LIFE IS A DANCE

I'm in a Poetry kind of mood this week.  Life is a Dance! 

It's all about how we move on the floor that counts

Starting with what we take with us to make the steps just alittle easier to learn and execute. It is with that in mind that I wrote:  Life Is A Dance

LIFE IS A DANCE

Life is a dance, so many moves to learn and master

Sometimes I want to move slower when life's force just seems to move faster

I finally learn a move, and without any notice life changes it's course

Finessing through it's ups and downs,  as it rears it's challenging force

My dreams and faith are what I count on, 

without them I would be a mere spec pummeled to the ground in defeat

No hope for a future and life's frustration would yield the spec found under someone else's feet

So I learn to dance moving sometimes awkwardly, sometimes smooth

With a faith that when someone steps on my toe, it's protected by more than my shoe

The dance can be difficult or easy all depends on where I'm at and what I'm called to do

I use the move of Love to always see me through

To other's my dance may seem to not have a rhythm or even any point

To me my dance is moving closer daily to reach my goals and dreams and not just to move around the joint

So if you'd like to join in, this stunning dance of life, 

the first step you must learn is to minimize the strife

The Tango, HipHop, and Boogaloo will all come into play

But the very best step to learn is the Waltz on any given day

The Waltz is easy to pick up, with benefits galore

It's all about the Hopes and Dreams you take with you on the floor

Remember to dance slowly, a slight bend each move at the knees

The first step is your faith and the rest will come with ease

May all your Hopes and Dreams be realized in your Dance of Life!

It's Just Me, Val  Ciao!

"ALL ABOUT ME" DAY 3

HOLD ON FOR ONE MORE DAY...

Day 2 ended with some stress that was put on myself but as I do out of habit, I fell off and had a comfort snack and beverage moment last evening before crashing for the night.  Not terrible but broke my stride after just 48 hours on board.  So, get back on the horse, go another day and learn how to manage that stress, or guilt, or whatever takes you to that 'edge' and causes you to have a 'hiccup' in your progress.  It's not the end of the world, it's more a 'wake up' call that there are 'hiccups' in life that make you respond a certain way.  For me it is retreating to my 'comfort zone' and  while I know full well that is what I do in 'hiccups' I am going to have to experience it to overcome it, so I did and now I will find another way to manage that.  

I must say that as it was happening, I had a moment where my mind said "Val, go do the tredmill with some water"  And believe it or not, I really was motivated to do it for a moment too, but quickly talked myself out of it.  That is a hopeful sign for me, because now the next time this happens I know to move on the thought going through my head first, 'go do the tredmill'.  I'll be ready!

That to me is PROGRESS!

Day 3

Up at 6:15, training at 6:30 on the nose.  

Turned on my program and really got a "Pie in the Face" Revelation.  WOW!  But GREAT!

I am dealing with a scratchy throat today, stuffy head, and muscle aches but I am going to keep my 'sunnyside up' and move into my day with the faith that this too shall pass and I can make it through this day.

Today is Nov and Dec BDay Lunch with Consultants and I'm looking forward to that.  We're meeting at an Organic Mediterranean Restaurant called Nirvana's.  Awesome menu and a healthy lunch for sure.

Burned 315 calories this morning by the way and that brings my current calorie burn for the week to 945 calories with 3 more days to go.  While my core training burns this much in one hour, I am moving forward with progressive weight loss through home training, and then at a point where I am comfortable with the weight loss I have accomplished this way I will head back to Gabe to get to the Core of things once again.  I'm figuring likely January timeframe, giving me 5 weeks to do the first phase at home.  Gabe by the way is our trainer.  If anyone is interested in what he does and can do check out www.overcomeaverage.com, his own business located in Addison, Illinois.  (There you go Gabe, if you're reading a plug for you!)  I'm looking forward to getting back to him for that training, it's very hard but results oriented making you look your very best in a short time.

WHO KNEW?

So I'm training this morning and all of the sudden I hear on TV that we need to be prepared for God to work within us, before we reach our purpose, goals, and dreams!  Yes we need the vision, but guess what?  We may not be positioned to carry it out if we have junk inside of us.  For instance:  Using a habit of Comparing Yourself to others as a measure of your goodness, worthiness or trust worthiness...

They used the example found in John 21 where Peter is asked 3 times if he loves the Lord and Peter says, "Of course I do Lord, I love you more than anyone..."  Basically Peter is saying without saying "I'm better than other's"   Like noone could love the Lord more than he, can.  In a way he is drawing comparisons between he and the other disciples here.

I soon realized that I do that as well.  I draw comparisons, and reason out why I am different based on those comparisons all the time!  

Holy Schmoley...who knew?
So while I thought this "All About Me" moment might be a selfish moment, my revelation today is that it is a cleansing time for me to look at what I am all about, my motives, desires, and clean the junk out of me to truly be the best I can be, moving into a more humble spirit that is ready to move forward with a purpose!!!  I love it!


Just like the 'TREE' so are 'WE'  OR rather am "I"
The trees are full of beautiful foilage in summer which in fall lose all that beauty...outside beauty, that is made stronger for the next season with sap that is running through it when all we see are a bunch of branches.  In Spring once again the beauty, more full and lush returns ready to shade us and comfort us and remind us that God does take care of his creation.  So goes it with me.  I am in that 'sap' season and am being fed to be the best I can be.  These are the silent times when God gets to work on me so I can be what it is I need to be to make my dreams come true and give the glory back to Him!


Look out world...I have a dream!!!

It' just Val, Caio!

"All About Me" Day 1

MY FIRST 'ALL ABOUT ME' DAY

Write Your Dream and Plan Down

• Communicate
• Commit
• Believe!

It's time.  I am flipping the switch today and taking care of me.  I am at a chapter in my life where my goals, dreams, and desires will only come true, IF,  I take the time out now to take this step.  'All about Me' may sound selfish and hypocritical to what I believe but when you are a people pleasing approval seeker, as I am,  it is the very opposite of selfish and hypocritical, and the first step to a new healthier ME.

Today I am taking the 4 steps to moving forward:

1. Write my dream down and a plan:  Proverbs 29 says 'with a plan you can accomplish your goals' (paraphrased) my way.

2.Communicate: Let my family and friends know I am taking this time for me and it is necessary to be the best I can be.  I will ask for their support, not for their management over my plan but for their cheering me on to victory with their love, support and encouragement.

3. Commit: Psalm 35 says 'commit your way unto the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this

4. Believe: Start looking at my dream and goal believing how reachable it is.  Believe for what isn't as if it is RIGHT NOW and I will reach it!
5. Begin...

My Dream and Plan

My dream is to be the best I can be in this life and to carry out a purpose that is MY purpose in this life.  I am a person of great faith, I love the Lord there is no doubt that He has a purpose for me to carry out.  His purpose for me is to give back.  I can only give back if I have something to give.  Therefore my plan is to move myself into position to give back.  This will take a Personal dream and plan first, so that is where I'll start.

Personal: To get in the best physical and mental shape I can be in without being obsessive and keeping it naturally part of my everyday life.  Today is 6 months until Bob and my 13 year anniversary.  I plan on reaching my physical goal on that day, celebrate with a trip and vacation, having business in a  position that can be managed so we can get away.

Plan

• Training: 6 days a week  (weigh in monthly: June 6th is my target) * my weight goal is private
• Eating: Normal foods and managing my portions (bad carbs and sugar will be eliminated)
• Devotion and Prayer: 7 days a week 
• Take a day out for Me every other week to do things like hair, nails, etc 
• Buy one thing for me a month
• Give something to someone in need once a week 
• Date night with my husband once a week
• Girls Nite Out once a month

Communicate

A letter to my Family and Friends

To My Family And Friends:

I am taking this moment that I am calling my  "All About Me" moment to make some healthy lifestyle changes for Me.  Please understand that in order for me to be the best I can be I must do this.  It will be good for everyone.  Please forgive me if there are times over the next several months that it seems I'm not always meeting your needs.  Please believe in me and for me to succeed at my plan and goals.  Thank you for loving me enough to understand, appreciate and support me during this time by being my biggest cheerleaders, walking beside me, not trying to lead, control or manage my plan.  Thank you for letting me do this and being here for me through it.  I love you all very much and really need your support now.  Thank you!

COMMIT

Today, December 6, 2010 is the beginning of the next season of life for me.  It starts with a healthy lifestyle change.  I commit to see my dream come true and follow through on my plan that I have layed out here today.  I will do this daily, weekly and monthly from now through June 6, 2010 and will continue to be accountable in this blog sharing the good and bad to be an encouragement along the way to myself and others.

BELIEVE

I am ready, willing and certainly able to exercise my faith in both the Lord and myself,  and follow through.  I will not let the world and any negative comments or otherwise sad remarks sway me away from  believing that I am meant to be anything less than the best I can be in my personal life and business.  I will succeed 110% at achieving what I use my faith to put into action!  

BEGIN

Look Out World, I have a Dream!!!

It's Just Val, Caio!