I gave a speech at my Toastmasters club today. The topic? Blogging. It was a fun time talking about why I enjoy putting down my thoughts in this form.

1. I have enjoyed documenting the journey I have been on. It helps me process and see things more clearly as I look back. I heard once that if you don’t write it down what is important, it is like it never happened. Sure you have your memories, but if you write them down they get clearer.

2. Blogging gives me a chance to work through ideas. I have found that as I write for the blog I am constantly working through how I want to say things. At times I rewrite sentences several times because it isn’t right yet. I have to get it right.

3. It is an opportunity to share with others. I like the community aspect of blogging. These words are out there for everyone to see. I am joining in the conversation.

Is it getting easier? No. Not really. Is it a worth pursuit. Yes.

I am getting back into the swing of things. Today is day 4 and I am on track. I have almost shed all the holiday weight I let slip back on (about 8 pounds). I am back in the groove and achieving my daily goals.

One of the daily goals I am already starting to enjoy is my new addition of expressing gratitude. I want to take a couple of minutes to unpack this because I think it important.

What is gratitude?

Gratitude – noun – the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. (Oxford Dictionary)

Why focus on being grateful? Great question. Here are a few reasons:

1. It is hard to be angry or bitter when you are focused on being grateful.

2. Your relationships are better when you are grateful.

3. Your mental well being is better when you are grateful.

4. Your mood improves with expressed gratitude.

The list could go on and on and on. Here is the point I want to impress upon you. We have so much to be thankful and grateful for. Things may not be perfect, but we still have so much to be thankful for.

I will comment more on this in the days to come. For now, it is exciting to be back on the right path and practicing some thing new.

I have been working through my goal list for the last several days. I have most everything squared away that I want to do for the next 100 days. I have one thing left to finish out: my creative project list.

I have a list as long as my arm of things that I want to do. Some ideas are better than others, but it is a list full of cool stuff. There are podcasts to host, books to write, songs to be sung, etc. but what makes it on the list for the first part of this year?

1. I am working on training material for public speaking. I will share more here as it develops, but I have an outline together. I am excited about this one.

2. I want to do voiceover work. I have been told for a lot of years that I have a great voice, and it is time to put that to the test.

3. I have ideas for a couple of different podcasts. I have some planning to do for these, but will record my first one soon.

I have a ton of other ideas as well. I am eager to see where 2023 can go with a little focused attention.

As we come out of the Christmas holiday, the New Year is now upon us. There are no more excuses. There is no more binging on sweets. It is time to get back into the routine and start crushing goals.

I have made a discovery. I need routine much more than I ever thought I did. I can hear my younger self now. He is mortified. He can shut up.

I just finished day 2 of my next round of 100 Days Strong. Things are starting to feel normal again. I got my walk and my yoga in today. I stayed within my calorie limits. I can sense normalcy. It feels strange and awesome at the same time.

Why does it feel strange? I have finally had a breakthrough and am no longer stuck in the same place I was. Why you ask? There have been a couple of things that have stopped me from getting to this point over the years:

1. I have had a difficult relationship with food over the years. I understand what it feels like to not have a lot. Due to this, I made a point of eating more than I needed many times because I didn’t want to miss out. Call it insecurity, but food was safety in some ways.

2. I have also spent time not being honest with the guy in the mirror. I have known I needed to lose weight for some time, but always told myself it wasn’t as bad as it appeared. I wasn’t in that bad of shape was I? The truth? It was worse than it appeared. I was too heavy. Too inactive. Too lazy. It was not only affecting me, but my family as well.

It was beyond time to change. I had to do it. For me. For my family. That is why I stepped up to the challenge in September. That is why I stuck to my goals for 100 Days Strong. That is also why I did not allow myself more than a week or two before starting again.

I can’t undo the past. I can make better, more honest decisions going forward. Here is to 2023 and getting it done.

#100DaysStrong

It is the start of the new year. Another awesome holiday season has passed by and it is now time to get back into accomplishment mode.

I’m going to be honest, I have a love-hate relationship with December. I love getting to see family and I absolutely love Christmas. However, the Temptations that are brought in with the holidays are not as much fun.

I have taken a minor setback with my weight loss goal, but it is a new year. It is a new opportunity to do good. It is a new opportunity to achieve.

Much like last time, I have compiled a list of things I intend to do daily for the next 100 days. Here they are in no specific order:

1. Progress photo/weight check

2. 100 oz of water per day

3. Follow my eating plan

4. Follow my exercise plan

5. Read 1 chapter daily

6. Create daily (blogging, other projects)

7. Encourage others daily

8. Express gratitude daily

Only two items have changed from my original list. Instead of writing daily, I will take time every day to work on creative projects. I plan to blog three times per week. The other days I will spend time working my creative project list. I will share that here as I go.

I added an item as well. I was challenged in church this morning on a sermon about gratitude. The speaker stated that daily gratitude can provide amazing personal and spiritual benefits. I am going to add this to my daily routine.

Day one is now complete. On to day 2.