Be Healthy! Be Active! Be Strong!

Have you ever asked yourself this question....What do I really want?  To be stronger, to be happy, to be fit, to feel better, to sleep better, improve my appearance, reduce stress, run/walk a 5k, to play with my kids, to fit into my skinny jeans!  What have you been wishing for?  What has stopped you from going after your goals?  Stress, travel, lack of motivation, boring workouts, Holidays, family, not enough time, too busy at work!

Whatever the reasons you can decide to change NOW! The start of a new year is approaching.  What does that mean?  It is a great time to commit to one or more of your personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit.  Why not make being healthy and active and stronger a part of your new years resolution!

So you may be asking the question....what do the first two blogs have to do with fitness?  Well,  I truly believe that before we can change the outside, we must first understand and change on the inside.   Understanding our true motivations and desires.  Not doing it because a friend, a loved one, or even a doctor told us to do it.  Doing it because we feel ready to embark on a new journey.  To become healthy because WE want it.  Thus comes the power to EmPower ourselves to do and accomplish anything.  What does EmPowerment do for you?  It makes you stronger and more confident.  It gives you the courage to control your life instead of it controlling you.  It is all about finding balance between the physical, the mental and yes even the spiritual.  I believe when we bring these different aspects into our decision to change we become very focused and determined. We understand what we want and the steps and determination it will take to

 accomplish it.  So lets go for it!

Moments of Truth!

So we have decided to live with No Regrets!  To find happiness even amidst hard times.  To focus on building stronger relationships with those we love and to work on becoming the person we truly can be.  In a sense we have had a Moment of Truth.  What is a Moment of Truth?  It is a time when a person or thing is tested, a decision has to be made, or a crisis has to be faced.  Some moments in life can have a lasting effect.  A new career, a relationship, a marriage, a birth of a child, a death of a loved one, a divorce, loss of job or the realization that life isn’t what you expected it to be. You know that feeling…… A moment of truth!  We've all had them!  The thoughts come pouring in…... I want to do something bigger, I want to change.  We stop for a moment to think…… the fear is too great.  What if I fail?   What if I can’t do it?  I  have thought, how often do we do this to ourselves in life? We know very clearly in our mind, in our heart, what we want and yet for some reason we’re afraid to reach out and take it, to make it happen? Do we somehow feel that our desires are unacceptable? Do we think that what we want is unrealistic? 

I’m certainly aware of the critical voices in my head that speak very loudly when something great could happen in my life. 

“You can’t do that! What would people think!” 

“What makes you so special?”

“That would be so selfish.”

 “You’re not (good)(smart)(pretty)(talented) enough”

Exhausting you say!!  What is wrong with us….why do we do this?   And what is so bad about knowing exactly what you want and taking the steps to make that happen? I often wonder why we are so afraid of failing, when in all honesty if we don’t even try we have failed already. Have you ever had these thoughts?  What have you done to move forward?  So here’s my new resolution: Turn from the doubts, quiet the fears and go for it!

No Regrets!

How many times have you said to yourself....if I had only...I wish I would have....If only I could have ?  The older we get the more we look back on our lives and see how quickly time is passing by.   I read an article that caused me to think deeply on these questions.  So I thought that I would share a few thoughts about the things that caused me to think and ponder about what I wanted for my life.  What can I do to help others reach their goals?  See if any of these thoughts ring true to you and ponder what you would do to change!  A hospice nurse once said "One of the most universal regrets of a dying person is the wish that they had spent more time with their family developing a deep connection with those they loved".  Why then do we get so focused on the things that don't really matter?  Let's resolve to spend more time with those we love!

Another regret is that they never let themselves be happy.  Life is hard with many challenging circumstances  and many times we let this get in the way of our happiness. We stop living.... waiting for things to get better, waiting for tomorrow to come,  waiting for the clouds to clear and the sun to shine.  We constantly anticipate the end of the trial. This Life is not a race it is a journey.  Sometimes we get so focused on the finish line that we miss the journey. We need to learn to live and be happy in the moment. No matter our circumstances, no matter our trials there is something in each day to embrace and cherish.  There is something in each day that will bring gratitude and joy only if we will SEE and APPRECIATE it.  Life is not meant to be looked at only in retrospect.  It is to be enjoyed in the moment.  Let's resolve to be happy regardless of our circumstances!

When we were younger we thought we were invincible.  That we will have all of the time in the world to do whatever and become whatever we wanted.  That nobody or nothing can stop us.  Where does the time go?  How come we sit by and don't do the things that we have always wanted to try?  Too busy....not happy enough....need to make more money first.... too afraid to try because we might fail.........think we will always have time tomorrow?  Many regret that they never became the person that they felt they could become.  That they have left many things undone or spent a lifetime climbing the ladder of success in a career that they really didn't love.  That there were many days of promises without actually DOING them.  We need to LIVE and DO and BECOME the person that we desire. We need to stop being so afraid of trying.  We should not say that we went swimming when really all we did was dip our toe into life.  And as for failing, well.....if you never try, you have already failed!  Let"s seek for the unimagined and undiscovered talents.  Let's resolve to become who we really can be!

So whatever the regret, don't take one more day for granted.   Let's not wait until we are ready to die before we truly learn how to live.  Whatever the reason, we need to stop with the excuses now!  We need to strive for the things of today with no regrets of tomorrow!!