New Year's Eve......

I wanted to finish the new year out on a high note.......I took my first jazzercise class since March!  It hurt...and I was leery of the movements but I moved and it felt good!  I remember now what it is like to be a new person taking class for the first time.  It is the first time in 17 years that I have taken time off for such a long period of time.  Sweating felt grand!  

I know I will be cautious over the next weeks as I take more classes but I am also now not afraid to try some things at the gym.  I have been the worlds greatest scardy cat.  Afraid I would re-injure the ankle; afraid that I would not be able to do my favorite Jazzercise...funny how fear is so paralyzing.

I had a wonderful dinner with family and now I am ready to call it a night.  I reflect on all the people who have passed in this last year......you will be remembered fondly; reflecting on all the new experiences and people I have been blessed to meet......I hope you are all still in my life but if by chance you are not, there will be sunshine filled memories to carry you with me.

Happy New Year everyone.....let's make it grand!

The year is coming to an end.....

I have been doing a lot of reflecting over the last few weeks.  So many changes in life that we have to roll with the flow.

Just before Christmas, I lost one of my uncles.  It was unexpected, shocking and brought back all the memories and feelings of my dad's passing.  Uncle Paul was 75.  My mom called to remind me she was turning 75 (yesterday) and that I better be extra good to her!  Gotta love it......I am the good one!

It also reminded me of all the people we have lost in the last year.....family, friends, celebrities.  My niece and nephew have no idea who Charles Durning was, Elizabeth Taylor, Chad Everett....these people were icons.  Their films and acting were grand.  They are more aware of the rappers or sports figures who lost their lives to stupidity playing with guns and drugs.  (I wonder who their icons will be ......if they are not all dead in their prime)  I was also reminded that the man who founded the company I work for passed.  It was the first year when profit sharing was distributed there were no jokes about peoples initials, the laughter when he put a check for a missing employee in his pants 'because he got to keep it!'.  Even as I write this I feel tears coming......but now they are happy tears with the memories and smiles in my heart.

I also reflect on all the changes to weight watchers over the years.  We now focus on portion control.......even on the items that have 0 points.  I recall one meeting I used to go to where the leader told us she brought the biggest Tupperware of salad she could manage every day AND ATE IT ALL.  I know salad is filling but was it necessary to put that idea in my head (yes I tried it!).  Now I am trying to really work the program and understand that even good food can't be consumed to the point of being uncomfortably full.  I want to try to eat to live not live to eat.  I know, a novel concept!  I have a great leader in our WW at work.  Deb is great and the guys are also a great inspiration.  Shoot, the guys have lost so much and I can't say I have added much to the mix except I do know how to persevere.  Ergo, I am tracking.......the good, the bad and the ugly!  Being aware and accountable are so important.  This I will continue to do.......tracking is key and being true to me will help me reach my goals.

Exercise has been lacking in my life since I started with a foot/ankle problem.  The reason for the surgery was clear (bone pressing on a tendon) and it is healing well but there is still substantial swelling and stiffness.  I am going to take my first class in 9 months this week.  Jazzercise, how I have missed thee!!  Slow and steady will win the race......but I need to get moving again.  I have lost so much of my fitness.  Grrrr.......time to take that part of my life back!

My dog was diagnosed with diabetes.  We are still trying to control it and we will get there but until then my pooch needs me and my loving care.  2 shots per day and need to get her out walking more too!!  She misses the exercise.  God how I love my dog.

I started this out by saying the year is coming to an end.  Not the world (Mayans..you were wrong!); not my life........just this year.  I am looking forward to what it will bring.  I promise to be more active in my church (I am joining the prayer shawl group to crochet some shawls), be more active for me.  I promise to finish my second masters, get my health back in control.  I will look for my special someone (not stalk him) because I believe he is out there....he just can't find me yet.  I will continue to pay it forward and do random acts of kindness.......it fills my heart to know I have done something nice.

I also promise to blog more often.  I love writing and it helps me clear my head!

Happy New Year to all!!