We often ask ourselves, "Am I where I want to be?"
While this is a valid question, I think the more important question is, "Am I heading in the right direction?"
When I think about where I want to be one year from now... five years from now... ten years from now, am I positioned to end up there?
This can apply to your work/career, health, relationships, personal growth, every aspect of your life. I'm of the opinion that we don't accidentally stumble upon a lasting marriage, a fulfilling, successful career, a healthy body, or deep friendships.
We invest in these things.
Make decisions.
Act.
Daily.
"If you do not change direction,
you may end up where you are heading."
~ Lao Tzu
The good news is that it's never too late to change direction. What will I do today? How about you?
Take a risk?
Slow down?
Ask for forgiveness?
Eat your veggies?
Get moving?
Believe?
Whatever it is, know that it's bigger than today. It will change your tomorrow.
For the last year and a half, our garden has been my teacher. On Labor Day, as I watched my husband and daughter plant our fall/winter garden, the lessons kept coming.
There is a joy that comes over my daughter when she digs in the dirt - purposeful, yet curious. She loosens the soil, digs, makes a home for our food. I watch her little fingers grasp her shovel, wonder what she's thinking, thankful that joy comes so simply.
It's crazy how the most important job in the world is something we are never trained for. And yet, every day we have a chance to guide, encourage, lead and nurture these little ones into the people they were created to be. So very thankful.
I love beginnings. Birthdays, New Years, Weddings, Seasons. I think it's the hope - the possibility - that gets to me. And today, it doesn't matter how our spring garden did or what we got out of our summer harvest, we're starting over with new seeds, new possibilities. I love that.
And that's life.
There is always a way to start over.
To be refreshed.
To grow and live and reach your potential.
It really doesn't matter what happened yesterday, last year, or in your childhood. What matters is what we choose to do today.
And there's no better time to start than right now...
As she planted this one, she looked at it and said, "Grow big, little kale."
A sweet wish.
A simple blessing.
And there it is.
A new season.
A fresh beginning.
And while we look forward to the harvest to come, it's this moment that I'm soaking in.
A friend emailed me the other day asking me how I'm doing on my list. I had no idea what she was talking about.
Your list. You know? The one. The list of things you were going to do this year.
Oops.
I forgot about the list.
And 37 is just a couple weeks away.
I'll admit, I had to laugh a little when I read it again. Most of the things I did this year weren't even on the list. Just never know where life is going to take you. Let's revisit...
Paint something (I'm terrified of art and not very good at it - so I need to try: a canvas, a table, a wall, something, anything.) Hmmmm... does watercolor during arts and crafts count? Yes. I say it does. I'm crossing this one off.
Dust off my guitar and play again (it may only be for 10 minutes at a time but that's better than nothing). Took it out a few times. Not enough to build up any callouses though. Thus, the dust collection.
Go country line dancing. That would have been fun.
Write letters to old friends and mail it (like with a stamp). Yes! This, I did - and will continue to do.
Play in a poker tournament. Nope. I even went to Las Vegas last month, but for very different reasons. Don't get me wrong. I'm down for some Texas hold'em any day.
Plant a tree (or two). I'm not 37 yet. This will happen. :)
Write - my story. Okay, well I guess I sort of am - maybe that's what this is all about.
Eat at new restaurants.Easy one.
Drink hot chai tea in the snow. Check!
Pick apples. Barrels and barrels of them.
Write a song (and sing it). Ha!
Allow spontaneity. Yes, and this came in the form of choosing fun over laundry, last minute road trips over summer house projects. Lesson: there are a lot of things in life that really can wait.
Raise awareness for AS. I guess in my own way I have. This one will be a process.
Laugh at myself.:)
Create irresistible vegetarian meals. It may depend on who you ask.
Refurbish some furniture. I'm over it.
Write - something to be published. To be determined...
Wear more colors.Sure did.
Sing (either in a microphone or in the shower - just sing)Nothing beats singing with my girls. Nothing.
Become a better gardener. Let's face it, my husband grows the food. I pick them and eat them. It's a good arrangement.
Pray without ceasing (and believe without ceasing). Still believing...
Listen to live jazz as often as possible. Not even once. Just a lot of Coltrane on Pandora.
Stomp on grapes at a vineyard. Yes! It's on the calendar for later this month. Can't wait.
Write - a song. Oh my, apparently I was really into writing last year. Sorry, no songs here.
Make jam (or jelly - I don't really know the difference). I'm not doing so hot on this list.
Learn how to knit (or crochet - whichever is easier on my hands) No, my but 4-year-old daughter did. Does that count?
Embrace the rain - walk in it, play in it, splash in it, LIVE in it. YES!
Make pumpkin pie out of the pumpkins in our garden. Not exactly. I used the pumpkin in my smoothies instead. Delish!
Dance in a flash mob (seriously, if anybody knows how I can go about doing this, please let me know. this is a non-negotiable, must-do!!). I'm still looking for one! One of these days...
Read poems to my children. Love.
Stay in a cabin in the snow - embrace winter! Giving myself 1/2 point for this one.
Be kind to myself - set lofty goals, but allow myself time to get there. Who would have thought that this vague point would end up taking up most of my year.
Take water aerobics. Taking my 2 kids to the pool should count for this one. I'm crossing it off.
Go snow sledding! YES!
Walk in a "Race for the Cure" I was out of town. Next year...
Choose joy - because each day is a gift and I won't take a single one for granted. YES! YES! and YES!
A year ago when I wrote that list I had no idea what 36 would hold. I never would have thought it would look a little more like this:
- Start a health and wellness business.
- Decrease medication by 75%!!
- Travel to other states helping others build their own businesses and have so much FUN doing it.
- Take the girls to Disneyland.
- Spend one month in Hawaii.
- Become stronger, healthier and more determined than ever.
I'll have to spend some time in the next couple of weeks thinking about where I want to be when thirty-eight rolls around. Be careful what you hope for, having a vision is a powerful thing.
For the last several months my daughter has been fascinated by the house being built down the street. She always make me slow down as we drive by so she can check on the progress. Yesterday, as we drove by once again, we had a conversation that really struck me.
Mom, the house is happening so fast now. They took forever and ever doing the floor. Now the bedrooms are so quick. It's finally starting to look like a real house.
Forever and ever doing the floor.
I explained to her how important that "floor" really is, how the builders need to spend a lot of time making sure there is a strong, solid foundation.
She nodded her head, gazed out the window, quiet.
Then came the next question.
What happens if they don't make a strong floor?
I thought for a second, not wanting to give her nightmares of collapsing buildings.
Well, honey, if the floor isn't strong, the rest of the house won't be strong either. It wouldn't be safe to live in.
She nods again.
I'm sure glad we have strong floors, mama. Me too, baby, me too.
Her attention turns to her sister as they start to sing Old MacDonald.
I, on the other hand, keep thinking about "floors".
Just last week, I heard about a half-billion dollar hotel in Las Vegas that was built but never opened because of serious construction defects. Inspectors noted that the building would likely collapse in a major earthquake. After millions of dollars and months of litigation, a Nevada state judge recently gave the go-ahead to implode the building.
What happens if they don't make a strong floor?
Shiny and beautiful on the outside, the entire project will soon turn to dust.
But isn't it the truth? When it's all said and done, no matter how things look on the outside, your foundation is what keeps you standing. I'm thankful my four-year-old reminded me where I need to spend my time. When my floor - my family, my faith and my health - is taken care of, everything else works out. I'm strong and can take on everything else.
And unlike the Las Vegas hotel that awaits its fate, you and I can always go back and strengthen our foundation. Why wait for a collapse or implosion? We can do something today to make sure we have a strong tomorrow. Whether it's spending quality time with your family or making changes to your diet and lifestyle, check your floor and see how it passes inspection. The rest of your house will thank you.
It has been far too long. But this morning, I'm joining Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday. This is when we stop, drop and write. No editing or over thinking, just five sweet minutes to write for the love of writing. Today she asks us to give our best five minutes on:
S T R E T C H
Ready?
GO!
It's funny how a simple word can take on such new meaning at different points of our life. This word brings up all sorts of emotions for me. This time last year, being able to stretch was a daily goal. Between regular physical therapy sessions, yoga for arthritis classes and daily exercise, I worked hard at maintaining my ability to stretch. It wasn't that long ago when simply bending down to touch my toes got a standing ovation from my rheumatologist. Every morning, alone in the bathroom, I made it a point to reach for the ceiling - as high as I could, pulling, stretching, straightening out my spine. It hurt. Hard to breathe. So much work. Just to stretch.
But what was the alternative?
Weakness. Pain. Inability.
Today, while I still stretch to maintain strength, flexibility and range of motion, life is stretching.
The goal is no longer just stretching my limbs, but stretching my vision - leadership, passion, faith. Stretching, reaching - out of my comfort zone and into places I never imagined - because there is no alternative.
They say summer doesn't start around here until after the 4th of July. Sure enough, after months of rain, yesterday was amazing. The sun made it's entrance and the day was perfect. We powered it out for 12 straight hours of 4th of July fun!
So this morning, on this unofficial 2nd day of summer, I did something I've been wanting to do for weeks - months, even. Nope, I didn't throw my suit on, pour myself some lemonade and blow up the swimming pool. I did something even better.
I mowed the lawn.
Yup, you heard me right. I mowed my lawn - front and back, up and down.
And I loved every second of it.
You see, last 4th of July, I stayed home with my baby while daddy and big sister went to watch the fire works. I was in the middle of a flare up and all the physical therapy, shots and steroids wasn't going to let this mama enjoy the show. I remember going to bed early last year wondering how many special events I'd miss. I remember thinking, "Next 4th of July, I am going to be there. No matter what. I'm going to celebrate."
And that I did. All day and night, with amazing friends.
So this morning as I drank my green smoothie and stared out the kitchen window, I knew exactly how I wanted to start the day.
When my oldest daughter saw me rolling out the lawn mower, she said, "Uh, mommy, you better leave that for daddy. He's the one with the stronger back."
"Don't worry sweetie. Mommy is stronger than you think."
Stronger than I think...
And with that, I was off. The girls laughed and cheered. I smiled - thankful.
Two hours later, sweaty and dirty, I couldn't help but step back and marvel at it all - marvel at strength.
This time last year I was wrapping my head around a diagnosis I had never heard of. It was June 1, 2011, when a rheumatologist told me I had ankylosing spondylitis. He said there was no cure, but that they could treat me with a new biological medication that would slow the disease down. Unfortunately the medication would kill my immune system and put me at higher risk for other diseases. Talk about a rock and a hard place. This time last year I could barely lift my baby or get a bowl off the top shelf without some sort of steroid. The future seemed so uncertain.
And yet - the future comes. Time never stands still, it passes - one way or the other.
Amazing what can happen in one year. This June 1st, 2012, I was on an airplane heading to Los Angeles - on my way to grow my business, share health and hope, and celebrate possibilities. I should mention that I have been able to decrease my medication (with the goal of completely eliminating it) and have boosted my immune system and overall health naturally.
Healthy.
Happy.
Strong.
Determined.
Thankful.
It was no accident. It was a year of choices, from what I put in my mouth to what I allowed in my heart. It was a year of saying "we'll get through this" even when it didn't feel like it. A year of holding tight to all that mattered and letting go of everything that didn't. And today, the choices continue.
Where do you want to be one year from now? Five years from now? Are you making decisions to get there or are you just hoping things will change on their own? I'd like to encourage you and say that even as the years pass - our health can get better, our marriages - stronger, our dreams - brighter. Life, with all its ups and downs, is such an amazing gift. Decide where you want to go then take a step in that direction. You won't regret it.
Our family just got back from vacation. While I spent the days leading up to it doing laundry, packing, re-packing and cleaning the house, my husband worked away at his latest project: an irrigation system. He was literally tweaking and testing that thing up until the minute we left for the airport. We crossed our fingers and hoped that it would keep our garden alive while we were away.
Eight days later (with not a drop of rain) we got home and rushed to the backyard. We were amazed. Not only did our garden survive, it flourished.
I sat and stared.
Because isn't that what we all want? To flourish. It's not a coincidence. We don't grow on accident.
I'm new to this gardening thing. I don't know all the lingo or the tricks for ensuring success, but here's what I have learned.
Soil. It breathes life or births disease. You can spray and weed and fight, but if the soil isn't rich, if the foundation isn't healthy, we will not thrive.
Water. Often times, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, nature takes care of the watering. But when the dry spells come, when the days are long and hot, you get out that hose and water (you even build an irrigation system if you have to). One way or the other, we need to be watered.
Light. Even when it's gray, the sun is shining. The clouds eventually clear. The darkness passes and we grow.
What happens when all these things work together?
Abundance.
And from the harvest...
Caesar Salad - romaine from the garden
(dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 cloves garlic minced, 1 lime, salt and pepper to taste, Parmesan cheese)
Kale Smoothie (aka: my daily breakfast):
1 cup almond milk, 1/2 banana, Shaklee Cinch Protein, 3 kale leaves, 1 T ground flaxseed, 1 t almond or peanut butter,
1 cup ice. Blend and enjoy!
Yesterday my family and I went to a birthday party. As soon as we arrived I saw someone who looked oddly familiar. I couldn't place him at first. He said hello and shook my hand. The sound of his voice alone made my mind race and emotions swell. Who was he? How did I know him? He was out of place. Out of context. Until I heard his name.
It was my neurosurgeon. The doctor who stood at the side of my hospital bed explaining my options, the procedures. The one who nodded silently as I cried. He left a mark - a two inch scar on my back where he removed lesions from my spine. I haven't seen him since.
Thank you, God.
Needless to say, hearing his voice and seeing his face brought back a lot of memories. He remembered my husband and me and asked how I was doing. I got a little choked up when I looked him in the eye and responded, "I'm doing great." Because really, I am. Seeing him reminded me how thankful I am for that. A part of me wanted to sit him down and re-live bits and pieces of the last twenty months. I wanted to bring back to life the pain, the fear and the uncertainty. I wanted to walk him through the journey that followed - the seeking, the fighting, the believing, the healing. But instead, I smiled, took a deep breath and nodded my head. Somehow I think he understood.
All I know is that I wanted to get home and write. I wanted to see the words - black and write, running across the page. I wanted to come back to where it all started. I wanted, needed, to write.
Because hope cannot be contained. Should not be contained.
So let me say this. I am not doing well on accident. I didn't get lucky. I made changes to every part of my life. I learned to be weak, to be strong. I fought for my future, my faith, my family. I read everything I could get my hands on. I juiced. I fasted. I believed. I made tough decisions. I surrounded myself with amazing people. I prayed - for purpose. I chose joy. I gave thanks.
I don't forget the nights I poured over my keyboard with tears in my eyes or the days I was angry and frustrated and in pain. But for now, I am reminded how far we have come and for that, I am thankful.
If you're anything like me, April 22nd has come and gone for many years. While I always have good intentions, I have never done anything grand on Earth Day. Sure, my family and I recycle, occasionally compost, and do our part to use less and be green. Still, I wish I could say I planted a bunch of trees, organized masses of people for clean-up projects or drafted a bipartisan bill that would save the earth once and for all.
Nope.
Isn't it funny that when we fail to do the "large" things, we often ignore, and ultimately fail, to do the small. But actually it's those small acts that really make a huge impact. And like so many things in life, those actions almost always begin at home.
The simple act of choosing nontoxic, earth friendly household products not only impacts your family's health, it also helps our planet. I have been using Shaklee cleaning products since the late 90's. In fact, I have been using Basic H longer than I have been married (and we're getting ready to celebrate our 10th anniversary!) For almost 60 years Shaklee has been a leader in environmental stewardship. Click here to read about their impressive environmental heritage.
From an environmental standpoint, switching from conventional cleaners to Shaklee's Get Clean Starter Kit eliminates 108 pounds of packaging waste from landfills and eliminates 248 pounds of greenhouse gases. This is the environmental equivalent of planting 10 trees.
From an economic point of view, you would need to spend over $3400 to get the same cleaning power as what you'll find in the Get Clean Starter kit. The products are highly concentrated, which means they last longer and ultimately save you money.
And as for your health, Get Clean products are nontoxic and natural and do not contain any harmful ingredients. In fact, did you know:
- Approximately 20 million Americans have asthma (including 1 out of every 13 school-aged children).
- Asthma rates in children under age 5 have increased 160% from 1980 to 1994.
- Common household cleaners give off fumes that can potentially increase the risk of children developing asthma.
- The average U.S. household generates more than 20 pounds of hazardous waste each year.
- Many household cleaning products are designated as hazardous waste by the EPA and improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health.
Check out Shaklee CEO, Roger Barnett and his wife Sloan on Oprah (by the way, in 2007, Oprah gave away the Get Clean Starter Kit as one of her favorite things).
If you are interested in making a difference in your health, your home and our planet, click here to get your Get Clean Starter Kit today. The good news is that for the month of April, you will receive FREE membership($19.95 value) with the purchase of any product. That means you will receive member pricing (15% off retail) and all the other benefits that come with Shaklee membership.
Please feel free to email me at kim@thriving365.com with any questions or leave a comment below.
Cheers to healthy homes, healthy families and a healthy planet!
