I've been asked quite a few times what the "key" is to staying fit. Is it the workouts, eating properly, or getting support? I'd love to give credit to any one of those, but the truth is, it's a little bit of all of them and even more.
In the last few weeks, I've upped my personal development ante in order to help myself achieve my personal goals quicker and more efficiently. I've ordered motivational programs from Brian Tracy and Chalene Johnson, and really taken their advice to heart. Physically putting pen to paper has forced a new kind of clarity that I never really had before. Firmly establishing my life's priorities for the moment, setting my goals for the year, and keeping a REAL daily NEED-to-do list (versus a "should-do list") was a great place to start; it gives my life a new framework that I didn't have even just a mere two weeks ago.
"But Jillian, what do you mean by a great place to start?" The obvious answer to that is, we're a constant work in progress...but I'm sure that's not quite the answer you're hoping for.
It's a start because self-discipline is my answer. I can tell myself exactly how to work out, exactly what to eat, and talk to all the right people; if I don't actually do any of the above or follow my own advice, I still end up nowhere. The discipline to exercise daily, the discipline to stick to my guns about my food choices, the discipline to talk to my friends who keep me honest.......that's what it's all about.
I never really considered myself a disciplined person. I mean that 100%. Even with my schoolwork, I always knew I was smart but I never considered myself a great student by any means, because I lacked self-disciplined. Sure, I was organized--my schedule was always crazy hectic and I made sure I never missed an event, appointment, or day at the office...but that's just the problem: I'm great at doing what I HAVE to do, but not at what I WANT to do. My papers would get done at 6 AM the day they were due because I didn't see starting it early as something I "had" to do do. When it HAD to get done, it did. (For the record, I never got lower than a B+ on a paper EVER, but that's not the point ;) hehe.)
I can now honestly say that I really, really WANT to be disciplined. Why? Because I NEED to be. Nobody can make me have discipline except myself, and I will not be successful without self-discipline. One important thing I've been doing to help myself with this is to make my daily tasks manageable. I'm not setting out to rebuild Rome every day; I'm completing stepping stone-tasks every day and I know that sooner rather than later, my goals will be reality.
This, my friends, is the key to life.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
This Ain't Nothin' to Die For
In the early hours of 11/30/2008, Jason Shein was killed by a drunk driver in Farmingdale, NY, on his way home from Applebees with a few friends. He was heading back to school in Miami the next morning, and he had come home for Thanksgiving to surprise his family. He was going to school for neuroscience and he was going to become a doctor and change the world someday. The 21-year-old with a happy life, tons of friends, and immense promise was taken down by a man who already had 3 DWIs to his name and was supposed to have a court-ordered ignition lock on his car.
Jay was always that guy who would IM me at 2 AM when we were in high school yelling me to go to bed; I'd tell him I had homework to finish and he'd tell me that no form of work is worth staying up that late for. The one I would happily take a call from at midnight on a Tuesday because he'd be worried about something or someone. He worked at Target in the photo department and I would always stop by just to say hi to him while I was there because he made my day better just by seeing him being happy and smiley. ...The one who always told me I needed to slow down because I never had any free time.
I never knew just how much this one cartoon would stick in my mind when I first learned that Jay had been killed. I also never dreamed that it would have such a profound influence on my life just a few years later. This past summer at a party at a friend's house, "Friend A" had way too much to drink. Everyone knew it, and laughed when I told them he was planning on driving himself home because clearly nobody was going to let him drive himself home. To make a long story short, I ended up having a panic attack and he needed to be tackled to the ground to get his keys from him, ensuring that he would not be driving himself anywhere.
"Friend A" was really mad at me at the time, telling me I was overreacting and that I was being ridiculous; I was really mad at him too--all I could think of was Jay and how he was killed by someone who probably thought the exact same thing, that he was "fine to drive" and nothing would happen. A lot of people would back down when faced with a tough situation like this, caving and not wanting to risk a huge argument. Knowing my friend the way I do, I knew he was worth the fight. Not only was his life worth the argument, but people's lives who could've been taken due to nobody standing up for them were worth the argument too. "Friend A" was over it by the next day and eventually thanked me for "overreacting."
The moral of this story is, your life is not the only one that is affected by your actions. As the holiday season approaches, it's easy to go to lots of parties and not realize just how much you consume. Do the world a favor--if you have more than one drink, let someone else drive. Don't let your ego be responsible for taking innocent people's lives...the people who love them will never forgive you. Jay was an exceptional person and I think about him every day; it's my mission to not let his death be in vain. You may not know Jay, but please take his story to heart as if you did--I promise it will change your life.
Rest in Peace, Jay...you are loved and missed more than you can imagine. <3
In Memory of Jason Shein
July 4, 1987-November 30, 2008
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson (found on the back of Jay's memorial card)
Saturday, November 20, 2010
I'm Yours...Alllllllllllllll Yours!
Ever since I became a Beachbody coach, I've (appropriately) been asked by countless people exactly what it is they "should" be doing. Expecting a cookie-cutter response like "Well, you should work out and eat healthy!," I'm not entirely sure people truly understand what it takes to live a fit lifestyle.
"Ya gotta get an education!"
I signed up as a Beachbody coach in March of 2009. I knew the jist of what it was--represent the products, help other people figure out what's right for them, etc. What I didn't know was how much this concept would change me as a person. I went from not knowing anything, to knowing a lot but not knowing how to use the knowledge, to having a perfectly clear mission that I plan to accomplish whether or not it's the last thing I do.
I want to educate people. Honestly, it's what I've been doing most of my life; I've got a solid client base as a swim instructor (I've been teaching swim since I was 14 in 2002), I tutored in high school, and as a babysitter/nanny/tutor to two very energetic kids, I've learned a thing or two about successful ways to ..er.. "train" people to do what they need to do ;) By passing on all the tidbits I've learned from my fitness friends--exercise tips, nutritional tips, personal development habits, etc--I can pay it forward to those I truly care about and those who really do want to take steps to better themselves and live a more fulfilling life.
What does this have to do with you? I've decided to start doing private consultations for anyone SERIOUS about getting in shape! Whether you're looking to get in shape physically, mentally, or financially, I am here to help you One-on-One. Let me help you achieve your goals once and for all!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
We're Officially The Worst of the Best
I know, that's not exactly the most optimistic title for a blog post in the world, but right now I really don't care--I'm angry.
Go ahead, ask me what I'm angry about! I dare ya!
The medical and technological advancements that've been made in the last year are astounding. Add those in with those made in the last five, ten, twenty, fifty, and 100 years, and forget it, we've lapped centuries in terms of rate of development. Some of the brightest minds that have ever lived would KILL to see what we've done with the theories, formulas, and ideas they came up with back in the 1500s, and even the late 1800s/early 1900s. Heck, I'm sure the inventor of the computer's head would be spinning if he knew that we've now made it smaller than pocket-sized!
.....but yet, we've used these advancements to make products that kill people. The worst uses of the best minds possible.
No, I'm not talking about guns. I'm talking about products we see and/or use every day. BPA-laden plastics, which are known carcinogens; artificial sweeteners, which are loaded with false promises of cheated health and have devastating effects on the body; methods of transportation that use more fuel and create more noxious gasses in one day than we should be exposed to in a lifetime; ways to genetically modify our food to make it more easy to reproduce and simultaneously deplete its nutritional content.
It makes me sick knowing what we, as humans, have done to this world. Life may be easier to live, but is it really? How many of you microwave food in plastic containers? Surprise, you may be diagnosed with cancer in a few years. Oh, and if you were heating up vegetables in that container, they've been officially zapped of all their nutritional value due to the high heat. Think that apple you just ate will keep the doctor away? It's only got 25% of the nutritional value it would have had 50 years ago, thanks to the scientists who figured out how to mass-produce them.
It's "thinks" like this that make me want to move to the middle of nowhere, where life has not been touched by science or technology. The world is clearly moving too quickly for our own good; people are not being properly educated about all the "latest and greatest" advancements and God knows we're not going to look for any danger ourselves--we're gonna wait until someone else points it out for us and then ignore them, dammit!
This entire entry was brought on by a NY statewide ban on the alcohol-spiked energy drink "Four Loko." For YEARS we've known that mixing alcohol and caffeine is horrible for your body, but the advent of Red Bull made it seem like it's totally okay. Red Bull and Vodka is the new "It" drink, and all those people saying "NOOOOOOOOOOO, DON'T DO IT!!!!!!" have gone right by the wayside. Thankfully, the FDA will be putting a ban on creating drinks marrying alcohol and caffeine within the next few days, but really--should they have to? It's long since been known the devastating effects of this combination, but nobody's listened.
Listen. Read. Educate yourself.
...it's all we've got left--nobody's gonna tell us on their own.
Go ahead, ask me what I'm angry about! I dare ya!
The medical and technological advancements that've been made in the last year are astounding. Add those in with those made in the last five, ten, twenty, fifty, and 100 years, and forget it, we've lapped centuries in terms of rate of development. Some of the brightest minds that have ever lived would KILL to see what we've done with the theories, formulas, and ideas they came up with back in the 1500s, and even the late 1800s/early 1900s. Heck, I'm sure the inventor of the computer's head would be spinning if he knew that we've now made it smaller than pocket-sized!
.....but yet, we've used these advancements to make products that kill people. The worst uses of the best minds possible.
No, I'm not talking about guns. I'm talking about products we see and/or use every day. BPA-laden plastics, which are known carcinogens; artificial sweeteners, which are loaded with false promises of cheated health and have devastating effects on the body; methods of transportation that use more fuel and create more noxious gasses in one day than we should be exposed to in a lifetime; ways to genetically modify our food to make it more easy to reproduce and simultaneously deplete its nutritional content.
It makes me sick knowing what we, as humans, have done to this world. Life may be easier to live, but is it really? How many of you microwave food in plastic containers? Surprise, you may be diagnosed with cancer in a few years. Oh, and if you were heating up vegetables in that container, they've been officially zapped of all their nutritional value due to the high heat. Think that apple you just ate will keep the doctor away? It's only got 25% of the nutritional value it would have had 50 years ago, thanks to the scientists who figured out how to mass-produce them.
It's "thinks" like this that make me want to move to the middle of nowhere, where life has not been touched by science or technology. The world is clearly moving too quickly for our own good; people are not being properly educated about all the "latest and greatest" advancements and God knows we're not going to look for any danger ourselves--we're gonna wait until someone else points it out for us and then ignore them, dammit!
This entire entry was brought on by a NY statewide ban on the alcohol-spiked energy drink "Four Loko." For YEARS we've known that mixing alcohol and caffeine is horrible for your body, but the advent of Red Bull made it seem like it's totally okay. Red Bull and Vodka is the new "It" drink, and all those people saying "NOOOOOOOOOOO, DON'T DO IT!!!!!!" have gone right by the wayside. Thankfully, the FDA will be putting a ban on creating drinks marrying alcohol and caffeine within the next few days, but really--should they have to? It's long since been known the devastating effects of this combination, but nobody's listened.
Listen. Read. Educate yourself.
...it's all we've got left--nobody's gonna tell us on their own.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Hard Work Works!!
I have to rant for a second. I was online the other day pre-ordering Tony Horton's new book, "Bring It!," on Amazon and a link came up for a "buyer's guide" for P90X.
The author planned to delve into all the cracks and crevices of the program to help buyers determine whether or not they're ready for the program. Team Beachbody has message boards for this exact purpose, but it's a noble attempt to make a buck, right? I followed the link to the author's site and was shocked by the pro/con list that I saw.
The pro list basically stated that if you follow the program and do the workouts, you would get the results you want. The con list, on the other hand, was appalling. It said absolutely nothing about people's usual complaints-the workouts are too hard, they're too long, etc. What it did have at the top, and was basically the only valid "complaint" to be found on the con list: "You will only really see the results shown on TV if you eat right."
Why did this make me tick? Not so much that it's listed as a kind of ultimatum-I'm not stupid, I know there are a lot of people who undervalue their nutritional responsibilities, and I'm one of them on occasion-but that it's listed as a "con" in the first place. P90X was designed as an extreme FITNESS program, as in a program designed to get you fit. There is not a single fit person in this world that pays zero attention to what they are eating on a regular basis. Fitness is not just about how much you exercise. In fact, 80% of the results you obtain from a fitness plan come from eating properly.
Statistics aside, why do people see proper nutrition as a chore! We were given the right to live when we were born and nobody is living to the fullest potential unless they nourish their bodies in the way they were meant to be nourished. Whole, unprocessed, unrefined foods are the only way to deliver proper nutrition to our bodies and function the way we're supposed to. I can most certainly not call myself a saint in this arena; nutrition is something I struggle with on an hourly basis and I deal with it as it comes. Shakeology is, hands down, my biggest ally in this battle. I never see it as a con, though...it's just something I need to do in order to, well, LIVE! The body shuts down without proper nutrition, so why shouldn't I do whatever is possible to make sure I'm functioning correctly? Exactly.
Proper nutrition is never a "con"-it's just necessary.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Is this REALLY the future of the U.S.?
I'm writing this from my Schenectady, NY, hotel room, exhausted from day 1 of All-Star Presenter Camp and completely saddened by an article in USA Today. This one side-bar article, titled "Diabetes Cases May Double By 2050," just made my mood do a complete 180. Cases may DOUBLE.
These days, there is so much work, effort, and money going into prevention of obesity, awareness efforts to help people turn their lives around before diabetes officially strikes, and how to effectively manage diabetes. It's taken such a huge toll on our country's economy that it's almost impossible to calculate exactly how huge it actually is. Obesity-related complications have taken loved ones from millions of Americans nationwide...but yet, nobody stops to think about how their own health can someday lead down the exact same path.
At the age of 22, many of my peers are at that point. They can't see 10 years into the future, let alone 40 or 50 years, to see that regardless of how good their metabolisms might be right now, the junk put into their bodies will be taking a rapid turn on them VERY soon. I absolutely cannot call myself a saint--I do tend to [over]indulge from time to time, but I have now turned it into a rare occasion as opposed to an every day occurrence. I know exactly what I'm putting into my body and I am confident that I will never become an obesity-related statistic.
Knowledge is power, people. If you're looking at packages and have absolutely no idea what you're reading about on the ingredients list, put it back and Google them. If you consume a lot of alcohol on a very regular basis and/or ingest a great deal of sugar every day, you might be at risk for Type-2 Diabetes and should see your doctor.
If you're looking for a way to get healthy by means of diet-adjustment and exercise, PLEASE ask me how I can help you! I don't want anyone I can help to turn into a statistic. I've vowed not to be one--have you?
These days, there is so much work, effort, and money going into prevention of obesity, awareness efforts to help people turn their lives around before diabetes officially strikes, and how to effectively manage diabetes. It's taken such a huge toll on our country's economy that it's almost impossible to calculate exactly how huge it actually is. Obesity-related complications have taken loved ones from millions of Americans nationwide...but yet, nobody stops to think about how their own health can someday lead down the exact same path.
At the age of 22, many of my peers are at that point. They can't see 10 years into the future, let alone 40 or 50 years, to see that regardless of how good their metabolisms might be right now, the junk put into their bodies will be taking a rapid turn on them VERY soon. I absolutely cannot call myself a saint--I do tend to [over]indulge from time to time, but I have now turned it into a rare occasion as opposed to an every day occurrence. I know exactly what I'm putting into my body and I am confident that I will never become an obesity-related statistic.
Knowledge is power, people. If you're looking at packages and have absolutely no idea what you're reading about on the ingredients list, put it back and Google them. If you consume a lot of alcohol on a very regular basis and/or ingest a great deal of sugar every day, you might be at risk for Type-2 Diabetes and should see your doctor.
If you're looking for a way to get healthy by means of diet-adjustment and exercise, PLEASE ask me how I can help you! I don't want anyone I can help to turn into a statistic. I've vowed not to be one--have you?
Friday, October 22, 2010
Fat Talk Free Week - Day 5
Daily Challenge - October 22, 2010
Today be the most confident YOU that there is.
Wear something that makes you feel beautiful and exude confidence.
Challenge others when they fat talk themselves or someone else and feel good about knowing that if to no one else but yourself, you're making a difference!
Wear something that makes you feel beautiful and exude confidence.
Challenge others when they fat talk themselves or someone else and feel good about knowing that if to no one else but yourself, you're making a difference!
What did I do to be more confident? This may sound silly, but my office can be a very intimidating place. I'm not a full-time worker, and the full-timers are all very close, making it hard to be "in" on certain things. Today, I made sure I fully engaged in conversation with all of my coworkers. That's right, all of them. Regardless of whether or not they'll ever think of me as "in," it kind of made me feel like one of them for a little while.
As far as what I wore, you can see from the picture what I wore :) It's a long, pink, short-sleeved shirt with a white tank top underneath, jeans with a slight flare and a little distressing, and my Coach sneakers. I love the outfit, especially since the sneakers were given to me by my best friend who moved to Florida. They remind me of her and I can't wait for her to move back to NY in January!
That's my piece for now, I have to go to bed... All-Star Presenter Camp tomorrow!
Fat Talk Free Week - Day 4
My apologies, I fell asleep before I could post the entry I wrote for yesterday! Anyway, yesterday's assigned task was simply to "move." Move for the fun of it, rather than for the purpose of burning calories or as "exercise."
What did I do? I babysit on Thursdays, so I plugged my iPod into the stereo at the house and had a dance party with the kids! We had some good routines going for almost a full hour and we had a blast! The kids are amazing dancers too, not gonna lie. [I would post a video of it but my boss has asked me not to.] I wish I had my bodybugg on at the time because (...even though this was not the purpose!...) finding out how many calories that burns would be awesome--for future reference of course =P
I know yesterday you weren't given the heads-up from me, but move around today! Walk around the office every 15 minutes; run up a flight of stairs; kick a soccer ball around with your kids, or play with them on the playground. Just get up and GO!!! :)
What did I do? I babysit on Thursdays, so I plugged my iPod into the stereo at the house and had a dance party with the kids! We had some good routines going for almost a full hour and we had a blast! The kids are amazing dancers too, not gonna lie. [I would post a video of it but my boss has asked me not to.] I wish I had my bodybugg on at the time because (...even though this was not the purpose!...) finding out how many calories that burns would be awesome--for future reference of course =P
I know yesterday you weren't given the heads-up from me, but move around today! Walk around the office every 15 minutes; run up a flight of stairs; kick a soccer ball around with your kids, or play with them on the playground. Just get up and GO!!! :)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Fat Talk Free Week - Day 3
Today's daily task, I'll admit, I wasn't able to do. I didn't get the e-mail until 11:18 PM when I walked in the door, but I did my own thing that was along the same lines. Here's what the task was:
Daily Challenge - October 20, 2010 What is your favorite clothing store?
Take a Friends Don't Let Friends Fat Talk cling, or a copy of our cling decal downloaded from the Facebook page, to the store and leave it in a dressing room for someone else to find.
We all have moments of insecurity, and trying on clothes can perpetuate that for some women. Spread the message to end fat talk with a friend you may never meet just by letting her know she's not alone!
I didn't get to go shopping. I didn't get to print out a picture of the FTFW logo. BUT, I did get to spread the FTFW message around my office! I work at an office entirely composed of women, so you can imagine what that atmosphere can breed in terms of conversation and body image. Instead of contributing to the conversation when people announced out of the blue that they needed to go on a diet or that they needed to go shopping because their clothes aren't fitting properly anymore, I'd change the subject and announce that I'm not allowing anyone to continue talking about themselves like that anymore.
I was expecting a bit of backlash--even if just in jest--but I got none! See what happens when you stand up for women everywhere? It's a great opportunity to change someone's view of herself, and also to gain respect for yourself and for how people everywhere are perceived. Try it out tomorrow, see where it gets you!
Daily Challenge - October 20, 2010 What is your favorite clothing store?
Take a Friends Don't Let Friends Fat Talk cling, or a copy of our cling decal downloaded from the Facebook page, to the store and leave it in a dressing room for someone else to find.
We all have moments of insecurity, and trying on clothes can perpetuate that for some women. Spread the message to end fat talk with a friend you may never meet just by letting her know she's not alone!
I didn't get to go shopping. I didn't get to print out a picture of the FTFW logo. BUT, I did get to spread the FTFW message around my office! I work at an office entirely composed of women, so you can imagine what that atmosphere can breed in terms of conversation and body image. Instead of contributing to the conversation when people announced out of the blue that they needed to go on a diet or that they needed to go shopping because their clothes aren't fitting properly anymore, I'd change the subject and announce that I'm not allowing anyone to continue talking about themselves like that anymore.
I was expecting a bit of backlash--even if just in jest--but I got none! See what happens when you stand up for women everywhere? It's a great opportunity to change someone's view of herself, and also to gain respect for yourself and for how people everywhere are perceived. Try it out tomorrow, see where it gets you!
Fat Talk Free Week - Day 2
Daily Challenge - October 19, 2010 Go to breakfast, lunch, dinner or coffee with a friend today. While together, make an effort to tell each other something that you appreciate about the other that has nothing to do with the way you look. Ensure that the time you spend together does not include talking about weight, appearance, your size or the size of others.
Alternative Challenge
Engage your senses and make today about the simple pleasures of life. Savor your morning coffee and listen to your favorite music. Take time to enjoy art or the look of nature around you. Put a picture of beautiful scenery on your screen saver. Light scented candles. Wear clothes that feel really comfortable. Play with your cat or dog. At the end of the day, use your gratitude journal to make a list of the experiences to help you remember that your body is for living in - not just looking at.
That was my challenge for today. I wasn't lucky enough to have enough time to go out with a friend, but I did get to spend some quality time with my mom! Together we went to a class about how sugar affects the human body, and all the ways it can do damage to your body. We learned healthy alternatives to keep sugar out of the body and live a longer life. Now if that isn't bonding time then I don't know what is! There was a lot of positivity involved, especially when speaking to the doctor after the class was over. My mom's been doing so great lately with clean eating habits and I'm so proud of her for taking control for her nutrition. ...and as a bonus, I also wore comfy clothes to work today :) Hehe.
Gratitude moment of the day: being able to lift the heavy boxes in my office that my coworkers were not. So grateful for the willpower to strengthen my body and live a STRONG life.
Alternative Challenge
Engage your senses and make today about the simple pleasures of life. Savor your morning coffee and listen to your favorite music. Take time to enjoy art or the look of nature around you. Put a picture of beautiful scenery on your screen saver. Light scented candles. Wear clothes that feel really comfortable. Play with your cat or dog. At the end of the day, use your gratitude journal to make a list of the experiences to help you remember that your body is for living in - not just looking at.
Gratitude moment of the day: being able to lift the heavy boxes in my office that my coworkers were not. So grateful for the willpower to strengthen my body and live a STRONG life.
"Successful people are willing to do that which unsuccessful people are not."
Monday, October 18, 2010
Fat Talk Free Week - Day 1
The reason I'm writing this entry today is because today is Day 1 of our annual Fat Talk Free Week. Fat Talk Free Week is just how it sounds--making a conscious decision to eliminate talking about "feeling fat," and all other things that sound vaguely like it or have the same sentiment. It's a brilliant program because it really forces you to think about how you look at yourself and the way you treat yourself. It obviously has special meaning for me based on my personal history with eating patterns and my involvement with fitness.
This year, Tri Delta's sending out daily e-mails for Fat Talk Free Week with tasks to accomplish. Today's task is as follows:
Daily Challenge - October 18, 2010
Start a gratitude journal today. Every day this week, identify something that you like about your body (don't forget to be grateful for what your body can do!). Write about your personality, your character and why you are grateful. See if you can keep it going all week. How about even longer than that?
It feels good to identify pieces of you that you like. When you like them, others will too. If you are up for the next level of this challenge, practice saying or writing these things while looking at yourself in the mirror.
I don't know about you but to me that sounds like a manageable task. Something I'm grateful for. I just came from a leadership conference where there were all sorts of people there--this is going to be a piece of cake for me. Not only am I grateful for the opportunity to attend the conference and for all the great information I was exposed to and can absorb and use for building my business, I'm grateful for just what the e-mail said: for what my body can do. There are coaches that are wheelchair-bound, that have degenerative diseases, that have children who are mentally limited...I'm just so grateful for my health and to be able to go about my life with ease. Sure, obstacles may come up from time to time, but I don't have to worry about my body failing me. I'm strong and lean and healthy, and I can't express how grateful I am for that.
As far as aspects of my personality and character that I'm grateful for, I'm always grateful for the way I was brought up. I was taught to be respectful of myself and others, and to always treat people (including me!) the way I would like to be treated. This gets lost far too often nowadays, and I hope that I can inspire people to act the same way.
How about you--what are you most grateful for? Leave the answer in a comment!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Strength Training for the Mind
Now, I don't feel terrible morally or anything--it's not like I feel it's anything I "should" be doing; no law is telling me I HAVE to read on any given day. I just feel awful mentally. I've always been an academically-oriented person...never had trouble in school, liked to learn; I enjoy being challenged.
Lately, I've taken on a new challenge involving my reading life--personal development. I've never been one to laugh in the face of personal development books, but I've also never been one who thought she would ever take a liking to them or see a need for them. I really do enjoy them now, but it's also but a new spin on reading for me. Obviously you can tell I'm a health and fitness nut. When I wasn't able to read as often as I like, I felt like my brain was turning to mush. Reading "nothing" books is always a fun escape, but I see personal development reading as strength training for the brain and mind. It constantly challenges you to think outside the box, or look inside yourself and see what you're doing or how you can improve certain parts of your life. It's got a solid purpose, and that's really what everyone needs.
When I find a really great personal development book, I'll post a review of it here. I've got a few already that I know I'm going to have to write about, but that can wait for another day. In the meantime, do you have any favorites? I'd love to hear about them!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Filling the Void
I can’t really figure out why, but lately I’ve been feeling like I’ve got a void in me that I can’t fill. This is one of the most frustrating things ever, because nobody likes feeling bad for “no reason” and it’s terrible that I can’t help myself fix it. It wasn’t until I was listening to a conversation amongst a group of my peers that I realized the void.
I’ve never been one to closely follow a specific religion; I was questioning the Blessed Trinity in 2nd grade, insisting that God can’t POSSIBLY be EVERYWHERE at once. I’ve always been a fairly spiritual person though, believing in having a firm and strong moral compass. The Golden Rule is a guiding force in my life, and I have always believed in Karma, certain that whatever I do will come right back to me in the end--for better or for worse. However, despite my beliefs, I’ve always felt kind of lost. I was born and raised Catholic, and I honestly can’t imagine being a part of any other religion; it’s too deeply ingrained in my head for me to be able to embrace a different religion for myself. As much as I can’t see myself converting any time soon, I also think the Catholic religion needs to be updated for modern times, but that’s another story for another day. It is this tiny detail that makes me feel lost in the shuffle.
There are quite a few traits that I try to maintain even in the most difficult situations: loyalty, confidentiality, compassion, and fairness. I’m a good judge of character and tend to attract people to me that have the same values, or at the very least have their own values that they adhere to. Are there any traits you value in a person more than another? Why are they so important to you?
Focus, Focus, Focus.
Everyone these days knows Carrie Underwood. Since 2004, she's become quite possibly one of the most recognizable faces in the world. She's won 5 Grammy awards, is currently on a 100-city tour, has been named the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year back to back (first time that's ever occurred!), and is starring in a movie to be released later this year. She's amazing.
But what you can really see is that she puts her all into everything she does--including keeping herself healthy and in shape. On my flight to Dallas today, on my way to a leadership conference for Beachbody, I read an article about her in Women's Health about how she stays in shape on the road. The woman...is a rockstar. Well, I mean, I know she rocks, but not just music-wise.
She's truly amazing. So level-headed and really knows the full scope of what it takes to be healthy. She grew up in Oklahoma, but has been a vegetarian for the past 14 years. She works out with a trainer for 90 minutes a day at least 4 times a week. She never eats at fast food establishments. She "can do push ups forever." She keeps a schedule that most people would never in a million years be able to keep up with, and she does it with flair, grace, and charm.
Now. What is the point of me running off an abridged version of a Carrie Underwood biography? If that woman can manage to do everything she can do and still stay in shape, so can I. It was just the kick in the butt I needed to really get my head in the game and be in this for the moment. I know I'm in it for the long haul--it's just always "the moment" I seem to have trouble with...but I've got this now. Marathon, not a sprint. You can do it too; find your inspiration, focus...and it will turn into motivation.
"Inspiration can come from anywhere, but motivation...that has to come from YOU."
But what you can really see is that she puts her all into everything she does--including keeping herself healthy and in shape. On my flight to Dallas today, on my way to a leadership conference for Beachbody, I read an article about her in Women's Health about how she stays in shape on the road. The woman...is a rockstar. Well, I mean, I know she rocks, but not just music-wise.
She's truly amazing. So level-headed and really knows the full scope of what it takes to be healthy. She grew up in Oklahoma, but has been a vegetarian for the past 14 years. She works out with a trainer for 90 minutes a day at least 4 times a week. She never eats at fast food establishments. She "can do push ups forever." She keeps a schedule that most people would never in a million years be able to keep up with, and she does it with flair, grace, and charm.
Now. What is the point of me running off an abridged version of a Carrie Underwood biography? If that woman can manage to do everything she can do and still stay in shape, so can I. It was just the kick in the butt I needed to really get my head in the game and be in this for the moment. I know I'm in it for the long haul--it's just always "the moment" I seem to have trouble with...but I've got this now. Marathon, not a sprint. You can do it too; find your inspiration, focus...and it will turn into motivation.
"Inspiration can come from anywhere, but motivation...that has to come from YOU."
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Words of a Future Saint
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you may win some false friends and true enemies;
Be successful anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it's between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
~Mother Teresa
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you may win some false friends and true enemies;
Be successful anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it's between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
~Mother Teresa
Blog Brat
Okay. I admit it. I've had about 15 blogs over the course of the last 5 years. I could never find a happy home, and I thought I would find it with Tumblr, but it just wasn't meant to be. I like it here on blogspot, so I've decided to stop jumping and moving all around the internet and settle down here in blogspotville. No more "Blog Brat" lifestyle for me. This is it!
...That was a very M.J. statement of me to make (and no, I'm not talking about Durkin!), but I'll live. I'm sure you're over it by now, so I suppose I should be too. For now I am going to bed, but expect to hear more from me in the near future! :)
...That was a very M.J. statement of me to make (and no, I'm not talking about Durkin!), but I'll live. I'm sure you're over it by now, so I suppose I should be too. For now I am going to bed, but expect to hear more from me in the near future! :)
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