As I come to the end of my 100 Days Strong journey, I am now looking towards my next steps. What is it that I want to accomplish next? Do I continue on with my current goals, or set new ones? I have some thinking to do.

To that end, I had an interesting conversation this week. I had mentioned to a colleague that reading was one of my current goals. The person I was talking to told me that she would also like to read more. With a few questions I found out her goal was a bit different than mine

She told me she has a goal to read for maximum comprehension. She told me about a book she wants to read by Jordan Peterson that outlines 12 distinct steps that need to be taken. To master those 12 steps, she will have to take a different approach than I have. She wants to internalize the material.

Over these past 96 days, I have read or listened to a chapter of a book every day. I am an auditory learner, so this works well for me as I can listen and learn generally about topics. I’ve read several books over the last 96 days and it has been quite the experience.

However, the idea of mastering the material inside of a singular book presents a different challenge all together. To learn the concepts and become proficient at them. To really understand the material in its entirety. A different planning regimen would have to be put into place.

I say all of this to make this point: her goal sounds similar to mine, but is not. Both goals are worthy of pursuit. However, the level of effort for one is much different than the other. I find this very interesting.

How many times do we tell people about our goals and think people understand? Only then to find out the difference and that there are nuances that we can learn from. There are different tactics we can take to achieve the goal we are after.

I love it that her goal was different than mine. I love that she had a focus that I had not considered. It makes me want to learn more and adopt some of her approach.

I want to take a moment to express gratitude. My wife is the best. I am so very thankful for her. She has been my best friend and my favorite person in this world for over 24 years.

Here are three reasons (out of a ba-gillion):

1. I have (aside from Jesus) never had a better friend. Our friendship just gets better and better with the years.

2. She is an amazing mother. My son is awesome. He is respectful. He is kind and considerate. He has manners. His influence? His mama. She is the best.

3. She is crazy creative. She makes everything around her more beautiful. I absolutely love it.

I love my wife.

That is the post.

I wrote the words below some time ago, but ran across them today and wanted to share. I continue to journey with this beautiful woman. It is a wonderful adventure.

It seems like I have known you forever. And also like it’s only been days. Our love is still fresh, but so rich and deep.

We feel in love so quick. Many wondered if it would stick, I never doubted us for a moment.

I knew that We had found it. A love that was real and lasting. So, we marched confidently into the future.

We are not where we thought we’d be. But, that is completely ok. Where we are is better. I love who we are becoming.

It’s not an adventure if you know the path. There is no one I would rather do it with. You are my best friend.

I love it that I get to walk with you. That you are my partner through it all. I wouldn’t be me if it weren’t for you.

We are now two decades down this road. There are wonders and indescribable beauties. The best one of all my love is you, the woman I love.

I have had good days and harder days on this journey. I am not going to lie, today was a harder day. The day has tried to get away from me more than once. However, I am here at the end of it again finishing up the needful.

I have a thought this evening. It is easy to question myself and why I waited so long to finally make a change. It is a useless question. The real question is, what do I do from this point forward?

That is all I have any control over. The past is gone. I can learn from it, but lamenting over it and wanting to change it…not going to happen. So, I have to look at the choices I make from here on out. How do I stay on the consistent path?

That is what we are driving for…consistency.

Oh my goodness. I am excited. I have officially lost over 40 pounds this year. Let me write that again with more excitement!!! I have lost OVER 40 pounds this year!!!

I weighed in on a biometric scale today. You know, one of those fancy scales that you get on barefooted and it tells you all about you…your BMI, your weight, your resting calories, your lottery numbers….ok, that last one maybe not. I was blown away by the results.

Before I started my current journey I had lost a little weight. Not a ton, but I was seeing a few pounds lost. At my heaviest I weighed in at 297 pounds. I think I may have had a mental breakdown if I had hit 300. I was down. I was depressed. I needed a change.

Enter September 11th. That evening I sat down and wrote a list of 7 things that I would do every day. I have shared about this several times. Between my fitness and food goals, I have lost a lot of weight.

Don’t believe me? Check this out…

From 297 to 254. Boom. AND…I am just getting warmed up. Let’s kick this into gear and really see where it goes.