I had an interesting conversation with a client the other day. There was probably a lot of background chatter that led us to start discussing….normal.
Funny, because for a long time, I have thought I might be in the minority thinking I had a different definition of normal. In fact, I don’t really think that the definition ‘normal’ is one that people take into account on a regular basis.
We often describe people as normal (or… not normal). But as part of my discussion with the client the other day, the word normal is, for the most part, irrelevant.
What is normal? Not much. There are things that are routine, but that doesn’t make it normal. We (society?) might think that shaving, for example, is normal. But they are likely places in the world where people don’t shave. Does that make them abnormal? No, it probably just makes them culturally different or some phrase similar to that.
When you are brought up or raised to be or do something in a certain way, that becomes normal for you. And during this conversation the other day, it occurred to me that normal is really just an extension of culture. Meaning that different cultures, different regions, different people, will always have a different definition of what is normal to them. Normal might be what we have been exposed to or what you have seen around you. But, if you really think about it, normal is different for everybody.
So I said earlier that I thought that I might be in the minority in my thoughts of what normal is. Turns out, the client I was speaking with also thought that ‘normal’ does not accurately describe most things, either.
For example, the client recalled a book she had read. In this book, a person was quoted to have said that for many years, she thought it “was normal to eat from a trashcan”. Because of being homeless, that was how she was raised. She didn’t know any different until later on in her life. You might read that and think eating from a trashcan is not normal. But perhaps what you’re thinking is that it is not acceptable for you, that is not how you were raised, that society ‘frowns’ upon that, etc. And that might not be untrue. But for this person quoted from a book, this behavior was normal for her.
When you think about all the people you meet, everyone you encounter, they will all have varying experiences. Your normal is not their normal. And if we can remember that, perhaps we stop judging other people based only on our own experiences. And maybe we can remember to hear the other person from their perspective. To understand what their normal is. It could very well be the same perspective as your own. And it could easily be out of your comfort zone.
So maybe I’m not in the majority when it comes to “normal” thoughts. That is ok with me. I’ve long ago accepted that I’m kind of a weird person. But that’s what makes me, me. I like me, even if I’m not conventional. I think you would like me too, if we ever get a chance to chat. ;)
~Lynn

I work really hard to stay in a routine. If you are anything like me, time seems to be a commodity and I try my best to use as much of it as possible in a productive way. I feel like there is so much I’d like to do and accomplish but “time” seems to the nemesis that always holds me back!

While I make the excuse about not having enough time, that’s honestly not the true problem. It’s my misuse of time that impacts me the most. But, like any problem that needs changing, I need “time” to sit back and figure out how to make things work better for me.

Sometimes I’m entirely over scheduled. Other times, I’m in a whirlwind race and once the dust settles, I find myself standing alone in my kitchen wonder what I’m supposed to be doing next. It’s an odd extreme. And that’s the true problem.

Extremes.

As you read this blog, I encourage you to think about:

1. Do you live your life in the extremes? How does it physically make you feel?
2. How do you organize your time? Does it truly work for you? Nothing can change till you acknowledge the need or desire to want to change it.
3. What falls out of your routine when you hit a bump in the road?

I’ve been running my whole life, from project to project, goal to goal, accomplishment to accomplishment. I’m proud of the things I’ve done, heights I’ve reached, and items checked off my bucket list. I’m also feeling that at this “mid-life” point, I’m ready to slow it down a bit. Just a bit. I realize what I’m seeking is balance.

When things are balanced, they are in homeostasis. They just are. There is no constant push/pull, hamster wheel, rat race – whatever you want to call it. To me, balance equals some stability, some peace and quiet, at least in my mind.

I did some thinking this New Year, and really worked hard on a routine that included all the elements that I felt important to fit into my daily life. Sure, I have bigger “life” goals, too, but I felt the need to hammer out the details of this everyday routine that had come to feel like a roller coaster.

What I realized is that I needed to be organized. I needed a plan, and I needed to follow the plan. So, I created a plan. I arranged my schedule to accommodate the things that I was consistently dropping the ball in doing. Exercise, cooking, taking supplements, reading, flossing… you know, that stuff.

Let me just say, my new plan was awesome.  It’s a routine that is realistic.  I’ve come to count on it. The comfort of the routine is very zen in my mind.

Then, out of nowhere, it happened. My routine was blown to pieces. My son’s daycare unexpectedly closed for 3 weeks with no warning. My reaction was immediate anxiety, panic, and stress.

I feel like I went into survival mode. The most important things first, my son. Where was he going to be during the work day? How was I going to work at all?? How do I keep him on a stimulated educational routine while keeping my job, my household, my life moving forward? I was spinning.

Not only did our daily routine change, but so did all the little stuff. Now I needed to prep lunches, pack snacks, have a schedule for the park or outside play, arrange work around naps – all of this stuff school takes care of for me. My husband and I scrambled to divide out time, our tasks, and everything else to make things work.

Well, today is the first day back to school. And we did it! We made it. Of course we did. I mean, what choice did we really have?

But, I’m ready for survival mode to be over. I realize I really can’t live there anymore. It’s too much chaos, stress, and feeling unbalanced.

The last 3 weeks has felt like a tornado. Every day with a different agenda, schedule, hand off time, etc. When I take a step back, I see what’s fallen off my routine…

All that stuff I implemented for my own self-care. All of it. Hardly any gym time. Scattered meals. No reading. It’s amazing to think about the littlest habits falling out of my routine. I’m not even sure how it happens. Why did I stop flossing in this few weeks? Because it takes too much time? Not really. Still follows brushing my teeth…

But, what I realize is that one change (losing daycare being a big one), had a domino effect on my whole life. Even though it doesn’t at all seems like it should have!

How many other small things changed in this time that I haven’t even reflected upon yet? I’m sure I will see them more clearly over the next few days.

Right now it’s more of a reflection on how I FEEL. I’m exhausted. Anxious. On edge to jump into the next thing, then the next, and so forth – without pausing to think at all. It’s that roller coaster feeling.

It’s going to take me a little bit of time to clear my brain and body of that adrenaline rush. I’m looking forward to easing up on the gas pedal, just a little, and getting back onto my regularly scheduled program.

In reflection, I like to think I’m good with change, and rolling with the punches. Truth – I’m not. I did it, and outwardly it probably looks successful. But, on the inside, my balance is shaken.

I’m glad to know how much I truly appreciate the structure of my everyday life. It took some shaking up to put that all into perspective. And, now I’m grateful that chapter is closed and I can get back to fitting myself into my own life. It’s incredibly important in helping me keep my feet on the ground and not swept up into every tornado that comes along. In my world, routine is far from boring – it’s balance.
​

• Cheryl

 

I’m sitting at the computer thinking of how I would like to begin my blog for Aspire Wellness. Today is one of the really cold days in January where the air feels like it’s biting your face. It’s very cold. And on my drive into work, I have my heat cranked up in my car really high so that by the time I get out of the car, I’m kinda sweating a little bit. This makes me chuckle. But I do have like 5 layers on. Plus my scarf. But then I suddenly feel emotionally grateful that I am able to get relief from the cold to the point that I am too warm. Because I know there are so many people who are struggling to find where they can get the relief they need.

It seems like such a little thing sometimes, that the idea of being of “being able” to come in from the cold would make me emotionally grateful. Like tears in my eyes. And I think that I feel this way because I have taken this for granted for a long time. Being able. I have taken being able for granted for a long time. So many people are not able for a lot of different reasons. Not able to feel, not able to love, not able to forgive, and on and on.

I’m so thankful that I am capable of so many things in my life. I’m able to think, and learn, and decide, and work, and love, and feel emotion, and walk, and talk. I don’t think of these things in depth on a daily basis.

But not everybody has the capability to do these things. For whatever reason, they find themselves not able. Perhaps it was trauma in their childhood, or a physical disability. Whatever it is, they are unable.

On a smaller scale, you probably have been stuck in a decision with fairly minor consequences. As an example, been in a clothing store and you’re trying to decide between the blue one and the green one? And you go back and forth, trying to decide. And you feel a bit stuck. Which one to choose?!? Feels almost silly that something like this could be a tricky decision. But here you are, back and forth, back and forth. Suddenly unable to decide.

Obviously, deciding that is much different than feeling emotions. But, similar to that, there is a sense of being stuck, of being unable. And it isn’t only about the things that require a conscious decision. People unable to love haven’t necessarily decided not to love. Likely there was another perpetuating factor. But anyway, I’m starting to veer off my point, which is really me being grateful and thankful that I am able.

I know there are plenty of little things that get on my nerves and there are lots of times I complain and get annoyed or aggravated. But on days like today, when the wind is whipping at my face but I am able to get in my car, and I’m able to drive to work, and I’m able to hold down a job and own a business, and I’m able to get warm….no wonder reflecting on that brings tears to my eyes.

So tell me, what are you thankful and grateful for? Because when you truly think about the big and the little things, there are so many reasons and ways to be grateful. Today,
​I am celebrating being able.

~Lynn

​It occurred to me the other day – I make things really HARD sometimes. As if I have to struggle to achieve whatever I want in life. Understandably, I value hard work, a strong work ethic, earning your keep, going the extra mile, over preparing, striving for the best… you get the idea. I tend to be pretty hard on myself.

Are you this way? In this post, let’s take a look at:
1.      How do you think things “come” into your life?
2.      What thoughts appear in your mind when you contemplate adding something to your plate?
3.      Is there a way to make things easier?

How things “come” into your life

A few years ago, I was introduced to the idea of manifesting. You all have heard about it, right? You think it, ask, wish, and live your life as if you already have it, then BOOM, it’s there. It’s magical and not at the same time. For instance, I manifested that I could finish a marathon. But, I didn’t just wake up one day and run 26.2 miles. I still needed to take massive action to train for this manifestation to become reality. But, each time I ran, I could picture the finish line of the marathon. I played it over and over again in my head, until it came to be. It was a mindset.

I seem to be pretty good at manifesting the “small” stuff. Green lights, a close parking space, a new lamp. I’ve even been known to manifest some bigger stuff, too. A doctorate degree before I turned 30, opening a business, buying a house, adopting a baby. Again, not without effort and work, but I still decided these things, and then planned and prepared for them to transpire.

But, there are still other things that just seem to remain elusive to me. Losing weight, earning money, being healthy, having a baby, etc. After all, I FEEL like I’m manifesting these things the same way… so what gives??

Or am I?

What thoughts appear in my mind when I contemplate achieving these things?

Here’s the thing: I can manifest these things all day, but what if I have conflicting beliefs?? What if my beliefs sabotage me from ever achieving the goal? What if I didn’t even know I had these beliefs because if you questioned whether I “actually” wanted these manifestations, I’d say, “Of course I WANT this! Why would I do something to stop it??”

Then, I noticed the trend in my thoughts. All these things I haven’t achieved… I think they are HARD. Don’t get me wrong, as you can see from my list above, I’ve done some pretty difficult things. So, in comparison, these “other” things on my list should be within reach. Some may even say they are easier than other things I’ve accomplished.

Ahh, but alas the issue – “easy” is in the eye of the beholder.

Somehow it doesn’t seem to matter than I’ve done harder things. For example, let’s talk about losing weight. It is the New Year, after all, and it tends to be a pretty popular Resolution.

What if all that matters is that I think it’s hard? Let’s break it down like this – if my belief is that losing weight is hard, it’s going to be hard to lose weight.

So, can I still lose it? Maybe. Maybe not. Could my own mindset, my own universal belief that losing weight is hard actually prevent me from losing weight? What if I decide that I can only lose weight if I put in the max amount of effort, and anything less than a struggle will result in me failing? I have to really earn it! Grind out every calorie! Therefore, I’ve decided I need to work twice (or three or four) times as hard to lose weight.

Even though I have manifested losing weight, my values and beliefs related to just how hard I think I have to work – just how much effort I believe need to expend – will determine the outcome of the manifestation. Have my values and beliefs outweighed (ha good time for a pun) my ability to manifest the outcome I want?

Maybe this is how people get stuck. I’ve heard so many times things like, “I can only lose weight if I run… workout an hour every single day… stop eating carbs… use slim fast…” Etc, etc, you fill in the blank. Without this max effort, they will not, under any circumstances, be able to lose weight. Because that is exactly what they have told the Universe.

Is there a way to make things easier?

Well, I’m not exactly sure. I will need to test the theory, but…

What if I decide it isn’t hard? What if I decided it wasn’t a torturous struggle? What if I decided that every time I ate, I make great choices which result in a great result every time I step on the scale? What if I decided that summer dress in my closet will, in fact, fit me by summer? What if I just made a plan, and broke things down a little at a time and DID IT consistently verses deciding that it is overwhelming?

What if I decided losing weight was easy?

Could it be as simple as that? I have to do the work either way, right? Hard… easy… either way, the weight isn’t just falling off with no effort. But, for years, I’ve decided everything about weight loss is hard- finding the time to exercise, the exercise itself, the food restrictions, the healthy habits that I have to implement, the feeling of being hungry, the idea that I’m missing out, the idea that I have to work so very very hard to lose the same as anyone else. So what if I tried it a different way, and decided that it was going to be easy? The worst case scenario is that it’s still hard, right?

I have begun to wonder how it will turn out if I apply this concept to all these other areas of life that I think are HARD…

Maybe things aren’t hard, and I just think they are hard. Maybe I don’t have to work this much, plan as much, expend as much, or give away as much as I BELIEVE that I do. Maybe I have to change my outlook first, and the rest will fall into place. HARD is holding me back.

Look out, 2019. I’m gunning for it! A new mindset. Everything I want to achieve in this life is easy.

I’m going to make it look easy. Because it is. I just decided.
​
-        Cheryl

I relate to song lyrics on a regular basis. I guess I hear them differently at different times. Or when I’m meant to hear them. I was listening to my iPod the other day and a song I have heard hundreds of times and have sang along to on a regular basis, came on and I was singing away. The song is by no means a new release, and after all the previous listening to this song I have done, these particular lyrics stood out to me as poignant. This day, when I was meant to hear these lyrics….

The song lyrics are from a band called Nine Days. The name of the song is “If I Am”. And the specific lyrics I’m writing about is “You should never let the sun set on tomorrow, Before the sun rises today.”

I have been struggling recently with staying positive and I have been worrying a lot. And I worry about certain things in my life coming to an end or not working out. And I think the meaning of these lyrics, for myself in regards to what has been happening in my own life, is really about taking things one day at a time, being in the moment, and not giving up.

It might seem to be a stretch for you to get that message from these 2 lines of a song. But song lyrics, as a lot of things, can be subjective. I suppose a lot of my worrying stems from things being out of my control and not knowing what to expect. And I guess, in a way, these lyrics are telling me that I can do something different today to change what could happen tomorrow. Put another way….Don’t give up on tomorrow before today has a chance to play out.

And while I would like to believe that of course, I’m not giving up, sometimes my not so positive attitude makes things a little bit harder than they even probably need to be. And I stay in this cycle of worrying and not talking, and continuing to worry about what might happen tomorrow (or further down the road). Dislike this cycle. I don’t want to be a pessimist. I’ve decided I am going to have a more positive attitude and outlook. Yep, just like that. I decided.

To be cliché, I’m not going down without a fight. J In fact, no reason to think I’m going down. Things are going to be ok. They will work out like they are meant to. I don’t know the rest of the story, but if I’m thinking of these lyrics that have turned me around a little bit, then I can’t give up on tomorrow before today has even started.

So, don’t get discouraged by roadblocks. They are probably there for your own lesson. Things you have to work through. Same for me, but that is a whole another blog subject….

“You should never let the sun set on tomorrow, before the sun rises today….”
​
~Lynn

Are you living your true self? I mean, really. When you sit back and think about it, do you even know your true self? Sometimes I wonder if I’m my own unique individual at all. Maybe I’m just a collection of ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and values that others have impressed upon me. From the time we are born, we are taught rules, views, this vs that.

Sure, I can critically think and decide. But, what are the basis for my decisions? Are they rooted in making others happy, society norms, popular belief? If so, that leads me in a circular pattern wondering how do I actually find myself in all that mess?

It’s a lot to think about, and as caught up in “my life” as I am, I wonder if I disassembled it all, what would be left - of just… me.


We live in a very judgey place. Yes, judgey. And, yes, I know it’s not technically a word. But, you know exactly what I mean.


In a time in history where we preach freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to be creative, build what you want, do what you want, be who you want… I wonder how many of us are really doing that.


I think freedom to be one’s self is an amazing idea. I think we all crave to not feel caged in. It’s like we want to rip open our chest and let that power inside us, out. Unleash it to the world! It sounds so freeing. So pure. Like a breath of fresh air.


It is a time in history where we are publicly watching all kinds of freedoms (of speech, of beliefs, of values) being played out right in front of us on a world stage. And it seems quite the opposite of pure. In fact, it’s in-your-face shocking. Terrifyingly so.

Yet, for every yin, there is a yang. The truth is, we don’t all breathe fresh air. Some of us breathe fire.

Yes, technically we all breathe both at times. It’s a balance. But what is happening in your micro world (in your home, school, workplace) is the same exact dynamic that is then brought to a bigger platform (your community, neighborhood, town, city, state, country). It’s all a mirror.

My question is, in which way does the scale tip for you? What are you bringing to the stage?

What I have personally found is that the fire seems to suck the fresh air right out of the room. No matter what move you make, no matter how good your intentions, those fire breathers just light it all up and burn it to the ground.

The result? You hold in the pureness; the breath of fresh air is never felt; the creativity is trapped inside. And it eventually turns into fear. Fear of being exposed. And then lynched.

Why? Because, frankly, it takes so much stinking courage to be yourself. Every being needs love to thrive. We seek it. So, yes, it’s very clear to me why we care what other people think, and why it’s hard to block it out and turn it off.

No one likes to be squished. Bullied. Ripped apart. Criticized. No one.

Let’s be honest, there are productive ways to give feedback, and there are unproductive ways, as well. We’ve all been on the delivery and receiving ends of both ways.

But, in a world of ultimate freedom, I’ve never seen more people afraid to be their true selves than ever before. Why? Because no matter how great your creativity, uniqueness, or talent, there is a fire breather lurking around every corner ready to burn you to the ground.

Our world of free speech allows everyone to have an opinion. In fact, I bet someone is reading this right now that is ready to blast off some fiery comments in response. Why? Just because they can…

For a long time, I’ve felt the need to live my life under the covers, so to speak. It’s not that I’m an incredibly private person, but most people know nothing beyond the surface.

Why? Because I don’t want to be criticized, made fun of, or bullied. I don’t want bad press. I don’t want your opinion on if I’m right or wrong. I also didn’t ask your input on how I use my time, money, or energy. I don’t want you to hold things over my head. I don’t want to hear that you were talking about me around someone else’s dinner table. And, so goes the smoke and mirrors game.

I can’t tell you that I struggled with self-identity issues after my son was born. I can’t tell you that I have a fragile self-esteem. I can’t tell you that I struggle with health issues, that my body hurts a lot, and that I’m not sure how to fix it. I can’t tell you that I worry about making ends meet. I can’t tell you that half the time I feel like I have no direction, and I question why the hell I’ve made the decisions I have.

I also can’t tell you about amazing gifts that I have either. I can’t tell you that I can communicate with animals, that I see people in other dimensions, that I talk to God regularly (and he talks back), that I don’t always feed my kid vegetables at every meal, and that I go on vacation a few times a year because if I don’t, I will go completely insane.

I bet there are people that will have plenty of opinions about any of the above. Some encouraging. Some less so. The point is, who cares. None of us come without baggage. Not one of us.

Who am I to judge you? Just as who are you to judge me? Furthermore, if your unsolicited feedback brings nothing constructive to the conversation, why bring it to the table at all?

On a world stage, it is hard to breathe fresh air. It takes resilience, strength, courage to let your own light shine.

Be different. Be weird. No one ever got to an amazing place doing the ordinary. Let them talk about you. For as many fire breathers, there has to be an equal amount of oxygen.

I’m here to live MY best life. If you are here to do the same, then you have no need to insert fire breathing comments as to what I’m doing. So, I’m going to be the oxygen. In order to do that, I need to come out from under the covers. I am not going to be the change, because I don’t need to change. I just need to be me. And you need to be you. Hopefully, that’s something we can all agree on.
​
-        Cheryl
 
 

I was talking to someone the other day and the person said to me that they thought this was funny…. They were having a conversation with someone else a couple days prior and between them, they had mentioned a third person that they hadn’t heard from in a while. Then the following day, one of them got a phone call or email from that third person. They thought it was funny because that wasn’t the first time that had happened to them. Thought maybe it was coincidence.

I chuckled when they told me that, because a couple years ago, I probably would have thought the same thing. Coincidence. But, I’ve been learning a lot of new things in the past couple years. One of those things is how you can put “stuff” out into the universe. All your thoughts are a conversation with the universe. So, the chat those 2 people were having above, when they mentioned that other person who happened to get in touch…not as much coincidence as it is manifesting.

Have you also experienced this? I have many times. You think about a hamburger and then you see a commercial for one. Or you think about how you haven’t talked to your nephew in a while and he calls the next day. It’s all the little things you put out in the universe…. and the big things too.

You probably always hear people saying things like: “Be Positive” and “Be Kind to Yourself”. Well, there is merit and meaning behind this. As I mentioned before, all the things you think and say is a conversation with the universe. So when you say negative things, the universe hears this as a want or a demand. So that’s what you get. A good example of this would be hitting all the red lights while you are driving. Has this also happened to you? You are rushing out of the house and you probably should have left 5 minutes earlier. And you think that you will likely get stuck at all the red lights on your way to your destination. And sure enough, you do. Well, my friend, you might have created that for yourself, unless some other Divine intervention is happening. You have thought about the red lights and are now stuck at them.

So with this logic, if the universe hears your negative thoughts and delivers them, how about delivering the positive thoughts? Yes! They can be manifested too! When you are thinking your thoughts, make sure they have a positive spin on them. The best way to speak in the positive, is to avoid the negative! What do I mean exactly? Well, say or think about what you actually want. Here is an example. The statement “I don’t want to get sick” is a very common expression. You might have said it at times too. But how many times have you heard someone say that and then they end up sick? Uh huh. A more positive way to say, what we intend to be the same thing, is to say “I want to be healthy.” See what I did there? ;)

There are endless ways and situations where you can work on changing your words into the positive. It does take some practice and in frustrating or upsetting situations, it is easy to fall into speaking or thinking negatively. But the more you practice this are of manifesting, the easier it becomes to speak and think positively and the quicker you can change your own thoughts around. Even in those troubling times when negativity surrounds you.

So manifest away! Say and think all the positive things you want. And remember, the universe is infinite. You can never ask for too much. But remember….the universe hears all your thoughts….
​
~Lynn

Interesting things happen when you’re alone. I mean, truly alone.

I recently completed a 21 day Self Care Detox Challenge. I made up the Challenge, and hence the “rules,” but in a nutshell, I pushed myself to set aside 30 minutes a day to do something for myself.

Yea, I used the word “pushed.” As if you really need to “work hard” at doing nothing for 30 minutes! Well… some of us struggle with that. We are so caught up in work, running, chaos, bills, productivity, squeezing more out of life and into our days, that we neglect the most basic form of self-care.

When I say basic, I mean basic. Being quiet. And alone. Basic.

What I noticed as I began my 30 minutes for 21 days is that we often make things super complicated. I had this whole conversation in my head about, “Well, what is self-care? What activities ‘count’ as taking care of myself? What is a good enough use of my time? Is one thing better than another?”

I hear you, as you think this is all ridiculous. And it is. But, how many times have you tried to outdo yourself – to top your own ideas – to weigh what is “better”? I bet you have.

I think we really use money to level the playing field. It’s a language we understand. You can break things down into dollars, and therefore, now we know which “thing” is more valuable.

News flash – value is in the eye of the beholder.

So, during my 30 days, I did a range of activities. Some cost me money. Some cost me nothing. They all took time. In the beginning, I was wrapped up in making the experience super meaningful. So, as one of my first activities, I got a massage. A massage, to me, is obviously self-care. Everyone knows that…

As my 21 days went along, I realized something very interesting – my belief that money made something more valuable. It’s not hard to know why I think this; we are programmed to believe this our whole lives. So, therefore, the money I spent on the massage made it more valuable than the quiet meditation I did in my hammock at home.

I also stumbled upon my own irony – tying my own self-care to activities to other people. I’m not getting a massage without a therapist, right? Then I raise the question: How much responsibility of my own self-care do I place on others? Is it the therapist’s job to make me feel great? So, if I don’t feel great, does that mean that self-care is hogwash?

Raising the bigger question: How much of my self-care do I actually do MYSELF? When I walk, I use headphones. When I get a massage, I see a therapist. When I got to the chiropractor, I see a doctor. When I zone out at night, I watch Netflix. When I want to escape my reality, I read a book. When I have a few minutes to disconnect, I do the opposite, and scroll through Facebook. The list goes on and on.

What I found in the 21 days is that the best quality of self-care I received is when I spent time alone. In my head. Just me. It is in that space that I found peace, calm, and freedom. That’s where great ideas are born. Revelations are made. Strength and answers are found.

That isn’t to devalue a massage, a facial, the chiropractor, a good book, etc. It’s just my realization that it’s different. I think many of us struggle to be quiet in our minds. We struggle to be alone. We struggle with our own thoughts when there is no one around to listen.  We want validation from others. We judge our worth and time based on how much we spent or by the qualifications of the person we were with.

The bottom line is, you are enough. Just you. Just your thoughts.

We also have so much power within us. So much of what we seek truly lies in our souls. Just be comfortable enough inside your own skin to hear and feel your own thoughts. The guidance we receive in the quiet spaces in our mind is our true path. No road signs and flashing lights of approval are needed by anyone else. Trust yourself.
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If you struggle with being alone in your own mind, whether it’s fear or just a hectic life you lead, I challenge you to put aside the busyness and connect with yourself, even if you have to make an appointment with yourself to do so.  No need to rely on anyone else. You are enough.
 

• Cheryl

 

Skinny, hilarious and unforgiving is the kind of girl that lives inside my body. Let me explain unforgiving before anyone loses their mind over that statement.  I have lived for a long time at a size that makes no sense. A lot of people justify their weight and can look back and give you the day that all of this fat just happened to them. I am unforgiving in that I blame myself and months of habits vs giving any credit to years of doing right. I blame myself when I look back and can clearly see a two year old that had no control over what was in their mouth when she was first labelled obese by doctors. 

One of my students was commenting this week about how he couldn't run a mile he claimed that he was "too fat" for that. I sort of laughed and I said if I can run a mile, you can certainly run a mile. He stood in front of me maybe weighing 165lbs and looked at me with all seriousness and said "Ms., I have gained 20lbs since I got here, I am just not used to being this big and I can't exercise to that extreme at all.". The conversation continued and it was in convincing him that he can definitely run a mile that I realized perhaps I am wrong. 

I have proven to myself that in this fat suit that I am wearing I can do anything. Honestly I have become pretty successful at a lot of things at this weight...but somehow in proving to my body (and everyone looking at it) wrong, I have also gotten comfortable in my skin. Great for confidence and being a mother that is raising kick ass kids that will always know their worth...but sad for the part of my spirit that has always felt trapped in this body. I have somehow forgotten about her and become complacent as long as I can still do and accomplish! 

Because of that realization I know it's okay to focus on my goals and not just be happy with what I have. My accomplishments are many and I am very grateful but it is okay to want to chisel myself out of the rock that is holding me here and stop living my life from within. 

-Eileen