Good Sunday morning! I hope that this morning finds you all
in good spirits and feeling confident, motivated, and peaceful. As I shared a
couple of days ago, I took a couple of little ‘day trips” this week. On Friday,
I took off on an adventure with my friend, Marcia, and her two daughters. The intended
destination was Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling. When I picked them up in
the morning, I explained that we would eventually end up at the park, but part
of the fun of a road trip is the journey to get there. I had no idea what I might
come across along the way but was eager and excited to find out!
As is typical for me, just about everything I do, see, and
experience reminds me of my personal journey to wellness. It’s easy for me to make
connections with things because I have an expectation that God will speak to me
and show me things throughout the day so, therefore, I LOOK FOR THEM. You know,
kind of like when you buy a new car and THEN all of a sudden you notice that
particular style or color of car EVERYwhere?
Once you become aware of, and begin to expect…. signs of encouragement,
the ways God is present in the world, and things to motivate you, you will SEE
them everywhere and begin to believe that you are not alone on this journey.
Before I began my trip, I asked God to open my eyes and ears that I may
recognize His presence in all that I saw, heard, and experienced on my little
adventure…..and He certainly answered my prayer. What a wonderful day it was! So much of the day reminded me of my journey
to a new life and I’m sure I will be “thinking and reflecting” all week. Stay
tuned!
Just the process itself of taking a vacation, a road-trip,
or traveling to a special event is so symbolic of our personal journey because
many of the same principles are involved. Before hitting the freeway, I needed
to make sure the car was road-worthy. I checked the tires and the oil; cleaned
out the back-seat, and made sure I had a full tank of gas to avoid any
unnecessary trouble or a break-down along the highway. I took a look at a map
and checked out the park on the internet so that I had some idea of where I was
going, what to expect, and what others thought about the destination. I talked
to some friends about the place; in fact, it was at their suggestion that I ventured
there. I also anticipated anything that might hinder my enjoyment and gathered
up some items (mosquito spray, sunscreen, band aids, warm clothes, and a roll
of toilet paper) so that I would be at least a little prepared for any unexpected
annoyances. I made a plan to stay on track with my food choices by packing
items that were “on-plan” so that I would have no excuse to eat junk. I knew
where I wanted to end up….the park…but I had already determined that I was not
on any given timetable and was going to enjoy whatever came up along the way,
even though at one point it seemed like it was very far and I would never get
there. I didn’t know what I’d find at
the park, but I had heard it was wonderful and worth the trip, and I believed
what I had been told about it so I was motivated and determined to “see for
myself” what it was like. And finally, I took about people that were fun;
supportive, and as excited as me about the journey. See any similarities to your own personal
journey? I certainly did!
Before I even arrived at Hartwick Pines, my mind was working
overboard thinking about the similarities.
Before we begin (or even during) a weight loss plan, join a gym or begin
an exercise routine, or enter a substance abuse or treatment program, it is
important that we consult our health-care provider (check out the car) or at
least be conscious of our bodies so that we can avoid any unnecessary “break-downs”
along the way. I’ve known more than one person who ended up with some serious
medical issues because he/she started a crazy fad diet and/or did an intensive
exercise plan and had a heart concern that needed to be addressed first. We may
not prevent EVERY issue, but at least we might prevent some. We need to anticipate unexpected things or
people that might sabotage or discourage us along the way like those who are
jealous and try to get us to “just try this…or take a bite of that…or you can
have ONE treat once in a while” and be prepared so that they don’t hamper our
progress. We will be sore when we first start exercising; we will experience
things like dry mouth, constipation, hunger and temptation, but if we know that
we might encounter those things and are prepared “just in case” we will be less
likely to quit, give up, or become discouraged. Fortunately I didn’t need the “aspirin,
band aids, sunscreen, or mosquito repellent” but I was prepared….just in case! Many
things about our personal journey will be/are difficult but if have the tools
to help make it more bearable (enjoy special treat like sugar-free jello or a
dessert; get a new haircut; buy a new outfit; call a friend or look at your “before”
pictures) you might find the strength to get through the rough times.
I started my weight loss journey on a whim, but shortly
afterward, I bought a calorie counting book and began to read all sorts of
things about healthy eating. This new way of living was ‘foreign to me’; I wasn’t
used to eating nutritious food and I had never been an average size person
before so I read magazines, listened to things online, and talked to others who
were on a similar journey to wellness, or who had been successful. I didn’t
know what to expect on this personal journey but I know that others had been
there before and I wanted to have some idea of what it was like…what I might
feel….what obstacles I might encounter along the way. When I looked at others “before-after”
pictures I knew that I wanted to go there too. (Getting a map, talking to
friends, checking out the park on the internet, reading the review, etc.) Once I
decided that, “YES, I want to experience a NEW, HEALTHIER LIFE for myself (see
the park) there was no turning back. Don’t you turn back, either: Wait to see
what it’s like to feel free from whatever addiction or situation that is
weighing heavy on your mind/body/spirit! You’ll be so glad you kept going!
Once I decided that I was definitely interested in changing
my life, I surrounded myself with others who would support, encourage,
motivate, and share my journey with me. My journey to wellness is personal and ultimately
my enjoyment and success is up to me and my choices, but it is so important
that I have like-minded, positive people (like this group) in my life to share
it with me so that if/when I get tired or weary, I am motivated to keep going. I certainly could have taken the “day-trip” by
myself, but it was much more enjoyable to have friends with me to share and
enjoy the beauty and adventure of the park, not to mention to say, “It’s only a
little bit further and you can do it when I encountered a hill or the trail
seemed long.”
Today I encourage you to make a plan to succeed, be prepared
for anything that might threaten to throw you off your game, don’t worry about
how far you have to go to get there but rather enjoy the process, and to surround
yourself with others who will support and encourage you along the way. Trust me…as I will share in future
posts ….what you will find, experience, and see at the end of the journey (and
along the way) will be beyond your expectations and will leave you
breathless! Don’t give up….it is SO
WORTH IT! Have fun….keep going….and
never stop believing that YOU CAN….and YOU WILL…change your life.More to come in the
coming days…….
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