Are you a procrastinator?

Are you a procrastinator?  This week has been very busy at the college because classes for the new semester begins on Saturday. As a result, my calendar has been filled to overflowing with students who have procrastinated and waited to schedule their classes. They arrive at my office somewhat stressed, and often leave disappointed because many of the classes they wanted have already filled. Some haven’t applied for their Financial Aid yet and are upset because they do not have the funds to pay their tuition and will need to wait until next semester to begin college. Most of this stress could have been alleviated by scheduling an appointment a few months ago when registration opened, but nonetheless, I do my best to help them, because like them, I too, sometimes “put things off.”

For the most part, I’m a responsible person, but there are many times when my procrastination has caused me undue anxiety. Like most procrastinators, I can come up with a number of excuses and rationalizations ranging from “I forgot” to “I’m just so busy” and everything in between. Nonetheless, there is always a consequence to procrastination.  Procrastination can result in a “late fee” if we fail to pay a bill on time. Sometimes it leads to unnecessary and very costly repair bills if we ignore a small problem that later grows into a bigger problem. Sometimes it can be physically dangerous if we ignore a warning sign or symptom in our bodies and fail to seek medical help.  It is especially devastating if we put off calling a friend, visiting an elderly relative, saying “I’m sorry” or “I love you”, and one day we discover that it is too late because the person has passed.  The “would have, could have, should have’s” in life often leave us sad and depressed.

In a recent interview, I was asked:  “So Theresa, if you could, what would you change about your journey?” My response was simple: I would have started it years ago. I wasted a lot of my life being trapped in that body, hiding behind the weight.  Most of the time I tend to “overthink” things, and this time it was no exception because after the interview I began to ponder my answer.  Certainly, I wish that I would have lost this weight in my younger years. Certainly, I wish I could go back and get a “do-over’ on those years of pain and compulsive eating. Certainly, I wish my 40’s would have been different, and yet, I wonder, “Isn’t this the way God wanted it?”  I don’t think God ever wants us to be unhappy, nor do I believe He wants us to be sick, sad, depressed, etc.., but I do believe that He has a plan for each of us and going through those 10 years of struggles has made me into the woman I am today and certainly helped prepare me for this incredible journey I am now on. There is no doubt that God was then…and is now…in control and is paving the way.  I am just grateful that I have been blessed with this new life, period, and I don’t have time to wonder if I could have, would have, should have started this long ago. Today is all we have; no point worrying about yesterday, or putting off until tomorrow. 

My mother always told me that “What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger” and “Struggles build character.” I wonder….would my life be the way it is today had I NOT endured those years of obesity, pain, struggles, unemployment? Would I be as patient and helpful to students had I not known what it was like to go back to school in my 40’s?   Would I be the compassionate, caring person I strive to be today had I not “walked that walk?”  Would I have these wonderful opportunities to help others and share my story?  Would I have even tried to lose weight in the first place had I not hit rock bottom, physically and emotionally?  I don’t know, but I certainly doubt it.  Like many of you, I tried to lose weight in the past but didn’t have much success and I didn’t stick with it long enough to reach my goal?  Why?  Why THIS time and not then, I wonder?

 My faith tells me that God makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and God is always on-time. Apparently, this was His time for me and I think it is His Time for YOU, too! Otherwise, why would you be reading this?  Why would you be seeking a change?  Why would you have found this group?  Hmmm…..  If you are ready for a change….don’t be a procrastinator, start today. Don’t put it off until tomorrow, because tomorrow may never come.  IF you are not ready, then stick around….share in our journey, tag along for the ride, and ask God to help get you ready; just don’t leave us or put it off.  Trust that your miracle will happen IN HIS TIME!

One last thought…If you are going to continue to be a procrastinator, in my opinion it is ok to do procrastinate on these things:  Put off speaking words in anger: count to 10, take a walk, get some air. Put off spreading gossip. Put off impulse shopping. Wait 15 minutes before making that snack or smoking that cigarette; chances are the urge will pass.  Put off pettiness, jealousy, bitterness.

Don’t put off loving….forgiving….caring….saying “Thank You”….apologizing….sharing……helping others……taking care of yourself…..and trying to be a better person. Do those things today, starting right….this….very….minute!

Make it a good day today my friends….and trust that God has a plan for you and He is always on time. Just don’t put off  doing your part if you feel that now is your time.  Life is too short to waste.

Don't give in to temptation....Stay strong!

It's been a very busy, somewhat day today but I'm taking a 5 minute break. Typically this time of the afternoon the munchies set in and you may be tempted to hit the vending machine for a little afternoon pick-me-up. Perhaps you're tempted to go outside and light up a smoke. Perhaps you're tired and crabby and want to lash out at someone. DON"T DO IT! Don't blow the progress you've made so far. Don't lose sight of your goals. Take a walk, call friend, get a drink of water, stand up and stretch.....do something positive....just don't give in to the temptation to eat junk! You can do it!! I know you can.

I do not like to exercise!

This cartoon makes me smile and I can relate! You may find it hard to believe considering the fact that I have lost so much weight, but I absolutely, positively, hate to exercise.  What I do like, however, is to be active. Click the link below to hear my thoughts on exercise and how I manage to put activity into my life without using the term "exercise."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQpZIIEpPfU&feature=youtu.be


Theresa Borawski - I don't like to exercise!

 

 

 

The deer in the yard reminded me......

 

One of the advantages of waking up many times during the night is the joy of seeing unexpected critters in the yard.  Last night I was up about 3 times between 10 pm and 3 am, when I was up to stay. All three times, I looked out the living room window to see deer in the backyard about 15 feet from the window. This picture was taken a bit earlier in the evening but pretty accurately describes the scene throughout the night…..one of the perks of living in this cold, north woods.

 

I’ve been putting out extra food for the animals because these harsh conditions are hard on them as well. I counted eight deer when this picture was taken, and there may have been more lurking in the darkness. It’s not unusual to see more than that at a time during the winter months.  No matter how many times I see deer, I still marvel at their beauty and feel the same excitement as I did the first time.

I stood there and watched them for a while and I wondered what I could “learn” from their presence; for me, there’s almost always a ‘lesson” and God speaks to me in all sorts of ways.  While watching them, I wondered how they were able to endure this brutally cold weather. After all, the wind chill was about 35 below zero.  I wondered how they were able to maneuver through the deep snow. I wondered how they were able to find food when everything was frozen. I wondered if they “worried” about survival or “had a back-up plan” or just wanted “give up on life.” (Of course, not; they don’t have a human mind, nor do they share my thought process, but they must have some sort of thinking that goes on.) But yet….here they were….eight or more of them….feeding outside my window.   What was it, I wondered that helped them survive?

The first thing that came to my mind was that they were “not alone” but had herded up.  Certainly, it was easier to find food when they were all seeking it. Certainly, it was warmer when they huddled together and allowed the body heat to be shared. Certainly, it was safer for them when they were looking out for each other; one of more deer typically faces the woods and is on “look-out” for threats.  Certainly, it was easier to move around the yard when their constant traffic had flattened down the deep snow into a flatter surface with paths to walk on. Certainly, it must be more “fun” to have other deer around; I’ve watched the fawns play together in the yard multiple times. I know that animals don’t have the mindset of a human, but certainly there must be some comfort in knowing that they were not alone in their efforts to survive and endure the elements. I’ve watched a doe snuggle her fawn on many occasions and other deer laying together on the ground. Even though having ‘more of them” meant less food and resources for each of them, certainly there must be advantages to working, being, and living together.   Hmmm……. I pondered.  Was God trying to tell me something?  Certainly!

I went back to bed and pondered my life and my journey to become a healthier, better person.  I thought about all the blessing of having others to share in my life. I thought about my friends and family; I thought about all of you.  How blessed we are to have people in our life to journey with us, to help us through those ‘harsh and difficult” times! It definitely makes it easier to deal with the tough days when we have others to support us. It definitely makes it easier to solve problems with we “put our heads together”, “share our resources/wisdom/advice/encouragement”, and offer support to each other. It definitely helps to know that we are not alone on our journey through life and others face the same temptations, struggles, and trials. It definitely is more fun and a lot less lonely, to have “all of you” as part of my “herd.”  I am indeed blessed!

I have faith that those deer will survive the winter and make it through the next few months, but it will be easier if I and others continue to provide food for them.  Likewise, I have faith that I….and YOU….WE will survive and be successful on our own journeys, but it will be easier if we continue to support and encourage each other, and draw on the wisdom within the group.  The deer very likely will survive…..and we will too!  Don’t give up on your efforts, even if you are struggling.   Don’t just ‘lay down in the snow” because it is too hard.  Don’t turn and run because you are afraid that you will fail or are experiencing doubt. Don’t abandon the herd; we all need each other!  WE can…and we will make it… I know it!   Have a great day today and look around you for all the lessons that are waiting for you to learn.