Tidbits I’ve Learned in 2018

1. I can do anything I set my mind to. I can do hard things.

2. Losing 18 pounds took me an entire year & was much more challenging than I thought it’d be.

3. I’m very very very fortunate & blessed to have the life I have.

4. My body is strong. My mind is stronger. When my body wants to quit, often my mind is able to push me through.

5. Self-talk matters. The words I say to myself can make or break me. I choose to make myself better through positive self-talk.

6. What I eat is directly proportionate to my weight. The amount of exercise I participate in is directly proportionate to my weight.

7. I am what I eat & it absolutely positively shows. I choose clean 97.99999% of the time.

8. Sugar increases my anxiety. I steer clear. White carbs increase my anxiety. I stay away. Too much caffeine turns me into a b**#h. I must limit my intake.

9. I STILL have a tortilla chip & dippy cheese addiction that must be curbed! Damn you, Chipotle, damn you!

10. Fried foods break my face out with monstrous pimples that always lower my self-esteem in a huge way. I can’t eat fried food without paying an ugly price.

11. I feel like a new woman every time I do hot yoga & it clears up my skin almost instantly.

12. Running is my new jam!

13. Ready or not, I’m all signed up for a 5K (Jan. 19th) & 1/2 Marathon (Jan. 20th), just to see if I can complete both/ to see what my body is capable of!

14. I reversed my irritable bowel syndrome through clean eating.

15. I love my morning coffee with cinnamon, collagen powder, & stevia.

16. Doctors said I would never ever run, again, without excruciating knee pain- they were WRONG.

17. I’m healthier & more toned @ 40, than I ever was @ 30.

18. My goal is completion, not speed, but I still want to be faster than I was the day before.

19. If David Goggins can run 100 miles with two broken feet & shin splints, I can run any distance! He’s a badass!

20. Stretching is very very very important!

21. My opinion of me matters more than others opinions of me. This has been a lesson I’ve been trying to master since coming out of the birth canal.

22. I strive to be better than the day before. I stay in my own lane. Comparison is the thief of joy! I’m letting go of comparing.

23. Sometimes my friendliness gets mistaken for flirtation. It has not served me well.

24. I’m working on being on Facebook less & being more present with my children & husband. When I saw the number of hours I spent on social media last week, I almost had a heart attack. I spend wayyyyyyyy too much time on social media & not as much time with my loved ones as I’d like. Depression increases when Facebook use increases! No bueno

25. David Goggins inspires me to push through my discomfort & do hard things no matter what the circumstances. His journey absolutely positively inspires me!

26. I take self-care very seriously. I carve out time to workout because when I do, I’m a better mom, a better wife, a better woman, & a better friend! No excuses!

27. Over the last year (or maybe my whole life), I’ve been a bit too self-centered, too self-absorbed, a bit more braggy than I’d like to be, & too show offy. I’d like to work towards becoming more humble, more modest, more private, & a little more simple (aka- more like my husband)!

28. Someone told me I’m not as kind as I used to be & it was very very hard to hear. I don’t think I’m over it yet. I agree. I want to be as kind, or kinder, than I used to be!

29. I seek attention. I’ll do just about anything for attention! I need to soul search as to why I crave attention so much. I often feel lonely when those I long for attention from don’t oblige.

30. I love teaching Art Masterpiece, volunteering each week in Hope’s classroom, & tutoring. These are three of my favorite things.

31. I would rather stay home than go out any day/ night of the week! I’m not hugely into being social much anymore. I prefer one on one interaction, always! But then again, I get lonely at times.

32. I’m homesick & have a really hard time letting the past stay in the past. I have a hard time letting go. It’s very hard for me to be so far away from so many loved ones & friends.

33. I enjoy giving to others. I love gift giving & buying food for the homeless. It brings me deep joy.

34. I’m messy. I’m embarrassed by my messiness. So, sometimes I avoid having others over to our house because of my messy nature. I want to purge the things we don’t use & give those very things to those that need it most.

Starting to feel self-absorbed. Sounding off.