Although the holidays are always fun with the people and presents, it was a challenging one for me because I injured myself over Thanksgiving and spent December and January in a brace. Don't worry, it only hurt when I breathed!!! Not being able to exercise was quite a blow. I did gain seven pounds during that time, but as soon as I could, I got back on the treadmill and pulled out the exercise bands and hit it. I've now lost 50 pounds!!! That's a small child or a good sized dog! Those dark days of inactivity really made me appreciate my health and abilities.
Since I've embarked on this self-improvement journey of mine, I sometimes stop and wonder if it's just too much about me, me, me! Each day I concentrate on what I (and my family) eat, what I drink, how I exercise, what I read, what I see, what I listen to, if I'm getting enough sleep, what I wear, and if I'm responding positively instead of negatively to a situation. My Calvinist upbringing tells me all this emphasis on self is a sin. But then I got to thinking, how can we bring joy into the lives of others if we, ourselves, are sick, tired, spreading gloom and doom of our own? As the flight attendants say, we need to put the oxygen mask on ourselves first, and then help those around us.
We need to be our best selves so we have the tools and resources to help others and impact the lives of those around us. So many times, friends have come up to me and told me they can't believe how happy I am. It's like I'm glowing with joy! What a compliment. I want to be the one that brings only positive things to the table, figuratively and literally. There are so many negative things going on in the world today (same story, different era) and there always will be. I just don't want to add to the huge stinking pot of smoldering poo in the world. My actions here in little Jerome, Idaho, may not make a difference in the Middle East or North Africa, but it makes a difference in the lives of the people with whom I interact. Feeling healthy and confident in myself gives me the incentive to say yes to helping those around me. So, I may only be making a small difference globally, but in my own little part of the world, I think I am making a big difference.
