Reshuffle Your Priorities

So this journey...I must admit will have it's moment of frustration and impatience. Sometimes accomplishing a goal can be challenging at times. Slow and steady is not an option for many. Why? Because practicing patience isn't easy. Many of us prefer immediate and positive results, satisfaction. As we get older, we begin to realize the best things in life require time, patience and effort. We miss out on the important things, events, happenings, opportunities in life because we haven't prioritize what's important and valuable in our lives. Missing your child's birthday versus a telephone call. Placing your all your love, faith, time in a person and forgetting about giving thanks and praise to God for waking you up for that phone call. Priorities.
Can you prioritize these life categories in the order that is most important to you? 

1. Creativity & Self-expression
2. Love & Relationships
3. Beliefs
4. Education & Self-improvement
5. Money
6. Work & Career
7. Health
8. Home
9. Family

I'm not certain of other responses but I can guarantee you health was not my #1 priority. When I review the list again, I have come to recognize and accept without good health the other categories are meaningless. How can I travel if I'm not in good health? How can I focus on education, relationships, and creativity without satisfactory health? Mind you good health includes physical, emotional, and social well-being. The maintenance of strong social relationships is linked to good health conditions, productivity, longevity, and a positive attitude.

Here are my "excuses" why it was so hard to begin this "journey" in the past....See if any are familiar

• Friends, television, telephone
• Emotional blocks-stress, anger, boredom, frustration
• Illness
• Lack of focus/concentration 
• Procrastination- we all find a reason to put off 

They're all true everyday "excuses" I've used daily. None of those excuses have helped me achieve my goal of becoming healthy, physically fit. Today I  make the choice to re-prioritize. Although family is VERY important to me, achieving good health, is and should be more important to me. Today I begin my good health life change. Not only will this include a change to healthier eating habits and more exercise, but I will acknowledge one good thing about myself daily. I will give thanks that I have another day to smile, laugh and live. I encourage you to find one good thing about yourself and smile.  Not everyone is capable or honored to have the same unique gift or talent. Consider yourself special.

Acknowledge any achievement you accomplish. Whether it is a lost pound, acing a test, cooking a meal, reading a book, or getting in bed early for well needed rest, recognize that the achievement was accomplished... for your priorities have been reshuffled. Congratulations...

Until next time...Stillness and Serenity

Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.  ~ Henry David Thoreau

 

Who I Am

Have you ever found yourself asking yourself the question 'Who am I?' after a life "adjustment"?  A change occurred and you are not aware of who you or what you are capable of accomplishing? How do you describe and define yourself? By your role as a mother (wife), father (husband), an occupation, your interests? I am a mother, yes a proud mother of four but you know as I think about it, that is about 5% of who I am. The "title" of mother doesn't totally define me.

When do we become to "know" who we are or what makes us happy? I am 60 lbs overweight and found myself describing myself as obese, overweight, unattractive, you know the negative labels attached to low self-esteem. I was so focus on my weight I "forgot" my other attributes. I lost sight of why people enjoyed being around me. I "forgot" my talents and other abilities, one of which has helped my son create his first t-shirt prototype. I "forgot" my happiness. I "forgot" me. Well today I am rediscovering.... Who I Am.

After you read the following poem... my question to you....Who Are You?

WHO I AM (by Toni)

I am intelligent, practical, creative, and a very generous person

Intentions always purely genuine and altruistic

Not concerned with financial matters, but do prize forthrightness, ethics, and things that hold REAL value

Not surrounded by pretentious people, or tangible objects with little substance

One who values quality...not quantity, outspoken, and opinionated yet still the funniest person you’d ever meet.

Love to be surrounded by people who make me laugh yet at times can be very careful and deep.

I possess an energy that creates enticing comfort

With eyes that seemingly pierce deep inside a soul.

Be bold and direct and tell me how you feel.

I possess an old-fashioned reserved nature

I am soft, romantic, genuine, compassionate, sweet, and very affectionate

Feminine, sexy, outspoken, and reserved

The epitome of what every classy lady should be

Domesticated and traditional, but no one's doormat

Genuinely warm-hearted who desire the best for the people around

Demonstrative, but shy, so you’ll have to be the aggressor

Prefer simpler things that have a meaningful impact

Verbalize your tokens of affection

Tell me how you feel about me

A woman I am Toni.

A woman like a teabag

Only in hot water do you realize how strong I am.

Find yourself. Find your happiness. Until next time...STILLNESS and SERENITY



30 Day Challenge...or Adventure

Hi again. Wasn't sure if I was going to do this but I woke up this morning and said what the heck...it can only make me happier. So here it is. In 30 days I'll turn 43. Not that 43 is alarming but it's a wakeup call for me to start accomplishing my dreams and goals while I'm still able. Anyway, one overall goal I would like to accomplish is to lose weight while gaining strength. I have a 4 year old I need to keep up with. Today is the 30 day mark for me to set and accomplish that goal. Why today? Couldn't give a solid, honest, or realistic answer so I couldn't escape through dawdling.

So as my grandmother's repeated suggestion and the popular Nike phrase, I'm just going to Just Do IT. Today starts a 30-day weight loss adventure. I say adventure because every day will allure new, unexpected events or challenges. My goal is to realistically lose 10-15 pounds in 30 days through exercise and proper, healthy eating. Now I'm not saying I won't have my cheat days. I LOVE chocolate! But in moderation I can have my chocolate and still lose the 10-15 pounds. I'm not expecting miracles. What I am expecting is to discover something about me... that in 30 days I possess the attributes of willpower and determination to achieve any goal. The bonus is the weight loss. In 30 days I will salute my capability to overcome frustration positively. In 30 days I will recognize my skill to see failure as an opportunity to readjust or alter instead of giving up. What the heck? 30 days to partake in an adventure. Why not? In 30 days...ready to discover something new...

Until next time....STILLNESS and SERENITY

A New Journey

Hi. Let me introduce myself...I'm Toni and this is my blog to "A New Journey"...interesting title I imagine. As I sit here and type I'm asking myself what is the purpose of  this blog? Why create this blog now? Well to be honest I'm like a lot of people tired of the old and ready to start with the new. Tired of negative and chaos, ready for peace. So I figured why not write a blog;  create a blog that focuses on happiness, humor, peace, inspiration, and achievement. Of course there will be some discussion on current events and my goal to lose 60 lbs, as well as other interesting postings but as of now, I just to start my "new journey". As I began this journey, I realized that there will be challenges and dilemmas...I'm ready with the first one:  how do I begin this. My answer:  just start writing. So here goes....

So let's begin with the title down....A New Journey...I,m on a journey to losing weight, gaining and maintaining peace, starting a t-shirt business with my teenage son and perhaps write one children's book within a year. And I said tranquility right? I laugh. Well, this is sort of peace for me for in our life we all have a choice:  to be happy or not be happy. I have chosen happiness begins with me and to start on this journey is my road of tranquility. I challenge you to find your road to tranquility be it grow a garden, find a new friend, start a new business, learn how to bake. Find something that brings peace...on your road to tranquility. This is my choice...until next time....Next:  Who Am I?

Until then....Stillness and Serenity