Waking Up

I snapped this photo as I was breaking into Ohio territory after a trip to West Virginia. I felt so alive…so Awake!

My morning prayer call began with “I woke up with a thank you on my mind”. The opening was so profound to me that my eyes and head were forced open and upwards. This simple sentence was even more powerful considering that it was uttered by a woman who has acquired 80 years of wisdom and gratitude.

I have been alive just a portion of that time and I have volumes of near-death and real life experiences. I can only imagine how many heartbreaks this senior prayer warrior has endured, disappointments she has experienced, and failures she has overcome. She was my age during the civil rights era; that alone is bound to  be rich with colorful and painful pieces of history. Added to her own personal struggles and losses that older adults inevitably experience, waking up with a sound mind that is fixated on gratitude and service is a huge accomplishment! That is a success that outweighs any failure that she may have encountered. Similarly, I notice that when I focus on all things I am grateful for I feel so much more engaged with life and the people and things around me. I am awake.

As I begin the last week of this personal challenge, I am surprised how awake and alert I have been. I have not been eaten perfectly and the beginning was especially rough – but I have been mindful of my eating and exercise behaviors. If I don’t have a good reason to be eating, then I don’t. If I don’t have a good reason to miss exercising, I don’t. Making myself answer these questions honestly each day is helping to keep me accountable to myself. What I have found is the more honest I am with myself…the more times I make myself push through the hard days and decisions… the better results I end up with. This week I lost 4 pounds, creating a net loss of 28 pounds since the beginning of the challenge. However, I know from past experience that weight can come and go. I am focusing on the behaviors that will sustain the weight loss rather than the weight loss itself. I am glad that I am creating and reinstating healthy habits, making steady progress, and making positive change. But, what I am most proud of is that I am awake.

Tru Story is about tracking and sharing success in all areas for personal and professional growth. The discipline and nurturing that I am developing in my health life is positively impacting other areas of my life as well. Do you have a “tru story of success” that you would like to share? Let me know as I will be accepting guest bloggers for the Fall. Sincerely, Leslie.

Daily Affirmation:
My Love For Myself Drives My Desire to Be Healthier.

Daily Goals:
1. at least 15 10 cups of water each day
2. take my Vitamin each day
3. at least 15 Minutes Prayer/Meditation Each Day
4. at least 30 minutes of cardio each day
5. No fast food