I've thought alot about this subject, I've thought alot about what to title such an blogging adventure. So while I sit here with my knee propped up, with an ice pack atop it. Lets begin.
Odd title I'll admit, but where is your trash can and where was it before? Is your kitchen trash can under the sink? near the stove? Have you ever moved your trash can to a new location? Mine for instance it at the end of the island. Occassionaly I move it next to the sink depending on what I'm preparing. If I'm peeling alot of veggies, I'll move it near the sink. Or when I've been handling chicken.
Sometimes I forget and leave the trash can by the sink, then head to the end of the island and remember, oh yeah! I moved it. I don't discard the trash on the floor where the can used to be. I dispose of it in the proper place. It would certainly get messy if I did that wouldn't it? Instead of making a new habit of discarding trash in the can near the sink, if I discarded the trash onto the floor where the can used to be located?
But we're people, right, capable of learning new habits. right? So what is all this talk of trash cans and their location?
Its simple really. You can remember that you've moved the location of the trash can and dispose of trash properly. Even when you (or I) forget, you head back into the correct direction, right?
Its the same with a healthy lifestyle. You've moved the location of your today and your future. So what if occassionally you forget. Just turn back toward the new location.
I've seen so many Spark Friends become discouraged lately. Forgetting their location. I've seen so many say they don't know how to get back. But I say to that if you can remember the new location of a trash can, you can remember how to Spark!
I have to remember to count out chips and not eat out of the bag.
I have to remember to look up nutritional information before I order my food.
I have to remember when I drink enough water, I feel alot better.
I have to remember to start with the serving size. If I'm still hungry make another sensible choice.
One piece of (or even the whole bag) __________ isn't the end of my journey.
I have to remember the scale is not a reflection of who I am, but a snapshot of a location on the journey.
SparkFriends, I ask you today......where is your trash can?
Monday, January 24, 2011
...And George Lasso's The Moon
If you haven't seen It's A Wonderful Life, I encourage you to. I saw it repeatedly while at the hospital giving birth to my oldest son, back in the days of no cable! He was born over Christmas. When I say over Christmas; I mean a days worth of labor
PBS was the only station that was on 24 hours because they played that movie back to back from Christmas Eve to Midnight Christmas Day. I've seen the move. And even so, I really like it.
It's a great story. One where it reminds us of how many lives we touch. How we've changed them and they've changed us. How different the world would be if it weren't for the people we've bumped into or rubbed shoulders with throughout our life.
One of my favorite parts is where George and Mary are walking home after the dance, singing "Buffalo Gals." He's telling her about his goals to leave the dust behind him from this old town and travel the world; she's admiring an old abandoned house that she romanticizes over, throws a rock at what's left of the windows and makes a wish.
He says, in the tune of Buffalo Gals "What'd you wish for when you threw that rock?"
She doesn't say.
He says: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.
She says: I'll take it. Then what?
He says: Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair... am I talking too much?
Am I talking too much? Hmmmmm.....
People talk too much don't they. Say too much. Say the wrong things. Hurtful things more times than good things. At least that's how it's been a lot of my life. I didn't grow up in the Bailey household. George and Mary weren't my parents. I think I would have liked that though. It seems as though they stuck together, worked things out, had a great community, had a good support system, had a guardian angel.
I didn't have those things, those people. A lot of my life I've experienced what I term "the wagging of tongues." Bad words, lack of encouragement. The message I received was, I'm too weak, I'm not good enough, I'm not......enough. This isn't for me, that isn't for me, I can't do this. Not only from my parents but from others. I began to be conditioned to think negatively about myself and about others. I began to be fearful about everything. Scared to try, Scared to fail. Scared to succeed, really.
After talking with a few of my friends over the past few days...weeks. It seems there's alot of tongue wagging going on. Maybe a lot of fear. Living in the fear bubble. Making what is said real; ingesting it and living as though the words are true about you and/or your circumstance.
It's like you've lasso'd the moon (words) and swallowed it....and it's all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams (words) would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair...
I did that. I swallowed the words and I made them real. And I lived out my life, my living and breathing and parenting and working and fellowshipping as though the words were real.
A sweet friend asked me recently, have you always been this confident. I said no, not by a long shot.
I don't know when I made the switch; when I stopped swallowing the words. I know it was a process of cancelling the negative with the positive. In showing myself that I'm not those words, others thoughts or actions, I became more positive each day, more confident in myself. I had to "raise my deserve level".
You aren't others words, thoughts or actions either. You can make the choice today to stop swallowing the words. Even if you're plate is full, you don't have to eat it. Even if you take a bite, you can spit it out. Even if you ingest half the plate, guess what, you don't have to finish it!
Even if George Lasso's The Moon, you don't have to swallow it!
PBS was the only station that was on 24 hours because they played that movie back to back from Christmas Eve to Midnight Christmas Day. I've seen the move. And even so, I really like it.
It's a great story. One where it reminds us of how many lives we touch. How we've changed them and they've changed us. How different the world would be if it weren't for the people we've bumped into or rubbed shoulders with throughout our life.
One of my favorite parts is where George and Mary are walking home after the dance, singing "Buffalo Gals." He's telling her about his goals to leave the dust behind him from this old town and travel the world; she's admiring an old abandoned house that she romanticizes over, throws a rock at what's left of the windows and makes a wish.
He says, in the tune of Buffalo Gals "What'd you wish for when you threw that rock?"
She doesn't say.
He says: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.
She says: I'll take it. Then what?
He says: Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair... am I talking too much?
Am I talking too much? Hmmmmm.....
People talk too much don't they. Say too much. Say the wrong things. Hurtful things more times than good things. At least that's how it's been a lot of my life. I didn't grow up in the Bailey household. George and Mary weren't my parents. I think I would have liked that though. It seems as though they stuck together, worked things out, had a great community, had a good support system, had a guardian angel.
I didn't have those things, those people. A lot of my life I've experienced what I term "the wagging of tongues." Bad words, lack of encouragement. The message I received was, I'm too weak, I'm not good enough, I'm not......enough. This isn't for me, that isn't for me, I can't do this. Not only from my parents but from others. I began to be conditioned to think negatively about myself and about others. I began to be fearful about everything. Scared to try, Scared to fail. Scared to succeed, really.
After talking with a few of my friends over the past few days...weeks. It seems there's alot of tongue wagging going on. Maybe a lot of fear. Living in the fear bubble. Making what is said real; ingesting it and living as though the words are true about you and/or your circumstance.
It's like you've lasso'd the moon (words) and swallowed it....and it's all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams (words) would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair...
I did that. I swallowed the words and I made them real. And I lived out my life, my living and breathing and parenting and working and fellowshipping as though the words were real.
A sweet friend asked me recently, have you always been this confident. I said no, not by a long shot.
I don't know when I made the switch; when I stopped swallowing the words. I know it was a process of cancelling the negative with the positive. In showing myself that I'm not those words, others thoughts or actions, I became more positive each day, more confident in myself. I had to "raise my deserve level".
You aren't others words, thoughts or actions either. You can make the choice today to stop swallowing the words. Even if you're plate is full, you don't have to eat it. Even if you take a bite, you can spit it out. Even if you ingest half the plate, guess what, you don't have to finish it!
Even if George Lasso's The Moon, you don't have to swallow it!
Who's Driving Your Wagon?
Repost from Spark:
I met Coach Nancy at the bridge today, we had a great time, walking and talking. We talked more than we walked. It was a four mile walk, a four hour talk.
Having someone like minded gave me an opportunity to bounce alot of my thoughts off her and honestly I think we both have hours of blog material now! LOL And this is one of them....but I got to thinking about this particular part of our conversation and I hope it translates as well into blog as it did in person.
I hear the term or phrase: I fell off the wagon. I'm getting on the wagon. While I understand what the phrase means and that it applies to other aspects of life issues, I'm will only be discussing it today in terms of Spark People.
To get there I want to sing a little song, some of you may know it and some of you may not. It's kind of a strange song to make the point but I hope it will make sense.
Time Warp - Rocky Horror Picture Show
It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
Put your hands on your hips
And bend your knees in time
But its the pelvic thrust, that really drives you insane
Let's do the Time Warp Again!
I equate the Time Warp to being "on or off the wagon". And if it's a wagon, and you're ON the wagon, who's driving it? You? And if not you then who? Are the horses out of control? Hmmmmm....that's a foder for an whole other blog....back to this one.
If getting on the wagon is a jump to the left
And getting off the wagon is a step to your right
And while your off the wagon you put your hands on your hips (or calories) and bend your knees (only exercise when I feeeeeeeeeel like it)
I think the pelvic thrust that drives you insane is binge eating and guilt.
Are you really moving? Isn't it just a series of "a jump to the left and a step to the right"? How are you moving forward with all the side stepping?
And again I ask you WHO is driving the wagon?
At some point in this Spark Journey, you have to decide to take the reigns, you have to do the work, you have to stop trying to fill the hole, the void, the abyss, the loneliness, the "someday syndrome", the I'll be happy when thoughts, with food, with bad food or good for you food, alcohol, whatever, you fill in your own blank (destructive behavior).
Until you stop being content (and who are we kidding, you're not content) with riding in the wagon, getting off and getting on and getting off and getting on...
Until you become the DRIVER (taking control of your life) and not the PASSENGER (blame anything else for "perceived failure") you will not be successful. I said it. You're right! This won't work.
Until you take the reigns, Until you make the choices: water and fuel, Until you use the Spark Tools, Until you get off the couch and put on the shoes. You're not moving forward. You're not the driver of the wagon.
Are you ready to grab the reigns?
Don't just think you are.
KNOW you are.
Don't just TRY.
DO.
Having someone like minded gave me an opportunity to bounce alot of my thoughts off her and honestly I think we both have hours of blog material now! LOL And this is one of them....but I got to thinking about this particular part of our conversation and I hope it translates as well into blog as it did in person.
I hear the term or phrase: I fell off the wagon. I'm getting on the wagon. While I understand what the phrase means and that it applies to other aspects of life issues, I'm will only be discussing it today in terms of Spark People.
To get there I want to sing a little song, some of you may know it and some of you may not. It's kind of a strange song to make the point but I hope it will make sense.
Time Warp - Rocky Horror Picture Show
It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
Put your hands on your hips
And bend your knees in time
But its the pelvic thrust, that really drives you insane
Let's do the Time Warp Again!
I equate the Time Warp to being "on or off the wagon". And if it's a wagon, and you're ON the wagon, who's driving it? You? And if not you then who? Are the horses out of control? Hmmmmm....that's a foder for an whole other blog....back to this one.
If getting on the wagon is a jump to the left
And getting off the wagon is a step to your right
And while your off the wagon you put your hands on your hips (or calories) and bend your knees (only exercise when I feeeeeeeeeel like it)
I think the pelvic thrust that drives you insane is binge eating and guilt.
Are you really moving? Isn't it just a series of "a jump to the left and a step to the right"? How are you moving forward with all the side stepping?
And again I ask you WHO is driving the wagon?
At some point in this Spark Journey, you have to decide to take the reigns, you have to do the work, you have to stop trying to fill the hole, the void, the abyss, the loneliness, the "someday syndrome", the I'll be happy when thoughts, with food, with bad food or good for you food, alcohol, whatever, you fill in your own blank (destructive behavior).
Until you stop being content (and who are we kidding, you're not content) with riding in the wagon, getting off and getting on and getting off and getting on...
Until you become the DRIVER (taking control of your life) and not the PASSENGER (blame anything else for "perceived failure") you will not be successful. I said it. You're right! This won't work.
Until you take the reigns, Until you make the choices: water and fuel, Until you use the Spark Tools, Until you get off the couch and put on the shoes. You're not moving forward. You're not the driver of the wagon.
Are you ready to grab the reigns?
Don't just think you are.
KNOW you are.
Don't just TRY.
DO.
Food and Running and Other Stuff
I need to dust this place off! I need to post some race reports and get to the heart of the matter around here again!
I started this blog over the summer and somehow not it's winter!
I've trained, I've run, I've turned vegetarian and now looking into a gluten free lifestyle as well.
I've maintained my weight loss over a year!! But I'm looking to drop 10 more pounds.
I've maintained my weight loss over a year!! But I'm looking to drop 10 more pounds.
I have quilt projects and recipes and pictures and spark blogs I should transfer as well! :D
Now, where's my swiffer!?
Monday, July 12, 2010
Climate Change (2007)
The climate changes here quite frequently, the old adage about Texas weather is if you don't like it just wait 15 minutes...it'll change.
This summer has been "off". Normally our summers are scorchers. 100+ degrees. Who of us can forget the summer of 1980? Who still has the T-Shirt?
But this summer has been lacking in heat. Its rained and rained and rained. What was once a land in drought, has become flooded. Our lakes are full, our streams streaming, our rivers flowing, yet I feel stagnant. I feel like I can't get enough water, although over all that I survey, we're at flood level.
I started off "the summer" with the intention of getting all the uncomplete bible studies completed.
Starting with the ones I had purchased most recently and work my way back. The good news is, I got that one done. I loved it. I was on the mountain with God.
The bad news is, not a one since has been touched. They are still collecting dust. I did a summer study at church with kept the fires going with a little kindling, but that's about it.
Its as if the passion of the blazing sun of summer was gone and so was my Passion for the Blazing Son. No! I've misspoken. My passion isn't gone, its under the water somewhere. Or the rain waters washed it down stream.
Maybe what I need is a search team....rescuers! (hey isn't that a Disney movie??)Anyway, what i need is a place to dry it off, to get in from the weather, to enjoy a cup of tea and begin the process of being reacquainted with Gods Word....with God.
The pages of my prayer journal have been empty for too long. So I sit here...at the computer.....wondering what to say, yet being filled with so many things. Thirsty in a flooded land.
The opposite of one of my favorite Psalms.
Psalm 63A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.
1 O God, you are my God,earnestly I seek you;my soul thirsts for you,my body longs for you,in a dry and weary landwhere there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuaryand beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
9 They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Maybe not so opposite. My soul feels like a desert land. Dry and in need of water. I like it that its titled: A Psalm of David, while he was in the desert of Judah.
Judah meaning Praised, Celebrated. That's fitting.
Wow, God never stops surprising me with His Word. In the Desert of Praise. That's the key really.
Praising. Praise Him and raise up out of the pit. Praise Him and be filled. Be satisfied.
There is a song we used to sing at church about this Psalm.
You are my God, I seek You
My soul thrists for you
You are my God I seek you
My flesh faints for you
*in a dry and weary landyou are my wateryou are my water*
you are my God i need you
you have been my help
you are my God i need you
let joyful lips sing
*in a dry and weary land you are my wateryou are my water*
your steadfast love is better than life
your steadfast love is better than life
Does any of this make sense, I don't know, its just where I'm at today.
This summer has been "off". Normally our summers are scorchers. 100+ degrees. Who of us can forget the summer of 1980? Who still has the T-Shirt?
But this summer has been lacking in heat. Its rained and rained and rained. What was once a land in drought, has become flooded. Our lakes are full, our streams streaming, our rivers flowing, yet I feel stagnant. I feel like I can't get enough water, although over all that I survey, we're at flood level.
I started off "the summer" with the intention of getting all the uncomplete bible studies completed.
Starting with the ones I had purchased most recently and work my way back. The good news is, I got that one done. I loved it. I was on the mountain with God.
The bad news is, not a one since has been touched. They are still collecting dust. I did a summer study at church with kept the fires going with a little kindling, but that's about it.
Its as if the passion of the blazing sun of summer was gone and so was my Passion for the Blazing Son. No! I've misspoken. My passion isn't gone, its under the water somewhere. Or the rain waters washed it down stream.
Maybe what I need is a search team....rescuers! (hey isn't that a Disney movie??)Anyway, what i need is a place to dry it off, to get in from the weather, to enjoy a cup of tea and begin the process of being reacquainted with Gods Word....with God.
The pages of my prayer journal have been empty for too long. So I sit here...at the computer.....wondering what to say, yet being filled with so many things. Thirsty in a flooded land.
The opposite of one of my favorite Psalms.
Psalm 63A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.
1 O God, you are my God,earnestly I seek you;my soul thirsts for you,my body longs for you,in a dry and weary landwhere there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuaryand beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
9 They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Maybe not so opposite. My soul feels like a desert land. Dry and in need of water. I like it that its titled: A Psalm of David, while he was in the desert of Judah.
Judah meaning Praised, Celebrated. That's fitting.
Wow, God never stops surprising me with His Word. In the Desert of Praise. That's the key really.
Praising. Praise Him and raise up out of the pit. Praise Him and be filled. Be satisfied.
There is a song we used to sing at church about this Psalm.
You are my God, I seek You
My soul thrists for you
You are my God I seek you
My flesh faints for you
*in a dry and weary landyou are my wateryou are my water*
you are my God i need you
you have been my help
you are my God i need you
let joyful lips sing
*in a dry and weary land you are my wateryou are my water*
your steadfast love is better than life
your steadfast love is better than life
Does any of this make sense, I don't know, its just where I'm at today.
dust off the old
I'll have a few of these until I get my thoughts together on Freedom/Forginess. This is just old stuff I've written, thoughts rollin' around in my head over the past 5-6 years.
Stagnant Waters
Not much has changed from my last post....I still feel stagnant. Surrounded by mosquito infested water. I guess there's not much comparision between a mosquito and a lion but what came to mind immediately was:The advesary is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (I peter 5:8)
Thats kinda like a game of Mother may I, right? The advesary has to have your permission to devour. Seems like these days I've given out alot of permission. **SIGH**How does one get that back?
Back to I Peter....6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.8 Be sober, be vigilant; your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.10 But the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Looks like a path one can follow....
Humble Yourself.
Cast Your Care.
Be Sober
Greek Word: Nephoto be sober, to be calm and collected in spiritto be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect.
Be Vigilant. Dictionary: keenly watchful Resist.
Be Steadfast. Dictionary: strong, firm, immovable, solid, hard, rigid.
I like what the greek has to say about this word being used in a bad sense:"cruel, stiff, stubborn, hard" thats descriptive of steadfast in a bad way
And then the best two words (in this case three) in the bible.But God.Thank God for the "but Gods" in the bible, in my life....otherwise I'd be pretty hopeless.
Stagnant Waters
Not much has changed from my last post....I still feel stagnant. Surrounded by mosquito infested water. I guess there's not much comparision between a mosquito and a lion but what came to mind immediately was:The advesary is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (I peter 5:8)
Thats kinda like a game of Mother may I, right? The advesary has to have your permission to devour. Seems like these days I've given out alot of permission. **SIGH**How does one get that back?
Back to I Peter....6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.8 Be sober, be vigilant; your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.10 But the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Looks like a path one can follow....
Humble Yourself.
Cast Your Care.
Be Sober
Greek Word: Nephoto be sober, to be calm and collected in spiritto be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect.
Be Vigilant. Dictionary: keenly watchful Resist.
Be Steadfast. Dictionary: strong, firm, immovable, solid, hard, rigid.
I like what the greek has to say about this word being used in a bad sense:"cruel, stiff, stubborn, hard" thats descriptive of steadfast in a bad way
And then the best two words (in this case three) in the bible.But God.Thank God for the "but Gods" in the bible, in my life....otherwise I'd be pretty hopeless.
The One Where I'm a Pfuhl
A play on words but I love this song and it explains a bit about this blog. I will use it for writing on a few topics that are dear to me:
Forgiveness/Freedom and to jot down notes for a new bible study I'm working thru about Ruth.
Fool For You By Nichole Nordeman
There are times when faith and common sense do not align, when hardcore evidence of you is hard to find, and I am silenced in the face of argumenative debate, it's a long hill it's a lonley climb. Maybe it's true.
CHORUS: Cause they want proof, They want proof of all these mysteries I claim, Cause only fools would want to chant a dead man's name. I would be a fool for you all because you asked me to. A simpleton who's seeming naive, I do believe You came and made Yourself a fool for me.
I admit that in my darkest hours I've asked what if, What if we created some kind of man made faith like this, Out of good intention or emotional invention, and after life is through there will be no You.
Cause they want proof of all these miracles I claim, Cause only fools believe that men can walk on waves. Maybe it's true.
Unaware of popularity, and unconcerned with dignity, You made me free. That's proof enough for me.
I would be a fool for You, Only if You asked me to, A simpletonwho's only think of, The cause of love.
I will speak Jesus name, and if that makes me crazy, they can call me crazed, I'm happy to be seemingly naive, I do believe You came andmade Yourself a fool for me.
http://www.esnips.com/doc/3093cf58-2aef-4069-b925-a06ca781e4a0
Forgiveness/Freedom and to jot down notes for a new bible study I'm working thru about Ruth.
Fool For You By Nichole Nordeman
There are times when faith and common sense do not align, when hardcore evidence of you is hard to find, and I am silenced in the face of argumenative debate, it's a long hill it's a lonley climb. Maybe it's true.
CHORUS: Cause they want proof, They want proof of all these mysteries I claim, Cause only fools would want to chant a dead man's name. I would be a fool for you all because you asked me to. A simpleton who's seeming naive, I do believe You came and made Yourself a fool for me.
I admit that in my darkest hours I've asked what if, What if we created some kind of man made faith like this, Out of good intention or emotional invention, and after life is through there will be no You.
Cause they want proof of all these miracles I claim, Cause only fools believe that men can walk on waves. Maybe it's true.
Unaware of popularity, and unconcerned with dignity, You made me free. That's proof enough for me.
I would be a fool for You, Only if You asked me to, A simpletonwho's only think of, The cause of love.
I will speak Jesus name, and if that makes me crazy, they can call me crazed, I'm happy to be seemingly naive, I do believe You came andmade Yourself a fool for me.
http://www.esnips.com/doc/3093cf58-2aef-4069-b925-a06ca781e4a0
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