2016

Feet are up (okay, they're on the ground, but they're "up"), I have a delicious glass of wine, I have snacks, the little one is sleeping, and I'm watching a binge-worthy amount of Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce. 2016 is ending in mere hours, and I am pretty happy right now. Not to see it end, but because I'm relaxing. Yay!

These moments are few and far between, but when they happen, I LOVE THEM!!! And I don't love them because it's New Year's Eve (that has a little to do with it), but I love them because that means I am taking some time out for myself. Each night I do take an hour or so to check emails, catch up on some shows (Vanderpump Rules, anyone??), and to try and decompress. By the time I turn around, it's after 10, and my alarm will go off at 5am for work. Fun, right??? Nooooo.

This year I will make more time for myself. I will read more books and check them off my never ending book list. I will get a haircut before I look like I'm homeless. Taking a barre fusion class has been on my mind for months. I'm doing it! I'll de-stress by using my Mandala coloring books. (Don't judge till you try it. I <3 them and I <3 coloring...and they work!) My health and fitness journey is always a concern of mine. Always. I'm making it a top priority. 

Here's to 2017, the year where I think a little more about myself. Just a little. 

Inspiration in Unlikely Places

When I'm inspired by something, I latch onto it. I tend to become borderline obsessed with it. (Netflix, Reese's Pieces, a good book. This list can go on forever...). But I'll admit it. The one thing I continually cannot wrap my head around is being able to get in shape. Here we go. Another person with a New Year's resolution about getting in shape, you say to yourself. And yes, you're probably right, but for me it's so much more than that. I have been inspired.

All my other past attempts at getting in shape have come from a deep place. A good place. They have started off with a lot of momentum behind them, and then slowly but surely, they lose steam. Last year I started off great and then really hurt myself in March. That put a damper on everything going forward. I had a goal, but not really. I just wanted to workout, see a change, and feel better. Those are great goals. In the summer I started to amp up how much exercise and movement I did per week. I started going to the gym more, and I branched out and took some new classes. They were fun, but I kept going back to my one love, Spin class. (What did you think I was going to say?!) ;-) I began running more, and I tried training for another marathon. Once again, it didn't work out. Something had to change, but again, I fell back into my old, comfortable ways. 

Recently, I opened my eyes. I mean really opened my eyes. I have been working at a gym for 6 years. My friend from the gym started blogging and sharing her fitness tips and words of wisdom about her healthy lifestyle. She had been hesitant to start writing and sharing her thoughts, but she finally did it. She questioned herself like we all do, but once she set her mind to it, the results were really great. THAT is what has me inspired. No, I'm not going to start a different blog (although I'm definitely going to write more frequently on this blog!). I am going to push all my negative thoughts and questions aside, and I'm going to push forward. Even when I don't want to. 

It probably sounds ridiculous, but I can never get out of my own way. I never tell myself to just do it. It's always a constant struggle. I push so hard from the start and I end up burning out quickly. I need some motivation, some goals, and maybe even a mental picture. Luckily, this time my husband is joining me on this journey, so we will both have support and motivation from each other. :-) I'm not even waiting for the new year. I start tomorrow...slow, steady paces, but I start tomorrow. 

Where was I going with this post? I have no idea! Haha. I need to put this out there in hopes that people can relate to all my ramblings. Men and women have both been there, so it's not at all uncommon. My bottom line is to open your eyes, see what inspires you, and then take that feeling and run. Literally or figuratively! My change for me is about getting in shape and making a transformation. For you, it might be something totally different.

I'm leaving you with this awesome quote that I posted on my Facebook page tonight. 
      "When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first           place."  - Unknown