When is enough, enough?

First of all, my post today comes from listening to Dr. David Cooper's sermon this morning at Mt. Paran Church of God.  I'm not exactly committing plagiarism.  Not really. But it was such a universal message and can apply to so many areas of our lives that I had to share. For the last two Sundays he has talked to us about change.  Real change.  It made me think of many areas of my life but it certainly brought back memories of a Saturday in 2002 when I said to myself - "if I do nothing else today I am going to the gym and sign up with a personal trainer."  I was 30 some pounds overweight and had had enough.

I've never looked back or slid back into a pattern of not putting diet and exercise high on my list of priorities.  I actually look forward to going to the gym and challenging myself.  After a hard workout, a meal of seasoned broiled chicken, rice and roasted broccoli (made so simply from a recipe I found on PreparedbyPaige) is quite delicious.

Back to Dr. Cooper's message today.  There are 3 necessary components for real change.  Number one is pain. You've hit rock bottom, whether it is with food addiction, chemical addiction, a relationship, a health scare, you name it as there are many things that cause us pain.  Pain can be good in that it screams at you - enough is enough!  So you decide to do something.

Second is hope.  When I decided I needed a personal trainer,  I had hope that I would finally get results.  Weight Watchers just wasn't doing the trick, and I was discouraged. Now however, with the prospect and commitment of working with a trainer, there was hope.  I started seeing improvement immediately and nothing breeds success like success.   Now my goal was in sight.

Last but not least is a strategy to reach your goal.  Feeling the pain, feeling the hope was all good but I also needed a strategy.  My plan was to work with a trainer 3 days a week and to modify my diet so that I was choosing healthier foods.  (Know that there's a difference between "modifying your diet" and  GOING ON A

I had a strategy that was born out of pain and hope.  I stuck with the strategy and it became a way of life.  Change happened.  Simple. Start today.

Home Sweet Home

"Always keep Ithaca in your mind. To arrive there is your ultimate goal. But do not hurry the voyage at all. It is better to let it last for many years; and to anchor at the island when you are old, rich with all you have gained on the way, not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches. "
                       from the poem Ithaca by Constantine Cavafy

I am so happy that I've learned to enjoy the journey. It's taken me most of my life to learn to appreciate the things you do each and every day to reach your goal, whatever it might be.  So much more peaceful to embrace each day rather than stress because you're not yet there.  However, there is a big BUT coming.  When it comes to travel (as in planes, trains and automobiles) - BEAM ME UP SCOTTY!

Amazing place California.  But getting there. . . .MARTA, schlepping through the airport, the plane, transportation to the desert.  Not sure which is worse MARTA or sharing a very small space with perfect strangers on a 5 hour plane ride (curse those First Class passengers.)  I find myself casing the people at the gate wondering who will I be rubbing elbows with (not in a good way) for 5 hours.  I was lucky for most of the trips in that I sat next to interesting men and one sweet, sweet 82 year old American woman reading a book in French (her life's work) that made the time well, fly by. 

So it is so nice to be home after two months in California that included a trip home for Thanksgiving and an awesome extended family get together in South Georgia.  Nothing like family. California just as soon be another country when you compare it to the ATL.  The ocean, the desert, mountains, wine country, cosmopolitan areas with wonderful farm to table restaurants, upscale farmers markets that include olive oils,  rich creams and soaps made with goat cheese or avocado, along with the usual toothless farmers with their guavas and berries. Or hippies with canes and baby boomers in biking shorts with some pretty impressive quads!! Now that's what I'm talking about.  I really love California.  It is also where my most favored (and only) son lives. Have I mentioned that? He drove down to La Quinta for Christmas and we took a ride to San Diego through the Santa Rosa mountains.

 Gorgeous!  The hotel I worked with was nestled right at the base of these amazing mountains.  Truly one of the most beautiful Embassy Suites I've seen.

I am SUPER excited to be home!  I'll need to get back in the groove here with my blog and my diet and exercise regime.  Couldn't wait to get to the gym today and sweat as my workouts and diet have been seriously compromised while living and working in a hotel for two months.  But bear with me and let me hear from you as you are a huge reason for my excitement at being home!