Post Birthday, Congratulations & Lifestyle Challenge Update I

So I have been meaning to make this post before my birthday came, but I didn't get around to it.

Lifestyle Challenge Update

2 weeks later...

I have been trying to maintain my exercise routine.
For the first 2 weeks that just went, it involved walking, planking and doing some squats and pushups. I'm hoping to make this more streamlined and be more disciplined.

Walking

So walking is a habit I've been maintaining for awhile now, so that wasn't difficult for me. I walk for at least an hour each day, and I walk for 2 days out of the week.  I'm looking to now push myself to power walk/ do some kind of intermediary cardio walking. We will see.

Planking

Planking was hard as ever! Seriously. When I first started my entire body was shaking at like 20s, LOL! But I must say doing it for 2 weeks (not every day, haphazard) I am now maintaining 1m each plank, and I try to do 2-3 sets of planking. AWESOME!  You can YouTube videos on planking if you aren't sure what this is.

Squats

So for squats, I do 25, to be honest I'm not sure if I have been doing these right, they don't hurt, and I don't think I have strong legs like that.

Breathing & Prayer

I have been trying to manage my fear and worrying! I have been using breath and prayer to help me with this.  My Lifestyle Challenge includes all areas of self. So my attitude and how I view and feel about myself is all a part of that.  I am encouraging you to join me on my #NoComplaintThursday! This is one day out of the week I try not to get frustrated, or complain (think / word /act), instead I focus on gratitude. You can join me on twitter as I mark the day, hoping to make this a daily habit, not just a specific day. Let's see how this goes. I must add that I find that the devil tries extra hard to get me to complain, so beware of the obstacle this may be!

Devotions

I started this year on a really good foot.  Been spending time with a devotional I had bought called "After God's Heart" by Mryna Alexander. I also joined gotandem, a customizable experience. They do emails, phone calls, text messages. I recommend not skipping the survey, do it and be honest.  They can help.

Eating

So, I haven't been doing as well as I would like in this area, but I realize I need to plan and prepare, so I will be working out a meal plan to help me on this journey, I will share this with you once I have worked it out. Trying to eat on time, small portions, healthy, natural foods. In the mean time, I will be ensuring to maintain my food portions, eat as natural as possible and drink plenty of water.

 Congratulations Kelly

Before I get into my birthday update I have to, have to, give a shout out to my dear friend Rasheen 'Kelly' Roper. Who was crowned Miss Kingston & St. Andrew Festival Queen. Girl, I am soooo proud of you! You were awesome. And I am looking forward to the Grand Finale, Have every confidence you  will win. You can see pictures from the show over here at my friend Marcus' blog.

POST BIRTHDAY UPDATE

My birthday was this week! OMG! I took the day from work, thanks to a friend who recommended I do. She was like, it doesn't matter if you don't have any money, stay home! What's the point if you come here and someone pisses you off? That wouldn't be cool.  I took her advice. I must say, even though I was broke! No set plans! I was really looking forward to the day. And just knowing I had this one day, I was able to dream about doing anything I wanted. So this is how it turned out.

• Slept late.
• Made french toast for breakfast. Yum!
• Had Breakfast with my lovely Aunt.
• Was taken to the beach and zoo with my Bestie! Totally awesome!
• Had a lovely dinner with my Mom, Her Beau and my Lovely Sis! This was a lovely surprise.
• Came home and slept with a smile.

The love is appreciated. I know I am loved. Not just by others, but I love me too. And this feeling is good. I have some work to complete on me, another journey to start but I'm looking forward to it, All that God has in store.

Every moment will last forever. I loved every bit of it. God is sooo good to me. I am very proud of myself, where I was just 2 years ago and where I am now. There are some remnants of unresolved issues, and new issues to deal with, but I am so grateful God has taken me this far. I am highly-favoured and I know it! 

I would recommend everyone to take the day off for your birthday! Do nothing / Do everything you want to do, whatever it is you decide, but do something you love, spend it with someone or people you love.

P.S. More updates coming soon. and pictures.

Originally Published in 2012

Slacking off in class?

So I've been praying a lot about some major decisions that I have made, needed to make. Last night after having a conversation with a new friend, my mind was on the fast lane, so I decided to calm myself down by taking a shower and having some chocolate tea. When I realized I was on the verge of panic mode! I was like 'Girl, Take a step back from yourself. Take a deep breath. What is up with you?'  I literally came out of my bed and got down on my knees, took another deep breath for good measure and as I tried to clear my mind to pray, this one thought transcended.

God is ready for me and I am unprepared!

Tears came to my eyes, I knew I had slacked off on some things I needed to deal with.  I had allowed myself to become complacent. So I knew what I needed to talk to God about, and there on my bedroom floor, on my knees I laid it out before God. The bad, the ugly, the real ugly. I apologized to God because I shouldn't be this behind, and then I apologized to myself because I deserved better, even from myself.

When you have been in a physical traumatic situation, probably broken a few bones, lost your speech, maybe just a shell of who you are suppose to be, you enter rehabilitation.  So it isalso with our emotionally traumatic situations, we need to enter an emotional rehabilitation.

Emotional trauma is just as real as a physical trauma, it's so precarious, you can't see the wounds, can't touch them, but they leave you just as exposed to the harsh elements, maybe not water, not the sun, not germs, but emotional scars can get just as infected as the physical ones, with sin, with dishonesty, with mediocrity, with society-worldly views.

If you are going through something, on the inside, maybe it hasn't been spurred on by lost love, maybe it's just a coming into oneself, just remember, birthing pains are going to hurt, and you may even misjudge yourself and make a bad call. But don't lose hope, your scars are healing. You may not feel it, may not know it but they are, even now, they can heal. Just as much as my physical body needs vitamins and minerals to help it fight infections, my soul needs the Word of God to fight infections. And my God is so gentle, and forgiving.

 Psalm 103: 1-5

1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

 2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

 3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

 4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

 5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

It's never too late to get things right, I don't want to live my life knowing I am wasting it away, Get it right. So although He is ready for me and I'm unprepared now, I know He is gearing up for something grand.  2012 is my year.  So I'm going to brush up on what I have outstanding, I'm going to be ready Lord.  As long as I have life, I am able to make a change that I need to make.  There is no point sitting down and letting wounds fester, no point sitting in the classroom wanting to get out and live and your not doing the work to get out. 

Clean up, Live healthy, inside and out and be prepared.

I leave you with this thought I read from today's word for today.

God will not do what I must, and I cannot do what He can.

God's going to do His part, He is going to heal.  He is going to make new.  But I have my part too.

Originally Published in 2012