Being Your Best

I was raised by good, solid people, who instilled in me a duty to strive to be the best.  They taught me that I owed it to myself to do my best and to work hard.  They told me I could do anything that I wanted and that average was not good enough.  They spanked me when I was bad, which was often.  They loved me and tickled me and wrestled with me.  They took me to church and told me about God.  They raised me to be independent but not so much that I can not ask for help when I need it.  They encouraged me to play sports and to learn teamwork.  They did a good job and I have no illusions that this upbringing created the environment that helped me succeed.

Of course it was not all happiness and roses, no one's life is free from pain and struggle.  I had my share of hardships and difficulties, these things tempered me and shaped me; just as the good things had done.  There is an Arab proverb that says "All sunshine makes a desert."  I like that.

So today, I am going to challenge all Abigail and Dolley readers to be your best.  Here are some of my common sense rules:

1. Adopt a Beginner's Mind
   
2. Take care of your teeth.  Go to the Dentist.  Buy Crest Whitestrips.  Get them straightened if they need it.  Your teeth say a lot about you.
3. Take care of your hair.  If you are a man and are loosing it - go to the Doctor and get a Rx for finasteride and buy Rogain Foam.  25% of all men regrow lost hair, you may be one of them.  If you color it, keep it up for goodness sakes.  Get a decent hair cut that flatters your face.  Buy good product and do your hair - a ball cap and a pony tail should be exceptions, not the rule.
4. Sweat regularly - the human body was not made to sedentary, it was made to work.  Keep it strong and cleansed with regular exercise.
5. Buy Clothes that fit and flatter - do not be a slave to any style other that what looks good on you.  If you have fat rolls, please do not show them to me.  If you are pregnant, please do not wear a bikini or a half shirt.
6. I am so naturally pale in the winter I am actually pink - go to the tanning salon and get a Mystic Spray tan or buy some sunless tanning cream.  You will be amazed at how it will boost your spirits.  I always say that brown fat looks better than white fat!  This is especially important for married women because if we feel sexier, well, you know.
   
7. Laugh and smile often.  Find something that makes you happy.  Seek out laughter.  Adorn your face with a smile.
8. Eat well and eat less.  A fantastic sign from your body that you are full is when the bite you just took does not taste as good as the first bite did.  That is a sure fire signal to stop eating.  I struggled with my weight my whole life and now eat about 75% less food than I used to, see 5'2" women don't need many calories....
9. Be giving - your time, your talent, your love.
10. Turn off the TV - read a book or have sex with your mate, both vastly improve the quality of your life.
11. Celebrate special occasions - use the good china and the silver.  Wear the beautiful dress or expensive pair of shoes.  Make memories and take pictures.

Happy New Year, live well and may the Lord Jesus Christ bless you in all you do.  May He inspire you and care for you, may he wrap his Holy Spirit around you and give you peace.

Most sincerely - Dolley Madison

A Beginner's Mind

Why do we love the New Year so much?  What makes Jan 1st every year seem like a new start?  Seriously, from a rational perspective it is really just another day.  I think we love it because we bring with us "A Beginner's Mind". 

I love yoga... I exercise because I have to, but I really love yoga.  If I was naturally thin, I would do yoga exclusively, but alas my complete love of all things fat and salty coupled with a natural propensity to be Mrs. 5' X 5' keeps me on the bike, stair climber, kickboxing class, and the completely god awful interval training class at the YMCA. 

I have learned a lot in Yoga class. One thing they teach is the concept of "A Beginner's Mind".  It is simple really, you approach each practice with the mind of a beginner, you accept your body where it is that day.  You do not judge yourself against yesterday.  Circumstances will dictate that some days you will be strong and flexible, some days you will be sore and stiff, other days you will be weak and tired, but with each practice you accept where you are and build from there.

The New Year seems to inspire this in everyone - we set goals, we start fresh, we accept where we are and set out to improve it.  Almost everyone fails to carry their good intentions through the year.  Why?  Because life happens:  you get sick, you get hurt, you get crazy at work, you loose someone, or you just get tired of being hungry and pig out.  Since there is no New Year to tell us to reset, we say we've blown it and just give up.  I am as guilty as the rest.

I got on the scale today and after an initial weight loss of 47 pounds, I have gained back 14 lbs.  It has taken 16 months.  It's not a lot, from a calorie stand point, it is a mere 100 calories a day more for the period of time.  Honestly, I had a hard time getting back in the swing because I kept judging myself on where I once was.  I have not allowed myself to say, okay, let's start again.  I have let my previous accomplishments hold me back and beat me down.

So I am not making New Year's resolutions so much as I am going to adopt "The Beginner's Mind" this year.  Each day will be new, I will strive to do my best, and I will allow myself to remember that God's mercies are renewed everyday, who am I to hold a higher standard for myself than God does?