this plant-based eating and shopping locally as much as possible along with regular juicing will be my way of eating forever. Natural and Simple with as few processed ingredients as possible.

Eleanor Roosevelt

"Work is always the antidote to depression." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

I want to become an expert on this woman.

"Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art."

“The only advantage of not being too good a housekeeper is that your guests are so pleased to feel how very much better they are. ” (that one is for my mom...)

“Do the things that interest you and do them with all your heart. Don't be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren't paying any attention to you. It's your attention to yourself that is so stultifying. But you have to disregard yourself as completely as possible. If you fail the first time then you'll just have to try harder the second time. After all, there's no real reason why you should fail. Just stop thinking about yourself.” 

and my favorite...

“Today is the oldest you've ever been, and the youngest you'll ever be again.”

Seriously, I need to get my hands on autobiographies, biographies and other goodies to read. And memorize a couple of quotes!

I want to make videos

...to post on YouTube.

Excellent Videos, that people will watch.

I like this one...

Goodbye You Coney Island Baby (one man barbershop quartet)

and of me. Singing. and perhaps playing guitar.

and of my healthy eating (juicing/plant-based) journey.

* * *

Doing anything at 300 lbs is much more difficult than at 290. It is amazing what 10 lbs will do. And 10 lbs at a time to take off is not an unreasonable or depressing or "defeated before I even start" number.

Ugh.

I don't want to watch myself on anything looking and feeling like I do right now.

Doing Music Every Day is Very Strong Motivation.

More Action

Write more. More writing. Do More. More Doing. Less "Should-ing." More Action.

I kinda came to a "Duh!" realization this morning... that to write about cool stuff that matters (at least matters to me), I have to actually do stuff (not even cool stuff all the time) that matters (at least to me).

*takes a bow* yes, thank you very much, I am often slow in the internalization of realization department.

I came across a very cool website "Impossible HQ" by Joel Runyon. This post (about writing about stuff that matters) sort of turned on the light bulb a bit brighter.  I got started from Rowdy Kittens' post about Happy Links - 'How to de-Google' and am thinking that will be in my future. But not my near future.

The things I want to do are not impossible.  But I allow the details and little things (and granted, it isn't always the little things, sometime the distractions are big things) to stall my progress and block my view to experiences.  I do want more experiences and less things.

My near future (today) is Quartet rehearsal... where I actually wrote out a plan (but haven't sung myself yet), and then possibly singing with the college kids tonight. 

I was going to take down the Christmas tree yesterday, but didn't. I want to take pictures of the ornaments, so maybe I'll get up in the mornings with better light and take a few pictures every morning so I can put the tree away next weekend. Getting it down before the end of January would be neat.

Still having trouble focusing on what I want this year to look like. I did get rid of more non-essential crafting supplies, and am slowly (very, very slowly) getting closer to my goal of having all my craft supplies not related to scrapbooking fitting in one shelf.  And my books are getting closer to being in the other bookshelf.  There is movement.

I went scrapping Friday night and got 4 pages done... still some titles and journalling to do, but I do enjoy it. 

My clean spot is still clean, and I've cleared piles of papers and have new piles to go through, action and sort. So that is good.  I'm making way for more experiences.

Photo-A-Day... Simplifying

I joined Blipfoto in 2011... now I have it on my phone, so maybe I can indeed stay true to 'photo-a-day' better than last year...

Here's the photo for today:

Clearing my horizontal spaces square foot by square foot.

Suffering from food poisoning the last couple of days... ugh. But today is better and I'm doing laundry and catching up on some things.

I wrote down these words as what I want to spend my time and energy on for this year:

• Spiritual
• Relationships
• Singing
• Creating Music
• Music
• Photos & Stories
• Color
• Health
• Simpler
• USA Road Trips

Other things need to receive less attention. Technology is getting too complex that the simplicity that it can provide doesn't. I upgraded my phone right at the end of December, and I love my Samsung Galaxy S4, but there's a lot of 'stuff' I don't want or need, and trying to get rid of it (or at least so I don't have to see it on my screen of apps) is taking too much time.

My weekend at the Keith Lancaster Praise & Harmony recording for "Everlasting God" was incredibly amazing and another bucket-list event for me. Singing at a higher level... giving our 'best fruits' for Him and aiming for our own personal best for the excellent result is so gratifying. I do that with Sweet Adelines all the time, which is why I love it... the challenge of doing better every time... raising the bar... I love that challenge. Travelling with the college group (26 hours in the van round trip) was incredibly fun, and I feel I know some people a lot better now, and that helps me feel more like a part of the group... though I am old enough to be most of their mothers... ha ha.

Clearing my spaces... I feel it in my bones that this is really & truly the year. I'm ready. "Will it fit in my tiny house?" is my question to ask myself... getting it digitalized if I need to... being secure in knowing (feeling) that what I have is enough, and letting go of unreal expectations as I'm trying to laser-beam focus on what is important. Health should probably be higher on the list, but the first 4 items: Spiritual, Relationships, Singing, Creating Music... these are where I want my energies to be focused, and that means cutting out a lot of the unessential.

"It's not the daily increase but the daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential."
~ Bruce Lee