Happy Easter Week!

I can hardly believe we are 3 months through 2013 already!

The Lenten season has always inspired me to be more reflective on my life and try to re-focus on the messages that get lost throughout the daily life journey. I have done that to some extent, but I am also guilty of letting the negatives we are dealing with, take over my entire mental state some days. I HATE being the negative, depressed girl, and I try hard not to be. I am well aware that as bad as I think things are, yes, they could be worse, yes, there are many people in way more dire situations, and I am extremely blessed to have a good support system of loving family & friends.  That still doesn’t make it easier to deal with and sometimes I just want to wallow!

This past month, I have been reading the blogs and posts of friends taking vacations or Spring Breaks—yes with some envy. However, due to our tight family finances we won’t be doing that anytime soon. However, I have taken quite well to a few Sundays completely “OFF” from the world. Just unplugged and away from everyone and everything! I think it’s helping me keep my sanity as we deal with our life struggles. People will and DO understand! We can’t attend every gathering, see everyone, and be everywhere, it’s not realistic and it’s just not feasible for us. I have learned, my friends are still there, I still communicate with them, and I can still offer them support for whatever they may be dealing with also! Amazing right?

This year has also brought me to a more heightened awareness of my health and what makes me comfortable in my own skin. Overall I am currently down 15lbs, which I am very happy about. I also know I can work harder. I know when I am exercising regularly, I deal with the other stressors better. I struggle daily with eating junk food, getting in workouts, DESPITE knowing how good I can feel. It’s easy to give in and enjoy unhealthy foods or flop on the couch after work. There have been a couple instances where I wanted to skip out on a workout, but ended up going—of course I was so happy I did afterwards! I do not know why any of us struggle against things we KNOW are good for us, especially as we gain positive results. Yet, the battle continues and I for one am still in the fight! I started this year looking for motivation, and I am learning I find it at many random times from a wide variety of sources! I am surrounded by positive, encouraging people on a daily basis. I find that if I look to those sources every day, I am often able to rebound out of my mental funk (that is ever-so-easy to sink into) when life tries to keep me down! Life is always going to throw us challenges, there’s no need to kill ourselves making it more difficult! The real challenge is handling those challenges and leading a good and happy life! After all, isn’t that what it’s all about? J