Thursday, January 29, 2009

Leaf Turning Thursday

I've had two weeks to be resolute since my last Leaf Turning post. And I've been quite good! I made a Tofu Stir Fry recipe that Matt and I enjoyed...not so much a hit with the kids, but that's okay. I've been wearing skirts more often than I haven't. And I've become a bit obsessive in the health department - tracking calories and working out sometimes twice a day. I'm happy to report I've lost 10 lbs! (And now that I've shared that glorious little bit of information with all the world wide web, I must never gain it back!)

Surprisingly, it has seemed that the more I've added to my plate, the more I've been able to accomplish! I definitely think eating better, eating less, and working out more has given me a boost. I've been doing a lot of incline walking and running on our treadmill and some running with the kids in the jogger.

Let me just say, pushing 100 lbs uphill is freaking HARD! Today I felt muscles that haven't been sore in years. Forgot I even had them. And that was motivating. About half way up Dover - a big hill by the girls' school - I started talking out loud to myself.

"One foot in front of the other"... "Think July and little brown dress"..."Think 10 year anniversary and weekend away"..."Think pre-baby body"...

Wyatt must have been able to feel my pain because all of a sudden he shouted out "Go Mom, Go!" I think I could've sprinted up the hill 3 more times! That was the best.

Maybe not so surprising however, is the fact that the more I have checked off my list - the more I have added to it's length. Kind of like when you get the carpets cleaned, you realize the sofa is horribly worn. And when a new sofa arrives, you realize the walls could use a new coat of paint. The more I tackle, the more I realize I want to fix...in my appearance that is.

Before kids, I spent countless amounts of money and time on me. ME! Facials, manicures, pedicures, teeth bleaching, electrolysis, bikini waxes, massages, spray tans, microdermabrasion, hair lightening, gym memberships, trainers, new clothes, shoes, and makeup. Oh, the MAKEUP! I may have had a slight obsession with MAC. As in the lady at the Nordstom counter and I - we were on a first name basis. Here's an old pic as evidence.


So you can imagine the list I've been able to create now that I've let myself have a little time and energy for myself. You can imagine the things I have let go. You can imagine how losing 10 lbs has somewhat created a monster. How losing 10 lbs has been a catalyst for wanting to tweeze and tan and bleach and wax and primp.

But my reality is still my reality. A 30-something, stay at home, mom of 3, who runs a daycare REALITY. So primping is quite out of the question. Even if I had the money to indulge (which I seriously don't) I don't have the time!

This brings me to my final resolutions of 2009. My final Leaf Turning "A Ha!" in this self exploration I've been taking:

I resolve to be happy with what I have. I resolve to see and appreciate the blessings already in my life. I resolve to focus on my inner beauty more than my outer.

This morning as I was walking with the kids, (after tackling hill #2 at the Castaways) I looked out over the path and literally stopped in my tracks. It was 70 degrees. Bright, clear, gorgeous blue skies stretched on forever. My horizon was peppered with palm trees and ocean waves, sailboats and seagulls. The day ahead would hold lunch in the grass with my kids, a nap on the couch with a page turning book, welcome home kisses and the strong arms of my husband, and my bible study with 8 fabulous females. I was suddenly acutely aware of how good I have it! How much I fabulously love my life. Right then and there I thanked God for my happiness and asked him to help me remember how I felt in that moment.

Always remember.

Primping is not all it's cracked up to be anyhow. I can't ever remember a time when looking good - having every hair and nail and pound in place - made me feel the way my thankful heart made me feel this morning.

So while I am not giving up my list, I am definitely going to balance it with a heavy dose of reality. Because I've realized my reality rocks - whether or not my teeth are pearly white!

8 comments:

Aubs said...

Oh how i relate to this post! In so many ways! CONGRATS on 10lbs!! Thats awesome! I must use this as motivation to get off my rear and get back to working out. Here's to the next 10 lbs!

Anonymous said...

WELL SAID! Good for you.

LauraC said...

Another fantastic post. I've never been a primper because of the time involved. Also because I totally missed going to girls' school bc I was in physics and calculus instead :)

Elyse said...

Yeah! I love this post. I totally relate. I have anough mac to sink a ship...and you know what i use every day? drugstore eyeshadow, mascara, and lip gloss. all in 5 minutes flat! ha. life changes so much after kids. for the better! ive come to learn that inner beauty is SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT! without it, all the outer beauty is meaningless and fades away much too quickly anyhow. heres to being thankful for our beautiful lives! we really have it good!

Anonymous said...

ERIN! You are AWESOME! Congrats on making a resolution and sticking to it! Don't you love those 'aha' moments where life suddenly seems so clear and your purpose in it seems so defined..its as if everything just makes total sense- you were put here for a reason and you are fulfilling that role sooo marvelously! I love it...

Unknown said...

what a fantastic post! You are definitely one that puts your mind to something and accomplishes it! Congrats on the 10lbs-you're awesome!!!

Anonymous said...

Erin,
This is a beautiful, inspiring, WONDERFUL post. Thank you more than you know. Exactly what I needed! From God's mouth to your...fingers?

Joanna said...

I liked this. A lot. I'm going to have to call you I liked it so much.

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