"The most important thing she had learned over the years, was that there was no way to be a perfect mother - and a million ways to be a great one".
Jill Churchill
Saw the following post by Ed Mylett on Instagram this morning and wanted to share.
As your week begins, focus on ways you might change up some of your daily habits to be on the more positive side.
Maybe less time reading social media and more time reading actual books.
Maybe less time watching tv and more time moving your body.
Maybe less time spending money and more time investing it.
Small shifts in daily habits and mindset can produce big changes in your life and attitude.
XOXO
Most of what you do every day is related to your HABITS.
And the habits you keep are ultimately what you become.
By their nature, YOU’RE NOT AWARE of most of your habits. You shower and brush your teeth the same way daily. You check social media and emails, eat, exercise, pray, engage in your relationships, and conduct business pretty much the same way every day.
You’ve probably done so for months and years without much more than a passing thought about these routines.
That’s because, to be as EFFICIENT as possible, YOUR BRAIN GRAVITATES to what it knows, which are habits. Using less energy gives your brain the added and focused power you need to zero in on the ACTIONS and GOALS that move you closer to your best life.
But that only works if the habits you’ve developed are POSITIVE and DYNAMIC.
The RIGHT habits can make you.
The WRONG habits can break you.
Spend time today thinking about the habits that serve you well. Also, think about the habits that are holding you back and what you can do to CHANGE or ELIMINATE them.
REMEMBER…
Small shifts in your habits often produce the outsized results that will lead you to THE LIFE YOU DESERVE.
I was trying to find a really old blog post today to retell a story about when I confronted 2 creepy guys I knew in my gut were pedophiles taking pictures at Bryn's dance recital held at St Charles Community College when she was younger.
Couldn't recall what year it was, but I found the photos from the event in Bryn's scrapbook from 2008 so I started looking through those dates on here to see if I blogged about it. Which by the way, is the first year I started this blog... 14 years ago.
A few things I noticed along the way while scanning through old posts from that year...
I used to blog almost every day, a lot of which involved content about my day to day life.
I was a very busy and involved mom... between home and volunteering at school... Bryn and I were always doing stuff together. She didn't have an iPad to keep her attention... like kids typically do now.
It's no wonder I've gone through major growing pains since she left for college over 3 years ago. I'm not the biggest fan of being an empty nester and very sure I'm not ready for when it's more permanent than it already feels.
I used to have a very different life, not necessarily better than what my life is now, but just different.
Additionally, I worked out daily and was even training for a half marathon back then... it was also before I became an instructor.
I was very heavily involved in taking photos, scrapbooking, preserving memories by telling stories, and also trying to get my foot in the door of major paper crafting publications... which by the way, I eventually did get my stuff published quite a few times.
I don't know why the recollection of all of this is making me cry when it's not where my original train of thought was in writing this post. Maybe I'll take a break and come back to this later.
In all honesty though, writing in general on this blog has made me cry over the years. There's something therapeutic about it for me. Maybe that's a good thing considering therapy could've helped and probably would've cost more than the $9 I've paid every month to Typepad to host this thing for 14 years. LOL
Ok seriously, I got up to take a break and noticed a white stain on my black tank top from where snot had unknowingly dripped onto it. I mean... who doesn't need a random cry once in a while, when you're supposed to leave for an appointment soon, besides NOT ME. Also, I must've been really focused on what I was typing to have not noticed I needed a Kleenex. Note to self... keep a box on my desk.
But here's a typical post and day in the life from back then....
November 26, 2008
Did this last night, while watching the finale of Dancing with the Stars (yeah for Brooke & Derrek!)...
... it was inspired by the Bucket List challenge (based on the movie) at the Forward Progress Now blog. I make "to do" lists daily & now she makes them sometimes, too. Hopefully these are things she puts on her list for her life. I need to live by this list, too!
live with intention
walk to the edge
listen hard
practice wellness
play with abandon
choose with no regret
laugh
continue to learn
appreciate your friends
do what you love
live as if this is all there is
Oh & she's wearing my shoes in that photo... I swear she'd wear my clothes & shoes to school if I'd let her. She's growing up way too fast...
Today's the first day of Thanksgiving break for Bryn, so we've made a "to do" list:
Spin class at the Y
Paint Bryn's nails
Play "school"
Crafting & coloring
Do "hair dos"
Play "shoe store" & "jewelry store" (yeah, that would mean my shoes)
Make brownies (no eggs & dairy) for Bryn to eat for dessert on Thanksgiving
Wait for Sears to do a maintenance check on the treadmill between 1-5pm
Oh & watch old tapes from when Bryn was a baby... almost forgot
Notice it's really a list of things that Bryn wants "to do" today. I'm VERY glad to have her home, though, I really miss her when she's at school...
Off to the Y to get my day started & get a boost of energy.... I think I'm going to need it today!
Another typical thing I noticed that I used to blog was on the 7th of the month, I'd do a "7 things on the 7th" post, which would involve 7 random things about my life, my day, suggestions, etc.
So since I've already veered way off course in how this post was supposed to go... and since today is September 20th... here's 20 things on the 20th, that may or may not be similar to life in 2008...
I love Aldi. In fact, I just got home from there today, and yes, I did change out of the snot-stained shirt I was wearing before I left.
Shopping at Aldi has most definitely saved me money from the days I mostly shopped at Dierbergs or Fresh Thyme. Wish I would've realized this sooner in life, but a big thank you to Jim for encouraging the switch.
You know what else has saved me a ton of money? The drive-up option at Target. If I don't set foot in that damn store, I won't impulse buy stuff I really don't need... like clothes, home decor, and let's don't even talk about the dollar spot right when you walk in.
I'm still kinda high-maintenance, but that's ok because I'm the one maintaining it. I still love to shop for clothes, shoes and handbags... I just don't do it as often as I once did.
Now I find myself selling a lot of what I've accumulated over the years with resale shops, sites like the Real Real, and most often using the Poshmarkapp that's been pretty successful for me.
I'm not a fan of running anymore. I mean... I know I could do it, but I'm just not motivated for it like I used to be. I do love to go out and take a walk sometimes if I have nothing better to do. It clears my head and it's some natural vitamin D which is always a positive.
I had a colonoscopy scheduled for this Friday... my first one ever... and they just called the other day to reschedule it because my insurance denied the location and wanted me to get it elsewhere. So now I have to wait until November. Never mind that I'm 54 and have put this off for 4 years, and now it's been rescheduled twice this year. I'm not looking forward to the liquid diet and the prep the day prior, so I guess the universe just knows.
Speaking of which, if you're a fan of doing an occasional cleanse... my favorite is $10 off at Advocare right now. Click on that link and search for the cleanse. I like unflavored myself, but they also have citrus or peaches & cream. You also get a FREE digital food scale with your purchase!
My favorite self-tanner for like ever, has been Clinique for face and body. I still use it, but recently Bryn also introduced me to Tanologist, which you can find at Target, Amazon, Ulta, etc... and I love the extra color it gives. Highly suggest buying a mitt to apply it though, so you don't have big random brown marks the next day. Ahem.
My idea of "cooking" these days is making a big salad. Why bother making an elaborate meal when I'm the only one here?
I lift weights a couple times a week, not only to keep my body toned up, but also because muscle keeps your metabolism running faster. Oh, and also because I teach the format. LOL Back in the day, I thought cardio was the only way to stay fit though. I was a cardio queen for real. Couldn't have been more WRONG about that.
For years I've never known what I wanted to do with my life job-wise because I wanted something else that wouldn't mess with my teaching schedule, and I also didn't necessarily want to work full-time again. The thought of writing a resume and/or actually applying for something kept me doing nothing though. Until my current job at Cappucinnos basically fell into my lap... although, yes, I do know the timing of the universe isn't random. You know what else? I LOVE that job, even if there are moments when I'm wondering how my life ended up here. It has brought some of the most amazing people into my life... coworkers and customers.
I might be addicted to dark chocolate covered almonds. Specifically, the ones from Aldi. I've somehow rationalized this addiction by thinking deez nuts are good protein and dark chocolate is an antioxidant. We won't discuss the sugar content.
Speaking of addictions, I will forever love Crazy Bowls... specifically the Kale & Quinoa salad with grilled chicken and no feta. But since they, like everyone else, keep raising their prices, I try to only get it once a week. But seriously, I could probably eat it daily.
In November it will be 7 years that construction on my house was complete and I moved in. I can't believe it's been that long.
I've often thought of starting a podcast. Still not quite sure what the gist of it would be, because it could certainly go in many directions, but I do know a few entertaining people that I enjoy bantering with, like Bryn, Jim and even my friend Leslie... which someone at Bloom suggested we needed our own morning show LOL... so who knows. And maybe I should stop thinking about all the things I'd like to do and just freakin start doing them.
Donating plasma is a great little side-hustle while helping others. Although not gonna lie, this morning I walked in for my appointment, saw a long line that I haven't seen in a while, thought to myself... not today, Satan... and turned around and walked back out the door.
This morning I was at a stop light behind a car that had a small baby-on-board kind of sign on the rear window that read, "twins up in this bitch." And all I could think was... why on earth would someone put that sign on their car? There's a lot about O'Fallon that makes me wonder. Speaking of which, did you know you can find a bank and a car wash on literally every single corner of Highway K? It's a running joke around here, and yet they still keep adding more.
Two of my favorite things to do will always be dancing and traveling. And if you can combine both at the same time, it will undoubtedly make me happy. Although, it definitely matters who you're with too.
Bryn is not a 7-year old anymore, she's 21 and a senior at Mizzou now. I think I've already mentioned that in another post recently. And while she doesn't wear my clothes and shoes to school, mainly because she has bigger feet than me, I do still think she's growing up way too fast. And I still miss her when she's at school, especially now that she's AWAY at school. I'm endlessly proud of her! Oh... and she may have picked up my love of shopping since then too. Girls Day Out, anyone? We are always game! LOL
This is something I started dealing with 2 years ago. Almost like it happened overnight.
My workout routine hadn't changed (I was still teaching fitness classes 4-5 days/week), nor had my diet really changed (I eat pretty healthy most of the time)... and yet I felt and literally looked like I was 4 months pregnant.
I mean a day or two of being bloated here and there is totally normal.
But my normal wasn't to be consistently bloated with nothing changing, no matter what I was doing.
I ended up going to the doctor at the suggestion of a friend who had started a low dose hormone replacement therapy.
And well... my doctor said my estrogen/progesterone levels were off, so she prescribed a low dose estrogen patch and a progesterone pill nightly.
Eventually I felt like I was back to my normal self.
I'm not suggesting this is a route everyone should take, but there are other ways to combat changing hormones that can come with the onset of menopause.
Here's an excerpt from Women's Health about menopause weight gain:
As you get older, you might notice that maintaining your usual weight becomes more difficult. In fact, many women gain weight around the menopause transition.
Menopause weight gain isn't inevitable, however. You can reverse course by paying attention to healthy-eating habits and leading an active lifestyle.
What causes menopause weight gain?
The hormonal changes of menopause might make you more likely to gain weight around your abdomen than around your hips and thighs. But, hormonal changes alone don't necessarily cause menopause weight gain. Instead, the weight gain is usually related to aging, as well as lifestyle and genetic factors.
For example, muscle mass typically diminishes with age, while fat increases. Losing muscle mass slows the rate at which your body uses calories (metabolism). This can make it more challenging to maintain a healthy weight. If you continue to eat as you always have and don't increase your physical activity, you're likely to gain weight.
Genetic factors might also play a role in menopause weight gain. If your parents or other close relatives carry extra weight around the abdomen, you're likely to do the same.
Other factors, such as a lack of exercise, unhealthy eating and not enough sleep, might contribute to menopause weight gain. When people don't get enough sleep, they tend to snack more and consume more calories.
What's the best way to prevent weight gain after menopause?
There's no magic formula for preventing — or reversing — menopause weight gain. Simply stick to weight-control basics:
Move more. Physical activity, including aerobic exercise and strength training, can help you shed excess pounds and maintain a healthy weight. As you gain muscle, your body burns calories more efficiently — which makes it easier to control your weight.
For most healthy adults, experts recommend moderate aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, for at least 150 minutes a week or vigorous aerobic activity, such as jogging, for at least 75 minutes a week.
In addition, strength training exercises are recommended at least twice a week. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you might need to exercise more.
Eat less. To maintain your current weight — let alone lose excess pounds — you might need about 200 fewer calories a day during your 50s than you did during your 30s and 40s.
To reduce calories without skimping on nutrition, pay attention to what you're eating and drinking. Choose more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, particularly those that are less processed and contain more fiber.
In general, a plant-based diet is healthier than other options. Legumes, nuts, soy, fish and low-fat dairy products are good choices. Meat, such as red meat, or chicken, should be eaten in limited quantities. Replace butter, stick margarine and shortening with oils, such as olive or vegetable oil.
Check your sweet habit. Added sugars account for nearly 300 calories a day in the average American diet. About half of these calories come from sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, flavored waters, and sweetened coffee and tea.
Other foods that contribute to excess dietary sugar include cookies, pies, cakes, doughnuts, ice cream and candy.
Limit alcohol. Alcoholic beverages add excess calories to your diet and increase the risk of gaining weight.
Seek support. Surround yourself with friends and loved ones who support your efforts to eat a healthy diet and increase your physical activity. Better yet, team up and make the lifestyle changes together.
Remember, successful weight loss at any stage of life requires permanent changes in diet and exercise habits. Commit to lifestyle changes and enjoy a healthier you.
On a totally unrelated note...
I'm excited about an upcoming event that I'm participating in with these 3 amazing instructors on October 1st.
We'll be leading a 75-minute class with a mix of HIGH Fitness, strength, Piloxing and of course some Cardio Dance! It's a great way to try 4 different formats all in the same class... especially if you've never joined us for a class at Bloom Fitness Studio.
And quite honestly, these 3 dear friends of mine are some of the BEST instructors you will EVER find anywhere, so it's going to be an AMAZING class!
Oh and did I mention it's totally FREE?!
Sign up on the MINDBODY app to reserve your space in class and make plans to join us!
11 years ago yesterday, I went through Zumba training and became an instructor.
It was essentially a piece of paper they handed me at the end of the day for paying money to attend, because God knows I didn't work as hard for it as I would end up doing for Body Pump and AFAA, but it was impossible to imagine that day what would come along with it over the years, considering I really had no desire to teach in the first place.
It was also the start of many other certifications and formats to eventually follow.
Without a doubt in my mind, I’ve realized that instructing has been part of my calling all along though. It is part of my soul in ways I cannot sufficiently describe, but it has changed my life for the better.
In addition to countless hours of practice, choreographing, sweat, and dancing in & out of the classroom… more importantly, I’ve had to learn to actually LEAD over the years and not just perform.
I’ve learned that connecting with people on a personal level is every bit as important as showing them how to effectively burn calories.
I’ve learned how much I still love the process of building a class, starting from scratch and creating something that makes people want to workout.
I’ve made more friends because of my job than I could ever imagine, and have even earned some haters along the way too. I’m thankful for ALL of it because it’s made me stronger in more than just my body.
There are many stories I could tell about the tears & frustration that has also come with this gig, and some day I may just write a book, but the good has absolutely outweighed the ugly.
I am truly grateful!
I’m still trusting the universe on how my story ends with this job, but although I’m no spring chicken in this industry, I’m still kickin it with the youngsters!
And with any luck, my body continues to hang in there with me!
You see and hear that word a lot these days, but the reality is... your thoughts matter.
Your words matter.
What you think and say about yourself matters.
Whether you think you can or you think you can't... you're right.
The way you begin your day matters even more, as it sets the tone for your entire day.
How do you begin your day?
Waking up just a few minutes earlier to journal, meditate or even do some light stretching can be a great way to add some positivity to your day. And let's be honest... it's probably a more positive start than jumping right onto social media... and goodness knows, I'm guilty of reaching for my phone first thing.
You become what you surround yourself with... people, thoughts, places... so being more intentional about making your circle of influence more positive is really important!
Here are 20 morning affirmations that could change your day for the better if you make the choice to say them or write them down... and then believe these things to be true...
I have an abundance of energy
I am free of pain
Today is my day
Today I will change my life
I am strong
I am beautiful
I am loved
Unlimited energy will find me today
Today I am a magnet for ideas
I will be a giver of love today
The sunrise fills me with confidence
Whatever challenges come my way, I can overcome them
Today I will learn and grow
I will be a better person today
I will help someone today
I love who I see in the mirror
Success will find me today
I am grateful for another day to shine
Today is full of possibilities
I will be fearless today
Exercise is another great way to change your day for the better and give you more energy too.
Be fearless and try something new next week! Come join me for some cardio and strength classes.
The combination of both formats every week, is a great way to change your body, mind and attitude... because we also have a ton of FUN!
And quite honestly... when you find a workout that's also fun, you're more likely to stick with it and stay committed.
Start working on your health and wellness goals BEFORE the new year. Your success begins with simply making the decision to show up and put in the effort.
Change your mind... feed it with positivity.
Change your circle of influence... and watch how your life becomes more positive too!
Happy post Labor Day & official end of "summer," I suppose. Even though we all know that in Missouri, we could be in misery with hot weather well into October. LOL
But I did have a fun short weekend with some of my favorite people in the whole world, so I'm feeling pretty blessed and happy about that, no matter what the season or weather is!
Anyway... I was inspired to write about kindness recently when my dad, who forwards The Daily Motivator to us well... um daily LOL, sent a post about kindness last week.
The song Revolutionary also randomly came up on my phone's vast library of music, and since it's about kindness as well... I thought, never mind about that post... I'm writing about those song lyrics instead.
But this morning while I was at BioLife donating plasma, I read a Facebook post a friend had shared about a young woman/mother who was abducted & subsequently murdered while she was out jogging recently.
Some of the tips she shared about going out to walk/run/hike alone made me think that I need to start sharing my location with a loved one while I'm out. Even though I almost always walk in a well populated area with a lot of traffic, something like this could happen to anyone, and I'm going to start doing it just to be safe.
Then shortly after that, while still sitting there minding my own business, a disturbing event happened that pretty much sealed the deal for me about blogging today.
I was hooked up to a machine and was in the middle of donating, when I heard the guy's machine next to me keep beeping.
Generally, this can mean a few things that are no big deal. They come over and fix the situation and you carry on as normal.
I had my air pods in listening to music to prep for my class tonight, so I didn't listen to the whole conversation until it seemed to be getting heated. But I paused my music in time to hear the girl that works there tell the guy, "we're going to have to end this early so you'll only get $20 for today."
First of all, ending early means you'll need to sit by the nurse's office so they can monitor you while you drink a Gatorade for about 15 minutes, since you won't get your normal saline return that happens at the end of the donating process.
I know this, because it's happened for me twice in the last year & 1/2.
But he loudly muttered something like "just don't worry about it," sat up and yanked the needle out of his arm with blood spattering literally everywhere.
Honestly, I'm surprised it didn't hit me because the floor in between us had blood all over it... his chair was covered, as was his donation machine that collects the plasma. He had blood splattered all over his arm, face and shirt, and as he walked away leaving a trail of blood, someone else walked toward him and said, "we need to wrap your arm." They did a half-ass job of it as he impatiently walked away mumbling and generally mad.
Like in need of anger-management, mad.
About $20.
Or perhaps about life in general.
Or perhaps because he's just generally an asshole, I don't know.
All I know is that I was shaking. The whole thing really rattled me and my heart was racing.
Same for the poor girl who was attending to him, who also had blood all over her when the guy's needle was yanked out.
She said if she would've had time to think, she may have lost her job because she wanted to punch him, but she was in a state of shock. I told her I would've thoroughly backed her decision to do that.
The people sitting across from me were shaking their heads too... one older man also currently donating like I was, and another woman who was waiting to get hooked up that appeared to be a nurse because she was wearing scrubs. The nurse however, said she was about to get up and knock the guy out, as she's dealt with situations like this too many times.
I did appreciate seeing how quickly everyone reacted and made sure the guy left.
He is also permanently banned from ever coming back. Good to know.
What is it though, that makes it seem like people are quicker to anger these days?
Whether it's in person, in traffic, on social media, politics, etc... it sometimes seems as if people have lost their minds.
And how a situation so small, can ignite a freakin time-bomb in someone leaving everyone in their path completely shaken.
I don't even know if I have adequate words to share, but instead I'll share a portion of the lyrics to this song. Any maybe I've already shared this song before, but I think it makes sense in a world where common sense doesn't always seem very common anymore.
Hope your September is off to a happy start!
But just a reminder to put yourself at the top of your daily to-do list.
Because trying to pour from an empty cup will eventually cause a ticking time-bomb... whether it's with your patience, sanity or overall physical health.
You can't adequately take care of other's needs without first taking care of your own.
And regular exercise can absolutely have a positive impact on your health and your mood...
XOXO
Maybe you're not like me Maybe we don't agree Maybe that doesn't mean We gotta be enemies Maybe we just get brave Take a big leap of faith Call a truce so me and you Can find a better way
Let's take some time, open our eyes, look and listen And we're gonna find we're more alike than we are different
Why does kindness seem revolutionary? When did we let hate get so ordinary? Let's turn it around, flip the script Judge slow, love quick God help us get revolutionary