Happy New Year - what a difference a letter makes.

It is the grand New Year's tradition to decide what you want to achieve in the upcoming year. 

Sure, I have set goals (read: said lofty things in honor of tradition), and put forth half a heart to succeed, but I really just expected failure.  

When the imminent derailment arrives (hello?! - I'm human!), I throw my hands in the air, wave the white flag, and wait another 362 days until the next fresh start.

What a difference a letter makes.

reS·o·lu·tion

[rez-uh-loo-shuh n] 

noun

1. a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group. Compare concurrent resolution, joint resolution.

2. a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

3. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

4. the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

5. the act or process of resolving or separating into constituent or elementary parts.

 

reV·o·lu·tion

 

[rev-uh-loo-shuh n]

noun

1. an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.

2. Sociology. a radical and pervasive change in society and the social structure, especially one made suddenly and often accompanied by violence. Compare social evolution.

3. a sudden, complete or marked change in something: the present revolution in church architecture.

4. a procedure or course, as if in a circuit, back to a starting point.

5. a single turn of this kind.

  

Resolutions?  ugh.  How 'bout a revolution!? Could it be that my reSolutions have lacked planning and determination? Has my "firmness of purpose" lacked passion and a vicious overthrowing of anything that gets in the way?

Not this year, my friend.  I have reconfigured my workout room, set a weekly schedule of possible workouts, set weekday and weekend schedules, and articulated specific goals for my mind, body, and soul. I have set in place times for rest and rejuvenation on a daily and weekly basis. I. want. change.

But most importantly, I have already set a standard of grace.  The schedules are to provide guidance and structure and will act as suggestions when I am too tired to decide what to do.  But when the day comes (and it WILL come) when my schedule gets knocked out of whack, I will not lose my resolve, but I will continue on with dogged determination.  Knowing that what I want to do, nay, what I need to do, will benefit me (and the person who lives with me) in the long run, I will persist. 

May you allow grace to lead you to live a life of discipline and grace. 

Here's to the new year - viva la revolucion!

Mission, um . . . Possible?

In 61 days, I will be on my way to a tropical escape. Far from Michigan's cold, dreary February winter to spend a week with family. On a beach.  In a bathing suit. yikes.

So it's the perfect goal to turn my slightly, uh, "jolly" self into a slightly less jiggly version, right?

Sure, why not? We are smack in the middle of the season that is fraught with holiday parties, buffets, chocolates, cookies, and other delightful (de-fat-ful?) treats.

Then again, maybe it's the perfect time?  With my new goal of "exercise for 10 minutes every day" I have been able to work in working out for 80% of the last 45 days (And most of the days I do more than 10 minutes, anyway).  Plus, if I can persevere through this season - the other seasons should be a breeze! *cough*

So since I am a list girl, here are some of my benefits of exercise - especially now! 

Reasons to Exercise 

1.  Keep blood sugars lower/more level.

  (a)    Need less insulin.

(i)     Saves money! (yep, I am that frugally minded)

  (b)    Covers up any mathematical errors I make in counting carbs.

  (c)    Keep moods more even.

(i)     Less lethargic.

(ii)    Less moody (sugar, caffeine, chocolate, and roller-coaster blood sugars   
         also effect that).

(iii)    Encourage healthy trains of thought.       

(iv)    More mentally focused.

(d)   Less likely chance of enduring complicated complications.

(i)     Keep my vision.

(ii)    Keep my nerve endings.

(iii)   Keep my limbs and feet intact.

(iv)   Keep my organs pumping.

(v)    Live longer.  (Inasmuch as I can control!)

(vi)   Live better.

2.  Healthier cardio system.

3.  Make for a more fit body. (uh, yeah, I wouldn't mind looking good too!)

With visions of bathing suits dancing in my head, and a stronger self awaiting, here we go!

Sicko

I had been looking forward to the Thanksgiving weekend for a while.  Two days off work plus the weekend!?  Awesome.  A well-deserved break, in my eyes.

I have been working really hard and I was ready.  Plans were made.  Family dinners, hunting with the hubby, wistful dreams of Black Friday shopping, Christmas decorating, and special holiday eats.  You know, general "happy-holiday"ness.

I left work (at which I have been experiencing allergies for way more than a few weeks) with the phrase “I’m just looking forward to not sneezing all weekend”.  Famous. last. words.

Enter: plague.  Or at least a hefty man-cold.  Suddenly everything went from great plans to great nap.

Black Friday shopping? Nope, sleep.

Hunting? Nah, sleep.

Christmas Decorating?  Uh-uh. Sleep.

Family Dinners?   Well, I’d have to be dead to pass those up.

Enjoying holiday goodies?  No way.  Instead of inhaling treats, I 'enjoyed' saline rinses and facial steams.

The frustrating thing was that I really started to feel better after a solid sleep on Saturday night, but the glucose goblins showed up.  For no reason that I could humanly comprehend, my blood sugar went up, and it refused to come down, regardless of rage bolusing.  So all the headway (yes, pun intended) that I had made over three days, was undone in one afternoon.

My husband came into the kitchen Sunday night (after he had been out hunting) and found me - eyes-bloodshot, nose stuffed and cough thriving – faithfully making our favorite holiday treats.  

“We are celebraiding Chrisdbas wedder we wand to or nod, danggid.”

‘Tis the season for aloe infused tissue.