21 days...supposedly that is how long it takes to change a habit or get accustomed to a new one. Today marks my 22nd day of my blog. As you can tell there have been a couple of days that I forgot and had to do two days in one. I have also been doing "Lose it for Life" for about that long. There have been a few days that I misstepped with it as well.
The key is this: don't give up just because you have an "off day". You haven't failed...you just have to get right back on the horse and start again. I'll be honest. Blogging is easier than changing my eating and excercise routines! We, Americans/human beings, associate food so much with fellowship and rewards that we forget that we don't have to consume a lot of food to sustain ourselves. We only need enough fuel to keep our bodies going.
Counting calories, keeping track of points, avoiding carbs and sugars, drinking lots of water, steering clear of desserts, and the like are sure fire ways to fail in the long run. Oh, don't get me wrong, you have to start somewhere. What is important though is keeping it up...making life changes. You also have to remember that there really aren't any forbidden foods. Portion control is the key to success. A simple taste of something will suffice, you don't have to have the whole serving or eat the entire box of cookies to be satsified.
We live in excess in many areas of our lives. Food. Fun. Material possesions and so on and so on. What we need to do is learn to live with enough to satisfy our desires, but more importantly our needs. We don't need to live in huge homes, drive expensive vehicles, eat out every night, own every CD/DVD/Video game, get our nails done each week, or play golf every day. These are all examples of living in excess. We could survive on a much more simple scale if we realized that we can't take it with us when we go and don't need it to be successful as human beings.
I challenge you to find 3 things in your life that could be viewed as "excessive". Take the time to think about why that particular indulgence is deemed necessary. Then figure out a way to do with less of it. It may not be easy, but I think that after some time...say 21 days, you'll realize that it isn't as important as you once thought it was.
God Bless,
Tammy
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Day 20/21
Well, I have embarked on yet another self-discovery/self-discipline endeavor. For years I have heard about Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, but I have never taken the course. Last night was the first of 13 meetings to help us find our way to financia peace. So far, what I learned has been doable. I won't say it will be easy, but absolutely doable over time.
The hardest part about joining the class at this particular time is that I really don't have any finances to be at peace with! Being self-employed doesn't make for a large paycheck every week. Luckily my living expenses are tied into my business expenses, but I don't have a lot of cash to actually budget. My goal is taking the class now is to learn as much as I can...then,when the time comes that I do have cash flow I will be equipped with the most sound stratagies for staying out of debt :)
I'll be honest. For being someone who is good at math, I am not as well equipped when it comes to finances. I've never really been all that great at reconciling checking accounts or understanding interest/compound interest/rates, etc. For the life of me I cannot figure out why in the world every teenager isn't made to take BASIC MATH in high school! Just because you are an advanced student who can ace Algebra and Geometry doesn't mean you know a hill of beans about checking accounts, minimum wage, percentages, figuring tax, or counting back change. Basic math offers lessons in all of the every day math scenerios. That would have been much more helpful to me than signs, cosigns, tangents, proofs, theorums, and quadratic equations!
Hopefully, over the next few months (91 days) I will get all the necessary tools for successfully winning the finance war! It can only get better I assume. Whether or not I adopt all of the principles is yet to be determined, but at least I will have the option to. The biggest problem is knowing where to start...especially when I don't have a lot of money to begin with! I will get it figured out eventually! :)
Have a great week,
Tammy
The hardest part about joining the class at this particular time is that I really don't have any finances to be at peace with! Being self-employed doesn't make for a large paycheck every week. Luckily my living expenses are tied into my business expenses, but I don't have a lot of cash to actually budget. My goal is taking the class now is to learn as much as I can...then,when the time comes that I do have cash flow I will be equipped with the most sound stratagies for staying out of debt :)
I'll be honest. For being someone who is good at math, I am not as well equipped when it comes to finances. I've never really been all that great at reconciling checking accounts or understanding interest/compound interest/rates, etc. For the life of me I cannot figure out why in the world every teenager isn't made to take BASIC MATH in high school! Just because you are an advanced student who can ace Algebra and Geometry doesn't mean you know a hill of beans about checking accounts, minimum wage, percentages, figuring tax, or counting back change. Basic math offers lessons in all of the every day math scenerios. That would have been much more helpful to me than signs, cosigns, tangents, proofs, theorums, and quadratic equations!
Hopefully, over the next few months (91 days) I will get all the necessary tools for successfully winning the finance war! It can only get better I assume. Whether or not I adopt all of the principles is yet to be determined, but at least I will have the option to. The biggest problem is knowing where to start...especially when I don't have a lot of money to begin with! I will get it figured out eventually! :)
Have a great week,
Tammy
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Day 19
Today is one of those days when I wish that I could magically transport myself to a deserted island where I had not a care in the world. Where nothing was an issue outside of deciding how long to lay on my stomach before flipping over so I don't burn. What I would give to be able to just breathe...
It is hard to make it through life with only yourself to worry about. When you add family members, friends, and others to that list it makes for difficult situations being made more difficult. Why can't we all calmly, rationally, and without assigning blame work through issues. They are what they are for better or worse. Belittling those around you who you supposedly love is no way to get your point across.
What good does it do to continually make others feel as if they are not warranted in their emotions? How is it fair to assume that you are the only person in the entire world who has burdens to care around that you didn't ask for? How can you get through these times still loving one another if all you do is resent someone for making you feel inferior, useless, and like you are the biggest disappointment to them? Last time I checked it takes more than one person to get into certain situations...just because you feel guilty and are well past the point of resentment you need to learn how not to make those around you feel like pond scum!!!!
Lord, grant me the patience to get through life as unscathed as possible. Help me find the patience and words to deal with the situation life has handed me and try my very best to work through the issues. Give me the hope and peace of knowing that something better lies ahead!
God Bless,
Tammy
It is hard to make it through life with only yourself to worry about. When you add family members, friends, and others to that list it makes for difficult situations being made more difficult. Why can't we all calmly, rationally, and without assigning blame work through issues. They are what they are for better or worse. Belittling those around you who you supposedly love is no way to get your point across.
What good does it do to continually make others feel as if they are not warranted in their emotions? How is it fair to assume that you are the only person in the entire world who has burdens to care around that you didn't ask for? How can you get through these times still loving one another if all you do is resent someone for making you feel inferior, useless, and like you are the biggest disappointment to them? Last time I checked it takes more than one person to get into certain situations...just because you feel guilty and are well past the point of resentment you need to learn how not to make those around you feel like pond scum!!!!
Lord, grant me the patience to get through life as unscathed as possible. Help me find the patience and words to deal with the situation life has handed me and try my very best to work through the issues. Give me the hope and peace of knowing that something better lies ahead!
God Bless,
Tammy
Friday, February 4, 2011
Day 18
Hello all (well, maybe the one person who reads this! :) Thankfully, today has been uneventful. Yesterday was such a trying day. It was full of tears, worry, happiness...you name it I probably felt it. It was blessed because my friend's little girl made it through surgery okay, but if you read yesterday's post you know it was tragic in the loss of a young man much too soon.
What I didn't talk about yesterday is something that I just found out about that has me worried. It involved someone very close to me, but until more tests are done I don't want to comment about exactly what is going on. I would, however, like to ask for prayers. Prayers of healing. Prayers that the doctors hunch is not what they think it may be. Prayers that I can be strong for this person in the mean time and after more information comes to light.
The "in between" sucks. Not knowing is somehow harder than knowing. At least with knowledge and information comes the ability to work through something. Answers can be found or consequences can be dealt with. The unknown is scary. :(
Heading to Nashville to visit with my friend's at the Children's Hospital so I will sign off for now...
God Bless,
Tammy
What I didn't talk about yesterday is something that I just found out about that has me worried. It involved someone very close to me, but until more tests are done I don't want to comment about exactly what is going on. I would, however, like to ask for prayers. Prayers of healing. Prayers that the doctors hunch is not what they think it may be. Prayers that I can be strong for this person in the mean time and after more information comes to light.
The "in between" sucks. Not knowing is somehow harder than knowing. At least with knowledge and information comes the ability to work through something. Answers can be found or consequences can be dealt with. The unknown is scary. :(
Heading to Nashville to visit with my friend's at the Children's Hospital so I will sign off for now...
God Bless,
Tammy
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Day 17
Today has been a tough day...two of my closest friends lost a loved friend and I was who got the job of letting them know. He was only 23 years old and has been battling some inner demons for a long time. This morning he succombed to those demons and took his own life. He made a very profound final letter to friends and family on his facebook page in an attempt to help them be able to better understand his reasoning and to help them not hurt quite as much. I don't think that is even a possibility. I just pray that all those who loved him can find some peace :(
I only had the chance to be around him a few times, but he was a great guy. He loved his friends and made you feel happy in his presence. The demons he fought were strong, especially those that were inflicted upon him by people who supposedly loved him and were to be trusted. How tragic :( If only he had been able to continue his battle and come out the victor.
Life is hard. It is harder from some than others. No matter how hard it gets or how lost you seem it is crucial to remember that there is always someone on your side. God is here...in all we do, all we feel, the actions we take, the pain we go through, the triumphs, the blessings, and everything in between. Reach out to him! Ask him for forgiveness, for guidance, for healing, and for support and it will be given. He will do all he can and place people in your life to help you through...you just have to have faith.
We all have our demons. Internal and external. However hard it is to admit them, please do. Ask for help. Find a friend. Find a pastor. Find a family member. Find God! Don't try to win the battle on your own. There are people who want nothing more than to help you. The old saying "no man is an island" is so very true. We can't make it on our own, we aren't supposed to!
David, I hope you have found some peace. I pray that you are no longer hurting. I pray that your family and friends are able to somehow come to terms with the decision that you made today. May they find solace in the Lord during this trying time.
God Bless,
Tammy
I only had the chance to be around him a few times, but he was a great guy. He loved his friends and made you feel happy in his presence. The demons he fought were strong, especially those that were inflicted upon him by people who supposedly loved him and were to be trusted. How tragic :( If only he had been able to continue his battle and come out the victor.
Life is hard. It is harder from some than others. No matter how hard it gets or how lost you seem it is crucial to remember that there is always someone on your side. God is here...in all we do, all we feel, the actions we take, the pain we go through, the triumphs, the blessings, and everything in between. Reach out to him! Ask him for forgiveness, for guidance, for healing, and for support and it will be given. He will do all he can and place people in your life to help you through...you just have to have faith.
We all have our demons. Internal and external. However hard it is to admit them, please do. Ask for help. Find a friend. Find a pastor. Find a family member. Find God! Don't try to win the battle on your own. There are people who want nothing more than to help you. The old saying "no man is an island" is so very true. We can't make it on our own, we aren't supposed to!
David, I hope you have found some peace. I pray that you are no longer hurting. I pray that your family and friends are able to somehow come to terms with the decision that you made today. May they find solace in the Lord during this trying time.
God Bless,
Tammy
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Day 16
As a kid I always loved playing M.A.S.H. with my friends...especially during class when we were supposed to be paying attention! You know, the old game of mansion, apartment, shack, or house, who you'd marry, where you would honeymoon, how many kids you'd have, the vehicle you'd drive, and so on. Our very own magic ball so to speak. Oh, if the results of that silly game could have been anywhere near the truth!
Of course, it was easily manipulated. It's all in how many, how small or large, and the spacing of those concentric circles you draw that will define your destiny. How great would it be if your actual life could be as easily manipulated? Here are your top 3 choices: you'll be happy with any of them of course. The only undesirable outcome is living in a shack I suppose :)
My fill in the blank responses of long ago were normally whatever was trendy at the time or whoever I was currently crushing on. Things haven't changed all that much. Well, of course now I know that it is wiser to hope for a house, not a mansion (lots of square footage is expensive) and that a gas guzzling SUV isn't the wisest move especially with kids...a minivan would be a better choice (but who wants to put that on a wish list?)! Then you have to take into account that although filling a home with lots of children would be a blessing they have to be fed, clothed, and shipped off to school at some point. Unless you win the lottery or they are all similar in skill to Michael Phelps, Mia Hamm, or Albert Einstein they will have to barely squeak by attending a state school. You'll have to tightly budget, remove vacations from your vocabulary, and learn to love Ramen noodles :)
I think a more appropriate game for young people to play would be: WISH. Wise. Intelligent. Strong. Honorable. = all things we should hope to be! I know a game is just that, a game. However, when you look at life as being as easy as which choice gets circled you tend to think that life will be that easy. What no one tells you is that there are an infinite number of choices, mistakes, realities, opportunities, let-downs, and blessings. They make up life. The life we are given is ours to mold and live on our own. It is what we make of it, how we serve the Lord, and the chances we choose to take that define us...not where we live, what car we drive, how many kids we have, or where we go on our honeymoon!
God Bless,
Tammy
Of course, it was easily manipulated. It's all in how many, how small or large, and the spacing of those concentric circles you draw that will define your destiny. How great would it be if your actual life could be as easily manipulated? Here are your top 3 choices: you'll be happy with any of them of course. The only undesirable outcome is living in a shack I suppose :)
My fill in the blank responses of long ago were normally whatever was trendy at the time or whoever I was currently crushing on. Things haven't changed all that much. Well, of course now I know that it is wiser to hope for a house, not a mansion (lots of square footage is expensive) and that a gas guzzling SUV isn't the wisest move especially with kids...a minivan would be a better choice (but who wants to put that on a wish list?)! Then you have to take into account that although filling a home with lots of children would be a blessing they have to be fed, clothed, and shipped off to school at some point. Unless you win the lottery or they are all similar in skill to Michael Phelps, Mia Hamm, or Albert Einstein they will have to barely squeak by attending a state school. You'll have to tightly budget, remove vacations from your vocabulary, and learn to love Ramen noodles :)
I think a more appropriate game for young people to play would be: WISH. Wise. Intelligent. Strong. Honorable. = all things we should hope to be! I know a game is just that, a game. However, when you look at life as being as easy as which choice gets circled you tend to think that life will be that easy. What no one tells you is that there are an infinite number of choices, mistakes, realities, opportunities, let-downs, and blessings. They make up life. The life we are given is ours to mold and live on our own. It is what we make of it, how we serve the Lord, and the chances we choose to take that define us...not where we live, what car we drive, how many kids we have, or where we go on our honeymoon!
God Bless,
Tammy
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Day 15
Another day in paradise...I am so ready for Spring! Cloudy skies, rain, and wind. Yuck! Everything God does is beautiful, but I prefer sunshine :)
The same old, same old is making me down and out. Work is just not a challenge in any way, shape, or form. I am so anxious to find out what the next chapter in my career life is. I wish at times that I were one of those people who knew exactly what they wanted from a young age and are now happily living the life they mapped out for themselves. I suppose though that even people like that get unsettled and overtaken with the mundane every once in a while.
I suppose hat what I envision for my life is a fairy tale...constant happiness. At least my current attempts at self discovery through studying the word have better equipped me to deal with being let down. I don't stay down quite as long :)
God Bless,
Tammy
The same old, same old is making me down and out. Work is just not a challenge in any way, shape, or form. I am so anxious to find out what the next chapter in my career life is. I wish at times that I were one of those people who knew exactly what they wanted from a young age and are now happily living the life they mapped out for themselves. I suppose though that even people like that get unsettled and overtaken with the mundane every once in a while.
I suppose hat what I envision for my life is a fairy tale...constant happiness. At least my current attempts at self discovery through studying the word have better equipped me to deal with being let down. I don't stay down quite as long :)
God Bless,
Tammy
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